Page 66 of An Unexpected Turn
“I’m back,” Uncle Keith sang from my doorway. “Donna, you didn’t rearrange everything yet? Don’t tell me age has slowed you down already.”
“No, baby brother, I haven’t.” She huffed, scowling back at him. “I think everything is great where Peyton already has it.”
He stilled before stepping into the kitchen. “You feeling okay, D?”
She smacked his hand away when he cupped her forehead. “Move and let me see my nephews.”
“Hi, Donna.” Aunt Maya came up to Mom and pulled her into a hug. “It’s good to see you.”
“You too,” she said, shaking her head when she pulled away. “It’s annoying how you never age. Especially considering you’re married to him.” She jerked her chin at Uncle Keith.
“He’s not so bad.” She craned her neck to her husband, standing behind her with an arm around her waist.
“I’m great. My sister could never appreciate it.”
“Aunt Donna!” Aiden ran up to Mom with Brian behind him. “Can we take the train home with you?”
“My God, you both got so big!” I caught her steady herself when they almost knocked her over. Brian gave her a shy smile as she cupped his chin. “So handsome. And yes, you can come and stay with me whenever you want. I’m lonely back in Brooklyn.”
I took another deep breath, cutting Aunt Maya a look. I missed my mother, but she didn’t understand why I had to move—and I didn’t have the heart or the guts to tell her. To her, even though I turned thirty-three today, I’d run away from homeandher.
“Everything looks great, honey. And happy birthday!” Aunt Maya wrapped an arm around me and kissed my cheek.
“Happy birthday, Peyton!” Aiden yelled as I was attacked with my own clobbering hug from both boys.
My head shot up at a knock at the door.
“Surprise guest?” my uncle asked, eyeing my front window.
For a minute, I panicked. Was Jake coming here, after all? Was that what he’d said? Any conversation beyond him ordering me to finger myself wouldn’t crystallize in my brain.
“Peyton Miller?” A man peeked at me over the top of the large box in his hands when I opened my door.
“Yes?”
“This is for you.”
The box wasn’t heavy but was difficult to grip. I thanked him and kicked the door shut behind me.
“What is that?” Aiden asked as I set the box on one of my dining room chairs.
“I’m not sure. I didn’t order anything.” I grabbed a pair of scissors and cut through the tape on the top, finding a layer of dry ice. “I think someone sent me food.”
“That’s a big box of food,” Aunt Maya noted from behind me as she helped me dig through the box.
I felt around the sides and found a folded card and more ice. Once I peeled the last layer away, I found five pints of chocolate ice cream and a box of cones.
Jake wasn’t at the door, but this was still all him.
“Wow, who sent all that ice cream?” Brian asked as he tried to push past his brother to see.
“I don’t know,” I lied as I eyed the card in my hand.
“Well, aren’t you going to open that and see?” my mother asked, narrowing her eyes at me.
I glanced at Aunt Maya, a tiny but knowing smile twitching at her lips.
“It’s probably Claudia. She ate all my ice cream when she came up here to help me move and told me she’d replace it.”
