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Trouble in paradise?
A week ago I’d have said no way, but now?
Now I’m not so sure.
32
Enzo
“You’re looking pleased with yourself.”
I haven’t seen Chari in almost three weeks, but I’m going home this weekend. So yes, I’m pretty pleased. And it looks like we’ve finally made a breakthrough on the vodka formula.
Hayden winds up a forkful of pasta as masterfully as if he’s been doing it every week for years. Because he has.
“You really need to try something else,” I tell him. “There’s an entire menu, you know.”
Hayden doesn’t answer, mouthful of food and all.
“I’m going home for the weekend,” I admit, knowing Hayden will figure it out anyway. I brace myself for his teasing, and it comes as soon as he finishes his mouthful of linguine.
“Ah, so that’s the reason for Mr. Happy-Go-Lucky? And here I thought it was the vodka.”
“That too.” I take a bite of eggplant. It’s good, but not nearly as good as my mother’s. Maybe I can convince her to make it this weekend. I make a mental note to ask Tris to put it on the specials menu for Saturday night. Mom splits her time now between the pizza shop and the restaurant, like Lusanne, although her focus is on helping in the kitchen. Tris told me that every time Mom cooks the special, they sell out of it.
“But no work,” I remind Hayden.
“Right.”
We talk about life with a baby, and Hayden tells me, quite rightly, how lucky he is to have Ada. Which, of course, leads us back to Chari.
“So how long are you going to do this for exactly?” he says, leaning back in his chair.
The waiter takes away our plates. I sit back, full and happy, wine firmly in hand.
“Do what?”
“Eke out a weekend here and a night there to see her?”
It’s not like I haven’t thought about that. And although she and I haven’t outright discussed it, the long-distance nature of our relationship hangs over us. As does the one and only argument we’ve gotten into so far. Because I’m not sure our problems are solvable.
This is my life for the foreseeable future. And Chari has her own life, back in Bridgewater.
“I don’t know,” I admit. “I asked her why she moved back home after college, just out of curiosity.”
“And to feel her out about possibly moving out of Bridgewater?”
I won’t admit it, but yeah. Exactly that.
“She won’t do it.”
That seems to surprise Hayden.
“Her job?”
My answer is automatic. “No, actually. Chari loves her kids but hates her boss. And the system, which is set up to reward neurotypical kids. Ones who are good at navigating the kind of learning that happens in most schools.”
Hayden knows I struggled in school when I was younger, but I’ve never explained the extent of it. It strikes me now that it’s a little weird I haven’t told him. He’s like a brother to me. And keeping the secret gives it power, something I don’t want to do anymore.
