Because of You (31 page)

“What are you guys doing here?”

“Your dad texted us. He thought you could use some company while you wait,” Logan replies.

“Thanks for coming.” I wrap my arms around both of them and squeeze them tight. “You know you guys are the best.”

“Yeah we know,” they both state at the same time. I’m so glad they came. I didn’t realize how much I needed them here until I saw them.

“How are you holding out with everything that happened last night?” Logan asks.

“Okay I guess. I mean I’m really trying not to think about it.”

“Well if it makes you feel any better, I heard Austin is no longer going to North State. Your plan worked,” Farrah says, looping her arm into mine.

I smile. “You know what, it kind of does. He deserves to be happy.”

“So do you,” Logan adds, taking a hold of my hand. I’m so happy I still have him in my life.

“Jade!” my dad calls running into the waiting room.

I whip around to face him. “Yeah?”

“Would you like to come meet your new baby brother?”

“I have a brother?”

“You have a brother,” he says with a proud smile.

I look at Farrah and Logan half laughing and half crying. “I have a brother.”

“You have a brother,” Farrah sings swinging her arms around me.

“Congrats big sister!” Logan takes me in his arms and hugs me tightly.

I can’t believe I have a brother.

I walk into Trisha’s room afraid of what I might see. She is lying on a hospital bed holding a small baby bundled up in a white blanket with a light blue hat on his head. Trisha looks up and smiles. “Would you like to meet your brother?”

I nod. She hands me the baby as I each part of body shakes with fear. I haven’t really held a lot of babies in my life. My fear grows taking his small frame into my trembling arms. I’m afraid I’m going to hurt him. All I keep reminding myself is to make sure I hold the head, that’s what Farrah’s mom kept telling me when I held her baby.

I glance down at him and my heart grows with pure love for him. He’s so cute. His round little porcelain face is perfect. He opens one eye and I swear I see him smile. An immediate desire to protect him takes over me and pushes out all my fear. “What’s his name?” I ask, not taking my eyes off him.

“Corey James, but we’re going to call him CJ,” my dad answers sitting down next to Trisha.

“Those are Carrie’s and mine initials.”

“Yeah, I know,” he says with a huge smile. He takes Trisha’s hand and gives it a sweet kiss. I’m not sure I’ll ever be okay with them being together but at the same time I’m so happy to be holding CJ in my arms, and in a weird way to have Trisha in my life. She’s really turning out to be a good stepmother.

I stay in the hospital all afternoon watching Trisha’s friends and family stop by to meet CJ. Right before visiting hours are over Carrie walks in. She looks as nervous as I felt before, but I know the minute she sees CJ she’ll love him as much as I do.

“Would you like to hold your brother?” my dad asks her.

“Maybe. I mean yes,” she answers.

I walk over and hand her the baby. Carrie’s arms tremble just as bad as mine did. “His name is CJ for Corey James,” I proudly announce.

“Nice to meet you CJ.” Her eyes become glossy. “Good thing they put my initial first because CJ sounds so much better than JC.” We all laugh. It’s going to take Carrie time to forgive my dad, but I’m sure she will. If anything, she’s going to be a good sister to CJ just like she’s been to me.

When it’s time to leave I decide to head out with Carrie. I really need to see my mother and make sure she’s okay. The truth is I just want to give her a tight hug, and tell her I love her.

The minute Carrie turns onto our street my heart becomes tight with sorrow. The For Sale sign in front of Austin’s house is reminder that he’s really leaving. I step out of the car just as he walks out of his house. Our eyes connect for a quick second before he jumps in his car and drives off. It hurts so much to see him.

“You need to tell him the truth,” Carrie says walking alongside me.

“I tried.”

“And?”

“It’s too late.”

“It’s never too late.”

“This time it is,” I say opening the front door.

We walk into the house and find our mother sitting in the living room looking at one of our family photo albums.

“Mom, are you okay?” I ask sitting next to her.

She wipes her eyes. “Oh yes. Just remembering when you two were babies.” She closes the photo album. “So, I hear you have a new baby brother.”

“Yeah.” I’m afraid to give her details, or tell her how much I already love him. I don’t want to hurt her more than she already is.

“Well CJ is lucky to get two older sister like the two of you.”

“How do you know his name?” Carrie asks as surprised as I am. We both sit on either side of her.

“Your father told me.”

“Dad? When did you talk to him?” I ask.

“Earlier when I called him to congratulate him.”

“You called him?” I ask still confused.

“Yes. Your father will always be important to me, mostly because he gave me the greatest gifts ever.” She grabs both our hands. “My two beautiful girls.” We all begin to shed tears as we hug her.

This is been a tough year for all of us, and I’m happy it didn’t destroy us. We might not be the family we were once before, but we are still a family.

“I’m starving, how about we order a pizza and make it a Netflix night?” My mom asks.

“That sounds perfect,” Carrie and I agree.

By the middle of July a SOLD sign is placed on top of the FOR SALE sign of Austin’s house. My mother learned the Evans have to be out by August 1
^st
. I can’t believe in a couple of weeks I’ll look out the window and see a whole new family living there.

Ever since I learned about the official sale I’ve become even more depressed. All I do is go to work and then imprison myself in my room. I hardly see Austin and when I do he doesn’t even look my way. I miss him so much.

The only time I do feel happy is when I’m with CJ. I can’t believe how much I love him. He’s such a good baby. He keeps my dad and Trisha up all night, but tends to sleep when I hold him. What can I say, he loves his older sister.

Carrie hasn’t really come by that much. I don’t blame her. With her wedding right around the corner she’s been a bit stressed out, and has been driving my mother crazy.

I’m pretty sure if I’m ever lucky to fall in love again my mother will beg me to elope. Although, I really doubt I’ll ever love someone as much as I love Austin. Then again, my mother found Tony after losing the love of her life.

My mother is getting closer with him, and I hate to admit I’m starting to like him. Tony makes her happy and that’s a huge plus on his side. But don’t get me wrong I’ll never think he’s good enough for her. To me my dad will always be the perfect one for her, but that’s the way I see it, not the way they do.

I think this summer sucks even more than the last one. Farrah and Logan keep begging me to go out with them all the time, but I always say no. I don’t want to ruin their fun. Besides Logan is officially dating Becky now and I believe he needs to spend all the time he can with her. Next year Becky will be in the same place I found myself this year when she has to deal with Logan going away to college.

I wonder if Austin is all packed and ready to move to Texas yet. It kills me every time I realize I’m never going to see him again. I miss him so much it hurts to breathe. Two months away from him has not helped my heart heal. I’m basically a dead soul walking around trying to get through the day.

“How was work?” Trisha asks when I walk into my house.

My dad just waves as he speaks on the phone.

“It sucked. Where’s CJ?”

“Sleeping.”

“Who’s my dad talking to?”

“I have no idea.”

“Well I’m gonna go to bed.”

“But it’s only six. We didn’t even eat dinner yet. Please stay in here with us,” Trisha says, draping her arm around my shoulders. She’s been so good to me. Many times she’ll stay up with me allowing me to just cry in her arms. I no longer wish for her death.

“I’m tired. Besides I’m not hungry.”

“Ok no problem. See you in a bit,” my father says into the phone and then hangs up. “That was your sister.”

“Carrie? What does she want?”

“She said she wants you to get dressed. She’ll be here in twenty minutes to pick you up.”

“What? I don’t wanna go out.” She probably wants me to do wedding stuff with her. I’m really not in the mood. I pull out my phone and call her back, but she doesn’t answer.

“Please call her back and tell her I don’t wanna go out,” I order my dad.

“Sorry. She told me she’s not taking no for an answer. So you better go and get ready.”

I want to stomp my foot on the floor like a four year old and scream NO! Why can’t everyone just leave me alone? I turn around and head to my room to pout until she arrives.

My sister appears at the door exactly twenty minutes later. “Hello Carrie.” My father goes to give her a kiss on the cheek but she moves out of the way before he can reach her. I wish she would stop treating him like a diseased man. Trisha stays back and doesn’t even try to say hello.

“Is that what you’re wearing?” Carrie asks me, coming in further. I decided not to change and stayed in my black leggings and white T-shirt.

“Yes. I don’t feel like getting dressed up,” I answer wishing I didn’t have to go with her.

“You know, you really are a brat.” She rolls her eyes in frustration.

“Whatever.”

“Let’s go.”

“Where are we going?” I ask walking right behind her.

“You’ll see.”

“Have fun,” my dad says at the door.

“Thanks,” Carries mumbles. Right before she walks out the door she turns around and says, “Um...Dad?”

“Yes?”

“I was wondering if you were busy next Friday?”

“No.” My dad straightens up. He knows that’s Carrie’s wedding rehearsal.

“Good. Be at the church by six for the rehearsal. That way you won’t mess it up when you walk me down the aisle on Saturday.”

My dad’s smile widens. I know he wanted to walk her down the aisle more than anything. “No problem. I’ll be there.”

“Good. And make sure to bring Trisha and my baby brother with you,” Carrie says with a sincere smile.

Warmth springs into my heart for them. This moment couldn’t be more perfect. I don’t say a word to my sister about what just happened. I know she hates that kind of attention. I’m happy she’s finally starting to forgive him.

“Where are we going?” I ask, buckling my seatbelt.

“I have no idea. They just asked me to deliver you.”

“Who asked you to deliver me?”

“You’ll see,” she sings raising and lowering her eyebrows.

Oh god, it’s probably Farrah and Logan. They wanted me to go to some party at Cisco Beach with them. I wish they would give up trying to cheer me up.

We pull into the parking lot, but neither Farrah nor Logan’s car is there. Instead it’s Austin car with him leaning against his door. I look over at my sister with my heart racing inside my chest.

“He wants to talk to you,” she says smiling brightly.

I sit frozen in my seat. I want to cry and laugh at the same time. All I’ve wanted for the last couple of weeks is to see him, but now that he’s in front of me I’m scared to face him. “I can’t do this.”

“Yes you can.” She takes a hold of my hand. “It’s all going to be okay. Trust me.”

I look up at her with tears in my eyes. “Thank you.” I open the car door and step outside with every inch of me overwhelmingly trembling.

“Have fun!” my sister yells before driving off.

I walk towards him hoping to God he’s not here to tell me off again. “Hi,” I utter, trying my best to look into his beautiful dark eyes without crying.

“I’m glad you came.” His hair has grown a little longer and he looks like he hasn’t shaved in days. I wonder if he’s been as miserable as I have.

I nod. It is so hard to stand in front of him knowing I might never see him again. “When are you moving?” I ask with my voice almost cracking.

“My parents are moving out this weekend.”

“Oh.” I drop my head as my heart shatters into a billion pieces. I didn’t think it was going to be this soon.

“I’m not going with them.”

I pop my head up. “You’re not?”

“No. I’ll be staying at Derek’s until I have to head to school.”

I try to smile but I can’t. This is all too painful.

“Why did you do it?” he asks catching me off guard. Oh no, he is here to tell me off again. “Why did you listen to my mother?”

“Huh?”

“She had no right to ask you to do what you did,” Austin says shaking his head.

“You know?”

“Yeah, I know.”

“But how?”

“Logan. He thought I should know before I left.”

Logan? I can’t believe it. I owe him a big hug.

“Why did you do it?” Austin asks running his fingers through his hair.

“I didn’t want you to give up on something you wanted so badly because of me. I couldn’t be the reason you weren’t going to UT. I’m so sorry. I didn’t want to hurt you.”