Page 13 of Not Another Beach Read
Holly didn't reply.
"So I figured you can add a few things to make it yours for the time that you'll be with us."
"And how long do you think that will be?" she said, nervously clicking her thumbnails together.
"I'm not sure. It's summer, so we can leave it open, if that's okay with you."
She slouched down in her seat. "Yeah, that's fine. I don't have anywhere to be."
We spent the rest of the trip listening to the radio with the windows down on Drew's Bronco. As we began the drive over the Courtney Campbell Causeway, I turned in my seat and saw Holly watching all the revelers on the beach. There were jet skis crossing back and forth through one another's wakes and brightly clad beachgoers jumping into the waves that crashed up on the beach. A little further over the bridge and we could begin to see Clearwater.
Nervous excitement coursed through my belly as the Welcome to Clearwater sign came into view. Ten minutes later, we were in front of our house and pulling into the driveway. Drew got out and opened the door going into the kitchen and Eden quickly ran around to Holly's side, our official Bennett household welcome wagon.
"I'll get your bags," said Drew. "If you can bring your backpack in."
Holly led the way to her room and dropped her backpack on the bed.
"Looks the same as the last time I was here," she said, which sounded more like appreciation than a complaint. I imaginethat with all the upheaval in her life recently, something that was the same was a welcome surprise.
"Yes, we wanted you to be able to add things that you liked. We can go to HomeGoods later this week and pick out some new bedding that suits your personality a little more. Anything you want," I said. I gave her a nudge with my shoulder, to which she rewarded me with the tiniest of smiles.
I realized then that getting her re-acclimated was going to take a little bit longer than I had anticipated.
"Well, we'll leave you to get settled," I said. "Drew will be in the kitchen getting dinner started, and I'm going to go through the order for the bookstore. Let either one of us know if you need anything, okay, honey?"
"Yeah, okay," she said without looking up.
She flopped onto the bed face up and closed her eyes.
"Or take a nap, there's really no hurry," I said.
I walked over to the side of the bed and leaned over to run my hand over the top of her head like I have done since she was a baby. How I wanted to crawl into the bed and wrap my body around hers and protect her from everything that must have been going on inside of her head. I didn't know how I could take it from her. What we were both going through with my sister was two completely different emotions, but I felt that I could try to understand should she decide to open up. At this point, she didn't even open her eyes.
"Well, you know where I'll be," I said. "Make yourself at home and we'll see you in a little bit, okay?"
Drew and I crept out of the room to give her time to settle in or take a nap. Perhaps she needed an escape. I couldn't say that I blamed her.
6
HOLLY
The ceiling fan in Aunt Elyse's guest room—my room then, I guess—made five full rotations every four seconds. I'd been counting for what felt like hours, watching the blades spin in the dim glow of the nightlight they'd plugged in "just in case." As if I were five instead of sixteen.
I rolled onto my side, pulling the unfamiliar comforter up to my chin. It smelled like fabric softener. The expensive kind, not the store brand kind Grandma bought. That stuff made my skin itch. Everything in Aunt Elyse and Uncle Drew's house smelled clean in a way I wasn't used to. Not hospital clean or chemical clean, but like someone actually cared enough to wash things regularly and properly. Like grandma and grandpa's, but with... strawberries?
The sheets were so smooth they almost felt slippery. The pillowcase under my cheek was cool and crisp, like it had been ironed.
Who irons pillowcases? I know it's not Aunt Elyse. Her idea of ironing is throwing things in the dryer with a wet towel.
My suitcase sat in the corner, still mostly packed. AuntElyse had shown me the dresser earlier. "All yours," she'd said, sliding the drawers open to reveal they were still empty and waiting for me. For the last year, they'd been lined with lavender contact paper. "And there's plenty of room in the closet too."
I'd nodded and thanked her, but I still didn't have a whole lot to say. All I had were questions swirling in my head. Questions Aunt Elyse would never be able to answer.
How long would I be here?
Until Mom got her act together again?
Until she found a new apartment?
