meet me, then I can come to you. If not, that’s okay too. But…you…you can call me anytime, okay?”
“That’s cool, Allison. Really cool,” Jake said.
“It was really nice to meet you Jake.”
“You too, Allison.”
We stood in silence for a bit before we both opened our respective car doors.
Before getting in, I waved goodbye to him again as he faced me looking hesitant to get into his car.
Something came over me as he stood there and it really hit me that this awkward tattooed tobacco smelling teenager was my kid brother.
I had a living sibling.
I impulsively ran over to him and pulled him into a hug. When we separated, his eyes were watering and I knew at that moment that he was thinking the same thing.
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*** On the plane ride back to Boston, I thought about how different my life is now, compared to last time I was on a plane headed to Chicago. I had felt so alone then and so confused.
The two months spent with the Thompsons in Naperville had given me a new perspective on my past, on life, on what truly matters and most of all, forgiveness.
I looked down at my phone to the series of texts that I had received last night from Jake.
Jake: Just checking to make
sure I wasn’t dreaming.
Allison: Hey there!! Nope…it
was surreal, though, wasn’t it?
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Jake: I told Mom. She really
wants to meet you when you come
back.
Allison: Really?
Jake: Yeah…she was disappoin-
ted that you left so soon, but she was
happy the two of us got to meet.
Allison: I am happy we got to
meet too.
Jake: Talk to you later…Sis.
Sounds weird to say it.
Allison: Please keep in touch,
Jake. xo
Jake was a sweetheart, but I was glad that I wouldn’t be meeting my birth mother for another couple of months. It would give 616/727
us both time to prepare for that face-to-face encounter and give me time to think about what I want to say to her and ask her. She couldn’t be that bad of a person because Jake seemed to turn out okay. He was very sweet actually. I really looked forward to getting to know him more than anything.
Before I faced my Chicago relatives, though, there were more pressing matters back home in Boston that have been waiting long enough to be dealt with.
It was time to face Cedric. It was time to let him know where I have been and to finally let him know how I have been feeling all of these weeks since he poured his heart out to me in that letter.
I had been very careful not to let him know where I was all of this time. For all he knew, I had run away, never to return. I was a little nervous about what I would find out tomorrow. A lot can happen in five months.
Has Cedric moved on with someone else?
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Would he forgive me for leaving town and not saying a word to him about where I was going?
By the time the plane lands in Boston, it will be too late to do anything or see anyone. But tomorrow is Labor Day and no one is working, so I had vowed to track down Cedric and get this over with. It couldn’t wait any longer.
I would start by going to Bettina’s house to check on Callie and to apologize for leaving them high and dry. Then, I would find out where Cedric is and arrange to meet him to let out all of the feelings I have been keeping bottled up.
The anticipation of what I was going to say to him made me nervous but the memories of both his stunning face and the warmth of his touch comforted me, made me frustrated and giddy.
***
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Optimize the fire Moon today, Dear Gemini, as this is a day to be constructive and finish those projects that have been difficult to complete. This is a day to advance in the direction of your goals and tackle unfinished business.
The sun was shining and the air was warm and dry on Monday morning. It was the perfect weather for good hair and I celebrated by giving myself a long blowout.
I also picked out the prettiest aqua tank top and matching skirt I had bought at the mall in Naperville on a rare outing with Elaine during my trip. I finished off the outfit with gray wedges and a thin gray half cardigan. I made up my face and even tried the smoky eye that the mall cosmetologist showed me how to do.
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It might have been the peace I had found in Illinois or it might have been the fact that I was happy to be home in Boston, but even I had to admit, I looked and felt really good when I saw myself in the mirror.
There was no answer when I called Bettina’s house from my apartment to see if she and Callie would be home today. I decided I would just head over there anyway in the middle of the afternoon. Hopefully, she and Callie would be home since it was Labor Day. I kind of wanted to surprise Callie anyway. It was possible Bettina would be having something at the house to celebrate the holiday or that she might not be home at all. I would have to take my chances. After I saw Bettina, I planned to text Cedric to find out where we might be able to meet up and talk.
“Damn, you are one hot bitch,” Sonia said as she got a look at me.
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“Thanks. I want to look decent in case I see Cedric later and don’t have time to come back here to change.” Sonia started fluffing my hair. “You’re really going to confront him tonight? You just got back. Maybe wait a few days?”
“This can’t wait anymore, Sonia. It’s been five months since he wrote me that letter. I owe him an explanation of my feelings.
It’s time.”
“And what exactly are you feeling these days?”
I thought about that for a second and the really it came down to one thing.
“I miss him.”
Sonia sighed. “Are you prepared for the possibility that he may have moved on?”
“Honestly? No,” I said, putting my head in my hands and rubbing my temples.
“I don’t want to see you get hurt,” Sonia said.
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“I know, but after all that’s happened this past year, I owe it to myself to see this through even if I risk getting hurt. I mean, come on. I finally meet the man of my dreams, found a meaningful career path, got attacked by my ex-boyfriend, found out I had a twin, found out she died, found out the man I was falling in love with was said twin’s boyfriend and that they conceived a child.
Then, I fell in love with my sister’s parents and saw her Dad through cancer. And to top it all off, I randomly meet my biological brother in a cemetery! I think it’s safe to say, I’ve built up a little strength to handle what might come my way today.”
Sonia hugged me. “Agreed and I am so proud of how you have survived all this.
You know, you really should write a book.
This would make a hell of a story.”
“Seriously,” I said as we both broke into laughter.
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“Really. You could call it Gemini…you know, it’s your sign and symbolizes twins.
“That’s freaky. I never thought of that,” I said.