Chapter 29

Behind the steering wheel, Kid shifted his eyes from the road ahead, and had another look at Lou, who shifted and wept in silence in the passenger's seat. "Honey, please calm down. I don't like seeing you this upset."

"Jeremiah invited him, and he's going to be with Mark… my Mark," Louise wailed, repeating what she had already told Kid several times. "I never even get a call from my brother, and when I phone him, he's all stiff, just because his wife and I don't see eye to eye! I did everything I could for him, worked hard to give him an education, gave him a home, helped him when Sonia got pregnant… what the hell did I do to get this kind of treatment from him? What I did, I did it because he and my sister mean the world to me… it just hurts too much to realize that my efforts are not appreciated."

"Lou, I'm sure he knows how hard you worked for them. Sometimes we people are just too stupid."

"My father didn't care if we starved, or if I had to work my fingers to the bone for my family."

"Your brother doesn't know that, does he?" Kid asked.

Lou shook her head. "My mother always tried to protect them, and maybe even my father, but she never realized that by doing that she was leaving me vulnerable and alone in my own world," she muttered. "And now my father is this unspoiled figure in my siblings' life. My brother will welcome him with open arms as if he was damn Santa Claus, and I've become a castoff. It's not fair! It's not fair!"

"You're right, honey," Kid said, taking her hand and giving it an affectionate squeeze. "I'm really sorry you had to go through this because you don't deserve it. I wish I could do something to make things better."

Lou smiled despite her tears. "You already did too much. You're by my side and love me."

"Lou, if you want, I can take the next U-turn, and drive back home. We don't need to go to Buffalo if you don't feel like it."

Kid was giving her the perfect excuse to avoid very tense long days ahead. She had even prayed for some kind of miracle that made her fall sick. However, a voice in her conscience kept saying that by backing out, she was letting her father win and rule her. Naturally she would do anything so as to avoid spending the weekend with Kid's parents, but thinking that because of the disagreeable encounter with her father, she was forced to change her plans, was too much for her pride. "No, I'm fine," she said, wiping her tear-streaked face with a tissue. "Let's go to Buffalo."

"Are you sure, Lou?"

Louise hesitated for a second, but then her pride imposed its power over her. "Yes, I'm sure… I'm completely sure."

As they covered mile after mile, Lou gradually got over the cause she had been so upset about. She put her father and their awkward meeting at the back of her mind, forcing herself to forget about her family business. Yet, Lou could not relax completely, and she started feeling more and more tense and apprehensive with each mile they left behind, which meant they were closer and closer to Buffalo and Kid's parents. Her body could hardly remain still, and she kept shifting on her seat uncomfortably, and even though Kid talked on and on, she could not join the conversation, and simply answered with monosyllables or short answers.

When they finally crossed the limits into the city, Lou felt her heart race and her mouth go dry. The streets they drove along brought her back to that strange year she had spent in the city. It had been a time full of contrasts, and the memories came rushing; sweet moments she had lived with Kid, her mom, her siblings, so dear to her heart and unforgettable, but the bitterness of other memories also sneaked into her thoughts. It was a myriad of sensations she was experiencing, but despite those good and bad reminiscences, her mind was too focused on one single idea: this long weekend.

"Well, we're finally here," Kid announced when he pulled over in front of the house that belonged to his parents. Lou nodded, sending him a scared look while she kept wringing her hands over and over. Naturally, Kid noticed that something weird was going on. "Lou, is there something wrong?"

"Wrong? Course not."

"Lou…" he insisted, waggling his eyebrows meaningfully, which clearly implied that she was not buying her lies.

Louise shrugged her shoulders. "I… I guess I'm nervous."

"Nervous?" Kid echoed in a surprised tone, "Because of my parents?" Louise nodded sheepishly, and he added, "Lou, you already know them. It's not as if you were meeting them for the first time."

"Yes, I know," she muttered. It was because she already knew his parents, especially his mother, that she was so afraid, but naturally she did not voice any of this. "But it's been years, and I … I don't know. I can't help feeling uncomfortable and nervous."

"You'll be fine, sweetie. My parents won't bite you."

"I wish," Lou muttered so low that Kid did not hear her comment.

"Come on, let's go in," he urged her, and they got out of the car. As soon as she was outside, a single image drew her attention: the house where her mother had spend the last year of her life. Lou's eyes instantly welled up, and tears started trickling down her cheeks, which was promptly noticed by Kid.

"Oh Lou…" he exclaimed and rounded the car. As he came to stand beside her, he slid his hand over her shoulders, which he stroked to comfort her, while they kept looking at the house.

Louise met his concerned eyes, and said, "Don't fret. I'm fine, it's just… that house holds so many memories. It still hurts to think of the last days I stayed here. I remember the afternoon after my mother's funeral… I stood there in the silence of that deserted living room, and I felt so empty, so broken, so lonely. With being at the hospital, worrying about my siblings and the funeral, I hadn't been completely aware of what had happened. But then… there in the living room I realized my mom was gone forever… that she was not coming back… that I had lost her forever, and had nobody else."

"You had me, Lou. You always had me, and I wish I had been with you in those terrible moments," Kid whispered as he brought her closer to him.

Louise stretched her lips in a strange expression. "Seems fate didn't want us together back then. I so longed to call you, to hear your voice, but you were gone, and my telephone line had been cut off. I was flooded by debts, and you know, I had to sell the house to pay for everything."

"I'm really sorry, Lou. Is this why you didn't want to come back here?"

Louise shrugged her shoulders. "I guess."

"But, honey, you need to think of all the good memories too. Remember all the laughter, the conversations, the small everyday moments you and your mother shared back then. I recall how close you two were. I've never met any other girl who had such a special relationship with her mother. Lou, some women aren't even civil to their moms, and they even fall out. You have to think how lucky you were to have a mother like yours."

"I know you're right."

Kid smiled. "And I even have my own sweet memories of that house," he continued, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

Seeing his naughty expression, Lou could not help but smile. "Do you?"

"Oh yes," he replied, his hands traveling from her shoulders to rest on her waist. "Remember when we used to make out on your porch?"

Lou chuckled as she followed his playful lead. "Hmm… I have a vague memory about that."

"A vague memory, huh?" he echoed, feigning to be annoyed. "But I'm sure you remember those nights I sneaked into your bedroom when everybody was fast asleep."

A cheeky smile played on her lips as she hooked her arms around his neck, and swung her head in a flirty way. "Oh that was you? Really?"

Kid grinned amusedly. "I guess I'll have to jog your memory then," he said, just before pressing his lips against hers in an intense kiss.

"Oh yes, that was definitely you," Lou said in a husky voice when they pulled away, but remained holding onto each other.

"I love you, Louise McCloud, and I'll always love you… always."

Lou smiled, and when she was about to match his declaration of love, a voice sounded behind her. "Guys, are you coming in, or do you intend to stand there forever?"

Kid and Lou let go of each other when they realized it was Sam standing at the door of his house. Kid smiled, and taking Lou's hand in his, he walked up to his father, steering her along. "Hi, Dad."

Father and son shared a quick, warm hug, and then Sam shifted his attention to Lou. "It's nice seeing you, Louise. It was high time this son of mine brought you to see us."

Lou plastered a smile on her face as she said, "How are you, sir?" She could tell where Kid got his good looks from. Age had treated Mr. Cain very well. Wrapped in tight jeans and a white T-shirt, he looked considerably better than years before, or maybe she had never noticed. If Kid aged that well, she would have to work extra hard to keep up with him.

At her words Sam let out a loud guffaw while exclaiming, "Oh gosh! Sir? That makes me feel like a hundred years old!" Lou blushed uncomfortably, feeling that she had already blundered it in the first sentence she had uttered. Sam noticed her flustered cheeks, and hurried to add, "Please don't take me wrong. I didn't mean to embarrass you, but we don't need to be so formal. You're not seventeen anymore. Just call me Sam."

"I don't know if I can do that, Mr. Cain."

"Then you'll have to get used to it," Sam replied humorously. "But please, let's go inside. Your mother couldn't wait for you to get here. She was driving me crazy."

Sam led the way into the house, and the couple followed him. Lou tried to remain calm as she walked alongside Kid toward the kitchen. How was she supposed to act around Kid's mother? Their last conversations were still fresh in Lou's memory. She had let herself be convinced that she was no good, and had accepted to walk out of Kid's life. Reappearing with him now meant that she was implicitly challenging Mrs. Cain's opinion and wishes. What would she try to do now? What would happen during this weekend? The idea that she might walk out of here alone again made her almost tremble with fear, but she told herself that like Mr. Cain had stated, she was not a weak teenager anymore, and she would defend her love for Kid against anything and anybody, including his mother.

As soon as they stepped into the kitchen, a loud whoop resounded and Kid was instantly drawn into a hug. "Oh I'm so glad you're finally here!" Emma exclaimed as she held her son in a close embrace. "I hate you living so far away from me!"

"Mom, you always say the same," Kid replied as he pulled away. "Don't complain. I visit you more than many people visit their parents. And it's been a while since you call on me in New York."

"Yeah, I could go and see you more often," Emma replied, smiling and resting her hands on her hips.

Lou discreetly remained behind Kid, watching the exchange with mixed feelings. She was jealous… totally jealous of Kid. He definitely had a nice family, and more importantly, a wonderful relationship with his mother. Her own family was a shambles. Her siblings had grown away from her for some reason Lou could not understand. Her father had dropped her from his life too long ago, and her newly-found half-brother was something she was not sure how to define. If only her mother were alive… Things would be so different, or at least, she wanted to believe so. She did know one thing: her mother would have received her with open arms today just in the same way Mrs. Cain had welcomed her son.

Lou noticed Emma's eyes shift to her with curiosity. She remained in an impassive stance, not sure whether to smile or to stay serious. Emma, though, instantly greeted her with a bright smile as she said, "Louise, it's good to see you."

Lou tried to reciprocate the gesture, but all she managed was to tense her lips into a strange, forced expression. "How are you, Mrs. Cain?" she managed to ask.

"I'm fine, thanks," Emma replied. "I don't need to ask how you are because I can see you look good. No wonder my son's so crazy about you."

Lou blushed at the comment, not sure how to take the woman's words. Was it a true compliment, or did it hide some veiled criticism or even a threat? Lou could not get rid of her memories, and as she looked at Emma, she just could think of the night in the hospital, and Mrs. Cain sweetly saying how wrong she was for Kid, and she should let him go. Whenever Louise thought about that moment, a cold sensation coursed all over her like a steel knife, cutting into her flesh. She did not want to be here now; she hated to be here, and the situation felt much worse than she had thought it would.

Lou noticed Kid and his parents were talking, but she was deaf to their words. All she did was smile tersely, only hearing the pounding of her heart, , and the loud voice in her mind that repeated over and over again, "How are you going to go through these four long days?"