Page 66 of Still Her

What in the actualfuck?

“Melanie?”I repeat into the phone, my voice full of disbelief. I barely register Matt’s head jerking up in my peripheral. “Mayzie, are you shitting me right now?”

“I’m serious Jack. She’s here. She’s asleep in our guest room. She just got in from wherever she was tonight.”

“I don’t believe this,” My eyes wander back over to Matt who is now staring intently at me. “Is she alright?” I ask as I try to decipher his expression. He quickly blinks and looks back down at his notebook.

“She’s alright, as far as I can tell. She didn’t give me much; just said it was time for her to come home and it looks like she’s planning on staying for good.”

“For good?” I let out a sarcastic chuckle. “We’ve heard that before.” Matt’s eyes are still cast down to his writing, but he doesn’t seem to be actually looking at it.

“I know…” Mayzie responds, trailing off, and I know she’s shaking her head and giving a half-shrug, not knowing what conclusion to draw. I’m right there with her. I just can’t seem to get my head around this. My sister took off years ago because she wanted to see the world. That part wasn’t what bothered anyone so much, as how little she made contact with any of us while she was away. We were happy to have her home for a few months last year before she unexpectedly took off again, and once more, hardly kept in touch. It’s hurt me, Sarah, and our dad a lot over the years.

“Okay then… I guess I’ll find out more when I come home tomorrow.”

“Okay,” she says with an agreeable sigh.

“I miss you baby. Get some sleep okay?”

“I miss you too. I will.”

“Okay, and hey… I love you.”

“I loveyou,” she repeats back to me before hanging up. I set my phone down and pick my guitar up. Matt is still playing possum when I turn back to him. Maybe he was just trying not to eavesdrop.

“So Melanie is back in town. She’s at my house.” I look down and start picking at my strings. He takes in a sharp breath before looking up.

“Yeah, I gathered that from your call.” He goes back to writing something on his notebook and then without looking back up asks, “Everything okay with her?”

“Yeah, I think so. It’s just crazy, you know?”

“Yeah… fucking crazy,” he agrees. “But good. Glad she’s alright.” He finally looks back up at me with a carefree smile in place.

I nod. This has shaken up my snow globe a bit, but I try like hell to focus as we get back to writing what could hopefully be our next great hit.

29

Mayzie

Jack came home earliertoday and his reunion with his sister is going… well, it’s going. He got in early this afternoon, and after a reception that was as equally awkward as the one Melanie and I had, they are now out on the back deck and seem to have slipped into comfortable arguing. At least they’re talking, I suppose. I’m in the kitchen preparing a few sides for dinner while Jack and Melanie are outside by the grill, bickering from the looks of it as he cooks up some steaks.

They’re in heavy winter coats, their breaths coming out in puffs of white while they have it out. For the most part, Melanie keeps her hands in her pockets and her eyes downcast while Jack goes between gesturing wildly with the tongs, his forehead crinkled in frustration, and shaking his head. Occasionally the dogs come up between them, wagging their tails until Jack picks up a ball and chucks it across the yard for them to chase.

During dinner, we find out she still hasn’t talked to Sarah or their dad which revs Jack up again.

“I just need a little time, Jack,” Melanie protests over the dinner that she’s barely touched. “I was on the other side of the world! I’m a day and a half ahead of this time zone still. I’d just like to have a clear head when I talk to them, is that so crazy?” She waves her hands around as she speaks before dropping them on the table and giving her brother a pleading look.

Jack rests his elbows on the table with his hands clasped, regarding her sternly as he finishes chewing. You’d never guess he’s the younger sibling at this table.

“Sarah, maybe, but I think after everything Dad has done for all of us, he deserves a little more consideration,” he grumbles, picking up his beer.

After some more back and forth, she retreats to the guestroom once the plates are cleared.

Jack snags two beers from the fridge and cracks them open before handing one to me as we rack plates in the dishwasher and put away the leftovers.

“I cannotbelieveshe has put us all through this twice now, and now that she’s back, she hasn’t even told our father,” he grumbles as he leans back against the counter and takes a long pull on his beer. “I have half the mind to do it for her,” he finishes after he swallows. He rants on a little longer, while I let him get it off his chest, occasionally taking a pull off my own beer, until his agitation seems to fizzle out and we head to bed.

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