CHAPTER NINETEEN - MELODY
CHAPTER NINETEEN
MELODY
The fridge was empty. Melody had hoped to make dinner for her father tonight, but short of a trip to the grocery store, that wasn’t happening.
The front door opened and her father stepped in. He placed his briefcase on the floor beside the couch as always and greeted her with a quiet smile.
“Hi, Dad.” The D-word still felt foreign from all the years where Melody had so infrequently said it.
He looked up. “Good evening. How are you?”
“Hungry, actually. I was thinking, maybe we should go out for dinner tonight.”
He straightened and seemed to hesitate. Then he offered a small nod. “Where to?”
“Anywhere. Let’s just go have a nice meal together that someone else prepares. It’ll be fun.”
He gestured down the hall. “Let me just change into something less stuffy first.”
“Sure. I’ll change as well.”
Melody headed to her room and scanned the closet, which was now full of items she’d chosen for herself from Hidden Treasures. There was also a pale-blue prom dress hanging in there. She still couldn’t believe she’d taken it or that she’d said yes to being Christopher’s date. She pulled a soft-yellow sundress out of the closet and some strappy sandals with rhinestone accents. Perfect for a nice restaurant or something more casual.
Five minutes later, she met her father in the living room.
“You look handsome,” she said. “Maybe you’ll catch the eye of one of Trove’s single ladies tonight.”
He chuckled unexpectedly. “I don’t think so. All I want to do is spend time with my beautiful daughter. Shall we?” He opened the front door for her.
“We shall.”
Melody let her father drive. He was more familiar with where to go on the isle these days. He drove her to the west side of town to a little hole-in-the-wall mom-and-pop place.
“I come here alone sometimes. They give me a quiet corner off to myself,” her father said as they got out of the car and walked up to the front entrance.
“Alone? You don’t mind sitting all by yourself?”
Her father held the door for her. “No, I’m used to it by now. And I like the quiet when I’m eating. I like to sit and eavesdrop on the folks around me too.”
Melody laughed softly. Who knew her father had a sense of humor? She was rediscovering him and realizing maybe she’d never known him at all.
“Oh, Mr. Palmer. You brought a guest this time,” the hostess said. It was a young woman with long blonde hair and brown eyes.
“This is my daughter,” Melody’s father told the woman, his voice full of pride. Melody felt the opposite of pride. The fact that she’d left town and her father had had to sit at restaurants all alone made guilt swell in her ribcage, closing in around her heart.
The hostess led them to a table in the back corner where her father said he was normally seated. “Here you are. Enjoy your dinner and company,” she said before heading back to the front entranceway of the restaurant.
Melody’s father sat and looked across the table at her. “Today I don’t need to eavesdrop. I’ll just talk to you.”
Melody felt oddly nervous. “So, what do you order when you come in?”
“The special, of course.”
“Always?”
“Always,” he confirmed.
“But what if you don’t like it?”
“Food is food. I’ll like it.”
Melody closed her menu. “Okay. Then I’ll have the special too. I just hope it’s not frog legs or something like that.”
“That’s only on Tuesdays,” he said. “Since today is Thursday, you should be fine.”
Melody couldn’t tell if he was joking or not. She certainly hoped so. Fortunately, the special turned out to be roasted lemon chicken and asparagus sautéed in an alfredo cream sauce. It was delicious and the conversation was equally appealing.
“You don’t have to pay,” Melody said at the end when her father placed his debit card on the bill tray and handed it to the waitress.
“You’re my only date in over a decade. This is on me.”
Melody fidgeted nervously with her napkin. “Thank you.”
“Of course.”
Once they’d left the restaurant, they returned to her father’s vehicle. She thought they were going back to his house, but her dad made a detour to a flower shop on Seagull Street.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“I’m getting two bouquets of flowers, if you don’t mind. I typically stop here once a week to get some flowers for your mom and your sister. Maybe you’ll come with me this time.”
“To the cemetery?” Melody was surprised by this information. “Sure. I guess so.”
He stepped out, walked into the shop, and returned within five minutes with two bouquets of wildflowers.
“You really go to their graves once a week?” Melody asked as he veered back onto the road and drove in the direction of the town’s main cemetery.
“I try to. I might miss a week if it’s storming or if there’s ice on the ground.”
“That’s really nice, Dad.”
“You sound surprised.”
She was. Her father didn’t even have photographs of her mom or Alyssa out in the house. She’d assumed he had forgotten about them or more likely, that he didn’t want to think about them. But he hadn’t forgotten any more than Melody had.
A few minutes later, her father parked again. Melody pushed her car door open and walked around the vehicle to catch up to her father. The sun-dried grass crunched beneath their feet as they walked through the cemetery. They stepped onto the sidewalk and followed a path that Melody hadn’t been down since she was eighteen years old.
“Here.” Her father handed her the bouquet. “You put these on Alyssa’s grave.”
Melody held the wildflowers in her hands. Reflexively, she tipped her nose into the bundle and breathed them in. She’d brought flowers to Alyssa on the opening night of a high school play that Alyssa had starred in. Alyssa had acted like Melody had given her a thousand bucks. She’d practically crushed the bouquet in the middle of the hug she’d given Melody.
“You’re the best sister ever!”she’d said, on a rush of theatrical adrenaline.
“You say that now. Just wait until the next time you’re mad at me.”
Alyssa laughed and shook her head. “Sisters get mad at each other, but it never changes the fact that we’re family. Family sticks together. You’re stuck with me, forever.”
Forever.
Who knew how short that would be?
Melody approached the granite headstone. It was simple, which just felt wrong for Alyssa. Nothing about Melody’s younger sister had ever been simple. Alyssa was complicated and dramatic. She was bursting with color and energy—even at night. Melody remembered that her sister would toss restlessly in bed, having difficulty winding down because she was go-go-go all the time.
Alyssa would whisper across their dark bedroom to Melody, “Psst. Are you awake?”
“I am now,”Melody would groan. “I have school tomorrow. So do you. Go to bed.”
Melody had taken on a bit of a motherly role after their mother died. They’d had their Great-aunt Jo to step in sometimes, but Jo didn’t live with them. Melody was the one who’d been there when Alyssa had gotten her period. No way their father could have ever handled that well. He seemed clueless about raising girls. Melody had taught Alyssa about tampons and shaving her legs. At least Jo had done the honors of telling them both about sex. Jo had waited until Melody was sixteen though, and unfortunately high school sex ed class had beaten Jo to the punch.
Melody’s father had taken a shot at that lesson too. His only words on the matter were: “Just don’t have it.”
Melody bent and placed the flowers on Alyssa’s grave now and stood, memories tossing around like ocean waves. Her father was standing beside her so it was awkward. They both just stood there quietly. “Is this what you do when you come here?” Melody finally asked.
“No. I usually talk to them.”
Melody glanced over. “You talk to them?”
He looked a bit sheepish as he shrugged. “Yeah. I think they hear me. I’ve been over to Sunrise Park too and I’ve spoken to Jo.”
“You have?”
Her father chuckled. “You think I’m crazy now?”
“No. Just sentimental. Who knew?”
“Well, an accountant has feelings despite what some might think.” He cleared his throat. “A father does too.” He hesitated for a long moment. Melody remained quiet because she could feel something heavy weighing on his thoughts. “Melody, your mother’s death destroyed me. I didn’t think I had any heart left to break after that, but then—” He took a shallow gulp of air. “Then Alyssa—” His voice cracked and Melody could see that he was fighting off tears.
She reached for his hand, covering it with her own. “It’s okay, Dad.”
“No,” he said quickly. “It’s not okay. That’s what I’m trying to tell you. It was not okay for me to blame you for what happened to her that night. It wasn’t your fault. You need to know that I never thought it was.”
Melody’s eyes flooded with unexpected tears and her mind brought back memories of that last night in Trove Isle before she’d left town. Her father had asked why Alyssa was the one who was taken. Why her? Melody had taken that to mean: why not Melody? She’d interpreted those words as her father wishing she was the one who’d died instead. She shook her head. “You were just upset. Distraught. It’s understandable. You lost a daughter.”
“But you lost a sister.” He held her gaze, allowing his tears to cloud his vision. “Melody, I can blame my emotions, but that doesn’t make how I acted okay. I have regretted the words I said to you ever since they left my mouth. That regret has held me prisoner. It kept me from reaching out so many times after you left. What right did I have to keep you as a daughter after the way I acted? I was ashamed of myself.”
Melody swallowed. “It’s okay, Dad.”
He squeezed her hand. “Don’t do that, Melody.”
“Do what?” she asked, furrowing her brow.
“Accept my apology before I’ve even given it to you. You’ve always done that. You forgive so easily after someone has hurt you.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?” She offered a half smile in his direction, not understanding what he was saying.
“Not in this case. You need to think about whether my simple apology is enough. It’s okay if it’s not. It’s okay if you need more time.” He nodded. “I just needed you to know, it was never your fault.”
Melody was overcome with an emotion she couldn’t quite pinpoint. The feeling washed over. She waited to speak until she knew she wasn’t going to break down. “I’m sorry too, Dad. All this time I thought I was justified in leaving and not coming back, but maybe I was just immature.”
He pinned his gaze on Melody’s mother’s headstone. “We all have regrets, Melody. No one gets out of this life without them.”
“Except maybe Alyssa,” Melody said. “She died too young to have real regrets. Maybe she’s the lucky one.”
Her father reached for Melody’s hand and held it. “All I know is that I’m glad you’re here with me now.”
“I’ve missed you so much,” she said, stepping toward him and throwing her arms around him now. She didn’t think, she just followed her compulsion to hug him.
“I’ve missed you too, Melody. So, so much,” he whispered in her ear. Finally, Melody pulled back and wiped at her eyes. “Do you think Mom and Alyssa are watching us right now?”
“And Jo too. They’re probably dancing up there. The three of them.”
“Alyssa is singing,” Melody said with a wide smile, imagining the scene.
“With her beautiful angelic voice,” her father agreed.
“She would have been a star.”
“She already was in my eyes. You too.”
Warmness moved through Melody’s chest as her father looked at her. She wasn’t sure she’d ever felt so much warmth radiating off him.
“You ready to go home?” he asked, reaching for her hand.
Melody swallowed. Home. She was well past ready to be home and only just now realizing it.
* * *
Last time Melody had come to the women’s prison, she’d been on edge and nervous to see her old friend. Today she was just excited. She and Liz took a seat and waited for Bri to join them.
Melody put her arms out in front of her on the picnic table, the bracelet catching the bright sunlight and making it sparkle slightly. “I can’t wait to show Bri the new charms we’ve added,” Melody told Liz.
“I can’t wait to let Bri wear it once she’s out. It’s not right that she hasn’t gotten a turn yet.”
Melody glanced over. “Want to drive on the way back?”
Liz’s eyes rounded comically. “On the highway? No, I don’t think I’m ready for that.”
Melody smiled as she fidgeted absently with the charms. Then Bri was standing at the head of their table. She’d snuck up on them without them seeing her.
“Hey, you two. What are you chatting about?” She plopped down on the bench across from them.
“I was asking Liz if she wanted to drive back,” Melody said.
Bri looked at Liz. “Really? I thought you were just sticking to your neighborhood right now.”
“I am.” Liz rolled her eyes. “Baby steps, okay? I’m not driving home.”
Melody shared a look with Bri. “How are you?” she finally asked.
“Counting down the days. It’s less than thirty now.” Bri tipped her face up to the sun, closing her eyes for just a moment. She sucked in an audible breath. “Ah, I can practically smell my freedom.”
“And your lifetime supply of free bites from The Bitery?” Liz asked.
“Mmm. So, how are you two doing? What is it that you’re not telling me in our daily messages?” Bri’s gaze bounced between them.
“Well,” Melody said, “I’m going to prom.”
Bri straightened into a more upright position. “What?”
“Christopher West is chaperoning the high school’s prom like he does every year, and he asked me to join him,” Melody clarified.
“Like on a date?” The corners of Bri’s lips curled into a small smile. “You’re dating Christopher?”
“No.” Melody quickly shook her head. “I mean, I guess it’s kind of a date. But it’s also me helping out with chaperoning the kids.”
“Of all the people to choose to chaperone, they ask a person who doesn’t even live in Trove anymore? No. Not buying that.” Bri lifted a brow and looked at Liz. “You’re going too?”
“Oh, no way. You couldn’t drag me to prom with a bribe of a million dollars. Not happening.”
“Why is that?” Bri asked, her dark brows furrowing, making a little divot between her eyes.
Liz’s expression wilted. “You seriously have to ask?”
“Because of what happened to us?” Bri asked. “That’s why you’re not going?”
Liz nodded. “Isn’t that enough of a reason?”
“I thought you were facing your fears this summer,” Bri pressed. “You’re driving. You’re going to tell your mom you don’t want to run The Bitery once she’s back in the country. You’re making plans for your own photography business.”
“Going to prom is different.” Liz looked down at her interlocked hands.
Bri gestured at Melody. “I don’t know. Melody’s going.”
Melody bumped her shoulder against Liz’s. “It’s not too late. We can find you the perfect dress in my shop.”
“Your shop?” Bri asked.
“Hidden Treasures.”
Bri grinned widely now. “Wow. From wanting to get rid of it to calling it yours. That’s new.”
Melody shook her head. “I mean, the store is mine right now. Until I sell it.”
Bri clasped her hands in front of her, looking between Melody and Liz. Then her gaze fell on the charm bracelet. “Oh. I almost forgot. I have something for us.” She reached into the front of her shirt and pulled something out of her bra. “Sorry. I don’t have pockets.” She slid a charm across the picnic table.
“Wow. Where’d you get this?” Melody asked.
“I work in the library here. The librarian had a bookmark with a charm attached.”
“You stole it?” Liz’s jaw dropped.
Bri frowned, looking annoyed by the question. “No. She said I could have it. She gave it to me.”
“Oh. Sorry,” Liz said sheepishly.
Bri shook her head and pointed at the charm. “It’s a wave. I want to add it to the bracelet. And when I’m free, one of the first things I want to see is the ocean. It’s been years. That’s my dream.”
Melody picked the charm up and inspected it. Then she looked up at Bri. “We’re going on a beach trip as soon as you’re free. I love that idea.”
“Perfect way to end the summer,” Liz agreed.
Melody used her fingernails to pry the metal circle attachment open. Then she attached the wave charm and pinched the circle shut again. “There.” She handed the bracelet to Bri to admire.
Bri turned the bracelet around, looking at every charm for a moment. “It’s getting full. I can’t believe after all this time, we’re finishing what we started with this bracelet. It feels like a full-circle moment.” She handed the bracelet back to Melody.
Melody tipped her head to the side and gestured at Liz. “It’s Liz’s turn.”
Bri handed it to Liz instead. “Here you go.”
“And once you’re out, it’ll be your turn.” Liz slipped the bracelet onto her wrist.
“You should consider going to prom,” Bri said, returning to the previous subject. “That feels like a full-circle moment too. If I were out, I’d go for sure. Just to prove that I can. And for Alyssa. I think she would want us all to go, seeing that we never got a chance.”
Liz looked suddenly pale. Her hand moved to the bracelet on her wrist, turning it around and around. She seemed to pull in a shaky breath. “I don’t need to prove that I can. Because I know for a fact that I can’t. That’s one thing I can’t do.” She shook her head. “Ever.”