Annie's party started right on time, and to our utter shock, she arrived on time too. Eight on the button. Anyone would have thought that she had figured it out, or that she knew all along...
I corner her in the bathroom awhile after she arrives.
"Who told you?" I ask.
"What? Nobody told me! It was a total surprise!"
She couldn't even pretend to be shocked when she walked in here, so I don't know how she expects me to believe that.
"Bullshit."
"I swear Iz, nobody gave the game away."
She does her best to hold it in, but I can see that she's practically bursting at the seams to tell me the truth.
"But you know what?" she says, "Maybe Adam should empty his pockets before he puts his dirty clothes in the hamper in future, if he had, I might not have found any of the receipts that gave the whole thing away."
I'm skeptical to say the least.
"Well I know that's a lie, because you don't do his laundry Annie."
"No, but I do search through his pockets to see what he's planning for my birthday!"
There we go.
"You're terrible," I say as I chuckle along with her. "Poor Adam, he worked so hard."
"How about you and I keep this our little secret then," she says. "Anyway, there was still one big surprise. You're here! Look at you go Iz."
"My best friend has a birthday party, albeit not a surprise one, and my nephew arrives into the world over the same weekend, where else was I going to be?"
"Well, valid reasons or not,"she says, "I'm so happy you came, and Will, but he's here plenty so mostly you."
"Me too. I think I could visit more often now after being here this weekend. Actually I told Will to let Alex and Elenor know that I'd be coming to their wedding with him at the end of the summer too."
"Wow Izzy, that's so great! I bet Will was excited?"
"He was, it was really nice," I say. "We've honestly had such a great time, and Will has been so sweet and attentive too, he always is though I guess."
"Yack!" Annie puts a finger into her mouth pretending to throw up. "I don't want to hear how attentive my brother is with you thank you very much."
"Oh grow up." I say, rolling my eyes at her as she adds a coat of lipgloss to her pout.
"No seriously," she insists, " I take back any curiousity I had before, please don't ever feel the need to discuss your sex life with me. I know we're close, but we will never be that close."
"Hey! All you talk about is what you and Adam get up to!"
"Adam isn't your brother!"
"Fair point," I say, letting out a laugh at her silliness. "Alright, let's go and get back out there… before I go ahead and describe what your brother did to me over that very sink earlier."
She looks down, twisting her face with disgust. "Ew Izzy, that's so gross!"
"It didn't feel gross!," I call to her as I scarper out the door before she has a chance to hit me. Typically though, I walk right into the path of Will and his mom. Annie is footsteps behind me, but thankfully she stops short of repeating what I said as soon as she sees Cheryl.
"Izzy, it's so great to see you! I was just asking Will where you were hiding."
"Cheryl, I can't believe you only got in a few hours ago! You look amazing."
She leans in, giving me a kiss on my cheek and leaving her lipstick stain behind.
"Ugh, I had to get ready in the airport bathroom," she says, "Can you believe it? A three hour delay, so annoying."
"Well it's good to see you," I say, "and you look fantastic. The hotel is nice right?"
Cheryl is staying at the same hotel as Will and I for the weekend, we'll have breakfast together tomorrow before Will and I leave for home.
"It is. Actually I tried to get a room next to you guys, but they said those were already booked."
Will raises his eyebrows at me from behind his mom, we're thinking the same thing. Thank god.
"So Cheryl, what happened Bruce?" I ask, "Adam said he couldn't come because he hurt his ankle or something?"
"Oh, such a silly man, come sit with me Izzy, I'll tell you all about it."
I stay with Cheryl for a good hour, maybe more, listening to her tell me all of the minute detail of how Bruce slipped and broke his ankle on the porch steps after some rain. I hear all about his trip to the hospital too, right down to a second by second playback of what the doctor said. It absolutely could have been a three minute story, but I won't take the fact that Cheryl likes to talk to me for granted. In fact, I revel in it.
Eventually Will comes over, insisting that we get at least one dance in while we're here. As we sway together on the dance floor, I can't help but notice that he's a little tipsy already.
"I thought I was going to be the light weight tonight," I tease.
"It's not even funny, Adam keeps buying me shots and making me feel guilty if I don't drink them."
"Well, he did throw this big party for your sister right?"
"Yes, and he took over things at the bar for me when we left," he says. "Actually I should really be the one buying him drinks shouldn't I?"
"You rich people just hate to put your hand into your pocket don't you," I say.
"God, when will it end?"
I act like I'm thinking it over before answering. "Maybe when you're poor."
"I should never have told you that it was annoying."
"Exactly, but you did, so it means I get to use it against you forever. Sorry, those are just the rules."
"Whose rules?," he asks.
"Ours."
Will smiles softly, agreeing with me.
"Ours."
I stretch up to kiss him, tasting whatever concoction of alcohol that Adam plied him with.
"Come on," I say, "let's get you a normal drink. No more shots, I can practically hear you vomit already."
"What was that I heard about no shots?," A voice sounds from behind me. Adam is so close to my ear that it makes me jump. He's here on the hunt for Will with another two shot glasses in his hand.
Will can't even stand to look at the drink, never mind swallow it. He shakes his head at the offer.
"I can't, I don't know how you're doing it Adam, there's no way I can drink anymore of those. I actually want to remember some of this party!"
Adam pushes the glass into my hand. "Looks like you're taking one for the team here then Izzy."
"Oh no, not me sorry, here, why don't you have both," I say.
He steps back from me, refusing to take it back.
"You mean you're going to come to my party, and refuse the drinks I buy you?"
"I thought this was Annie's party?" I ask.
"Your letting the truth get in the way of things here Izzy, go with me on this."
"Okay, okay, here," I say, knocking the drink back. It burns my throat the entire way down. I don't know what it was, but I know I never want it again. "Good god! That's disgusting! What is it?"
"No idea," Adam says, "I just asked the bartender for whatever was strongest. Enjoy kids!"
He spins off in another direction entirely, if his current state is anything to go by, he's about to have a very short night.
Will and I spend most of the time dancing, catching up with people and explicitly avoiding any more drinks from Adam. All the same, I'm sure that I've drank at least a full bottle of wine in a few short hours, and it has absolutely gone to my head. I didn't really notice it until I tripped over thin air on my way to talk to Annie.
"Know the one that's one too many Izzy!," she jeers.
"Very funny! Tell your boyfriend that. Actually, where is he?"
Annie points to a little couch in the corner beside the bathrooms. Adam lays across it, fast asleep.
"Oh my. Well, at least he had fun. Are you enjoying yourself?"
"Oh my god Izzy, I'm having the best time," she says, "I know that I knew it was happening but it's just so nice having all the people I love in the same room."
"Awh I'm so glad, you truly deserve it Annie. You do so much for everybody. It's nice to see you get to enjoy yourself."
I dump my body into the chair beside her, I'm not even sure how late it is now, but I feel myself losing steam.
Annie leans into me a little, trying to whisper even though she doesn't need to with how loud the music is.
"A little bird tells me you have a big date next week."
"Oh really? It's so cute that he's talking about it."
"I thought so too until you ruined the wholesome view I had with your revelation in the bathroom. I'll have to bleach my mind to get rid of that!"
"Would it help if I said I was just kidding?"
"I know that would be a lie," she says, "so no."
We giggle and chat together for another little bit before Annie decides to go see if she can wake Adam up, she's wasting her time if you ask me, but away she goes anyway.
I sit for a few minutes, watching the other party guests as I try to muster up the energy to go and have another dance.
"Hey you," I hear before those calloused hands touch my bare back, making me shiver. I love how Wills touch still draws a reaction from me. "I saw you sitting alone and wanted to check on you," he says.
"That's sweet, I'm alright though, I was just talking to Annie for a bit and then took a little break."
"She having fun?"
"She's having a ball! She's over there trying to wake Adam now," I say, pointing across the room to where Annie pulls at Adam's eyelids in a desperate attempt rouse him.
"I told him that was gonna' happen."
"Right, and I'm sure you played no hand in any more of the drinks he had either," I say.
"Me? Never." A little smirk creeps up one side of his face as he watches Annie shake Adam awake.
It's not long before I notice how Will eyes are slowly blinking as he stares out at the dance floor. I know that look, he's about one hour away from needing to go to bed.
"Should I call us a cab now or wait a while?"
"You know me too well Iz," he says.
"We're like an old married couple at this point, and it's only just begun."
"I happen to like it that way," he says.
"Good, me too."
Will rounds the little table and slides himself in beside me.
"Would you want to do that?," he asks.
"Do what?"
"Be an old married couple, with me?"
"I thought we just agreed on that?"
I'm not sure which one of us is confused right now until Will runs his hand down his face in some form of frustration, so it must be me.
"I'm asking if you'd want us to get married sometime Izzy," he says. "You really don't make asking a hard question easy."
"Why is it a hard question, you're not asking me right now are you?"
"At my sister's birthday party?" he asks. "No, she'd kill me! I just want to know what you think about it, that's all."
"Where did this idea come from Will?"
I'm kind of caught off guard here. Sometimes Will is like an open book for me, and other times he totally surprises me.
"Well actually," he says, "to tell you the truth Iz, I think about asking you everyday. Literally, every single day. I think about how I'd ask you, where I'd ask you, what I'd say, all of it. But the one thing I never know is if you'd even say yes. I'm aware of the shadow it cast over things for you before... I know it isn't what you wanted."
"Will..."
Will must take the look on my face to mean bad news, because he quickly tries to banish the idea before I get more than a word out.
"No, look Iz I get it, if it's not for you that's okay. It's too soon to even really be talking about it anyway, I knew it would freak you out. I think I just needed to know that I should stop wondering, that's all."
"Okay woah," I say, "hold on a second, let me say something here."
He stares back at me, a painfully sad look in his eyes that makes my chest want to cave in.
"Remember the drive to Erie?," I ask. "And you stopped the rental truck in the middle of the road and blocked traffic?"
His brow knits together in confusion. "Why are you bring up those ducks again Isobel?"
"Yes! The ducks. They're a vital to this I promise, just let me finish okay?"
"Okay..."
"You stopped traffic for that little row of ducks after they wondered out onto the road. All the other cars honked their horns and chewed you out but you wouldn't let them stop you. You had to make sure those little guys crossed that road regardless, because that's the type of person you are. You do the right thing no matter who's against you Will. It's my favourite thing about you."
"Yeah but Izz-"
"In-fact," I continue, "the second you got out of that truck, I knew right then and there that I was going to marry you. And I've never once felt any other way about it. So yes, of course I want to be an old married couple with you, I want to be a young married couple, and a middle aged one too. I want all of that with you, only you. I'm just sorry that it wasn't obvious."
He smiles back at me, a look of content lighting up his face. I find it hard to swallow that he's spent any amount of time worrying about this. It was never about marriage for me really, it was about who.
Will takes my hand in his, squeezing it tightly. "Alright then," he says, "well you just make sure you act surprised three years from now when I do ask you."
"Oh wow, three years? Imagine the ring you're going to buy with three years worth of writing. It's going to be so gigantic that I'll need a wheelbarrow to move it around!"
Will presses his lips together, tilting his head down in an effort not to laugh. "I have a finger I'd like to show you right now," he says.
"Well you can't sorry," I tell him, "because your mom is coming,"
Cheryl stumbles our way, doing the same eye closing thing that Will is. What is with this family?
"Cheryl," I call to her, "we're leaving soon, do you want to come back with us?"
"That would be great honey. Guess what? I was just talking to a man out front that thought I was Annie. It made my whole year!"
"It is kind of weird how much you look alike," I say, "you certainly couldn't deny her."
"And I never would! Isn't that right Will?" She pats her hand on his face, rubbing his stubble. "My baby boy. I'm so glad this girl makes you happy. I really like her."
"Okay mom," Will says as he stands up, "let's get you back to the hotel. You should go say bye to Annie first, we'll be over in a minute."
Cheryl shuffles off to do just that while Will tries to stifle a yawn. "I think you were right about the old thing Iz," he says.
I reach out and ruffle his hair, there's not a single grey among the jet black strands. "At least you'll never look old... baby boy."
He stretch's his arm out in front of him, letting me lead the way while he mumbles something about warning his mom off giving me that kind of ammunition in future.
I stop once more in-front of him, wrapping my arms around his neck.
"How about I never bring it up again if you do something for me?"
"Name it," he says.
"Don't ever keep anything to yourself for that long again. We're a team Will, we always will be. We figure these things out together okay?"
"Deal."
He sneaks a final kiss before we go to say goodbye to Annie and get ourselves off to bed. It's been a long night, but one of the best I've had since we left too.
♾️
My head is a little sore after the party last night, I pretty much inhaled any and every available item of fried food at breakfast this morning.
Will grabbed us all some coffees once we finished eating, he's surprisingly fresh considering how rough I'm feeling.
"I just spoke to Annie," he says, handing over the caffeine, "she said Adam still hasn't woken up yet. I'm shocked he didn't spend the night hanging over the toilet bowl."
Cheryl gives Will the kind of glare that could only come from a mother. "Will! I've barely finished eating," she says.
I guess you never get too old for a scolding.
"Sorry Mom. Anyway, she said that she's going to come pick you up from here in an hour. Is that enough time for you?"
"Perfect. What do you think Izzy?," Cheryl asks, "Should I take her to get a massage or would it be a bad idea?"
"A massage sounds amazing to me right now Cheryl."
"Why don't you come too?," she offers. "Will can spend the day with Adam and you guys can go home a little later."
"That's so kind, but I need to get back, some of our summer exams are starting this week and I've done very little prep work. Thank you though, hopefully next time."
"Well actually I was going to ask you, do you guys think you'll come to visit at all over the summer?"
I look to Will, overall we have very little plans, I'm meeting Carol and Michelle for a week but thats about it.
"We'll see mom," Will tells her, "I'd like us to take a few weeks off together before school starts back for Izzy, let me have a look at that and I'll let you know okay?"
"Oh, did you get one of the jobs you applied to Izzy?" Cheryl asks.
"Not yet, there aren't all that many locally, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I might have to branch out a little bit but that's fine for us."
"I bet there's plenty of positions in Denver."
"Mom..." Will warns.
"What? I'm just saying! What's keeping you two in Erie after the summer?"
"We like being close to Izzy's family," he says, "and to Annie. It works this way."
"Do you guys think you'll ever come back here? To Ardeen? It's a really nice place, I can see why you loved it so much Will."
I notice Wills cheeks flush, he did love it here. And then he moved away for me. Neither of us have really fallen in love with where we are now either, but still, visiting is one thing, coming back is another.
"We'll find the right place for us Mom," Will says, "I'm not worried, but we're not coming back here."
I smile along, it's an uncomfortable conversation. Neither Annie or Will ever really gave Cheryl the full back story, just the basics, so I know she means no harm.
Once our bags are packed, we say our goodbyes to Cheryl and get on the road. It's not a long drive, so we'll have plenty of time at home to ourselves in the afternoon too, which is good because I need to get some paperwork ready for next week. I have a packed schedule in the wind down before summer.
I drive us home, playing the music we love and enjoying the sunshine that beats down on us. Even though I'm slightly hungover, and a little tired already, I really can't think of a time that I've ever been happier.