Everybody else is doing it

 

Simon was happy to hear the news about Jools and Mick.

"Finally, somebody doing the right thing," Simon was making breakfast and Chevy was looking over the text one more time. Jools and Mick went to the badlands and got married.

"Who knew Jools was that romantic." It filled Simon with laughter as he cracked an egg in the buttered skillet. He looked over his shoulder and saw the odd look on Chevy's face.

"Why so sad?" Simon winced a laugh. What could Chevy possibly be thinking?

"I dunno. I guess..I just," he sighed as he pressed his lips tight staring into his phone. "I didn't think they'd take the plunge, this way."

"Why not?" Simon asked as he flipped the egg and started another. The bacon was warming in the other pan. "They are old enough. Besides, you know Jools feels Mick is his life partner."

"I know." But Chevy looked to be lost at sea.

"I think you were kind of happy that it didn't happen when Mick wanted it too," Simon set the plate of eggs, bacon and toast in front of Chevy. His was identical. It was a cozy morning on a windy day. "Why is that?"

"What do you mean?" Chevy made it sound like a joke now. He sounded as if he was happy for his closest friends. "I know they did the right thing." He nodded. "I-I just wouldn't have gone all the way to the Badlands to do it."

"Oh really?" Simon cracked up. "I guess you aren't into destination weddings."

"I'm..I'm not really up for any kind, actually," Chevy said as he bit into the buttered toast.

"And here I wanted to take you off to Florida for spring break," Simon smiled as he smashed up his fried eggs with a fork and spread it on his toast. Naturally, Chevy looked at him as if he was making a disgusting mess but he went on to eat anyway.

"Spring break?" Now Chevy's face tensed.

"I think you need some sun, maybe even a wave or two," Simon looked at him ever so brightly.

"Oh, I dunno." Chevy gritted a wince. He said he hadn't been on a plane in forever and he didn't like them anyway.

"It's not like we'll be on a plane, hours on end. We can get there in no time," Simon said he'd already made the reservations. 

But Chevy looked as if this was a major bombshell. Not fun in the sun.

Lily finally got up the nerve to visit her Dad and step-mom. After all, it had been ages since she'd visited their little ones. Somehow, the pandemic had gotten in the way and even so, Lily hadn't felt up to it after her fiasco (all those months ago while she was back home) At least, Gram never asked about it, but her step-mom Macy did.

"Are you really OK?" She recalled how Lily ended up in the psych ward. Lily's mom said Lily was suicidal.

Lily cringed at the thought now. Why? Why was that on everyone's mind? It was a stupid thing. She knew. And it was just mean girls at school trying to make her feel she wasn't good enough. She hadn't wanted to be put in the spotlight.

"Please..please don't tell anyone," Lily said because Brick didn't know. Neither did Rafe nor anyone else here. "Just..just leave it alone." After all, she'd only taken some over-the-counter cold medication. It wasn't a big deal, but of course, Macy said it was a big deal.

"Do you know how much it frightened your mom?" Macy was friends with her. Although, Lily never understood why. It seemed those two talked about Lily all the time. 

"OK." Lily winced. It was old news. Couldn't they leave it at that? She changed the subject quickly. Lily talked about summer then. How she wanted a summer job.

"I'll see if Ste needs any help," Macy offered. After all, he was her son's uncle and he ran a bakery. "He needs help on weekends. Especially, during the farmer's market."

Suddenly, everything felt sunny to Lily. Maybe she and Rafe could work together. "I..I know someone who's looking for a summer job," Lily hoped she could put in a good word for Rafe.