Page 48 of Surviving the Merge
Stepping through the sliding doors, I allowed myself a centering breath and tried to work through my feelings at that moment. I missed my father. He did his best with me, but when Mom died, something in him died as well. Many somethings.
I harbored an unvisited hurt that I wasn’t enough for him to live for. An unfair hurt, but sometimes, we couldn’t help how we felt. Even when we knew that those feelings were based on small lies we told ourselves.
A row of waist-high shrubs separated our backyard from the neighboring one. It appeared our home wasn’t the only one that had work done. The back of that house wasn’t made of glass the last time I was there.
A structure to my right snagged my attention. Approaching the all-glass enclosed space, I refused to acknowledge what I was seeing. I didn’t want to believe it.
When close enough to touch, my denial left just as fast as it came.
A dance studio.
I can’t believe he did this.Stepping inside, I gripped and leaned into the oak barre running horizontal along the mirrored wall and tapped my foot on the cream-colored Marley flooring. The glassed walls making up the other side were set on retractable sliders. I could let in fresh air and rain, if I wanted to.
I spied a surround sound system in one corner and rushed over to see what the playlist looked like. He’d gotten all my favorites. I pressed play and closed my eyes as the soft classical notes came to life. Sinking to the floor, I couldn’t have been more grateful that I’d come alone. No one needed to see me cry.
* * *
Soundsof heavy panting and something wet dragging over my face brought me back to awareness. But I couldn’t locate the strength to care.
“Pluto, down boy.”
That got my attention. Opening my eyes at those hushed words, I came face to face with a…hound dog?A bloodhound, it would seem. He did oddly enough resemble Pluto. I took in its owner.
“Sorry about that. He’s really affectionate. Too affectionate.” He leveled Pluto with a reproachful glare, but the dog didn’t take it seriously. “I’m Max. I live in the house right behind yours,” he said, pointing behind me to the house with the see-through back wall. “Ah…” His cheeks colored, and he cleared his throat while looking away quickly.
He’s an odd oneflitted through my mind. Then I figured I might appear to be missing a few screws myself, having obviously been asleep on the floor.
“I, ah, was playing catch with Pluto out back, and I heard you... umm…”
Closing my eyes and groaning in embarrassment, I responded, “Please don’t say it.” Getting a fence between our yards would be my first order of business.
“Yeah, well, you’ve been laying here for quite some time. He started to get worried.” Max kneeled on the floor, rubbing behind the dog’s ear. “I came over to obtain proof of life for him.” That earned him a lick from chin to ear. Max pushed Pluto away and peered at me expectantly.
“Yes, I’m fine. Thank you, both. It’s been a long week.” Standing up, I brushed myself off.
“Well, I can understand that,” he said, getting to both feet. “And your name is?”
“Justin. How long have you lived there?” My head turned in the direction he’d pointed in. The house he now occupied used to be Mrs. Larson’s.
“Not long, about three weeks.” After an awkward moment of silence, Max realized he’d been staring at me. His eyes darted away. “I rented a place near the high school until the work on the house was done.” He shoved both hands in his front pockets.
My height, so about six feet. In good shape, from what I could tell through his jacket. Something told me his strength came from long hours of hard labor and good genetics. Max didn’t strike me as someone who tried to look good. He just did.
“My aunt owned the house. She left it to me before she passed. I thought about selling it, it seemed like too much house for one person. But I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I fixed it up, made it my own, and here I am.” He crossed his arms over his chest and then decided he preferred the hand-in-pocket look better.
“I’m sorry to hear that she passed. Can’t say that I knew her well, but she seemed like a sweet lady.”
Max’s smile held sentiment. “Yeah, she was.”
Now I stared at him. His smile his best feature. It reached his chocolate brown eyes. Max looked amused, and I quickly caught on to the reason. “You?you asked me a question, didn’t you?” I asked, pointing a finger to my chest.
Max laughed, the sound and texture reminded me of coffee. Rich, dark, and soothing.What the hell is happening here?
“I’m sorry,” I said, rubbing the back of my neck. “Like I said, it’s been a long week, a shitty birthday, and I haven’t been back here?to this town or house?in years. I get back here, and the house looks different in some ways than when I left. Then I fell asleep in the sun for God knows how many hours?”
“Two.”
“Only to be licked awake by a greyhound?”
