Anna hummed on her way up the small stairway towards the kitchen. The living room ceiling fan was spinning muggy air around the room. The turkey that had been put in the crock pot the night before was making the whole apartment smell warm and delicious. Kurt was in the kitchen already; Springsteen blaring from the little radio that sat on the counter. He was dancing around while preparing the stuffing, singing into the wooden spoon that he had brandished as a microphone. Anna slouched against the doorframe, watching him, amused.
"Bornnnnn in the USAAAAA," he crooned, taking a deep breath to repeat the declaration. He spun around in the meantime, and upon seeing her standing there, watching him, he immediately stood up straight, and adjusted the apron ties around his neck. He cleared his throat. "The singing makes the stuffing tastes better." A precariously placed magnet fell off of the fridge behind him.
Anna grinned. "Really? I've never sang to my stuffing before."
Kurt was blushing bright red; he turned away. Anna decided to have some mercy on him, so she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him from behind. "Happy Thanksgiving, you big dork," she squeezed.
He spun her around in his arms, catching her off-guard. "How about a little holiday nookie for the chef?" He nuzzled her ear.
She pushed away from him, giggling. "Shh, Summer will be up any minute. We can't."
"Why not?" Kurt grinned wickedly. "She can't see us."
Anna smacked his shoulder. "No, but she has the ears of a hawk." Kurt was not dissuaded, he was pressing kisses to her neck, making silly amorous moans against her skin. Anna wrestled away from him, still laughing. "You. Stop that."
Kurt sighed dramatically. "Fine," he huffed.
Anna rolled her eyes. "Knowing the way you cook, Grandma, we probably won't be eating until four or five, so I'm going to make blueberry muffins," she announced, pulling the box mix from the shelf. "Courtesy of Duncan Hines." She turned the box over in her hands to look at the beautiful muffins that were displayed on the front. "Thank you, Mr. Hines."
She had barely scraped her nail along the edge of the flap to open the box when the kitchen phone jangled loudly, startling her. She held a hand to her breast and took a deep breath. She wondered silently who would be thoughtless enough to call at eight am, and on a holiday, no less. Kurt obviously did not share the sentiment; he simply wiped his hands on the front of the apron, which Anna noticed was Summer's, having Kitchen Bitch emblazoned on it in bright red letters. He picked up the phone, tucking it under his ear.
"The Duncan Hines test kitchen, how may we service you?"
"Kurt, stop!" Anna protested, chuckling. She stopped when she saw his smile fade. He handed over the phone without another word.
She cocked her head, her brow furrowed.
"This is Anna."
"Oh, Anna, darling," her mother was sobbing, almost uncontrollably. Anna exhaled. This couldn't be good.
Summer stretched as she awoke, inhaling the strong scent of sage and cranberries that was wafting under the door and through the entire apartment. Kurt was notorious for going overboard with the spices, but this was ridiculous. She felt like she could eat the warm, steamy air with a spoon. She had heard the phone ring some time before, she'd rolled over and gone back to sleep. She hoped it had been Kurt's mother calling, giving him instructions. Kurt's mother was the best cook Summer had ever met, and she made the best weinerschnitzel in the entire world, in Summer's humble opinion. And considering that Summer had been all over the world, she felt qualified to make such an assessment. She smiled widely as she stretched her back.
Through the wall, she could hear that the TV in the living room was on, but softly, only occasionally getting loud enough for her to hear it. She ran her hands down her torso, her slim hips, so as to make sure she was decent, and then cracked the door open, stretching again, arms high above her head.
She headed towards the kitchen, carefully making her way up the stairs to the living room. She was assaulted by the cheesy saxophone music of the Weather Channel.
"God, guys, that smells so good," she called out, experimentally.
"Summer," Kurt said solemnly. He was behind her on one of the couches, sitting, but from the pitch of his voice, she could tell he was probably leaning forward.
"What? What's the matter? Are we getting a big blizzard or something?" she asked, moving over to sit next to him, easily avoiding his stretched legs; a habit.
Kurt waited until she was seated. "Anna's mother called, her grandfather passed away during the night."
Summer brought her hand to her throat, shocked. Just last week he'd been doing fine. Getting over a minor stroke, but fine. She started to stand, she had to find Anna, she had to comfort her love.
"No, she's on the phone," Kurt laid a gentle hand on Summer's forearm, pulling her back. "She's been calling relatives; I think she's booking a flight, too." Summer sat back, a bit, but still poised to move, if needed. She and Kurt sat in silence for several long minutes. The clock on the mantle ticked loudly. All the clocks in their home ticked loudly. Almost as if they were daring Summer to notice how, alternately, her life seemed to be moving so fast as to pass her by, and yet simultaneously dragging at a snail's pace.
From the doorway of the kitchen, Anna sniffled. Summer sprang from the sofa, and embraced her friend fiercely. The grief was rolling off Anna in waves, almost stunning Summer with the power of her emotion.
"Sweetie," Summer brought her hand to Anna's hair, a little awkward considering she was so much shorter than Anna, but Anna appreciated the gesture nonetheless. Anna covered her face with her hands, allowing herself to be rocked in Summer's arms for a long time.
Kurt averted his eyes, feeling more than a little intrusive witnessing the intimacy between the two friends. It wasn't the first time he had watched them be this close, to communicate using few words, sometimes just fragments of sentences. And considering Summer's blindness, it wasn't as if they had the benefit of eye contact. It was a strange relationship; he had to admit, he occasionally felt threatened by the depth of the friendship between them, though he would never dare to mention it.
He had only known Anna for two years, and loved her dearly; so he understand how strongly one could feel after so short a time. He would feel ridiculous trying to explain to someone else why he sometimes felt jealous of his girlfriend's best friend, especially since she was a girl, but... He did.
But it was as if Summer and Anna had known each other—been close—for all of their lives. They finished one another's sentences; they worked as a well-oiled machine doing housework and in the kitchen. He knew it was ludicrous, impossible even, but he sometimes imagined that they spoke to one another without using words at all. He always brushed it off as silliness, just one of his mother's old folktales haunting him, but he never could quite escape the thought.
The strangest part was, Anna and Summer hadn't even really been friends until they'd moved in together three years before. They'd gone to high school together for a short time, in Newport Beach, even dating and fighting over the same boy. But then, apparently quite suddenly, Anna had moved back to Pittsburgh to stay with her aunt and uncle before even finishing a full school year. She and Summer hadn't even kept in touch, really. They'd gone five years without seeing each other, without speaking. And then, something changed.
Though he'd never gotten all of the particulars, he assumed that it was when Summer had her accident and lost her sight. Anna had gone back to Newport, picked Summer up, and spirited her back to the East Coast as if Anna was her mother and Summer were nothing more than a wayward child. Anna spent three years with Summer, living with her, building a life with her. Their routines were flawless; long-ago perfected through organization to accommodate Summer's needs. Kurt was more than a little awed by Anna's dedication to her companion.
He'd first met Anna through a friend-of-a-friend that she worked with; they hadn't started dating until almost a year after that. And they didn't go out a lot, Anna preferred to stay in, stay close to home. At first Kurt thought it was out of some obligation to her friend, that Anna was afraid to leave Summer alone. But that made little sense, given that Anna went to work every day for eight or more hours and left Summer alone then. He'd eventually concluded that it was want, and not need, that kept Anna close. They were both estranged from their families, to a degree; Summer hadn't gone back to California once since moving to New York. Anna would go to Pittsburgh once or twice a year, usually around the holidays, and would take Summer with her.
Across the room, Anna finally pulled away from Summer, and Kurt sat up, attentive.
"I don't even have a black dress," Anna mused absently, staring off into space.
"I do," Summer offered. "It's a little long on me, so it should be fine for you still. I'll go get it, you can try it on now, if you want."
Anna's expression softened, she pushed a lock of Summer's hair back behind her ear.
"Thank you."
Summer blushed. "I'm going to go take a shower, I'll be right back."
Anna swallowed back a fresh wave of tears. "Okay." It came out choked. Summer squeezed her hand, kissed her cheek. Summer left the room. Anna wrapped her arms around her waist, trying in vain to warm herself up.
"Anna," Kurt beckoned her over to the couch, to where he was still seated. She crossed to him, curled up under his arm.
"God this day has sucked, and it isn't even noon yet," Anna blew her bangs out of her eyes.
Kurt didn't speak for several seconds, worried that bringing up Summer would only rile Anna's ire. The timer in the kitchen dinged, it was time to stuff the turkey. He ignored it. Anna sighed. "I don't mean to upset you any more, honey, but what are you going to do about Summer?"
Anna stiffened. "What do you mean, do about her?"
"Well, while you're gone."
"I'm taking her with me, of course," Anna replied immediately, sitting up.
"Are you so sure that's a good idea?"
"What else would I do?" she snorted, "Leave her here by herself? I have to take her with me. I need her." her voice rose, Kurt cringed. The TV was showing the weather in San Diego.
"I just think that maybe you're upset, and you're being a little hasty about this, honey."
"Why? What do you mean? I've already booked her plane ticket."
"To Wisconsin, right?"
Anna nodded.
"Has Summer ever been out there with you?"
Anna shook her head, now looking a little uncertain.
"Don't you think it's a little unfair taking her out there, somewhere she's never had to get around before? I mean, you're not going to have time to really take care of her."
"Well, she's not a child, Kurt," Anna stood, pushing him away, frustrated.
"I know she's not, but you can't just ignore the fact that she will need help."
"Well, I can't leave her here by herself," Anna spat.
"Call someone to come stay with her," Kurt suggested, his voice soothing. "I'll go with you to Wisconsin, help take care of you. Summer will be fine here for a few days."
Anna bit her lip. In some part of her heart, she knew Kurt was right, but that didn't change the fact that she didn't want to leave Summer behind.
Kurt relented. "In the end, it's up to you. I just think that you should really think about what you would be doing," he told her, turning away. He walked over the sliding glass door that led out onto their small patio and escaped into the cool air of the November morning. Anna watched him light a cigarette, he almost never smoked. Only when he was upset.
She was still standing there watching him a few minutes later when Summer emerged, fresh from her bath. She looked lovely in her peach-colored silk bathrobe.
"Hey, so I found the dress," she held it out for Anna to take. Anna fingered the satiny fabric.
"It's beautiful."
"Yeah, it used to be. I mean, I remember that it used to be beautiful. Back when I could see it," Summer finished lamely. She wasn't quite sure what to say. Being glib felt wrong, especially in Anna's time of mourning. It was difficult for Summer not to try to laugh things off, she'd been doing it her entire life.
"So when are we leaving? And how many days should I pack for?"
Anna hesitated, Summer frowned. "See, I've been thinking about that."
"Thinking about...? What? Me coming with you? Why?"
Anna paused, the music on the TV swelled. "Well, I've just been thinking...I'm the executor of my grandfather's will. I won't be around, I mean... I won't be available."
"Yeah?"
"I just don't think it's a good idea, you know. That you come with me."
Summer shook her head, mute. Kurt came in from outside. Anna turned to look at him for a moment, then turned back to Summer.
"What about Marissa?" Kurt blurted out. "Can't she come and stay with you?"
"Marissa is in Egypt with her mother and her sister," Summer replied automatically, a little dazed. For the first time in the history of their friendship, Anna wasn't insisting that Summer come with her.
Kurt scratched his head. "Well, what about your father?"
"He's in Japan," Anna said
"Well, but couldn't you go home?"
Summer shook her head. "No one would be there. He doesn't keep a staff anymore when he's away on business."
"Who else do we know in the City?" Anna thought aloud, tapping her index finger against her rosy lips.
"What about that guy? Your friend?"
Summer's brow furrowed. "What guy...?"
Anna's eyes lit up and realization dawned for Summer.
Kurt continued to talk, gesturing with an unlit cigarette. "What's his name? Sam? Sean?"
"Seth." Summer answered flatly. "And the answer is no."
"Summer..." Anna trailed off. Her eyebrow rose, her voice lowered. "Who better than Seth?"
"Um, anyone?" Summer zinged back.
"Well, maybe you don't have a choice."
Both girls turned to face Kurt so fast that neck bones popped loudly.
"Excuse me?" Summer placed a hand on her hip.
Anna was flabbergasted, speechless.
"We don't have time to stand around and debate the merits of who comes to stay with you. You know, as long as someone is here, that's what's important, right?"
"Yeah, fuck my feelings on the matter," Summer retorted angrily.
"I don't get what the big deal is. This guy is your friend, right?" Kurt turned to Anna, his confusion clear. Anna shook her head silently.
Summer realized in an instant how little Anna had told him about what had happened. She scowled at Kurt. "I see," she said bitterly. "So you just want to patronize poor little blind Summer, and ship off, leaving me here with Seth, who couldn't possibly…"
"Summer, shut up!" Kurt commanded, startling her. "Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Anna told me this Seth kid is a good guy, and I'm sure he would never hurt you. He would just be coming over to help you out for a few days, so quit being an ungrateful bitch!"
Summer was stunned speechless, and her face hardened when his words soaked through. "Fine! You want to leave me with Seth. Fine." She wrestled away from Anna, who had moved to take Summer into her arms. She stomped down the stairs back to her room and slammed her bedroom door.
Anna turned to Kurt, furious. "Why did you do that?"
"Because!" he exploded. "Because she takes advantage of you. Here your grandfather just passed away, and she wants us all to feel sorry for her. If you had stood there another two minutes she would have had you wrapped around her little finger."
"So?" Anna narrowed her eyes. "Maybe we like it that way. Maybe it works for us."
"Can't you see that would have been a nightmare in the long run? She would have whined, and kept you away from your family, and you would have had to babysit her the entire time."
"You don't understand, you'll never understand!" Anna broke down into angry tears, pushing him away when he tried to comfort her. "Go away. Go home."
"Anna."
"I'm serious, Kurt. I'm pissed. Go."
Kurt shook his head. It wouldn't be twenty minutes after he was out the door that Summer would have Anna at her beck and call again. "Fine." He slammed the door on the way out, too.
Summer heard a soft knock at her bedroom door. She buried her face further into her pillow. "Go away."
Anna opened the door. "Summer, I'm sorry. I'm sorry that Kurt yelled at you."
"Is he gone?"
"Yeah," Anna sighed, sitting heavily at the end of Summer's bed. "He's gone." They'd replaced Summer's bedroom mirror after her tantrum, it had a silver frame, and didn't match any of the other furniture in the room. Summer liked the way the cool metal felt under her fingertips.
"Summer," Anna said softly, pulling her pouting friend into her arms. Summer pressed her face into Anna's lap; Anna felt the sticky wet sensation of fresh tears against the bare skin of her thigh.
"Why can't I go with you?"
"I'm going to be trying to keep all my greedy cousins from tearing each other's hair out. It would be monumentally unfair to bring you into a new environment like that and then not be around to help you."
Summer got quiet for a long minute. "We could hire someone."
"We are hiring someone. We're hiring Seth. I just got off the phone with him, he told me he'd be more than happy to help out. I made sure that he understood that this is an emergency, and a temporary arrangement."
"I mean hire someone other than Seth," Summer retorted angrily.
"Who could we trust more than Seth?" Anna asked, all innocence. "What if we hired some person off the street? What if he or she robbed us? Or took advantage of you? I would never forgive myself," Anna said gently, stroking the silky strands of Summer's hair softly, lovingly. "Plus, whoever we hired probably wouldn't be willing to stay here overnight."
"Please don't do this to me!" Summer begged, fresh tears emerging. "I don't deserve it! This is my house! I'll stay by myself!"
"You know that I have never tried to take away your autonomy. But you're blind, my darling, and we live in an enormous city. I can't leave you here alone."
"I'm not a child."
"No, of course not…but what if you needed something? What if you fell down, or hurt yourself? I'm afraid to go out alone at night and I'm not blind."
Summer sighed, put upon. "Why him?" She whined. "Anyone but him."
"I've been thinking about this for the last hour. There is no one else."
Summer pushed away, finally, and rose, a little unsteadily to her feet. "You can leave me with Seth, but you can't force what's not there anymore, so just stop trying to."
She walked into the bathroom to wash her face, and shut the door firmly behind her.
"Ry," Seth dropped the phone on the worn leather sofa next to where he was sitting. His voice was a little choked, and so Ryan looked up from the textbook he had been engrossed in. Seth's hair was sticking up in twelve different directions, his bathrobe gaped open to reveal a soft navy blue shirt with a green outline of Wisconsin on the front. Wisconsin. Smell the Dairy Air. Ryan rolled his eyes. His boxers even matched. "Ry."
"What?"
"You'll never believe what Anna just called to ask me..."
To be continued...