Page 88 of My Grape Crush
Thank Christ for Dani.
We stopped in Manning Park three hours ago for a bathroom break and a quick nap. She asked how I was holding up. By then, exhaustion had kicked in, my foundational walls crumbling, and I was a mess, admitting I was nervous as hell. She kissed my trembling chin and whispered, “Whatever you need. I’m here.”
I’m trying to act like I’m not a basket of nerves and center myself before we hang a right and step into the waiting room. Fluorescent lights buzz at that annoying level of high-end fatigue, adding a layer of tension to the blank white coolness of the room. Sawyer watches the morning news on a tiny TV mounted to the wall. Almost approachable in sweats and high-tops.
But he faces the other direction and doesn't see us walk in.
JC does.
And his face lights up as soon as he sees me.
“Little buddy,” he pushes himself out of the sad, worn chair with that famous winning smile, “you made it.”
He’s gotten lankier, his face bristled with a beard, and he sports gold hoops in both ears, but some things never change. Our bond is ironclad. As timeless as his uniform of jeans, Converse, and leather jacket.
We lock in a tight hug, and I bury my face into his neck. He smells like dryer sheets and some fancy cologne.
“Fuck, man,” I mutter. “It’s good to see you.”
We disengage, and JC playfully ruffles my hair while Sawyer flicks a cool gaze in my direction. “Morning.”
“How goes it?” I ask, both of us remarkably civil, considering we smacked each other with Mike Tyson shots two days ago.
“As good as it can be.”
His gaze drifts to Dani with a look of reproach—like she should be at his side and not mine. She offers a brief smile and hello while JC tips his head in her direction, implyingintroductions, please.
“Shit,” I say with a sheepish grin. “Right. Dani, this is JC.”
Dani smiles, a little starstruck. “Hi. I’ve heard so much about you.”
Do they shake hands or embrace? Dani looks unsure, but JC solves that problem. He’s our resident hugger.
“Nice to meet the woman my brother can’t stop yapping about.” He shoots me a wink over her shoulder, unbothered by my hot glare. Forever the shit disturber.
“Where’s Mom?” I ask because her signature perfume, Cool Water, lingers brightly in the stale medicinal air.
“Rhys,” a familiar lilting voice says from behind me.
I spin around as Dani untangles herself from JC to observe how I cope with this reunion. Mom’s eyes widen before they soften into something painfully tender. Silver hair swept back, and very put together for nine a.m., she is the classic Shaughnessy matron in pinstriped slacks and cream blouse, clutching a Styrofoam cup with what has to be the world’s worst coffee.
Despite our Zoom calls, seeing her in person throws me off. A round-shouldered heaviness has replaced the steel of her posture. Worry and grief have permanently etched her features.
But she’s still fucking beautiful.
Even with tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Hi, Mom.”
“You’re so tall,” she whispers. “And you look so much like your father.”
JC gives me a shove in her direction. “Hug already, will ya? Sheesh. It’s only been what? Sixteen years?”
I step forward, my arms hesitating mid-air as if seeking permission before fully committing. Mom closes the gap between us, allowing me to embrace her. She’s stiff at first, as if her reciprocity might mean I disintegrate before her eyes. Then her fingers grip the fabric of my hoodie, holding on like she’s afraid to let go. In her arms, time spins backward. Her warm, steady touch was always the quiet assurance I needed. Mom cries softly, her frame so fragile as I rub away the shudders, careful with the fine silk of her blouse.
Sawyer watches us, the tension in his shoulders as rigid as the silence. JC was the apple of Dad’s eye—the musician he always wanted to be. Mom doted on me. That left stoic, dependable Sawyer with the leftover scraps of their affection.Perhaps that turned him into the steely authority figure that has always made him the glue keeping our family together.
Very slowly, with Mom resisting, I ease out of our hug to introduce Dani.
