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Authors: Theresa Ragan
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your father pass away?”
“It seems like yesterday when our father died, but it happened fourteen years ago, right after my oldest sister, Sally, graduated from high school.”
“Around the same time Sally threw her high school graduation party,” Kari said.
Breanne’s eyes widened. “You’re right. Sally had a graduation party. Boy, did she get in trouble for that one. I missed the party because I was in Santa Barbara with my parents. We were visiting Nana.”
Breanne looked thoughtful for a moment before she added, “Max surprised us all that weekend by coming home from college for a visit. Two days after the party, we returned from Santa Barbara. It didn’t take long for Max and my father to get into it...a stupid argument about me, since I was hell bent on going to a rock concert. Max thought I should get to go.”
Breanne shook her head. “Max and my father always butted heads, so it wasn’t anything new. I was only twelve. God, I remember that day as if it happened last week.” Her voice softened. “Max told Dad he was being ridiculous. Dad folded the newspaper he’d been reading and set it on the coffee table. Then he stood and opened his mouth as if he was about to say something, but no words came out. He just slumped back into his chair and stopped breathing...just like that.”
Tingles raced up Kari’s spine. “What did you do?”
“Max gave Dad mouth-to-mouth while I ran through the house screaming. By the time I returned with Mom, Max was holding Dad in his arms. It was the only time I ever saw my brother cry.”
An image of Max’s mother looking distant, almost robotic, when she had gone to Max’s house to talk to him, came to mind. Max hadn’t been home. Kari had no idea Max had lost his father during that time. Two months later, Kari remembered going to Max’s house again. His mother answered the door and this time Kari handed his mother a letter addressed to Max, asking her to pass it on.
Kari looked at Breanne and realized she must have said too much because Breanne was looking at her as if she’d suddenly grown horns. Kari busied herself with opening a box of noodles.
“How did you know about Sally’s party?”
Wishing she hadn’t opened her mouth, Kari said, “I used to live in Roseville. I graduated the same year as Sally.”
“No kidding? What a small world. Does Max know that?”
Kari shook her head as she set the ricotta cheese and mozzarella on the counter. A movement outside caught her attention and once again she found herself watching Max through the window. He climbed out of the pool and the sight of him half naked, his strong athletic body glistening beneath the morning sun, took her breath away. Some things never changed.
“He seemed riled yesterday,” Breanne said, breaking into Kari’s thoughts. “Max doesn’t rile easily.”
“Is that right? What was he riled about?”
“You.”
Kari tried to ignore the heat climbing upward to her face. “I can’t imagine why.”
“He said you mentioned that the two of you met before, which makes sense now that I know you used to live in Roseville.”
Kari nodded. “I used to see Max in the morning when he delivered papers. The memories are foggy. It was a long time ago.”
“Did you ever watch him play football in high school?”
“I remember my father mentioning seeing Max’s name in the paper every once in while...you know...for leading number of tackles, or whatever. It’s all sort of a blur really.” Not.
“Well, take it from me,” Breanne said, “Max is definitely smitten with you.”
Nervous laughter escaped Kari as she fumbled around for something to do. She opened the carton of eggs.
“I’m serious,” Breanne went on. “Before he went out last night, he rambled on about the importance of my getting plenty of nutrients while I’m pregnant. I think you’ve created a monster.”
“It can’t be that bad. I’ve only spent one day with him.”
“Oh, yeah? He tossed the deli
“It seems like yesterday when our father died, but it happened fourteen years ago, right after my oldest sister, Sally, graduated from high school.”
“Around the same time Sally threw her high school graduation party,” Kari said.
Breanne’s eyes widened. “You’re right. Sally had a graduation party. Boy, did she get in trouble for that one. I missed the party because I was in Santa Barbara with my parents. We were visiting Nana.”
Breanne looked thoughtful for a moment before she added, “Max surprised us all that weekend by coming home from college for a visit. Two days after the party, we returned from Santa Barbara. It didn’t take long for Max and my father to get into it...a stupid argument about me, since I was hell bent on going to a rock concert. Max thought I should get to go.”
Breanne shook her head. “Max and my father always butted heads, so it wasn’t anything new. I was only twelve. God, I remember that day as if it happened last week.” Her voice softened. “Max told Dad he was being ridiculous. Dad folded the newspaper he’d been reading and set it on the coffee table. Then he stood and opened his mouth as if he was about to say something, but no words came out. He just slumped back into his chair and stopped breathing...just like that.”
Tingles raced up Kari’s spine. “What did you do?”
“Max gave Dad mouth-to-mouth while I ran through the house screaming. By the time I returned with Mom, Max was holding Dad in his arms. It was the only time I ever saw my brother cry.”
An image of Max’s mother looking distant, almost robotic, when she had gone to Max’s house to talk to him, came to mind. Max hadn’t been home. Kari had no idea Max had lost his father during that time. Two months later, Kari remembered going to Max’s house again. His mother answered the door and this time Kari handed his mother a letter addressed to Max, asking her to pass it on.
Kari looked at Breanne and realized she must have said too much because Breanne was looking at her as if she’d suddenly grown horns. Kari busied herself with opening a box of noodles.
“How did you know about Sally’s party?”
Wishing she hadn’t opened her mouth, Kari said, “I used to live in Roseville. I graduated the same year as Sally.”
“No kidding? What a small world. Does Max know that?”
Kari shook her head as she set the ricotta cheese and mozzarella on the counter. A movement outside caught her attention and once again she found herself watching Max through the window. He climbed out of the pool and the sight of him half naked, his strong athletic body glistening beneath the morning sun, took her breath away. Some things never changed.
“He seemed riled yesterday,” Breanne said, breaking into Kari’s thoughts. “Max doesn’t rile easily.”
“Is that right? What was he riled about?”
“You.”
Kari tried to ignore the heat climbing upward to her face. “I can’t imagine why.”
“He said you mentioned that the two of you met before, which makes sense now that I know you used to live in Roseville.”
Kari nodded. “I used to see Max in the morning when he delivered papers. The memories are foggy. It was a long time ago.”
“Did you ever watch him play football in high school?”
“I remember my father mentioning seeing Max’s name in the paper every once in while...you know...for leading number of tackles, or whatever. It’s all sort of a blur really.” Not.
“Well, take it from me,” Breanne said, “Max is definitely smitten with you.”
Nervous laughter escaped Kari as she fumbled around for something to do. She opened the carton of eggs.
“I’m serious,” Breanne went on. “Before he went out last night, he rambled on about the importance of my getting plenty of nutrients while I’m pregnant. I think you’ve created a monster.”
“It can’t be that bad. I’ve only spent one day with him.”
“Oh, yeah? He tossed the deli
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