Bring Me Back

by Micalea Smeltzer

  “Swimming was my life back then. I’m grown up now. I need to experience new things and find new goals.” And I seriously needed a diversion from this conversation.

  “Oh yeah, like what? Talk to me.” He said.

  Good, the diversion worked. It’s now or never, Sawyer. “Actually, I was thinking about spending some time at the lake house. No one’s been there for a while.” He nodded. “I could take care of the place and maybe get a job there, or maybe even take some college classes. I have lots of money saved.” I really didn’t have to save money the way I did. Mom and dad left us pretty well set. The lake house was our summer home since we were kids. I haven’t been there since my parents died. I’m sure the place is a mess and could use some love.

  “You know what? That sounds like an awesome idea. I think you should do it. After all, your parents would want you to use that house. There were some amazing memories made there.” He nudged my shoulder and grinned.

  I shook my head. “I think I will.” I replied. He pulled me to him and hugged me. He kissed my temple and whispered how proud he was of me.

  “I love you, Uncle Jake.”

  “I love you too, Pickle.” I sighed loudly.

  “I’m going to work. We’ll work out the details of my trip later tonight.” I grabbed my bag and headed for the door. “Oh and Uncle Jake,” I yelled back.

  “What,” I heard him yell from the kitchen.

  “I’m going to find you a date. A hot, sexy, blind date,” I laughed and ran out the door. I heard him yelling something and running through the house. I was in the car with my doors locked when he came barreling out the front door. The dish towel was still hanging out of the side of his basketball shorts. I smiled and waved and blew him a big kiss. He shook his head and laughed, as I backed out of the driveway. We always have so much fun together; it will be hard being away from him for very long.

  The drive to work was a quick one. We only lived about three miles from town and traffic didn’t get bad for about another hour. When I pulled in the parking lot of the Printing Shack, it looked empty. I’ve been working here since my senior year of high school. It screams future potential every time I develop someone’s pictures. I’m climbing the corporate ladder one photo dweeb at a time. NOT! Hence the need to get my butt out of town.

  I put Sally in park and patted her dash, silently thanking her for another successful trip. She has yet to fail me. I’ve driven this little Ford truck for so long, I’m wondering when the wheels will fall off. I have the money to buy a new car, but I don’t have the heart to part with this one. My dad bought me this truck a few months before my fifteenth birthday. I had begged him for it and couldn’t wait to get my license. I swore that I’d never part with it. I think about how petty it was for me to want this truck and about how the bright yellow really stood out now. I would trade it back in a second, if I could get my parents back, but that’s only wishful thinking.

  I had about twenty minutes before my shift started so I figured I’d call Dane.

  Pulling my cell phone from the bag, I dialed his number. After about the fourth ring, his machine picked up. “Figures,” I huffed. He was probably avoiding me. “Hey Dane, this is your sister. I’m reminding you in case you forgot about me. I have some big news that I want to talk to you about. I’m going to work right now, but I’ll be home around six o’clock. Call me back, please. It’s important. Okay, well, I love you. Talk to you later.” I pressed the end button and thought no more about it. I had to get inside and go to work. Hopefully, the butthead would call me later.

  ***

  When I got home, I was surprised to see Dane’s civic parked in the driveway. The lime green practically glows in the dark. His car is fixed up to race and stands out about as bad as my yellow Ranger.

  If Dane is home then that means Wren will be here soon if she isn’t already inside. She and I have been best friends forever and she is so in love with my brother. She always has been. She’s dated other guys, but swears that she’s holding out to marry Dane. Funny I know, right. I’m sure she heard his car pass her house. She’s stalkerish in that way. She lives at the end of the street by the stop sign. He had to pass right by her house on the way in. Sometimes I think that he would rather cut off the engine and push his car home than risk her hearing. Dane says she gets on his nerves and that she is too young, but every year Wren’s boobs get bigger and so do his eyes. It’s only a matter of time. It doesn’t bother me. I love them both so I couldn’t care less if they get together. As long as I don’t have to hear the details, we’re good. Honestly, I think Wren is just what he needs to straighten his ass out.

  I walked in the front door and set my bag down by the stairs. Our house is big considering it’s just me and Jake. It used to seem small when mom, dad, and Dane were all here.

  I saw the lamp still on in the living room so I walked in. The television was playing some kind of sports and Uncle Jake was laid back in the recliner napping.

  “I didn’t wake him up.”

  “Shit Dane,” I said as quietly as possible. I put my hand over my heart. I thought that it might beat out of my chest. “You scared the crap out of me.” I whisper yelled. I looked up and saw a shadow of him standing in the doorway of the kitchen. I tiptoed slowly toward the kitchen, trying not to wake up Jake.

  “Why haven’t you called me?” I started to fuss. “Oh my God Dane! What happened to your eye?” Clearly he’d been in a fight. It was swollen shut and as black as night.

  “It’s nothing,” he waved it off. I went straight to the freezer for some frozen peas. I think we only buy them for injuries because we sure don’t eat them.

  “Come here and let me look at it.” I hoped up on the countertop and pulled him by his shirt over to me. He’s a big guy. I stand about five foot three and he’s more than a foot taller than I am. Even sitting on the counter, I’ll have to reach. “What happened?” I brushed a stray hair from his face. It looked bad, real bad.

  “I told you it’s nothing. Ouch, damn it Saw,” he winced in pain when I put the peas to his eye.

  “Quit being a big baby. You took a fist to your eye; all I’m using are peas.” He glared at me and I smiled real big. “Are you gonna keep avoiding the question or tell me what happened?”

  “Avoiding,” he said.

  “Fine,” we sat there in silence for a moment. “I really wish you would call me more. I’ve missed you.”

  “I’m sorry,” he wrapped his big arm around my side. Dane and I have always been close, but lately he’s been drifting away. When mom and dad passed away, he changed. He became wild and crazy. On weekends that he would come home from college I would nurse his hangovers. He would go on a weekly drinking binge and then sober up at home with us. I would spend both days waiting on him hand and foot. I loved taking care of him. I’m not sure how he managed to complete his courses at school. He took nearly three years off to find himself, but stayed with his friends around school. The only thing he found was that he loved to drink and party and spend money. Now that he’s back in school I don’t understand how he’s passing. He must be doing some serious cheating. Either way, I thought he was doing better this year until he quit calling me. Now, I don’t know what’s going on. My phone vibrated in my pocket and it didn’t take a psychic to know it was Wren. I held the phone up to Dane’s face and he shook his head no.

  I rolled my eyes. “You know she is going to keep calling until I pick up, and if I don’t she’ll just show up.”

  “I haven’t been home fifteen minutes and already she’s up my ass.” I had to laugh.

  “I’ll shut my phone off. That will give us about ten minutes to talk before she shows up.”

  He shifted his head back further so that he could look at me. “What did you want to talk about?”

  “So you do get my messages.”

  “Yes, I get your messages.” He huffed. “I’ve just been really busy.”

  I stared at him. I could tell he was hiding something from me. I
could see it all over his face. He knew that I could tell too, but I didn’t push him for information. What good would it do me? “Well, I wanted to talk to you about the lake house.”

  “What about it?”

  “I want to move into it, by myself.” I said, shifting the peas up a bit. They were sliding down his face.

  “Do you think that’s a good idea? You’ve never been by yourself.”

  “I know that. I will be twenty-one in two weeks and I need to get out and start living my life. I am only asking because the lake house is yours too. I don’t want you being mad at me if I move in there. I want you to tell me that it’s okay.”

  “You’re serious aren’t you?” There was a questioning look in those dark blue eyes. The way he cocked his head to the side was like he was trying to read my thoughts.

  “Well yeah, why do you think I am asking?”

  “It just seems weird, that’s all.” He moved my hand down and the peas with it. “Things have been the same for so long that it will be weird coming home and not having you here.”

  “I know it will, but you’ll get used to it. We have to change. We’re both getting older and we can’t keep things like this forever. I want to have a life of my own. You can come visit me at the lake. I’ll be closer to your school than I am now.”

  “Good point. So, I guess you’ll need my help moving.”

  “For sure, do you think you can help next weekend?” I asked.

  “Yeah, I guess.” Don’t think I didn’t notice the way he rolled his eyes.

  “That means no hangovers, Stuart Dane Evans.” I practically growled at him. I am in no way, shape, or form, babysitting that boy on moving day. I do it enough already.

  “You know I hate when you call me that.”

  “I know, that’s why I do it. You know I mean business.” He just shook his head and smiled. I wrapped my arms around him for another hug. Gosh, I’ve missed him. I was about to ask him about school when the ever expecting knock sounded on the back door. This was record time for Wren. She must have already had her makeup on.

  “Hey guys, are you all having a party without me?” She came right in. We have been walking in unannounced to each other’s homes for years now. I wouldn’t expect anything different.

  “I would ask you what you’re doing here, but I’m pretty sure I know,” I winked at her.

  “Oh shit, what happened to your eye Dane?” She hurried over to him completely oblivious to me sitting there.

  “Well hello to you too Wren baby,” I smacked her on the arm. She rolled her eyes at me.

  “Nothing,” he said in his normal bitchy tone.

  “It’s not nothing, it’s serious. It’s almost swollen shut. Let me help you.” When she reached over to touch him, he swatted her hand and backed away.

  “I told you that I’m fine. I don’t need your help.”

  “Quit being so stubborn,” she said and tried to reach for him again.

  “LISTEN!” He yelled in her face. I saw her flinch. “I don’t want you helping me. I don’t even fucking like you. When are you gonna get that through your thick skull, and stop annoying me.”

  “Dane!” I shouted as he turned around and stomped off. The tears were already flowing down her cheeks. “I’m so sorry Wren. I don’t know what his problem is.” I wrapped my arms around her. She stood there crying her eyes out. “He doesn’t deserve you.”

  “I’ve got to go,” she said through her strangled cry.

  “Wait Wren,” I yelled after her as she ran out the door. “Just great,” I sighed, watching her run off towards her house.

  “What’s all the commotion about?” Uncle Jake yawned.

  “Dane’s home,” I said shaking my head. That was all the explanation he needed.