When I arrived for dinner, it surprised me to see Alice out and about in the kitchen with Heather. It was as if she knew her daughter needed her. Somehow, she’d been able to get her shit together tonight.
Rick and I sat at the kitchen table as Heather and her mother chopped vegetables for the salad. He’d brought a six-pack of Corona and offered me one. I gladly partook. Anything to take the edge off this situation.
Heather and Alice refused my numerous offers to help, and I noticed Rick hadn’t even offered once. So far, the only good thing about this guy seemed to be the striking blue eyes he’d passed on to Heather.
His voice startled me. “Noah, what is it exactly that you do?”
“I’m a photographer.”
Heather looked over at us. “Noah is amazing. He’s traveled the world and covered a lot of big events. You should see his website.”
Rick didn’t seem like he was buying what Heather was selling. “If you have such a great life, why would you want to spend the summer on Lake Winnipesaukee?”
His question pissed me off. I didn’t like the way he’d said that, as if there was nothing of value here.
“Just looking for a change of pace.”
“Actually, Noah’s handiwork is the reason we’re able to put the house on the market. He’s been a big help,” Heather said.
Rick gave me the stink eye. “Is that so…”
I couldn’t figure out why he wasn’t in favor of the sale.
Dinner was finally served. Heather had made a meatloaf that was really tasty. The way the ketchup cooked into the top of the meat reminded me of the way my mother used to make it.
She sat next to me, seeming really tense.
I leaned into her. “Good job on the meatloaf. It’s delicious.”
She smiled. “Thank you.”
For the longest time, it was a quiet and awkward meal with clanking silverware the only sound. Her damn father hadn’t said a thing as he scarfed down the food. I kept sane by sneaking bits of my meal to Fathead, who was hanging out by my feet.
Alice also looked very stressed. I had to say, I was kind of proud of her. I knew it couldn’t have been easy. Heather had told me she still had a lot of hang-ups about the divorce.
We hadn’t even gotten halfway through dinner when Rick said, “So, we need to talk about this plan to sell the house.”
Heather set her fork down and wiped her mouth. “What is there to talk about?”
“You know how I feel about this. It’s not the right time. The market hasn’t hit its peak, and I think you’re going to be losing a shit ton of money if you don’t wait.”
“The realtor doesn’t seem to think it’s a bad time.”
“What does she know? She wants to make a quick buck. You can’t trust what she says.”
“It doesn’t matter if it’s not the perfect time. We need to sell. I can’t handle the upkeep anymore. I need the money for school.”
“Why can’t you take out loans like everyone else?”
“Well, I plan to continue working to help pay my tuition, but I don’t want to have loans hanging over my head for the rest of my life. Plus, Mom has always said when the house sold, I could use some of the money for school.”
“When did you even decide on school?”
“I was going to mention it. I got into the University of Vermont’s nursing program. I plan to start in the spring semester.”
I knew Heather didn’t see her father often, but it was also becoming clear he was the last to know anything going on with her.
“When were you planning to tell me?”
“The next time I saw you, which is now. It’s only recently become a possibility.”
“Do you really think it’s a good idea to abandon your mother?”
My fists curled into balls. I wanted to punch him. He was pushing this guilt on her when he was the one who’d abandoned them?
“I’m fine,” Alice insisted.
“You don’t look fine. You seem worse than you were the last time I saw you.”
“Aunt Katy is moving here,” Heather announced.
“Katy? She’s gonna look after your mother? She can’t even take care of herself. You’re gonna leave so you can study how to take care of sick people when your mother is sicker than them all?”
Alice trembled. “Stop!”
Heather clenched her jaw. “Why do you even care about anything that happens here?”
I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to speak up.
“With all due respect, Rick, I don’t think you’re being fair. Heather has done nothing but take good care of her mother for several years. It’s time for her to have some freedom.”
“With all due respect to you, I don’t need to sit here and listen to someone who literally blew in like the wind five minutes ago. You don’t know anything about this family.”