Page 126 of Hound Dog
Haylee
“You’re like a cartoon character today,”Maisie said, looking over her shoulder at me as she swiped a damp rag over the baseboards.
I eyed her work, noting how she wasn’t pushing into the crevices and some of the dirty, gray water was leaving streaks behind because she wasn’t changing out her water as often as I was.
It was tempting to want to correct her. But instead, I dunked my sponge into the bowl offreshsoapy water and continued scrubbing my half of the baseboards, knowing I would just redo her side after she left.
In front of us on the floor, the television played one of my favorite horror movies to help keep us entertained while cleaning. Unfortunately, Maisie hated horror movies and scrunched her nose at it. “Did you hear me? You’re like a cartoo—!”
“Yeah, yeah. I heard you.” I wiped an itch on my nose, careful not to touch my face with the rubber gloves I wore. “A cartoon character like Cinderella?” I asked, noting my apron and bandana, both covered in dirt and dust.
Maisie snorted and fell back to lay down on the floor. “More like Eeyore.”
“Hey,” I tossed one of my dry rags at her face. “It’s been an emotional month selling my mom’s house.”
Tears welled in my eyes as I looked around the nearly empty home I’d spent twenty-four years of my life in. “It’s only natural that I’m a little sad, right?”
I had two more days in this house. By 10:00 a.m. Friday, I would hand the keys over at the closing. And this place would no longer be mine.
“I don’t get it,” Maisie said. “You inherited millions from your dad. Why wouldn’t you just hold onto this place for nostalgia.”
I shook my head slowly as I stared into what was our TV room.
There, I could see the ghost of my mom standing in her bathrobe over the ironing board, watching the morning news as she got ready for work.
In the kitchen, glimpses of her heating chicken soup when I was home sick from school.
Upstairs in my bedroom was where she sat me down and told me she had cancer.
And in the dining room was the moment I overheard her telling Meryl that she wasn’t going to live to see me graduate.
The lump in my throat grew three sizes larger.
“All I can say is that it’s time.” I blinked back the tears that threatened to spill not for the first time today. “I had six years to live here and hide in the comfort of my memories. This house deserves new memories. With a new family who will love and grow together here.”
Maisie army crawled over to me and put her arms around my waist, squeezing me in a hug. “You’re so sad, though.”
“I am. But maybe it’s okay to be sad. Maybe sitting in this sadness will allow me to finally let it go. Finally move on from being the girl whose mom died tragically early.”
“Finally be the girl who moves to Maple Grove?”
I smiled down at my friend where she was still awkwardly laying across the floor, hugging me.
“I have houses in three major cities now, andyouwant me to move to Maple Grove?”
“I want you to move where you’ll be happiest.”
But Maple Grove without Finn isn’t where I’ll be happiest. Not by a long shot.
“I’m worried,” Maisie said. “I’m worried about leaving you and going to Europe when you seem so sad.”
I inhaled deeply, ignoring the sting in my chest. And the blurring of tears in my eyes. “I’m fine,” I said, my voice cracking.
Using my sleeve, I wiped away a stray tear. “These damn cleaning detergent fumes are making my eyes water,” I muttered.
“Uh-huh.” Maisie sat up and opened her arms to me. I fell into her embrace again, whimpering, still trying to hold back my tears even though the jig was clearly up.
I hated it.
