Breaking Me Slowly

Four

Later that day, we headed to the airport to pick up Vern. Grayson and I waited by the terminal exit for her. By the time we had arrived, there was a crowd of people waiting, forcing us to the back. I stood on my tip toes, but it was useless, I couldn’t see a thing.

A thought hit me. “Can you see her?” I ask Grayson since he’s six feet tall.

He shakes his head and I frown.

A few minutes later, Vern is coming down the escalators. She smiles as soon as she spots us. She drags her bright blue suitcase behind her as she walks up to us.

“Jules!” She throws her arms around me. “It’s good to see you.”

“Right back at ya.”

She turns to Grayson. “Cousin, it’s always a pleasure seeing you,” she tells him with a nod.

Grayson rolls his eyes. “The pleasure is all mine,” he mocks.

Vern claps her hands together. “Alright, let’s get going. I’m dying to get out of here.” She links her arm with mine and pulls us towards the exit.

“Guess I’ll get your bags,” Grayson says, irritated.

“You’re the best,” Vern calls out as we draw closer to the exit.

Vern falls asleep on the ride home. Peter is careful with every twist and turn on the road. Vern stays asleep the entire time, only waking up when the car is shut off. She rubs the sleep from her eyes before getting out of the car.

Eden’s already waiting for us with the door open. Peter goes to the rear of the car to grab Vern’s suitcase.

“Veronica, it’s lovely to have you here,” Eden says, grabbing both of Vern’s hands in hers.

“I’m happy to be back. I’ve missed you all so much!” She leans forward, giving Eden a peck on each cheek.

“Go on and head towards the dining room, food should be ready shortly.”

“Thank you.”

Grayson and I follow Vern through the hall and into the living room. Vern stumbles, as she notices Sydney and Jensen. The laughter stops and there’s a pause.

Jensen shoots up from the couch. “Syd, this is my cousin Veronica. Veronica, this is Sydney,” he introduces the two.

I glance at Grayson, barely grasping the thought that this was the first time they were meeting. And from the look on Jensen’s face, it seemed they weren’t supposed to.

“It’s nice to meet you, Sydney,” Vern says.

Sydney flushes. “It’s nice to meet you as well.”

Rebecca and Sterling come out from the dining room, laughing softly to each other. They both pause, feeling the tension in the air. Rebecca’s eyes glance between Sydney and Veronica a couple of times in shock. Sterling’s face is neutral, giving away nothing.

Rebecca’s shock quickly dissipates and turns into a broad smile. “Dinner’s ready. Everyone go ahead and take a seat in the dining room.”

Everyone shuffles into the room, silently. I sneak a few glances at Grayson, hoping to catch his eye. He didn’t glance at me until we were seated.

Eden quickly grabs two sets of silverware, setting them down in front of Jensen and Sydney. It then dawned on me that there had only been five seats set up. Was Jensen and Sydney not supposed to be at this dinner?

I felt a soft squeeze on my knee. I look up at Grayson. He smiles before letting go.

“Not to be rude or anything, but why are you here?” Jensen directs his question at Vern.

“Jensen,” Sterling warns.

“I can see how much you missed me,” she says. “And to answer your question, I’m here for the wedding.”

Jensen rolls his eyes. “Yeah, no kidding. You know what I mean, why are you here early?”

Vern smirks. “I’m a bridesmaid. I gotta be here early to make sure my dress fits. It’s kind of hard to do that over email.”

“When are you parents coming,” Rebecca asks Vern, changing the subject.

“Not until later,” Vern answers with a frown. “The weekend of the wedding is when they’re coming.”

Rebecca nods as if she expected that answer.

“You know how mom is,” Vern continues.

Rebecca chuckles. “She gets homesick very easily.”

“That she does,” Vern agrees. “So, Sydney, how did you and Jensen meet?” Vern springs out of the blue.

Sydney clears her throat. “We met at school.”

Vern nods. “Friends first, kind of thing?”

“Something like that.”

“Cool.”

Eden sets the last bowl down on the table. Rebecca takes account of everything laid out, making sure nothing was left behind. “Help yourselves,” she says.

Everyone takes turns passing everything around. Once our plates are full, no one wastes any time digging in. Vern had to be starving and Sydney was eating for two.

“This is so good,” Vern moans. “Airport food sucks.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

“I wish my mom could cook as well as you.”

“I started early.” They share a laugh.

A few – mainly Jensen – go for seconds. It doesn’t go unnoticed by Vern as she chuckles, and he throws her an I-dare-you-to-say-something look. She’s quiet.

Once everyone is stuffed, Rebecca gets up from her seat and starts collecting the plates. I grab my empty plate along with Grayson’s.

“You don’t have to help,” Rebecca tells me in the kitchen.

“We’ll get it done faster this way.”

We head back out and collect the rest of the plates. Rebecca instructs me to leave them in the sink for now. I offer to do them, but she refuses, saying she was going to just use the dishwasher anyway.

When we head back out into the dining room, Jensen and Sydney are already gone. I frown at how fast they disappeared. Grayson and Sterling were fervently talking while Vern was listening.

Rebecca put a hand on Vern’s shoulder, making her look up. “May I speak with you two in the kitchen?” she asks us.

I glance at Vern, wondering what kind of trouble we were in. Vern doesn’t seem as worried as me, but she is wary.

“So, that’s Jensen’s secret?” Vern asks, but it doesn’t sound like a question.

Rebecca nods. “No one can know.”

I look at her, confused. “What are you talking about?”

“No one can know about Sydney or the pregnancy.”

“Why?” I demand.

Rebecca sighs. “I know she’s your best friend and I’m asking the both of you to promise me that you won’t tell anyone. It’s for her safety.”

“The council doesn’t know?” Vern asks, astonished.

“Just Arthur and Madeline.”

“What did they say?”

Rebecca’s gaze flicks to me for a brief second. “For this to remain a secret. You weren’t supposed to know, Vern, and I’m trusting you to keep this secret.”

“I won’t say a word,” she swears.

Rebecca looks at me, expectantly. I didn’t have a choice.

“I promise,” I finally say.