Page 117 of Muted

“Son,” my father’s voice cuts in, and I know it’s time for our brief greeting before he hands the phone back to her.

“Father.” I wait until my mother comes back, but I’m shocked when he doesn’t allow her back on the phone.

“Your mother has been an absolute wreck over the way you dismissed her from your home. Highly disrespectful, and honestly, it was terribly embarrassing for her. What kind of impression do you suspect that made on your… friend?”

The way he says ‘friend’ implies they know Susu was more than just a dinner guest. “I assure you; she has no negative impression about either of you.” I can hear mother whispering demands in the background and know that my father won’t be giving up the phone just yet.

Clearing his throat loudly, he continues his lecture. “Is this woman someone you’re courting?”

I huff out a laugh, but I don’t find any of it funny. I don’t knowwhatis happening right now because I don’t know if I’ll ever see her again. My eyes lock on a flaw in her wall where it’s been gouged out from something hitting it. Cocking my head to the side, I notice the way it’s shaped similarly to the mark in my bedroom as well.

Without thought, I admit, “She’s special and very important to me.”

Both of my parents are quiet, and I close my eyes. I just bought myself a much longer conversation, but they’re going to be sorely disappointed. There’s a shuffling of the phone, like they’re wrestling for it, until my mother’s panting voice comes back.

“What does THAT mean? Who is she? Who is her family? How did the two of you meet? WHY didn’t you let me meet her, Vance?” I can hear how distressed she is, and a hint of guilt hits me. Then, Susu’s panicked eyes from that night remind me I made the correct decision to delay their meeting.

“Mother, please don’t be upset over this. I’m going to have to cut our call short tonight, but what I can tell you is that her name is Susanna. She’s the new pianist that Chester hired. You wouldn’t know her family because she’s new to the area, and I didn’t invite you inside because we weren’t ready to meet family members. That night was the first time I had invited her over, and I didn’t want to overwhelm her.”

Mother snorts in irritation. “I wouldn’t have overwhelmed her, darling. I simply wanted to know who’s snared my son. Is that so awful of me?”

“No, that’s not awful. I appreciate that you’re interested. But we weren’t ready. I’ll bring her by when we’rebothready for her to meet the two of you. I’m sorry, but I really do need to go. There’s been a bit of a hiccup which needs straightening out. I will call you when I can.”

“What kind of hiccup?”

Ignoring her question, I end the call. “Goodbye, mother. Give father my farewells as well. I’ll be in touch.” Then I hang up the phone to sit in silence before joining everyone else in the living room. We need to come up with a plan. That much I know.

Standing up, I trace my finger over the mark on her wall before exiting. “So, what do we know?” I ask, sitting back down.

Theo and Chester make eye contact, and then we all look at Miriam. “Has she spoken to you?” Theo asks, and Miriam seems embarrassed as she looks away from us.

“No, not really. Just little messages on her phone. I didn’t even know shecouldtalk until…” She trails off, biting her lip to stop herself from saying more.

Chester sits up, rubbing his hands together. “Look, we all spoke before about not sharing her personal stuff with each other. Theo asked what if it was a safety concern. I think this qualifies as a safety concern. Fuck the boundaries.”

I nod my head in agreement, realizing that I was wrong before. Inthisinstance, we need to know. “Are you okay with that, Miriam? We just want to find her.”

“I think all of us keeping secrets played a big part in where we’re at right now. We stayed just as quiet as her.” Theo’s observation hits hard, and I feel regret for not pushing her to open up more to all of us.

She deflates and sinks into her chair. “Yeah. I was going to say, I didn’t know that she could talk until I heard her screaming in her room one night. She has nightmares.”

My stomach turns over, disgusted that she’s had to battle them alone every night. “Do you know what they were about?” I ask softly, wondering if it’s the bullying she endured in her hometown. “The bullying?”

Theo whips his head in my direction. “What bullying?” he hisses. The way Chester winces, I know he must know something about it.

“I honestly don’t know anything,” Miriam admits. “She emailed me when she saw my listing for a roommate. Explained she was coming from out of town with minimal items and needed to move in immediately. Aside from knowing about the nightmares, I don’t know much about her. I have her emergency contact, though.”

Theo’s heaving chest becomes distracting. “What.Bullying?”

“I’ll tell you in a minute,” I say in an attempt to appease him. Turning back to Miriam, I ask, “Would you try to call them? Maybe she’s contacted them.”

She nods once and steps into the kitchen to make the call.

“From what I understand, her family wasn’t well liked. The students in school, and even some adults, bullied her relentlessly.” Theo’s brow rises in question and he scowls at Chester’s explanation.

“When did she tell you about that? She never said a word to me.”

Pinching my nose with my fingers, I groan in irritation. “We’re not going to get anywhere if every time one of us learns something, we have to worry about hurt feelings that someone else didn’t know. Can we all just agree to let that shit go right now? It doesn’t matter.”

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