Chapter Twenty-Five: Nowhere but Down:

This isn’t right. I have nothing going for me this summer. There was the library, but was that all? What am I going to do when the summer ends?

“Nathan? Hello? Hello?”

I quickly looked up. Bridget looked at me with her head tilted.

“You okay, sir?” she asked. I blinked for a moment.

“Oh, uh, yeah, yeah, yeah,” I said. “I’m fine!” I noticed her looking down at my plate.

“You haven’t touched your food,” Bridget whispered. I looked down at my plate and my fork in my hand.

“I guess I’m not really hungry,” I mumbled. I tried to ignore mom’s eyes on me. I already knew what she was thinking. I was the one who suggested that we cook today. I helped make it, I should eat it.

I frowned to myself. This dinner didn’t change my situation. The cooking didn’t help either. I just had to face it. I didn’t know what to do with myself. I needed a new job. I needed my own place. I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life here. Where was I going to do? Did I want to go back to Boston?

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Bridget asked. I glanced over at her. She’s not going to just let me be in my head, is she?

“Yes, I am fine. Can you just eat?” I hissed. Bridget shrugged.

“Fine,” she said. She shoved my casserole into her mouth. I rubbed my forehead. Right, first get another job. Then look for somewhere else to live. And then what? My brain came to a crashing halt at that thought. I really don’t know what to do with myself. I lowered my fork.

“Spoony?” I asked. My old friend looked up at me.

“Yeah?” he asked.

“Tell me about your plans for the summer. I want in,” I said. Spoony smiled that old wild fox smile that has been tattooed in my brain for many years. Too late to feel regret for my decision.

“So glad you are on board,” he said. “I’ll be around in town for a couple of weeks.”

“Why are you here anyway?” Mallory asked.

“Just figured I would see everybody before I tie the knot,” Spoony said. My sister narrowed her eyes.

“Is that all?” she asked.

“Mallory!” Mom said. Mallory looked over at her.

“What?” she asked.

“What’s her name?” Bridget asked. Spoony had a bright smile on his face.

“Gina,” he said. “Want to hear about how we met?”

“Is she even real?” Mallory asked.

“Yes,” Spoony said, sticking out his tongue. “And she’s an amazing girl.”

“Sure, she is,” she said, folding her arms across her chest. Mom shot my sister an ugly look before turning back to Spoony.

“Why yes, Roger,” she said. “We would love to hear all about your fiancée.” He set down his fork.

“Gladly, Mrs. Muir,” he said. I tuned him out as he dove into his meet-cute story. I was just going to have to go along with whatever crazy scheme he had going for the summer. I didn’t have any place to argue with him. This was my decision after all. Oh boy…

I finally took a bite into that eggplant casserole on my plate. It was good, but it did taste good.