Page 3 of Returning to Rockport

“Mom.” I whine. “I don’t know if I can. Every time I look at him, I see that woman. He hurt you. I don’t think I could ever forgive him for that.”

“But I chose to stay with him. Don’t let yourself believe I let him get away with it without repercussions. He’s done a lot of work to earn my trust back. We’re finally in a good place again.”

“And I’m happy for you, I am.” When I don’t say anything else, she gives me a look that causes me to groan. “I’ll try, but I make no promises.”

; “That’s all I ask.” She stands from my bed and walks to the door. “I’ll be in the kitchen when you’re ready to come down.”

As soon as she’s gone, I throw myself backwards onto my bed. The memory of the last time I slept here is in the front of my mind but I do my best to ignore it. I was eighteen and a completely different person then. I’m stronger now.

THE VOICE OF ONE of my favorite people booms through the house. My smile lights up when Ivy comes into the room, looking just as gorgeous as ever. Her blonde hair cascades over her shoulders and down just a few inches. The amount of poise that she possesses has always been something I admire. That girl can own a room like nothing I’ve ever seen.

“Missed me?” She smirks.

I jump out of my chair, running over and barreling into her. Her arms wrap around me as she chuckles softly. Every part of me that has been on edge since I got here, calms in an instant. I can’t remember a time where she wasn’t able to pull me from the verge of a mental break down. She’s my better half and I’m so thankful for her.

“Hardly.” I joke.

“I can tell.”

My mother gets up from her seat and gives my best friend a hug. “Did you give your mother the cookies we baked last week?”

“I did. She loved them, as always.”

My eyes narrow in slight confusion. “You bake cookies with my mom?”

Ivy grins widely and nods. “Every Saturday.”

The look on my face must be enough to say it all because my mom starts to laugh. “Don’t look so surprised, dear. You’d know all about it if you happened to come home during any of your school breaks.”

I should have known this topic would come up eventually. My tendency to stay away wasn’t because I didn’t want to come home. There has never been a time where I didn’t love this place. I just couldn’t handle seeing him. So instead, I spent my spring breaks in various places with Julia and my summer vacations abroad with volunteer organizations. Thankfully, we spend Christmas every year at my grandmothers in Vermont – a safe zone for me in some sense. Only seeing my family one week a year was never easy to deal with, but it was what I needed.

“Yeah Mac, don’t look so surprised.” My best friend playfully nudges me before focusing her attention on my fiancé. “Hey Parker. How are you?”

“I’m great, and you?”

“Still swooning over your British accent. When are you going to hook me up with one of your friends?”

“When you come to England with me.”

She purses her lips and nods. “I really need to get on that.”

The four of us sit around the kitchen table, talking about anything and everything - just enjoying each other’s company. However, I can tell there is something on Ivy’s mind. When my mom asks for Parker’s help with something and they walk away, I raise my eyebrows at her.

“So, you going to tell me what’s up or are you staying tight lipped?”

Her shoulders shrug and she gives me one of her caring smiles. “I’m just wondering how you’re doing, being back here and all.”

This is one of those things that makes her my best friend. No matter how convincing an act I put on, she can always see right through it. It’s almost as if we’re linked – whatever I feel, she does too.

“I’m okay. I’ve actually missed it here, believe it or not.”

“Have you seen him yet?”

I don’t need to ask to know who she’s referring to, but just as I’m about to answer, Parker comes back into the room. His eyebrows furrow slightly.

“Seen who?”