Chapter 8
Eight
I opened my eyes and took in the yellow-and-white surroundings.
It took a full minute before remembering I was in one of Maudra’s guest bedrooms. It all rushed back.
It was like that every morning lately, even back home.
I’d wake up, and before my head would have a chance to rise off its pillow, I would remember the crumbling shambles of my life.
Surprisingly, sleep came easy for me. I never dreamed.
I never even woke up to go to the bathroom.
It was the one small blessing I clung to.
At least I could close my eyes and the world would vanish.
Instinctively, I turned over on my side, ready to curl up next to Jed. With a gasp I sat straight up. Jed! I’d forgot! Shit!
I jumped out of bed and threw myself in the same jeans and T-shirt I’d worn the night before.
I ran down the stairs and out the front door.
The lawn was soaked from the storm the night before, and my bare feet slipped right when I reached the car.
I caught myself on the side mirror before I fell.
After regaining my balance, I yanked open the unlocked door.
There sat my phone, snug in the middle console.
Grabbing it, I looked at the screen. Ten missed calls.
Three messages. I didn’t bother checking them.
I hit speed dial and held the phone up to my ear as I sank down in the driver’s seat.
The phone rang once. “Brooke?”
“Yeah, it’s me. I’m sor—”
“Thank God!” Jed let out a long breath. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. I just….”
“What were you doing?” His voice became angry. “I’ve waited all night. I had no idea what was going on! I didn’t know if you had a wreck, if you were in the hospital, if you just decided to disappear. What’s going on, Brooke?”
“Jed, babe, I’m sorry.” I really was. I felt horrible. “I just forgot. It was kinda an emotional night. I just got in and took a bath and had dinner, then passed out. I just woke up. Please don’t be mad.” I was pleading. I hated to hear that sound in my voice.
“Of course I’m mad! I’m furious! It’s bad enough I couldn’t come with you.
To have no idea if you were all right. I didn’t fall asleep till almost four, and I was awake again by six.
I am going to be a mess when I try to teach my class today.
” I could hear his fingers drumming on the back of the phone.
He only did that when he was really mad.
“How could you forget me? You promised you’d call when you got in! ”
“I know, I know. I’m sorry. I was just a mess last night. Please calm down. Be patient with me. You know I don’t want to be here either.”
“I know, but that doesn’t change that you—”
“Jed!” I interrupted. “I’m sorry. I won’t do it again. I just left my phone in my car. It’s not like I was thinking of other things I thought were more important. I just wasn’t really able to function last night.”
We sat in silence for several minutes. Finally, I heard Jed start to take deep, slow breaths. I just waited. I knew he was going to be back to normal after a few more breaths.
“You’re okay?” he inquired.
“Yeah, babe, I’m fine.” I shook my head. Hearing his voice somehow made it all worse. “Actually, no, I’m not. I don’t want to be here, Jed. I want to be there with you, in bed, fighting. I don’t think I can do this.”
He chuckled a little. “Right, because we fight in bed!” His voice took on his soothing tone. “I know you don’t want to be there, sweetie. We’ve talked about this. There’s not really another choice. Your mom needs you now.”
“I know, but….”
“Brooke. This is our only option.” He was stern but gentle. “We will get through this. I promise.”
I just sat there, listening to him breathe.
“I’m sorry I didn’t remember to call.”
“I know. It’s okay. Just don’t do it again, please.” His voice cracked.
“I miss you, babe.” I really did, although my eyes were completely dry. “You gotta get ready for your class now, don’t ya?”
“Yeah, I’ll probably already be late.” I heard drawers closing. “Call me tonight, okay?”
“Okay.”
“I love you, Brooke.”
“Love you too.”
Maudra called my name when I opened the front door of the house.
“Be right there!” I wiped the wet grass off my feet, stepped into the house, and closed the door behind me.
Glancing up the stairs, I thought longingly of bed.
With forced effort, I made my way back into the kitchen.
I turned down the hallway that led off the kitchen and followed it to the glassed-in sunroom.
Maudra saw me in the doorway and motioned to me from her wicker rocking chair.
She was wearing a light pink gingham dress and had placed her copious curls high on her head, a few tendrils carefully positioned around her face. “Brooke! Come on in. Pull yerself up a seat!”
It was then I realized Maudra wasn’t alone.
There was a man sitting opposite her on a matching wicker love seat.
I wasn’t exactly prepared for company or to have to answer a bunch of questions.
If I’d known, I would definitely have gone back upstairs and crawled into bed.
Too late now. Fixing my face with my prepared smile, I walked toward Maudra to face her guest.
I had no idea who it was for a few seconds.
A few too many seconds for me to be able to play it off smoothly.
I took in the man’s dirty tennis shoes, his ripped and stained jeans, and his black tank top tight over his chest. He had very tan, muscular arms and a remarkably handsome face with full lips, nearly black eyes, and shiny brown hair that fell into his eyes.
The man broke into a huge smile. His smile. Of course. I would know that smile anywhere.
Now that I recognized him, I couldn’t believe I hadn’t immediately known who he was. He was just older, more filled out. “Donnie!” My voice actually sounded happy. “I can’t believe it’s you!”
“And I can’t believe you didn’t realize who I was.” He got off the love seat and nearly tackled me in a tight hug. “How could you not know your favorite cousin? Hurt. I am so hurt.” He pulled away from me and clenched his fist over his heart. “I’d think you didn’t love me at all.”
I smiled back at him. A real smile. Donnie had always been able to make things better, no matter what the situation. He’d been the only reason a small part of me had wanted to come back, although I didn’t know how receptive he would be. So far, it seemed like things were going to be fine.
I glanced at Maudra. She beamed from ear to ear. It was apparent she was very pleased with her part in the surprise. “Donnie needed to come by ’n fix several things today anyway, so we figgered we might as well have some fun.”
Donnie put his arm over my shoulders and led me to the love seat. “Take a load off, cuz. We got some catchin’ up to do. Some, at any rate. It’s not like we don’t have enough time.” He sat back down in his spot. “But no time like the present to start.”
That was faster than I’d been anticipating. The joyous reunion might be shorter than I had hoped for. “Well, I’m not really sure where to begin.”
Donnie reached out and ruffled my hair. He’d always done that since we were kids. Even though he was barely a year older than me, he had fulfilled the role of a big brother. “I find the beginning is always a good—”
Maudra let out a squeal. “Brooke! I tell you! I don’t know what I’m thinkin’. Here we are eatin’ and you don’t got a thing.” I hadn’t even noticed the food on the small wicker table between the chairs. “I’ll go getcha a piece of chocolate cake. You want pink lemonade or limeade?”
I looked at her somewhat incredulously. “It’s nine in the morning. You guys are having cake?”
Maudra raised her chin a little. “It is ten in the mornin’, for yer information. And I can have cake any time I damn well please.” Her smile broadened. “So, which is it? Lemonade or limeade?”
“Pink lemonade would be great. Thanks, Maudra.” As she left the room, I shook my head and looked at Donnie. “She hasn’t changed a bit since we were kids.”
He let out a laugh. “You have no idea. Still doing her own thing. Still one of the best women around.”
All of a sudden, I was nervous to be alone with Donnie. I wasn’t really sure what to say. “It’s really nice of her to let me stay here, especially on such short notice and all.” I eyed my fingers intertwined on my lap.
“So, Brooklyn, you’ve got some ’splainin’ to do.” He gave his best Ricky Ricardo impression. “Whatcha been up to all these years? You don’t write, you don’t call. A guy could think you don’t care.”
“So, Dionysus,” I retorted. Donnie’s face wrinkled in distaste. “How’d you get my number?”
Donnie looked at me, all innocence. “I don’t think it’s fair that you answer my questions with a question, but I’ll let it pass this time.” His face grew more serious. “I hunted around your mom’s place while everything was going down. I found it in a drawer in her bedroom.”
“You’re kidding! She actually had my number?” I couldn’t believe it. I’d figured she’d burnt it years ago.
“Yeah. I’d asked for it several times, but… well, you know your mom.”
“I know.” I looked at him grimly. “Not much of a chance I could forget. I’ve tried.” I watched my feet for a few seconds. There was a blade of grass on my left foot. “About your call, I need to thank you for what you’ve done for Mom the past week or so. Probably more than that, I’d imagine.”
“No big deal, Brooke, it’s just family.”
Maudra whirled into the room with a flourish and set the cake in my lap and handed me a large glass with iced pink lemonade. “Here ya go, dear.” Before she could return to her seat, something dark and furry jumped out of nowhere and scurried up her chair.
I let out a holler. “Maudra!” I reached out to her as if I could stop her from sitting down.
Maudra jumped. “Good Lord, Brooke. Give me a heart attack, why don’tcha?” Her hand was over her chest as she tried to breathe normally.