Breaking Me Slowly

Ten

“Thanks for coming to visit,” Sydney says as I hand her a glass of water. “And for the water.”

“I’m sorry I haven’t been visiting more often,” I reply.

Sydney waves her hand, taking a sip of water. “I’m usually asleep half the time anyways.”

I sit down at the foot of the bed. “That sounds nice.” Her brows pique in inquiry. “Sleep,” I clarify. “Sleep sounds nice.”

She chuckles. “How’s the family?” she asks, referring to the Delgado’s.

“Fine.”

“Just fine?”

I shrug and Sydney gives me a look as if to say, go on.

“To start, the mother—Nydia—doesn’t like me and Isabel—the daughter—is super pretty and I’m a little worried,” I answer.

“Do you trust Grayson?”

“Of course.”

“Then you have nothing to worry about.”

“Easier said than done.”

“Yes, but it’s not like she’s going to make a move. Even if she did, he would turn her down.”

“I know, I know. I just…” I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “I don’t know what I’m saying.”

“You’re feeling a lot of different things right now, I get it.”

“I guess you’re right.”

She gives me a pointed look. “I am right.”

I chuckle and lean back against my elbows. “How’s the baby?”

She rubs her protruding belly. “Alright.”

“The doctor says everything is good?”

Sydney nodded. “I’m just going out of my mind being in bed all day.”

I frown. “Sorry, Syd.”

She blows her bangs out of her face. “And when I’m not sleeping,” she continues, “I’m stuffing my face with food.”

“Really?” I say in disbelief. “It looks like you could stand to gain a few pounds.”

Sydney was looking a bit thin and frail these days. My best assumption was that the pregnancy was taking more of a toll on her body than anyone expected.

Sydney chortles. “Thanks for the compliment.”

“I’m being serious! You look skinny.”

She laughs.

“And tired,” I add.

Her laughter dies. “Did the bags give it away?”

“Just a little.”

She uses the palm of her hands to conceal her eyes. “Are they that bad?”

I laugh. “No, you’re fine.”

“I don’t believe you.” She still has her eyes covered.

“I was being overdramatic.”

Finally, she lowers them. “You better not be lying.”

I shake my head. “I’m not, I swear.”

She narrows her eyes for a fraction of a second. “Alright, I believe you.”

“Finally!” I say, pretending to sound exasperated.

“So, what’s on the agenda for today?”

I sigh. “All the girls are going out to lunch, doing some shopping, and a little sightseeing while the boys play golf.”

“That sounds like fun.”

I give a wry smile. “Wanna trade places with me?”

“You wish.”

I groan. “I thought you were my friend.”

“I am,” she says astounded. “But they can’t be that bad.”

I turn to my side, using my left arm to prop my head up. “They’re not,” I admit. “I’m making them sound worse than what they really are.”

Sydney tutted. “I know you too well ‘cuz I’m your friend.”

I smirk. “Yeah, yeah.”

There’s a soft knock at the door before it’s pushed open and Jensen’s head pops into the room.

“I don’t mean to intrude but we’re out of time,” he says. Sydney’s face falls, making the frown on Jensen’s face set even deeper.

“Well, thanks again for visiting me,” Sydney says, forcing a smile on her face, “but duty calls.”

I stand up from the bed. “That it does.”

Jensen leaves us for a minute so we can say out goodbyes. All too soon, I’m giving her a hug and walking back with Jensen to the main house.

“Thanks for doing that,” I tell Jensen as we make our way back to the house.

“Of course,” he responds, shoving his hands in the pockets of his jeans.

“Is everything alright?” I dare to ask.

He’s looking down at his shoes. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

“It just seems like something is on your mind.”

“Nope.” He still doesn’t look up.

I think about pressing the matter but before I knew it, Jensen was holding the back door open for me. I walk in just as Grayson and Vern walk into the kitchen, muttering something to each other.

“What are you two up to?” Vern asks.

“Just taking a walk,” Jensen snarls, a bit too harshly. He brushes past her, leaving the kitchen.

“What was that about?” she asks once he’s gone.

Grayson and Vern look at me expectantly.

“I really don’t know,” I say.

Rebecca had decided to go to Porter Lake for lunch. There was a lodge located right next to the docks that had a small, quaint café with a perfect view of the lake. And just right across the street from the café was a whole strip of stores. We were getting a little bit of everything: sight-seeing, dining, and shopping.

During lunch, I couldn’t be more grateful to have Vern. She was doing most of the talking and doing a really great job of keeping the conversations going. It wasn’t like I wasn’t trying, either. It just felt like Isabel didn’t want to talk to me unless she absolutely had to.

The waiter had just finished taking our order when Nydia and Rebecca fell back into conversation when Isabel leaned forward in her seat and asked, “Juliette, how did you and Grayson meet?”

Nydia immediately stopped talking, turning her attention to us.

“Yes, how did you two meet?” Nydia asks, almost scornful.

“We met at school,” I say. “We actually had a class together.”

Isabel smiles. “How sweet.”

“I know, right,” Vern interjects, “like high school sweethearts.” 

Isabel’s smile slightly falters. “Right.” She leans back in her seat. “You’re sure he’s the one?”

Vern nearly chokes on her water. I keep the smile, plastered on my face.

“Isabel,” Nydia says, indifferent.

I look her in the eyes. “Without a doubt.”

She smirks. “Good to hear. He’s a good friend. I’d hate to see his heart broken.”

“Are you implying that I will.”

“Juliette—” Rebecca begins, but Isabel interrupts her.

“Not at all,” Isabel replies, feigning concern for his well-being. “I’m just a concerned friend is all.”

“Now, now,” Nydia speaks up, taking a sip of her champagne. “Ladies don’t fight over boys.”

I glance at Vern and she discreetly rolls her eyes. Isabel and I didn’t speak to each other for the rest of lunch.

For the rest of the day, Vern made sure to stand in between me and Isabel whenever we were shopping. Most of the time, Isabel gravitated towards her mom and Rebecca anyways, leaving Vern and I on our own.

We had already been shopping for a couple hours and my feet were killing me. Rebecca, Nydia, and Isabel were off somewhere in the store and I was idly trailing behind Vern as she looked through the racks. I wasn’t planning on buying anything, so I just casually looked through the racks every now and then.

I was looking through one of the racks facing the window when I noticed someone standing across the street, watching inside the store. At first, I didn’t think much of it but then I realized, I had seen the person outside the first store we had went to as well.

It was hard to tell if it was a man or woman since the person was average height and lanky, but my best assumption would have to be a man. They were wearing sunglasses and I couldn’t pinpoint exactly where they were looking, but I felt the weight of his gaze on me.

“What do you think of this?” Vern asked, sneaking up behind me.

I gasped and turned around. “You scared me!”

She gave me a weird look. “What’s wrong with you? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I turn back around to look out the window, ready to point out the mysterious figure to Vern; but he’s gone.