The days that followed were quite uneventful.
My mood hadn't been the best, and Dad noticed, despite how much I tried to pretend everything was fine.
He didn't ask questions. That was just who he was. Instead, he stayed close in the quiet ways he knew how.
Earlier today, he'd gone into town and returned with a large tub of vanilla and strawberry ice cream.
He placed it on the kitchen counter and told me he'd figured it had been a while since I had something sweet.
Best father in the entire world.
Now, I was on the back porch, curled up in the old rocking chair that creaked with every small shift of my weight.
The evening air was cool, brushing gently against my skin. The sky was beginning to melt into shades of orange as the sun surrendered its place to the moon.
The tub of ice cream rested in my lap, already half-melted, my spoon moving lazily from the container to my mouth without much thought.
It was peaceful.
Just not peaceful enough to quiet my mind.
My eyes drifted ahead, past the line of trees, toward the white house in the distance.
I scooped another bite of ice cream, slower this time, letting the sweetness linger before swallowing.
My other hand moved unconsciously to my lower stomach.
I traced the tattoo through my shirt, not even realizing I was doing it at first.
Then I stopped.
I was about to do it again when my phone rang beside me.
I glanced at the screen and smiled when I saw who it was.
Lena.
It had been far too long since we'd talked. Her job as a travel nurse left her with barely any time for a social life, let alone long conversations.
I answered.
"My proud nudist!" Her voice practically exploded through the speaker. "I've missed you so freaking much."
She followed it with a dramatic fake sob.
"Tell me you've missed me too."
"Name's Yareli," I corrected calmly, a lazy smile tugging at my lips. "And I've missed you too, my baby."
"Of course you've missed me," she said, completely convinced of herself. "And don't you dare correct me again. That's no way to speak to your fairy godmother."
I rolled my eyes.
Dramatic as always.
"How come you have time for me?" I asked, leaning back into the chair.
"Oh, crazy story there. There was a flight heading to Massachusetts, and I was on the list but there was a situation with—"
The porch creaked gently as I rocked.
Lena kept talking while I listened halfheartedly.
My attention drifted back to the white house in the distance, shaded by trees.
"You're distracted," Lena said suddenly.
"Huh?"
"Come on. Spill."
"Spill what? There's no problem."
"Never said there was."
Damn. I hated how well she knew me.
"Everything's fine," I said.
"Mm-hmm."
I stared at the house.
The words came out before I could stop them.
"I met him."
The line went silent.
"Met who?"
I swallowed.
"The man. From that night."
"Man from which night?"
"The one from Four Seasons-"
She cut me off.
"The impotent man?"
She practically screamed the words.
"Where? How?"
"Can you not scream? My dad might hear you," I whispered.
"Then take me off speaker. Also, what do you mean your dad? Where are you?"
She didn't even pause to breathe.
"Oh my God. I'm going to pass out."
I chuckled.
"You're being dramatic."
"Uh, excuse you. You just dropped a bomb on me, I'm allowed to be dramatic."
"Yeah right."
"Okay give it to me. I need the full deets."
I told Lena everything, coming to my dad's place and finding out mystery man was our next door neighbour.
"...yeah, and that's the situation now."
"Damn girl, that's a whole lot for real," she exhaled through the phone. "How have you been holding up so far?"
"Good, I guess."
"You wanna what I think?"
"Shoot."
"I think what you need is closure. This guy came through for you at your most vulnerable moment. And that's why you're not willing to let go without seeing it through till the end."
She continued.
"You should sum up the courage somehow, I mean, what could go wrong? Go get your answer. Whatever happens after that, at least you'll know."
I wanted to tell her it wasn't that simple.
But she wasn't wrong
I sighed. "I guess you're right."
"I'm never wrong hehe."
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't stop the smile.
We talked some more before bidding our goodbyes.
I stayed on the porch a while longer, listening to the quiet of the evening.
I looked down at the tattoo beneath my shirt and traced the familiar letters once more.
•••