Chapter Two
Audrey sighed, dropping into a seat opposite an empty row of check-in desks. Lansing Airport wasn’t exactly the hub LAX or Detroit had been. In her lap, her phone lit up and she half smiled, answering it readily.
“Welcome back to the glorious state capital!” Zora cheered. “Land of… adventure and meaning and… Huh. What’s Michigan famous for?”
Audrey laughed. “Very little that’s happening in Lansing, I fear.”
“Yeah. Knew there was a reason I’d never been.”
“There are more interesting parts of the state than here, I’ll give you that.”
“Right. Well, how are you feeling? Shit in a way that’s got nothing to do with Lansing, I assume?”
Audrey watched a couple walk past her, clearly queer and young and so desperately happy and in love. Perhaps they were on their way to meet a family—chosen or otherwise—better than hers. “Yeah. Just… bracing for the all-too-familiar impact. You know how it is.”
Zora sighed. “I do know how it is. And I know you like to play it down.”
“Nothing to play down. It is what it is. It will be what it will be. And I’ll see you on the other side.”
“Hey, maybe someone else will come alone this year and your shitty family will leave you the hell alone.”
Audrey had been to more than enough of these things to know that was not an option.
At this point, she wondered whether the entire family could show up single and she’d still be the one targeted because she’d never once brought someone around them.
But, given the way they acted when she was alone, she’d long since sworn never to subject anyone else to them even if she was in a relationship for Christmas.
Zora cleared her throat, correctly interpreting her silence.
“Okay. Yeah, we both know I’m just being optimistic and wanting better for you than you’re about to get.
You’re coming straight over to my place once you get back and I’m looking after you, feeding you food that feels safe, and building you back up. ”
“You don’t need to do that,” Audrey insisted, her entire body stiffening as her mind started circling on what this week would be like. She knew, of course, but now that Zora had vaguely mentioned it, Audrey’s mind felt… icky.
“I know I don’t have to, but that’s what you do when you love people, and, after a week with your shitty relatives, you need some time with people who respect you.”
Audrey sighed, counting mentally as she pressed each of her fingertips into her thumb in turn. She made it to thirty-two and started again.
Zora waited.
When she’d made it to ninety-six in total, Audrey hummed. “Okay. Thank you. That would actually be great.”
“Fantastic,” Zora said cheerfully. “And, for the next week, you can call me any time you like. Day or night.”
“Isn’t that always true?”
“Yes. So, take advantage.”
“Okay.” She paused. “River broke up with her partner a little while ago.”
“Oh? Is she coming alone?”
“Nope.”
There was a beat of confused silence. “Babe, your family is so fucking weird.”
Audrey laughed. “You’re telling me?”
“Only because you need to hear it constantly until you realize you don’t need to keep subjecting yourself to these people. You’ve got a fucking PhD, an incredible job, and you’re one of the best people I’ve ever met in my life—”
“You’re just saying that because you’re my best friend.”
“Mm. No. I’m saying it because it’s true. Deal with it. And they can too, while we’re on it. Who gives a shit if you’re not dating anyone?”
“Oh, my family. I don’t know if you got the memo, but it’s really important to them.”
Zora snorted. “Yeah, fuck them.”
Audrey paused as she heard someone on the other side of the call asking Zora if she could watch her language.
Zora apologized, but Audrey didn’t think it would generally impact her vocabulary.
She sounded like she was walking through the street, so she’d probably passed someone with a child. Awkward.
“Anyway,” Zora said after a few more steps, “who’s River bringing this time?”
Audrey shrugged. “Some new girlfriend. Apparently, they work together and she was simply waiting in the wings for when River and Triss broke up, desperate for her chance.”
“Babe… come on, now.”
Audrey glanced around the tiny terminal, not sure what Zora was getting at, and her eyes landed on that adorable couple again.
One with bright pink hair, the other dressed like a grandpa and rocking the look.
She couldn’t help but smile as they squeezed themselves into the same seat despite the significant availability of places to sit.
She wondered whether they were simply ridiculously early for check-in that hadn’t started yet, or whether, like her, they were waiting for their ride to arrive.
She also wondered whether she’d ever be in love like that. Completely oblivious to the world around them, desperate to be closer to each other. It wasn’t a hard question to answer. She definitely hadn’t thus far and it didn’t seem likely in the future. What would be the point?
She cleared her throat. “You’re going to have to explain that a little better, Zora.”
“Oh, my god. So oblivious.” She sucked in an audible breath. “Okay, so, River’s fine and all—cute, decent personality, a little… naive and excitable, but perfectly lovely.”
“Right…?”
“But there is no way so many people are sitting around, pining after her, just eager to jump in the second she has a breakup. And have you never noticed how so many of her breakups tend to come right after your family events?”
“You’re asking if I’m surprised River stays in relationships until she’s cleared the world’s most annoying family get-togethers?
No. I am not. Sure, it’s a little shitty to string people along, but I’m assuming she discusses it with them and everyone consents to maintain the…
illusion for an extra few days that they’re still in love. ”
“Right. So, what’s to say she’s not bringing a fake-ass girlfriend this time?”
Audrey spluttered in surprise. “You think she’s fake dating someone she works with? There’s no way. How would she even pull that off? She’s a terrible liar.”
“As if your family’s going to ask anything that’s not designed to be mildly insulting.”
“I…” Audrey trailed off. That was a really good point. And, if it was about a relationship, they wouldn’t have anything to say. It was… the baseline, expected. Be there and be with someone. That was all they wanted.
Zora scoffed triumphantly. “You see my point.”
“Yeah. Remind me again why I’m here…”
“Beats me. You’re better than all that, babe. You could be here, with me—well, you probably don’t want to be right here, but back in LA.”
“Where are you?”
“The courthouse in Beverly Hills.”
“The courthouse? Beverly Hills?”
“Yeah. I’m attending Federica and Akua’s wedding. Just a tiny, quick thing, pictures down at City Hall, then we’re getting dinner.”
“Are you the only witness at the wedding of two of your exes?” Audrey asked, amused but unsurprised.
“Firstly, obviously I’m attending. I introduced them, we’re all great friends, and they can both talk about how great I am in bed—”
“No way they do that.”
“Pretty sure they do. I’ll ask later.”
“Please don’t.”
Zora cackled. “And, secondly, I’m not the only guest. Nash is here too.”
“Another of their exes. Naturally.”
“You act as if you’re not queer, I swear.”
“Definitely queer. Just… poorly dated.”
“Yeah, well, so would I be if I was busy becoming a doctor and engaging in the world’s most bizarre and intense career—two careers, technically—and, you know, traumatized by my shit family.”
“I’m not traumatized—”
“Don’t even try that on me. We both know you are. You don’t get into examining dead bodies without being traumatized.”
“Actually, I examine the bugs.”
“Yeah, on the dead bodies.” She huffed. “Name one mentally healthy person you work with.”
“Name one mentally healthy person you work with!”
Zora laughed again. “Babe, I work for a queer non-profit. We’re all going through it.”
“Exactly.”
“Still not bugs on bodies.”
“Bugs are interesting.”
“So I’ve heard.” Her shudder was audible.
Zora had always been supportive of Audrey’s job, and morbidly fascinated by aspects of it, but she had yet to come around on bugs. Audrey was used to that.
She smiled. She really did love her job, even if it did seem a little weird to people outside her profession.
“Anyway,” Zora said pointedly, clearly focusing her mind on things other than bugs, “my point stands. No way in hell River found a girlfriend that quickly, especially not one who was just itching to attend the Sinclair family horror show.”
Audrey laughed. “Halloween was a while ago.”
“Yeah, and your family’s trying to infect Christmas with it. Thank God you’re not there for actual Christmas. You’ll have a much better time with us.”
Something inside Audrey’s chest warmed. She always did.
Zora’s family were loud, loving people, and time with them in Moreno Valley had become…
familiar. Far more comfortable than the annual tree week with her own biological family, even if she still wasn’t sure about spending Christmas Day itself with them.
Zora insisted it was fine, that they wanted her there, but Audrey wasn’t convinced.
“Yeah, let me know if they want me to bring anything back from Michigan.”
“Just your cute self and your will to live.”
“No matter how badly this week goes, I don’t think I’ll be losing that.”
“Make sure you don’t,” Zora said, more seriously than the rest of the conversation. Audrey had forgotten how genuinely Zora worried when she came back here—well, not generally to Michigan. She’d been back here for work conferences, but back with her family? That was different.
She smiled sadly. “I promise I’ll be okay.”
“Good.” She paused to emphasize how serious she was. “And, we can have a mission. Figure out if your cousin’s actually smashing the woman she’s bringing, or if they’re lying liars.”
“I really don’t think River would do that.”
“Because you have a better opinion of her than I do.” She laughed. “I’d do it if I were River, so I’m not counting her out.”
Audrey paused, looking pointedly away when she spotted the queer couple sharing an adorable kiss and dancing to the Michael Bublé song that was playing. “You’d fake a girlfriend?”
“Oh, for sure. You gotta do what you gotta do, and your family’s a nightmare. Not all of us are strong enough to fend off their comments year in, year out like you are. I don’t actually think you realize how impressive you are.”
“Zora,” she said softly.
“But, if you want me to fly out there and kidnap you back here, I’m there.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Audrey insisted, still touched.
“Okay, but only because I want to know if River’s pulling a fast one. Imagine! The drama, the romance, the chaos…”
“Romance?”
“For sure. You know how these things go. Fake date to real dating. It's hard to pretend to be that close with someone and not fall for them.”
Audrey laughed, but the sound got stuck in her throat when she felt the phone vibrate and saw a text from her brother. “Yeah, well, I’ll… keep you posted.”
Zora sighed heavily. “Your ride just appeared, huh?”
“Yup.”
“Well, I hope it goes well. Call me whenever you need me.”
“Will do. Have fun at the wedding. Do not ask if they talk about how good you are in bed.”
Zora cackled again. “Babe, of course I’m going to! It’s like you don’t know me at all.”
“I do, and that’s what worries me.”
“Don’t. Just… take a leaf out of my book, and if your fucking family gives you a hard time, punch them in the mouth.”
“Not doing that.”
“I gave you permission.”
“To lose my job for assault?”
“Worth it in this case.”
“Not if you don’t want me moving into your place it isn’t.”
“You’re saying that as if I don’t want you there,” Zora said as Audrey gathered up her things and headed out to the pick-up point.
She supposed she did know Zora wouldn’t mind that.
She’d said time and time again that Audrey should move in with her so that Audrey had someone to look after her, and to save her from returning from grizzly days at work to an empty apartment, but, as much as Audrey loved and appreciated Zora, she liked having her own place.
She needed control over it and the things in it. It was just… how she was.
Cal’s car was waiting outside. His wife Delaney was in the passenger seat.
“I’ve got to go,” Audrey told Zora.
“Okay. Look after yourself. I love you bigger than the whole sky.”
Audrey smiled. Zora only said that when she was worried and desperate to reassure Audrey. “I love you bigger than the whole sky too.”
“Too right.”
Audrey laughed as they hung up, but the rock that settled in her stomach was difficult to ignore the closer she got to the car.
She threw her bag into the trunk and took a deep breath as she pulled open the door to the back seat.
Cal smirked as he looked over at her. “We left the back row open for you in case you brought someone this year…”
Audrey kept her breathing measured. “Good to see you both too.”
They laughed, and Cal reached over to whack her—ostensibly in a friendly way. “Same old Audrey.”
“I would have mentioned if I was bringing someone.”
Delaney shot her a look. “As if you would, though.”
Audrey felt sick. She tapped her fingers hard and fast. The whole thing was a disgusting game.
Cal laughed again as he started driving away from the airport. “Don’t worry, we’ll be back with everyone in a couple of minutes and you’ll have company.”
Audrey narrowed her eyes. “A couple of minutes?”
“Yeah, we’re going to Horrocks. Shopping to do. Whole family trip.”
“Right.” Audrey might have been more upset about a surprise shopping trip being sprung on her after the trek she’d had across the country if she didn’t love Horrocks so much. It was, perhaps, the only thing she actually enjoyed and looked forward to on these trips.