Why was everyone so happy? What was the big deal? Why such a fuss? Because it was Tay, Laura, and Maddy's first holiday together as a family. Because Tay and Laura were celebrating in their new home. Because the rest of us didn't have to cook. Yup, just another Hanson Thanksgiving.
"Hey, Zac! Why the long face?" asked my sister-in-law, Rebecca.
"Wouldn't you be depressed if you only had three weeks of school left, and then you were done forever?" joked Ike.
Under normal circumstances, I'd be doing backflips in anticipation of graduation. Mary Lou Retton wouldn't be able to hold a candle to me. But these weren't normal circumstances. I said good-bye to AJ two weeks, five days, eight hours, and twenty-six minutes ago. But whose counting? "Yup, that's it, Ike. You've hit the nail right on the head," I snapped at him. My older brother looked taken aback. "I'm sorry, Ike. I didn't mean to bite your head off."
"Apology accepted."
"Zac! Can you come here in the kitchen and help me?" shouted Tay.
Me? Help? Kitchen? Tay was either desperate or lying. But I would have to go into the kitchen to find out. "What do you need?" I asked, entering my least favorite room of the house.
"Nothing. Sit down," Tay instructed me. I did as I was told. "I've been debating whether or not to give this to you. You haven't exactly been flying high lately. But Laura thought maybe it would help. Anyway, this is for you, from the both of us." Tay handed me a manilla envelope.
I opened it and removed the contents. It was two 4x5 pictures. One was of me sliding the garter up AJ's leg. The other was of the two of us dancing together afterwards.
"Laura mailed a copy of each to AJ, as well."
"I guess she's not coming back anytime soon then, huh?"
"No, not to my knowledge. Haven't you talked to her?"
I sighed. "Once. She called me to make sure I got my copy of People. We talked for a while, a few minutes actually. It's not the same. I don't care if I sound selfish, I want her here."
Taylor nodded his head. "Laura invited everyone out here, AJ, Nikki, the whole family. But Nikki's pregnant and sick every morning. She wasn't up to making the trip."
"Well, a lot of good that does me." I let out a deep breath. "Why doesn't she call?"
"Maybe for the same reasons you don't call her."
I looked down at the pictures again. Why hadn't I called her? What was really the worst that could happen? Odds are she wouldn't be home, anyway. Besides, what was I getting so mushy about? We only spent a week getting to know one another. The rest is just time and space. "Thanks for the pictures, Tay," I said, standing up.
"No problem. You sure you're okay, Zac?" He appeared to be concerned.
I forced a smile. "I'm fine, or I will be anyway. The show must go on."
"Yeah." Taylor didn't appear to believe my charade though.
"Well, since you don't need my help in here, I'm gonna go in the living room and see what the rest of the family is up to." I excused myself from the kitchen.
I flopped back into the armchair I had been previously sitting in. I stared off into space, ignoring the hustle and bustle surronding me. I knew I wasn't myself, and I couldn't be. A piece of me was missing.