Caitlin found herself the one on the outside looking in. It was unsettling about what Mario had said to her when he told her to move back.
"We'll be fine, don't worry too much." His words felt as if they silenced her before she could ever speak.
Of course, there was tons of work to get to and she felt just as restless to be back in their little space.
"I should be there," she told Deano.
"Why? It's a great time to get students a place to live, that is if they haven't found a space already." Did she forget why the apartment was available, to begin with. Of course, Mario could take better of the space than they did. The actual owner was happy to have Mario live there and had OKed for Rico to stay. Although, they had to share a room together.
Mario found bunk beds on clearance and had reorganized the shared space. They each had a desk and a bed. It looked more like a dorm room than any other room in the apartment.
It just didn't feel right to Caitlin. Funny, she felt she might never see him again.
"You'll see him," Deano promised. "We will make time."
She didn't see how. Oh, to have mixed feelings about her brother. She'd stayed over the summer with him, but he was always so busy. "Why is he so busy?" She found herself asking while watching Deano fold clothes in the kitchen.
"And you're not?" He winced a laugh.
"Not like him." It was beginning to worry her. Maybe he needed help. What if his mental health was lacking. Next thing she was on the phone with LaLa asking her what she thought.
"He looks pretty healthy to me," LaLa said. "Girl, don't think you understand mental health. That Mario is on top of it." She sounded like his dearest cheerleader.
"How would she know?" Caitlin winced as she clicked off from LaLa's cheerful Mario moment.
"Just don't worry," Deano was serving her a sandwich and cold lemonade. "He can take care of himself."
Caitlin nodded. But now she wondered just how dreadful his life had been all this time. She wanted to have a good cry, but of course, she forgot about that when she bit into the comfy melted cheese sandwich Deano brought her.
Fantastic chapter❤
ReplyDeleteinteresting post dear!
ReplyDeleteCaitlin is caring.
ReplyDeleteUna amiga como Caitlin, eso sería genial ♥
ReplyDeleteA friend like Caitlin, that would be great ♥ 💖💕 Thanks!
DeleteSounds good :-D
ReplyDeleteCaitlin has been trying hard.
ReplyDeleteCoisas de Feltro
I loved it! The imagery, the little details. It captures and analyses human emotions so beautifully. Caitlin is very happy to have her brother by her side.
ReplyDeleteCaitlin es muy buena te mando un beso
ReplyDeleteGreat chapter and again a beautiful new header.
ReplyDeleteCaitlin is a good sample of "good friend".
ReplyDeleteAcho tão legal uma pessoa se preocupar com o bem estar de outra...
ReplyDeleteCaitlin é uma dessas pessoas!
Oh, Caitlin. I always feel that it's hard to be her, and yet she's my favorite character. She's got all these emotions that she doesn't know what to do with. She wants to be tough, but sometimes she crumbles. Like all of us. So when those emotions do come out, they're very genuine. You make it clear how much she loves and worries about Mario, family complications notwithstanding. And Deano, well, of course he made her lunch! He's so sweet, best boyfriend ever. :)
ReplyDeleteAs for Emily Henry, I was thinking that you probably liked People We Meet on Vacation in part because it had Midwestern roots (Ohio). And Beach Read is even more firmly planted there, as the entire plot takes place in Michigan. To me, the little lake town didn't seem all that different from the Jersey shore (well, minus the ocean, ha ha), but then maybe that's me projecting because it's what I know.
Great chapter. It is often tricky knowing if someone really needs our help or not, figuring out should we give them space or not. I wonder if Caitlin is right about not possibly seeing him again. Maybe it is just a feeling and maybe it is something more. Deano must have made quite a sandwich to make Caitlin forget about her problems. Sometimes food is such a comfort.
ReplyDelete