Chapter Twenty-Six
Meant to Be
Layne left his room, walked through the weight room, rounded the stairs and stopped dead when he looked down to see Vera and Devin sitting together three steps from the top.
When Vera sensed him, her neck twisted, her head went back and she put her finger to her lips.
“You have pictures?” Layne heard Tripp ask from downstairs and Layne’s attention shifted to listen.
“Yeah, Tripp,” Rocky answered.
It was Sunday morning, after Vera’s pancakes but the TV wasn’t on. Layne couldn’t be sure but he was guessing Tripp and Rocky were on the colossal, cushiony sectional that was a connected square that looked part-bed, part-couch and all comfortable and now sat in the corner by the front window taking up nearly the entirety of the front space.
“Was she pretty, like you?” Tripp asked and Layne pulled in a breath and his neck muscles got tight.
Tripp was asking about her mother.
Devin turned his head too and shook it at Layne.
“No,” Rocky replied. “She was beautiful.”
“So,” Jasper put in, “like you.”
Layne closed his eyes and his hand went to the top of the post at the stairs, his fingers curling around it, holding on.
“That’s sweet, Jas,” Rocky said softly.
“Yeah, I’m sweet, Keirry says so,” Jasper returned arrogantly and Layne opened his eyes and smiled.
“You’re also full of it,” Tripp told him.
“Watch and learn, Tripp-o-matic, and you’ll hook Giselle deep,” Jasper noted.
“Giselle’s already hooked deep, dude, she totally digs me,” Tripp replied.
“That’s because you’re sweet too,” Rocky said.
“Yeah?” Tripp asked, sounding like an affirmative answer meant everything in the world.
“Yeah,” Rocky answered softly, with one soft word, giving his son the world.
There was silence then Tripp remarked, “I’m fourteen.”
“I know, Tripp,” Rocky replied.
“I turn fifteen next month,” he told her.
“Yeah? What do you want for your birthday?” Rocky asked.
“Milky Way cake,” Tripp answered.
“That can be arranged,” Rocky stated.
“You were fourteen too,” Tripp noted and Layne watched Vera’s hand shoot out and clutch Devin’s knee, she knew what he was referring to, they all did.
Layne’s body went alert, ready to move in case this went bad.
“Sorry, honey?” Rocky asked.
“When it happened… uh, with your Mom,” Tripp answered.
“Tripp,” Jasper said low, a warning.
“It’s okay,” Rocky whispered. “Yes, Tripp, I was fourteen.”
“Dad was shot,” Tripp announced and Layne started moving but Devin’s head jerked around again, he shook it sharply as his arm went around Vera.
“I know,” Rocky said softly.
“So, um… I just want you to know, uh… well, it wasn’t the same but… I know,” Tripp stated and Layne, down two steps, dropped to sit on the landing mostly because, fuck him, his legs couldn’t hold him up anymore.
“I guess you do,” Rocky replied.
“It’s not the same,” Tripp told her something she already knew.
“Yes, that doesn’t mean it wasn’t bad,” Rocky returned. “I was there and I saw you were worried. I know how that feels. My Dad was shot too.”
“You were there?” Jasper asked. “You were at the hospital when Dad was shot?”
“You didn’t see me but, yes, I was there.”
“Wow, totally missed that,” Tripp muttered.
“Dad says that him getting shot tweaked you,” Jasper remarked.
“Yes, Jas,” Rocky confirmed and Layne could tell she was smiling, “it tweaked me.”
“’Cause you were into him, even though, you know, you guys had broken up,” Jasper stated.
“Yes, Jas, I was into him,” Rocky confirmed.
“All these years, right?” Jasper pushed.
“Does that make you feel weird?” Rocky asked.
“No, it’s cool. I’m a dude but girls say Dad’s hot,” Jasper answered. “So, I can see that’d make you stay into him.”
“Yes, your father is hot and that’s part of why I stayed into him,” Rocky now sounded like she was trying not to laugh. “Though, just an FYI, Jas, you look like your father, you’re very good-looking but that isn’t the reason why Keira likes you.”
“It isn’t?” Tripp asked.
“Nope,” Roc answered.
“Why’s she like him then?” Tripp asked.
“We already talked about it,” Rocky answered, “because he’s sweet.
“No, she digs my six-pack,” Jasper informed them and Layne pressed his lips together as he saw his mother’s back go straight and Devin’s back start shaking with silent laughter.
“Jasper Layne, I do not want to think of why Keira Winters would know you have a six-pack,” Rocky stated severely.
Jasper, always quick, replied, “She saw me at a pool party last summer.”
This was not true. As far as Layne knew, Jasper didn’t attend a pool party last summer.
“I hope that’s it,” Rocky muttered.
“What I don’t get is,” Tripp started, obviously helping his brother out changing the subject, “shit happens for a reason.
“Sorry?” Rocky asked.
“Well, you and Dad had a thing and he, like, has photos of you. He showed us one. And, you know, it was kind of meant to be, you know?” Tripp said.
“I think so,” Rocky responded hesitantly.
“What I’m sayin’ is, like, see, Dad got shot which tweaked you, so, that happened for a reason. I mean, it isn’t good, you know, Dad having to get shot and you gettin’ tweaked and all but, since you guys were meant to be, something had to happen for you guys to get back together and I reckon it had to be big,” Tripp explained.
Layne felt his chest start burning and he noted his mother’s head had fallen to Devin’s shoulder but this didn’t penetrate as he listened to his son and his woman.
“Yes, honey, now I understand so I guess you’re right,” Rocky replied.
“So, what I don’t get… and, what really sucks… is your Mom died for no reason,” Tripp went on, Vera’s head shot up, Layne’s body shot up and so did Devin’s.
Devin turned and shook his head at Layne and Layne scowled at him but held himself in check.
“Sometimes,” Rocky said softly, “sometimes, I guess, stuff happens for no reason.”
“Our Mom can be harsh,” Tripp declared.
“Uh… okay,” Rocky replied.
“But, it’d suck, losin’ her,” Tripp finished.
“She’s a good Mom and she loves you like crazy,” Rocky told him.
“Yeah, that’s why it’d suck,” Tripp stated.
“You won’t lose her,” Rocky assured him. “So, you shouldn’t think about that.”
“I’m not thinkin’ about that. I’m just thinkin’, I’m sorry you lost yours,” Tripp returned.
Layne closed his eyes again.
“I’m sorry too, Tripp,” Rocky said.
“I am too, Roc,” Jas put in. “You’re the shit so I reckon your Mom taught you to be the shit so I bet she was cool.”
Layne opened his eyes.
“Yep, Jas, she was super-cool,” Rocky replied.
“Will you show us pictures of her?” Tripp asked.
“Sure, honey,” Rocky answered.
“Cool,” Tripp muttered.
There was silence and Layne started to move but something happened, something he couldn’t see but it was something big and Layne stopped when Tripp spoke again.
“I gotta say somethin’,” he announced.
“What, honey?” Rocky asked.
“You’re gonna think I’m a dork,” Tripp told her.