throws me off track a little, like my senses are tricking me.
“Aimee?” Jake prompts. I realize that he’s been talking to me and I haven’t been paying any attention.
“Sorry, I was miles away.” I adjust the spaghetti straps on my top. “What were you saying?” I ask, bringing my focus back to the two of us in the car rather than the people awaiting us in the house.
“I was asking if you’re sure you’re okay,” Jake repeats, looking at me with an expression that reminds me how well he knows me.
“Sure, I’m all good, Summers,” I tell him jokingly, getting ready to open the door of his restored Jeep. But Jake’s arm shoots out to stop me from stepping out.
“She’s your mom, Aimee.” He searches my eyes as he absently caresses the soft underside of my forearm. “It’ll be alright,” he says encouragingly, and the tenderness in his voice immediately makes me feel more relaxed.
“I know.” I nod. He’s right after all. He often was, which was more than a little infuriating. “Now let’s go, I’m starving.” I smile and Jake returns it in kind.
We hold hands as we walk up the front porch of the Summers House. It’s funny—we spent years just as friends, but now it seems inconceivable to be close to him without touching. I look down at our fingers linked together and feel stronger for having this contact with him. Jake squeezes my small hand in his bigger one and I look up at the handsome, brave man next to me. His eyes are so full of deep love and, as he reaches past me to push the door-bell, he whispers in my ear, “I love you.”
I don’t have much time to reply or to do much of anything before the door is opened by the smallest doorman imaginable.
“Jake!” Jonah cries excitedly as he all but jumps into his big brothers’ arms.
“Hey little man,” Jake replies as he’s almost thrown to the ground by the force of his six-year-old brother.
The sight of the two Summers boys together makes me laugh, and it’s the first carefree laugh I’ve been able to conjure up for the longest time.
“Jake? Aimee? Is that you?” Sally’s voice comes from inside the house. “Jonah, let them come inside!” she cheerfully berates her youngest as she catches sight of the welcome he’s still giving his big brother.
“What do you say, little guy?” Jake asks, setting Jonah back onto the ground. “Shall we go see what Mom and Dad are up to?”
Jonah doesn’t seem to have any inclination to go back into the house and Jake looks at me a little helplessly. It’s pretty funny to see a big, strong man at a loss when it comes to a little boy.
“Hey Jonah, why don’t you show me that cool truck you got for your birthday?” I ask, knowing that the way to his heart is most definitely through his latest—and therefore most exciting—toy.
“Yeah, it’s awesome! I’ll show you Aimee, but girls aren’t allowed to touch it!” Jonah grabs my hand and pulls me into the house excitedly. I nod solemnly, showing him that I’ve understood and ignore Jake’s smirk as he follows us inside.
As Jonah leads me through the kitchen Sally manages to intercept him and I’m pulled into one of her trademark hugs that makes you feel like everything is right in the world.
“Hi baby girl,” she says soothingly, without letting me go. “We’ve missed you.” Sally would be well within her right to give my ear a hiding for not having been over since I’d asked her to look after my mother until we got back on our feet. But that isn’t Sally’s style; she is one of those people that makes the world a better place just by being in it.
“I’ve missed you guys too,” I tell her sincerely as she holds me at arm’s length to inspect me.
“You’ve lost weight,” she confirms disapprovingly.
“You always say that,” I remind her, laughing and shaking my