“Hello, Matthew,” I say, my lips curling around the sound of his name. I have already decided I’m not calling him uncle.
“Reed!” he exclaims and lunges at me before I can stop him. He has pulled me into his arms and is now hugging me. I can feel his body quaking. Is he crying? I can’t do the same. I can’t bring myself to wrap my arms around him too. Over his shoulder, I catch Ella’s eye. The color has risen in her cheeks, and I know she’s emotional too.
I don’t push him away, while big loud sobs escape him.
“Honey?” A woman’s voice. She is coming towards the front door. When she appears, she looks shocked when she sees her husband embracing me.
“This is Reed. He’s here. He’s actually here. Look at him! Dan’s little boy!” Matthew turns to his wife, and his face is sloppy and wet with tears now. His wife lifts a hand up to her mouth in shock.
“Reed! Oh my Goodness!” she squeals, and just like her husband, she lunges at me too.
This time when I look at Ella, I see her smiling. It’s not as sentimental anymore; it’s bordering on comical.
Sally and Matthew Silvers are fussing over us at their small kitchen table. Sally is heating up the leftover apple pie from dinner last night, while Matthew makes the coffee. They’ve forced us to sit down at the table while they rush around the kitchen in a frenzy.
“So you’re not his employee? You’re his wife?” Matthew exclaims, turning to Ella. She blushes. Her ears have turned red too. She is definitely not a good liar.
“I’m sorry, that is my fault. I told her to be cautious when she sees you,” I speak up. Matthew just smiles. He doesn’t care; he’s just happy to be reunited with me.
“Well, the two of you make a beautiful couple. Just gorgeous. Your daddy would have been so proud you found yourself such a nice young lady,” Sally says, bringing over the apple pie to the table.
The kitchen has filled with the delicious sweet smell of her baking. The kind of smell I always imagined homes to be filled with. The ones with actual families.
Matthew brings over coffees for everyone, and finally, we are all sitting down. Ella is exceptionally quiet, and I can see her subconsciously twisting the wedding ring around and around.
“Your cousin Jerry, our son, he has two kids now. We should call them, organize a whole family meal. You’re staying, yes? The weekend?” Matthew says, his eyes wild with joy. Sally is looking up at me expectantly too.
“Yeah, we’ll check into a hotel later. I wanted to have a look around the town, see where my father grew up.”
“That’s an excellent idea, except for the part about the hotel. Why would you spend your money on that when you can just take Jerry’s old room here!” Matthew exclaims.
Ella glances at me in a panic.
“It’s fine. Thank you for the offer, but we’ll go to a hotel,” I insist.
“Of course not! You’re staying here. We don’t want to miss a single moment that we can spend with you, honey,” Sally says and reaches her hand out to cover mine on the table.
I try to avoid Ella’s glare.
I’m curious. I feel a sudden sense of belonging here. Matthew and Sally have been warm in their welcome and they have made me want to experience it a little more.
“Okay,” I say, and Sally claps her hands delightedly.
Ella’s eyes are wide with shock.
“I’m sure you have a lot of questions, Sally, and I will be happy to answer all of them. But first, why don’t we get you both settled into your room? Then I can take you around town and show you all the spots,” Matthew suggests.
I don’t really need settling in, but something tells me Ella wants to desperately talk to me and discuss our current situation.
“Sure, sounds like a plan. I’ll get the bags from the car,” I say. I have to admit I’m looking forward to sharing the room with her.
There’s nothing special about the bedroom, except that Ella and I are alone in it. Both our bags are lying on the narrow double bed. The room is filled with remnants of a teenage boy’s life.
“We can’t stay here…together. In this room!” Ella exclaims.
“Why not?”
“Because we’ve lied to them!” she hisses. “They actually think we’re married.”
“Yeah, that was the plan.”
“But we’re not!” She speaks like she’s trying to keep her voice down, and