Chapter 15 Miranda
Chapter fifteen
Miranda
NOW
Iwoke up Saturday morning and saw I'd missed two texts from Stone.
STONE: I’m sorry I haven’t been able to check in more these past few days.
This entire production schedule has turned into all-day shoots and it feels like the only time I’m free is during the middle of the night.
Thank god for texting. But I hear from Shoshanna that everything’s going well.
She said the internet thinks you and I are goals for men and women being friends.
That was not on my bingo card but I’ll take it.
*thumbs-up emoji* *winky emoji* *Canadian flag emoji* (a finger slip, I assumed)
STONE: I miss you, kid. We’ll talk soon.
We were on such different planes right now. There was nothing to show he understood how insane this situation was, how even though the plan was working, it had still thrown my life upside down. Also, if he really wanted to make a conversation happen, he could.
Did he realize how unattractive it was that he was just living his life while other people solved his problems?
Clearly, Shoshanna was keeping him blissfully ignorant, but he was a grown-ass man, so that wasn’t an excuse.
The most Stone had had to do was get photographed with Naomi last week.
And even then, Naomi had flown to him. She’d made the effort. Stone had merely done what he was told.
I shook my head. I didn’t want to resent him. Especially when I’d caused the problem that required solving. But seriously, at what point had I atoned enough?
These flippant little text messages were unacceptable.
How did he not see? I couldn't keep pretending that his behavior was acceptable. Even if Stone did eventually make it a priority to call me, I doubted it would be a good idea for me to take the call. After my terrible fight with Leo, I’d learned a valuable lesson.
Some conversations needed to happen in person.
I exited my texts without replying.
Leo’s surprisingly melodic shower rendition of “Good King Wenceslas” drifting down the hallway soothed some of my irritation, bringing a smile to my lips.
A smile that quickly faded when I heard cars pulling into the driveway.
I banged on the bathroom door. “Shower karaoke’s over, Bear. Finish up, because our reckoning has arrived.”
Besides Stone’s messages, there had been a dozen from my sisters letting me know they’d seen all the gossip about me. Those texts had come in a few hours ago, I assumed as soon as they had service.
I hadn’t responded, just like Leo hadn’t replied to the ones he’d gotten from James. We preferred to wait so that we could talk to our siblings in the same room. They’d be surprised to find us in Coleman Creek.
Although Leo’s truck parked outside the house probably clued them in.
“Miranda?! Leo?!” Marley’s voice echoed as soon as the front door swung open. “Are you here?”
I stood next to the couch. “We’re here. No need to shout.”
“Oh, thank goodness. When you weren’t responding to any of our texts, I got worried.”
Marley enveloped me in a tight embrace. James, Maureen, and Will filed in behind her, carrying luggage and tote bags that they plopped down in the entryway. The appearance of my oldest sister and her boyfriend was unexpected. I hadn’t anticipated facing the entire cavalry.
“You didn’t go back to your house?” I asked Maureen.
“Some of the gear that needs to be stored in the garage is in our car. We figured we’d drop it here on our way.” She gave me a hug, more reserved than Marley’s but no less filled with love. “And now I’m glad I did.”
“Hey, guys!” Leo piped up from the hall, towel wrapped around his waist, still dripping wet from his shower.
I walked over and whispered so only he could hear. “Really, coming out in a towel?”
He leaned in and gave me a kiss on the cheek, then rasped in my ear. “Just trying to sell it, Panda.”
Pulling back, he winked at me, and I slapped him on the butt. “Go put some clothes on,” I said.
“Yes, big brother, please get dressed,” James added dryly.
Leo disappeared into the bedroom.
Will brushed his hands across his thighs. Even though my sisters and James looked a little rough after their long trip, Will looked ready to step out of a catalog for high-end business casual. “This seems like it might be a family-only discussion,” he said. “I can go put the stuff in the garage.”
Marley and James frowned as Maureen hissed, “Don’t you dare. If you leave, plan on getting overly acquainted with the couch tonight.”
Will grinned. “Good. Because I kind of want to hear this.” He turned to me. “Guess we’ve solved the mystery of why Stone recommended Maureen’s video.”
“For the record,” I said carefully, “Maureen’s channel would be a success with or without the Stone Caseman bounce. But yes, let’s just say Stone owed me a favor.”
“True,” Will agreed, kissing Maureen’s cheek as she pretended to be annoyed with him.
“Why are we even talking about that right now?” Marley interjected, hands flailing.
“I don’t give a flying fig about Stone Caseman and all his…
shenanigans. What I care about is the fact that you and Leo have been dating and didn’t tell us.
” Her voice shook, but I knew it was hurt and not anger that drove her.
“I’m sorry, Marls. I promise it wasn’t malicious. We just wanted to keep it private for a while.”
Marley’s expression dimmed, but before I could try to explain further, Leo re-emerged from the bedroom.
He wrapped his arms around me as we all stood in an awkward circle near the Christmas tree. “Obviously, it’s a complicated situation. With our families so closely connected.”
Leo and James exchanged an indecipherable look of silent communication, and I got the feeling the brothers would be having a private discussion soon.
Maureen put a placating hand on Marley’s arm.
“Miranda may be our baby sister, but she’s a grown woman.
We won’t agree with every choice she makes.
” Turning to me, she said, “I think a more important question is how you’re doing with all this.
I haven’t been off the grid since they invented the internet, so of course something like this happens the first time I unplug. ”
“Not gonna lie, I missed being able to go to you guys,” I said. “But it’s good to know I could handle it on my own. I think it’s good for you guys to know that too.”
“Miranda—” Marley raised her brows. “We know you can handle things on your own. You’ve been all over the world and have been living away from us for years.
But you’re still our little sister, and we want to protect you, and…
know about you. I don’t want to find out important things about you by going online. ”
“Exactly,” Maureen chorused. “And it seems like things are improving now, but I still want to tear everyone on the internet a new asshole for referring to you as a ‘ho’ and a ‘home-wrecker’ and a ‘slut,’ and so many other vile things. Seeing comments on my little sister’s Instagram littered with the c-word, I’ve never felt such pure rage.
But there’s no one to get mad at. Everyone is nameless.
Faceless. Occasionally, I get weird comments on my channel, but nothing like that.
I hate that you had to go through it on your own. ”
“I absolutely did not go through it on my own,” I huffed. “Leo’s been with me. I flew up the night the story broke, and he’s been by my side the entire time.”
James eyed where his brother’s arms still locked around my torso. “You guys have always had a special relationship. Thank goodness you had each other.” He gave Leo another odd look.
“Yes. You two being together surprises no one,” Maureen said. “And I realize you had Leo to support you. I’m just sorry I couldn’t be here.” She folded her arms. “It’s the whole situation that seems a little strange. Not telling us. You being besties with Stone Caseman—”
“Clearly, we’re still missing pieces,” Marley agreed sagely. “Starting with why you’re in Coleman Creek. I’m happy to see you, but you’ve been saying for months that you couldn’t get away until Christmas.”
I sighed. “My bosses are pretty stodgy. They were worried about all this causing a circus, so I’m working remotely through the holidays.”
“You’re here for the entire month?” Marley, upset mere moments ago, now slapped her hands together in giddiness. I smiled inwardly. She was seriously made of tinsel, holly, and Hallmark movies. I loved it, feeling the gentle echo of our mom.
“Until after New Year’s,” I clarified.
“Me too,” Leo added.
“That’s amazing! You haven’t been in town for that long during the season since you left for school.” Marley squished my cheeks between her hands. “We can do all the things! Decorating, the Hoopla, the talent show, baking. Oh my gosh! I just realized the city tree lighting is tonight. Yay!”
James smiled indulgently at his wife. “We’re not going anywhere until we get everything back in the garage. Plus, I need a proper shower.” He glared at Will.
“What?” Will protested. “It’s a million-dollar cabin. How was I supposed to know the highest level of water pressure was sad, slow drip?”
The news of my extended visit to town seemed to have softened Marley. Maureen—not so much.
“To be sure—” Maureen said to me and Leo, “when Marley says we can ‘do all the things,’ that includes figuring out whatever it is you’re still hiding from us.”
“I’m not hiding anything,” I insisted, staring her down. “Like we said, it just made more sense to keep things quiet.”
Maureen hmphed. “Obviously, you have the right to your secrets. We only care that you’re okay.” She squeezed my biceps.
I leaned back against Leo. “I’m good.”
9 MONTHS AGO - MARCH
Our little cabin by the beach had everything. Cozy, lived-in furniture and a kitchen with a fancy espresso maker. An outdoor shower with foliage blooming above. Water views clear enough to see turtles swimming. But the only thing that seemed to interest Stone was the excellent Wi-Fi.