The Space In Between

Chapter Twenty-Four

AS I ENTERED the dining hall, the first thing I noticed was Andrea seated next to Ladasha, whispering something to her. Ladasha’s eyes shifted to me and she gave me a halfway smile. I was sure she was being informed to act as if we’d never met.
“Cooper, you can sit here!” Michelle grinned and patted the seat next to her. My cousin was the same ol’ happy-go-lucky girl she was when we were children. There are some people who are born to be cheerleaders. They have a joy that can sometimes be overbearing and to some appear pretty damn annoying, but Michelle was so damn small and adorable it was hard not to love her.
“Thanks.” I took my chair at the overstocked table. It was filled with food, but nothing on the table would fill my appetite—only Andrea could at this point.
“Okay, really quick. Let me introduce you all to my one and only favorite cousin, Cooper Davidson. I know you probably remember him from when we were younger, but since then he went to become a successful photographer who I am so proud of.” She beamed with pride. Instant guilt took over me as I realized I’d walked away from the family that took me in each summer when I was a child because I’d become famous. I’d turned my back on the people who took care of me because I’d made a few bucks. Sure, I sent them a Christmas gift every year, but it was nothing personal. I guess I forgot how nice it was to be around people who loved you without any judgments. But after Mom’s accident, it was hard to look back. I guess I could understand that with Andrea.
“It’s nice to meet you, Cooper. I’m Ladasha.” Ladasha winked and I smiled widely, greeting her as if it were our first time crossing paths.
Andrea’s mom, Betty, told me how handsome I’d grown up to be. I thanked her and informed her that Andrea was a spitting image of her. Her cheeks reddened up and she nodded. “Well, she was, until she got this horrid haircut. Really, Anders. Tomorrow I’ll take you into town and we’ll have Ms. Sally help you out.”
“Mom, my hair is fine,” Andrea argued. I quickly learned an argument with Betty would normally be pointless, because the woman may have been short and petite, but she had a big-ass personality with opinions she wasn’t afraid to speak.
“It’s so nice to have everyone here. Together.” Michelle grinned as she patted my shoulder. I squeezed her hand as I agreed.
“I agree,” Betty chimed in. “It’s a shame Derrick isn’t here…” Her head lowered and my eyes landed on Andrea. I could tell the words stung her as I saw Andrea’s hand being held by Ladasha’s.
Betty wasn’t done. She looked at me with tears in her eyes. “Derrick was Anders fiancé. He passed away earlier this year, and this is the first Christmas without—“
“Mom, do we really have to talk about this?” Andrea barked at her mom. That stone wall I had spent the past few weeks breaking down with Andrea was slowly rebuilding itself.
“Andrea Mae, I am just saying. It’s different, that’s all.” Betty truly appeared shocked by her daughter’s sharp tongue. I felt sorry for the both of them; they dealt with their feelings differently. Betty spoke, and Andrea didn’t.
“I’m so sorry.” I made sure my eyes locked with Andrea’s—to let her know she wasn’t sitting at this table alone with her past. She had both Ladasha and me there now. “I’m so, so sorry.”
Her eyes softened and she bit her bottom lip. “Thank you.” If we were going to be friends, I planned to protect her as best I could.
Time for a change of subjects. “So this Christmas party, it’s a big deal?”
My cousin’s face lit up. “Huge! And this year’s theme is Pride and Prejudice Christmas. So a group of my and Eric’s friends are taking dance lessons. Oh my gosh.” Her eyes lit up as she turned to me, Andrea and Ladasha. “You three have to do it!”
“Oh no. I’m not a dancer, but I’ll take photos.” I grinned but knew she wouldn’t let me off the hook that easily.
“No! No you have to! We are having a rehearsal tomorrow afternoon. You have to come!”
Well, I guess I had to come.
“Andrea, eat something,” Betty whispered. The whisper wasn’t quiet enough to keep everyone from hearing.
“Mom, give her space,” Eric requested. Watching him step up for his sister gave me a quick idea of the type of person he was. He was perfect for my cousin. A good guy.
“Well, I was speaking to Ms. Jacobson a few days ago as we were working on costumes for the party and she mentioned something that bothered me.”
This couldn’t be good.
“She said she read an article about how young people who lose someone feel as if they’ve lost themselves, too. And sometimes turn to alcohol or drugs or such things. Ms. Rivers also said life in New York City can been tough with its fast pace. And you show up here looking extremely skinny and…”
The sad thing was, she really meant well. Andrea slipped lower into her seat and her eyes narrowed as she studied her plate in front of her. “Are you asking me if I’m a drug addict?”
Betty’s eyes widened as if her worst nightmare had come to life, “It’s just that they said…”
“Betty.” Walter, Andrea’s dad, stepped in to ease the conversation. He was a quiet man, but only spoke up when truly needed. Yet I feared it was too late to put out this fire.
Andrea hissed at her mom. “Ms. Rivers and Ms. Jacobson spread rumors that I was drinking when the car accident happened. Ms. Rivers and Ms. Jacobson called you a bitch behind your back at last year’s Christmas party. Ms. Rivers and Ms. Jacobson can kiss my skinny ass!”
“Andrea Mae!” her mother hollered.
Andrea stood from her chair and slammed it against the table. “Home, sweet home.”
With that, she disappeared to her bedroom. Ladasha was quick to follow behind her. I wanted to run to her. I wanted to tell her it would all be all right, but I knew I couldn’t. So I remained seated. I felt for her because it seemed to me Ms. Jacobson and Ms. Rivers were the paparazzi of the small town of Wisconsin, baking up lies to keep them busy.
Michelle tried her best to keep a smile on her face. Everyone was quite shaken by the events that had occurred, yet my cousin kept on with her happiness.
“Who wants dessert?”