Page 29 of Red Mountain Burning
Carly and Other Serious Wounds
“The coyotes were loud last night,” Remi said, on the couch next to Margot, flipping through television channels. It was the first day in weeks he hadn’t gone out to his gentleman’s farm after breakfast.
Margot pulled her eyes away from her phone. She was texting back and forth with her best friend in Vermont, Erica. “I was out cold. Didn’t hear a thing.”
They were pretending to be enjoying the late morning, but the unspoken apprehension regarding Carly filled the air. Margot had attempted to impress her future stepdaughter with homemade pasta the night before, but Carly’d barely touched it. Of course, because of her awful diet, neither had Margot. She’d watched Remi dig into her truffle tagliatelle while listening to Carly talk negatively about her mother and the rest of the world.
Margot had just started another text to Erica when they heard footsteps. Margot glanced at Remi. “Round two.”
As they turned toward her, offering her the morning’s greetings, Carly barely acknowledged them. She wore a black hoodie with a skull on the front. The hood was pulled over her head. “I’m going outside for a smoke.”
Not to be deterred, Remi said lightheartedly, “If you’re hungry, we left you a plate on the counter. Margot makes a mean French toast.”
Carly nodded and possibly whispered a thanks. Her voice was so quiet, Margot wasn’t sure. Then Carly was out the door.
Margot pushed herself up off the couch. “That went well. I’ll heat up her food. Does she drink coffee?”
Remi shook his head. “I don’t know.”
Margot circled the kitchen island and unwrapped Carly’s breakfast. “Don’t worry about us,” she said to Remi. “Come find us after your dentist appointment. She’ll love meeting the animals.”
“I hope so,” Remi muttered, utterly defeated.
Margot was so famished, she guided the plate under her nose for a smell of the warm eggy carb-loaded goodness. She imagined taking a satisfying bite, and her mouth watered. Summoning ungodly restraint, she placed the plate in the microwave and moved onto making another carafe of coffee.
When Carly came back in, Margot turned from pouring hot water over her freshly ground beans. “I’m making coffee, Carly. And I heated up your food.”Kill her with kindness, Margot thought.
With cigarette smoke clinging to her, Carly entered the kitchen area and took the warm plate of French toast. She poured a healthy dose of Vermont syrup on top.
Margot forced another smile. “I buy the syrup from a small farm in Vermont, not too far from where I used to live.”
Apparently far less excited about the syrup’s origin, Carly nodded and took her plate to the table by the fireplace. Remi sat down next to her, and Margot listened in on their conversation.
“Margot wants to show you around some. That okay?”
Margot didn’t hear a response and could only imagine the face Carly was making. Something with a twisted expression that said,Don’t make me hang out with her.
Setting down the gooseneck kettle, Margot turned. “If it interests you, I’d love to take you down to the sanctuary and introduce you to the animals.”
Carly finished chewing. “Yeah, that’s fine. Maybe after I get a shower.”
Wow!Margot thought.She speaks!Maybe theyweregetting somewhere.
Margot could hear hope in Remi’s tone as well. “This afternoon,” he started, “I thought I could show you what I call my gentleman’s farm.” He scratched his head. “Or whatever else you want to do.”
Margot served Carly a cup of coffee with a mug that readReal mermaids smoke seaweedand sat down on the far side of the table, a safe distance away. “Yeah, Carly, it’s up to you. What do you want the next few days to look like?”
Carly sipped her drink. “I don’t know. Just chill out. I’m tired.”
Margot was relieved to get more words out of her. “Well, please let us know. I’m happy to stay out of the way or be your tour guide. I need to go next door and look through my bookings for the next few days. How about you text me when you’re done with your shower?”
Remi answered for her. “That sounds great. I know she’ll love meeting your babies.”
* * *
After having soakedthrough another bandage in the night, Brooks finally agreed that he should see a doctor. They’d just dropped Zack off at camp and were headed to the urgent care in Kennewick to have his hand sewn up. From the moment Zack waved goodbye, Brooks and Adriana had started speaking their minds.
“My mother doesn’t want you to leave,” he said. “She probably just wants the same thing I want. Commitment. This relationship is starting to feel a bit one-sided. You and I are both on the same seesaw, and I’m sitting in the fucking dirt.”
