CHAPTER THREE - MELODY
CHAPTER THREE
MELODY
Melody’s heart was still pounding. Of all the people to wreck her car with, she’d run into the one person in town she was hoping not to see during her time here. Jo used to say that was how things worked.
“If you’re trying to avoid someone, best bet they’ll be the first person you see today.”
Jo had been right the last time she’d said those words to Melody. Melody had been avoiding a boy at that time. She’d broken up with him, like she always did soon after beginning a relationship. Melody never stayed with anyone for very long. Some things never changed. That same day, after Jo had said those words, Melody had run into the boy at least three times.
As she drove, Melody tried and failed to remember the boy’s name. At least she’d been successful in wiping some of her memories away.
She turned her car onto the street where she grew up and headed toward the end, pulling into her father’s driveway. She didn’t blink or breathe for a moment as she stared out her windshield at the one-story brick ranch-style house where she’d grown up. She hadn’t seen her dad in nine years, although they’d spoken infrequently on the phone.
A dozen raw emotions whirred inside Melody’s belly as she retrieved her luggage from the trunk and headed up the porch steps. She rang the doorbell before seeing the folded note clinging to the glass-paneled window, her name neatly printed on the front. She pulled it out from where it was wedged between the panes and carefully unfolded the paper.
Melody,
I’m at work until six. The door is unlocked. Feel free to go inside and settle into your old room.
Dad
A frown tugged at the corners of her mouth. She’d called her father after hearing about Jo’s passing, and he’d invited her to stay here. She would have expected him to meet her at the door. But no. After all this time apart, he’d chosen work instead. She guessed she should be happy she didn’t have to greet him with a forced smile and polite hello. The reunion promised to be awkward at best. Having a little time to collect herself before facing her father was probably for the best.
Swallowing past the growing lump in her throat, Melody twisted the doorknob and then flipped a light switch to her left. Before stepping inside, she inspected the front room. It was exactly the same as it had been when she’d left. Neat, orderly, and as sterile as a hospital.
She crossed the threshold and took her time as she wandered through the living area. It smelled like lemon, a sign that Mrs. Chavis was still cleaning this place as she’d been doing since Melody’s mom had died. Melody had always liked the sweet-natured housekeeper, probably because she’d left candies on her and Alyssa’s pillows on the days she’d come to clean.
Melody headed down a dark hallway toward her old bedroom. A few posters were pinned to the pale-pink walls, unchanged since Melody’s middle school days. The twin-sized bed on the left side of the room still had a quilt featuring hearts and flowers. And there on the pillow was a caramel-flavored hard candy from Mrs. Chavis.
Melody’s gaze swept to the bed on the right side with polka dots in pink and purple. There was no candy on that pillow because Alyssa wouldn’t be coming home again.
Melody sucked in one breath and then another, suddenly finding it hard to pull air into her lungs. How was she going to stay in this room with her sister’s memory? With all the memories here. The Seagull Inn would have been a more neutral place to stay. But here? Melody blew out a long breath. This is just for two weeks. At least that was what she’d told her business partner, Julie. Maybe Melody wouldn’t even need that long though. She’d already signed the paperwork for the store. She just needed to put it on the market and then go to Jo’s celebration of life on Friday. Perhaps she’d be crossing that bridge out of Trove by Saturday.
Melody set her bags on the bed and reached for the caramel candy on the pillow. She peeled off its wrapper and popped it into her mouth, the taste reminiscent of her childhood. Then she let her gaze fall to the charm bracelet she was still wearing. She was half surprised that she hadn’t taken it off yet. She didn’t like reminders of her past, and this was a pretty big one. In some way, it made her feel close to Alyssa though.
Melody lay back in bed, entertaining random memories from this room. Alyssa on the neighboring bed chattering endlessly about the boy next door, Christopher West, whom she’d had an enormous crush on. He was a skinny boy with large, dark-rimmed glasses and deep-set blue eyes. Melody had never understood what Alyssa saw in him, but Alyssa would lie on her stomach, propped on her elbows, with a pen and her diary—the one she kept wedged between the box spring and her mattress—scrawling her name with his and surrounding their names with little hearts and flowers.
In Melody’s opinion, Christopher really wasn’t that much of a catch and yet, he’d never returned any romantic feelings toward Alyssa. He’d even broken Alyssa’s heart when she’d asked him to go with her to junior prom. Alyssa had been devastated for weeks.
Alyssa had deserved a chance at first love. She’d deserved a chance at life. So much had been taken from her, and some part of Melody would always blame herself—in addition to the boy next door who’d broken Alyssa’s heart.
At some point in her memories, Melody drifted off to sleep. She was awakened by the sound of the front door opening and closing.
Her father was home. She didn’t breathe for a moment. Maybe she should step out and say hello. Then again, he hadn’t been home to welcome his prodigal daughter when she’d arrived. Instead he’d left a note. In turn, she was going to stay inside the confines of her childhood bedroom and go back to sleep.
* * *
Melody waited to leave her room the next morning until she heard the front door close. Then she showered, dressed, and headed outside to her car. She was hoping her second impression of Hidden Treasures Thrift Store would be better. When she arrived, however, she decided that it was maybe worse.
She’d thought she was being overly dramatic in her reaction yesterday. She’d had high hopes in coming to the store, and they’d taken a sharp dive once she’d realized what she’d actually been gifted.
Melody leaned against the glass case full of costume jewelry and tried not to cry. She needed air. A coffee would be nice too. After that, she’d return and figure out her next steps. Or get into her reliable Honda Accord and pretend like none of the last forty-eight hours had ever happened.
Melody collected her purse and walked quickly to the store’s front entrance. She stepped outside and locked up behind herself, using the set of keys that Mr. Lyme had jingled proudly in front of her yesterday. A quick glance down the street told her that Liz’s family bakery was the only viable option for coffee.
In contrast to Melody’s thrift store, The Bitery was inviting. The awning above the door was bright pink with white polka dots and the store name was written in teal script. From the outside looking in, it was quaint and cheery.
Melody didn’t want to avoid Liz the entire time she was in Trove Isle. They’d probably never be best friends again, but maybe Liz could tolerate Melody’s presence. She certainly hadn’t looked happy to see her yesterday.
Without giving herself time to second-guess, Melody headed up the sidewalk, distracting herself by taking in the detail of the downtown area. It was the picture of a small coastal community without the tourist mobs that overran nearby towns. Seagull Street was scenic with black cherry trees and bald cypress lining the two-lane street. There were as many bikes in the sidewalk racks as there were cars. And just like its name, seagulls squawked overhead, on their way to the ocean and pier two miles away.
Melody stopped in front of The Bitery, hesitating before pushing through the entrance door. You can do this, Melody. One foot in front of the other. A little bell chimed overhead as she stepped inside.
“Be with you in a minute!” a voice called from the back.
“No rush!” Melody headed to the glass display case full of delicious-looking treats. The only thing that didn’t appear to be small portioned were the cinnamon twists, which had always been Liz’s specialty. She used to make them during the sleepovers they’d had together while growing up. Melody, Liz, and Bri. That’s how it had started.
Alyssa had somehow inserted herself into the mix, the way that younger siblings tended to do. Melody used to object to Alyssa manipulating her way into their slumber parties, but then Melody had started inviting her. Alyssa brought an element of fun to the group. She could make them laugh so hard that orange soda came out of their noses. In truth, Alyssa became Melody’s best of the best friends.
“Just one more second,” the voice in the back room called again.
“Take your time!” Melody looked around the shop, finding it mostly the same as she remembered from the days when she and her friends would gather here after school. One thing that was different were the framed photographs that decorated the walls. They were all black-and-white snapshots of places Melody recognized around Trove Isle. The bridge that crossed over the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. Sunrise Park. The old drive-in theater on Cameron Street two streets from the oceanfront. Melody and her friends, including Alyssa, would catch a movie and then get ice cream cones and walk the beach until curfew.
“Can I help you?” Liz stepped out of the back kitchen and froze when she saw Melody. She wore an apron that matched the awning outside, pink with polka dots and teal writing across the chest that read Bite Me. “Oh. Hi.”
Melody waved, feeling slightly awkward. “It’s just me.”
“What are you doing here?” Liz’s tone wasn’t mean or even rude. It was more surprised than anything.
“I was hoping to get a coffee. And maybe something to eat.”
Liz seemed to hesitate for a moment before nodding. “Yeah, of course. What would you like?”
“A cinnamon twist.” Melody hadn’t had breakfast yet and she needed more than one or two bite-sized foods.
“Sure.” Liz rang her up for the order, her gaze flitting up to look at Melody behind her glasses, but never sticking. She wasn’t smiling either. When they were growing up, Liz always had a smile on her face. There were different versions of the smile though, that only those closest to her understood. The happy smile. The anxious smile. The heartbroken smile. The smile of despair. Liz smiled to make everyone around her feel better. But Melody was the only one here right now though, and apparently Liz wasn’t concerned with how Melody felt.
Liz tapped the register and read out the price in a monotone voice.
Reaching into the front pocket of her purse, Melody pulled out a ten-dollar bill and slid it across the counter. A second later, Liz handed back four single-dollar bills.
“Take a seat and I’ll bring your breakfast to you in just a moment,” Liz said curtly. Liz had always been the sweetest of their little group of friends. If she didn’t like someone, they must have been a horrible human being. So, it was official. Melody was decidedly horrible.
Melody turned and looked around. A few tables were occupied by folks she recognized. Hopefully they wouldn’t notice her. She wasn’t in the mood for socializing this morning. Keeping her head down, she walked toward the front of the store and slid into a corner seat. Then she watched as Liz retrieved several items from the display cases for incoming customers.
Melody had hoped that she and Liz could take a moment to talk, but now she realized that was a foolish fantasy. She couldn’t just reappear after nine years and expect to be welcomed with open arms. Melody had bailed. In the face of so much pain, she’d decided to turn her back on everyone and everything in Trove Isle. Even her best friends.
A few minutes later, Liz headed over to where Melody was sitting. She slid a plate of treats onto the center of the table along with a to-go cup of coffee.
“I hope you haven’t changed the way you like your coffee.” Liz pulled out the seat across from Melody and sat down, propping her elbows on the table and using her hands to cradle her chin.
Melody was surprised. She was starting to think it would be lucky if Liz didn’t pour salt in her drink instead of sugar. Melody pulled the cup to her and took a sip, practically sighing because it was freshly roasted and so smooth. Much better than the gas station variety she usually grabbed on the go. “You remembered that I like hazelnut?”
“Of course I remember. I’m not the one who left and seemingly forgot everything and everyone in her life.” Liz’s gaze was pointed.
Melody put her coffee down, her hand trembling slightly.
Liz shook her head and placed her hands flat on the table. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“Yes, you should have. I deserved it.” Melody looked directly at Liz and offered a give-it-to-me gesture. “Keep going. Tell me everything you want to say. I’ll sit right here and take it. I won’t even say a word.”
Liz frowned. “Why? So you can feel better, and I can still feel abandoned by my best friend? It wouldn’t be any fun if you didn’t fight back anyway.”
“I’m not here to fight.” When Liz didn’t say anything, Melody switched topics. “I can’t believe Jo didn’t have a funeral.”
Liz shook her head stiffly. Everything about her was rigid and guarded. “She wanted a celebration instead. Mr. Lyme has been waiting for you to come home. Jo’s wishes. Honestly, I thought we were going to be waiting forever.”
“Right.” Melody looked away for a moment. “Jo never did like funerals.” Jo had always said yes to a good party, but she’d opted out on memorial services, saying they weren’t how she wanted to remember that person. The only funerals Melody could remember her great-aunt ever attending were for Melody’s mother and Alyssa. She hadn’t worn traditional black though. Instead, she’d put on her favorite lime-green suit with her pink broach and she’d wrapped a soft silk scarf around her neck. It was her attire for all special occasions.
Melody brought her cup to her lips and took another sip. “I don’t deserve to have her store. I haven’t even seen her in years.”
“You’re a busy woman,” Liz said. “A successful event planner.”
Melody furrowed her brow. “Hmm?” she asked, partly confused by the concept of success. By whose definition did her career define anything remotely successful?
“Your dad told me.”
“He did?” Melody didn’t hide the shock in her voice.
“That’s how he explains you not coming home during the holidays. You have other people’s events to run,” Liz said, raising a skeptical brow over the rim of her glasses.
Melody bit into the cinnamon twist instead of responding. She didn’t want to lie, but she wanted to admit the truth even less. She barely did enough jobs each month to pay the bills. If she was lucky, she got enough business to afford a nice haircut some months. Other months, she stuck to cereal box dinners.
Liz lowered her gaze to Melody’s wrist where the charm bracelet had slipped out from under her sleeve. “What’s that?”
Melody practically choked on her bite of cinnamon twist. Then she pushed her arm forward for Liz to get a better look. “I found this in the glass case of Jo’s thrift store.” Melody pulled the bracelet off and slid it over.
Liz’s eyes were wide as she moved the piece of jewelry across her fingers the way Melody had done yesterday, no doubt looking at the random charms that had nothing to do with them. Then Melody heard the sharp intake of breath when Liz found the heart-shaped friends forever charm. The one that was bent at the top corner just like theirs. Liz looked up. “Where did Jo get this?”
Melody shrugged. “I have no idea. That’s the same bracelet though.”
“Yes, it is,” Liz agreed, looking at it again. Melody saw the small tremor of Liz’s hands as she held onto it. Melody imagined all the memories barreling back, the same way they had for her yesterday. Liz’s eyes grew shiny, and then she tried to hand the bracelet back.
Melody tucked her hands below the table. “No. You wear it for a while. We were supposed to share it after all. Wasn’t that Alyssa’s rule?”
Liz frowned. “How can we share something when we never see each other anymore?”
Melody swallowed past the guilt. “Well, I’m here through next week. The thrift store is right down the street from the bakery. We can pass it back and forth . . . Or you can just keep it.” Melody didn’t really want to get rid of the bracelet, but Liz deserved it more than she did. “Go ahead. Put it on.”
Liz hesitated. Then she shook her head and slid the piece of jewelry across the table anyway.
The bell chimed above the bakery’s door again and another customer walked toward the front counter.
Liz looked at Melody. “I’ve got to get back up there. You’re not the only busy one.” She scooted back from the table. “It’s nice to see you, Melody. Really. Will you be at Jo’s Celebration of Life?”
Ouch.The fact that Liz even had to ask that question spoke volumes.
“Yeah. Of course. Friday night at Sunrise Park. On the water.” Melody assumed, knowing Jo, she’d arranged for some kind of raft to be pushed off from the waterway’s shore, carrying pictures or mementos from her life. Jo was sentimental to her core.
“Good. See you Friday.” With a small wave, Liz stood and hurried back behind the counter. The smile she gave the waiting customer was much fuller. More real. Less guarded.
Melody reached for the bracelet and slipped it back over her wrist. Then she sat there for a moment before collecting and discarding her trash. She waved as she exited the bakery and returned to Hidden Treasures, wondering what in the world she was going to do with this place. She headed toward the register that sat above the glass case where she’d found the charm bracelet. That was maybe the most valuable thing the store had to offer, and Melody shouldn’t even have that after the way she’d left her friends. They’d promised to always be there for one another, and she’d bailed at the first sign of pain.
It was her sister who had died though. Melody was the one who’d lost the most. Yes, Liz had suffered with anxiety. So much so that she’d never gone to college like she’d planned to. And Bri had struggled with pain following the accident. She’d gotten addicted to pain meds and had spiraled into self-destruction, leading her down a path that had ultimately led her to a low-security women’s prison.
And yet . . . Melody had lost her very own sister. The one she was supposed to look out for. Alyssa was younger and her father was counting on Melody. After the accident, her father could barely look Melody in the eyes, even though she hadn’t even been the one behind the wheel. That was Liz—not that it was Liz’s fault.
It was just an accident. There was no one to blame. Unless you asked Melody’s father. Then the accident fell squarely on Melody’s shoulders.
To: Bri Johnson
From: Liz Dawson
Subject: Okay, I’ll tell you
Bri,
Me again. I wanted to wait until I could tell you in person, but I might combust and you don’t like surprises anyway. Here goes: Melody is back. I wish I could see your face. She’s the one I had that fender bender with. How’s that for coincidence? Jo would have said there are no coincidences. That everything that happened was orchestrated by something bigger than us.
Anyway, Melody is just here because she inherited Jo’s thrift store on Seagull Street. Not because she wants to catch up or hang out. When I saw her, it was all I could do not to run up and hug her, but then I remembered that Melody is a traitor. She left us.
In the next moment, I felt awful for having these thoughts, knowing that Melody lost more than we did. She lost a sister. Maybe that should give her a pass on forgetting about her friends all these years. I don’t know. It’s all so twisted and complicated, I’m not sure how to feel.
So, imagine me standing there, face to face with our long-lost friend, wanting to hug her, and hating the fact that I did. What would you have done? You get in a wreck, you step out, and come face to face with your former BFF who turned her back on you when you needed her most. What do you do?
xx,
Liz