Chasing Abby(36)

Chapter 16 - Claire


I LEAN AGAINST the counter in the kitchen, the sunlight pouring through the windows, illuminating this moment, burning it into my memory. Abby and Caleb sit at the breakfast bar, watching Chris cook. Ryder is grabbing a heavy cast-iron skillet out of a drawer. Junior is somewhere upstairs, probably on the phone with his girlfriend, Livvy.
“Do you need some help with that skillet?” Chris says as Ryder attempts to lift it onto the cooktop on the island.
“Nope,” Ryder grunts. He heaves the pan onto the burner, then Chris high-fives him.
“Nice job, sous chef.”
“What’s next?” Ryder asks.
Chris launches into his best Julia Child impression and my heart swells when I hear Ryder and Abby laughing together. They even sound alike.
As Chris continues entertaining our guests by pretending to host a cooking show, I slip out of the kitchen and head to the study to call Jimi. Her best friend, Sydney, and Sydney’s brother Eric picked her up today to go to a creativity conference where they hope to network with some filmmakers. Eric is studying filmmaking at the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU. He’s home for the summer, so Jimi, who plans to pursue an acting career, sees this conference as an opportunity to see how the industry works.
The conference began at nine a.m. and Jimi said she’d be back by noon at the latest. It’s ten minutes to noon and I’m getting a bit antsy for her to meet Abby. I dial her number and she picks up on the third ring.
“Hi, Mom.”
I can hear a lot of noise and talking in the background. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything at the conference.”
“Nope. We were just leaving. Do you need us to pick up anything on the way home?”
“No, thank you. I just need you to come home quickly.”
“Why?”
I’m silent for a moment as I try to maintain my composure, but I’m so overjoyed just thinking the words. It’s impossible to say them aloud and not feel overwhelmed.
“She’s here, baby… Abby came.”
Jimi’s silent except for the occasional loud sniff.
“Jimi?”
“I’m here,” she whispers, and I can hear her better now that the noise from the conference has faded away.
“Are you okay?”
Another loud sniff, then she clears her throat and responds. “Yeah, I’m fine. I’m just… really happy for you.”
“For me? What about you, honey? You finally get to meet your sister.”
“Hold on, Mom. I have another call coming in.”
She clicks onto the other line before I can respond, then she comes back a minute later. She sounds composed now. No more sniffing or thickness in her throat.
“Mom, that was Jenna. She wants me to help her with her UNC app before we go to the beach house. I have to go.”
“Wait a minute. Did you not hear what I just told you? Abby is here and she wants to meet you.”
“I can’t, Mom. I promised Jenna I would help her with the application before I go to the beach house. Dad told me we’re leaving tomorrow. Am I just supposed to let one of my best friends screw up her college application?”
“You said Jenna was getting on your nerves and you were glad she doesn’t drive so she can’t visit you at the beach house. Those were your words!”
“Mom, I don’t have time to argue about this. I promise I’ll try to finish up quickly.”
I shake my head in dismay. “If you miss this opportunity to meet Abby to help Jenna, you will always regret it, Jimi.”
“I’ll be home as soon as I can. Bye, Mom.”
I end the call feeling confused and angry. She seemed overwhelmed with emotion when I told her Abby was here. Then she answered that call and everything changed. It’s as if she spoke to someone who convinced her that meeting Abby was a bad idea. My chest hurts at the thought that someone else could have that sort of influence over Jimi.