Wrecked and Yours

by James, CeeCee

  “You can eat that.” He nodded. “It seems you’ve already sung for your dinner.”

  Miranda dumped the Chinese food on a plate. “Whatever, it was entertaining.”

  “Sure entertained the guys at poker night, too.” Jason winked.

  “Oh my gosh, you showed it to the guys? I’m never singing karaoke again.” Miranda rolled her blue eyes and slid the plate into the microwave.

  Jason had moved over to her purse by the island. “What’s this?” He held out a piece of napkin.

  “I guess I was the one collecting numbers tonight.” Miranda shrugged. “He wanted to write it on my arm, and seemed rather put out when I wouldn’t let him.”

  Jason scowled for a second before reading the number.

  “What an ass. He drew a winky face.” Jason flung the paper back down on the counter.

  “Yeah, he had the same words for you, too.”

  Jason looked up sharply. “What? He knows me?”

  “Yeah, and apparently you didn’t leave a good impression.”

  The microwave beeped. Miranda slid open the silverware drawer and got a fork. She retrieved her plate from the microwave and turned to lean against the counter.

  “Who was he?”

  “Um,” She eyed the forkful of noodles she’d spun up. Just no dainty way to do it, except to shovel them in. She tried not to slurp.

  “Miranda!”

  “Let me think.” She speared a water chestnut. “His name was Dane or Dan. Something like that.”

  Jason leaned back and drummed his fingers on the counter.

  “Skinny guy?”

  “Yeah, actually. Very.”

  “Big nose?”

  Miranda glanced at him. “I don’t like to say that, but maybe.”

  “Stay away from him.” Jason thumped his hands on the counter.

  “What the heck, Jason?”

  “His name is Dane. He’s bad news. Got into a fight with me and my buddy last year.”

  “Oh, no! What happened?”

  “He was going after a girl with a tire iron,” Jason exploded.

  Miranda froze with the fork halfway to her mouth.

  “Drug deal gone wrong. A few weeks later I saw her at the bar again, and gave her the number of a drug program. She ended up dead anyway.” Jason grabbed the dishrag off the counter and threw it into the sink. “It was ruled a suicide.” His nostrils flared.

  “Oh my gosh.” Miranda reached out to touch his arm. “Jason, you know that wasn’t your fault.”

  Two creases deepened on either side of his mouth. He swallowed hard and raised his hands to let her know he didn’t want to be touched. “I’m done. See you in the morning.” He backed away, then turned and headed upstairs to his room.

  Chapter Twenty-One Present Day

  Cassie had been awake for a week, still without requesting her sister. Jason had stayed there all day Saturday with her. He was depressed when he came home, because Cassie still wouldn’t let him bring up Miranda.

  Miranda had told him to focus on Cassie getting better, and not to worry about anything else.

  Jason headed out for the hospital again that day. As soon as he left, Miranda grabbed her cell phone and walked out to the back deck. She whistled for Archer to follow her. “I have a feeling I’m going to need all the support I can get, ol' boy.”

  She called the nurses station, and was relieved when Peggy, her favorite nurse, answered.

  “Hi, Miranda. Will we be seeing you today?”

  Miranda chewed on her fingernail. All her nails were raggedy. “Peggy, do you think my sister could talk on the phone?”

  Peggy paused for a second, thinking. “Yes, if someone in the room handed her the phone, I don’t see why not.”

  “Do you think—”

  There was a soft laugh, “I’ll transfer you now, and run on down there.”

  “Thank you so much.”

  There was a click on the line, then a buzzing sound that meant it was ringing in the room. Miranda started to sweat and plucked at her shirt near her armpits. She breathed out slowly, trying to remain calm.

  Buzz, buzz. The phone picked up. Miranda could hear Peggy from a distance telling Cassie she had a phone call. Miranda sat on the swing and buried her hand in Archer’s fur. He watched her with a worried look, his muzzle resting on her knee.

  “H-hello?”

  Warmth rushed through her at the sound of her sister’s voice. “Cassie, it’s Miranda.”

  “Miranda?”

  “Hi, Chickee. I’m sorry, I know you don’t want to see me, but I had to tell you that I love you so much.”

  There was a pause on the other end.

  “Why haven’t you come to see me?”

  Miranda’s mouth fell open. “I didn’t want to bother you or stress you out just when you needed your strength to get better.”

  “That hurt, Miranda, that you didn’t come.”

  “Didn’t come?”

  “Jason’s been here, but not my own sister. He keeps bringing you up, but I’ve been too furious to talk to him. What did I do to you, to make you hate me so much?”

  “What? Cassie! I was there every day after I found out you were in a coma. And then you woke up. You don’t remember? You told me to leave.”

  “No, I would have never said that. I’ve wanted to see you every single day since you left.”

  “You did, I swear you did.” Miranda sniffed and wiped her face with the back of her hand.

  “Are you sure you’re not using that as an excuse just not to see me again?”

  “I can explain why I left. You don’t have to accept it, I understand. But it had nothing to do with you. I’ve felt nothing but shame for leaving. “

  More silence.

  “Please, can I come down and see you?”

  “Tell me why you left.”

  “I… I think I had a nervous breakdown, to be honest. I’m sorry I left you. I thought you’d be okay.”

  “Yeah, well, I wasn’t. And neither were you.”

  “I thought you had your friends. I was a wreck. I didn’t want to drag you down.”

  “I didn’t have you. I needed you, and you needed me. Because we were both hurting. You know what the hardest part was?” Cassie took a deep breath. Miranda could tell she was getting tired. “You didn’t answer my phone calls, any of them. Just texts every couple of weeks saying crap like, ‘Everything’s good here. Hope you’re okay.’” Her voice broke. “You shut me out.”

  Miranda covered her face. “I did do all of that. You have every right to be mad. But I promise, I wasn’t rejecting you. I was afraid.”

  “Even hearing you trying to explain is making me angrier.” Cassie choked.

  “I’m sorry. I deserve it. If you need more time, I understand. Take all the time you need.” Miranda gripped the phone so tight her hand shook.

  There was a longer pause this time.

  “Come by tomorrow.”

  Miranda felt a lump rise in her throat. “I love you, Cassie,” she whispered.

  “I know.”

  A second later, the phone clicked off.

  Miranda dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around Archer. “Thank you for being there, sweet dog. You’re such a good boy.” She wiped her tears on his fur. Her sister knew she loved her: that was all that mattered.

  ***

  Jason arrived home about three hours later. The house was spotless, vacuumed and mopped. He found her on a ladder scrubbing the top porch windows.

  “Been busy, I see.” He stood below her with his hands pushed in his pockets.

  “Oh!” she let out a startled squeak, and then threw the wad of wet paper towels she held at him.

  They flew past him and landed on the ground. “Your aim is still as good as ever,” he said dryly. “No wait, I forgot your talent was singing.”

  That got her to laugh and she climbed down off the stepladder. He gave his half-smile and reached out to give her a hug, his shirt tight on his biceps.
Wrapping his arms around her, he rocked her a bit.

  “You always do that,” she said.

  “What?”

  “Rock me when you give me a hug.”

  “What can I say?” She could tell he was grinning by the way he spoke. “You feel good in my arms.”

  “Awww.”

  “I’m proud of you.”

  She lifted her head and smiled. “You are?”

  “Yeah.” His crooked tooth peeked out. “Calling her. That took guts.”

  He leaned in closer, his lips by her ear. “Really, really impressed.” The last word was a warm exhale on her neck. He breathed in deep, taking in the hint of her vanilla scent.

  “Hey.” Miranda pulled away with a smile. “I have a surprise for you.”

  “Oh, yeah?”

  She led him into the kitchen where a steak was furiously sizzled in a frying pan on the stove. Jason’s eyebrows immediately rose in concern.

  “Err…” he started.

  “No, it’s fine. It’s pan searing. Sit!” She waved him off, while rifling through the utensil drawer for a fork.

  “Huh,” he said, settling on one of the bar stools.

  Miranda spun around to the stove, fork in hand, to spear the steak. The steak stuck a bit, but she pried it off. She reached into the cupboard for a plate and plopped the steak onto it. Then, opening the microwave, she removed a potato.

  “There,” she brushed her hair off her forehead and smiled up into his face. ‘I made you dinner.”

  He looked at the steaming plate and arched his eyebrow.

  “Oh! Let me get you some butter.” She hurried to the fridge to locate the yellow tub. Setting it next to him, she waited for him to take a bite.

  Jason licked his lips and stared at the plate. The steak had shriveled to half its original size. He paused, fork in hand.

  Miranda’s gaze wavered from the plate to his unmoving hand.

  “It’s food. Eat it.” She shoved the plate closer to him.

  “Knife?” he asked.

  Rolling her eyes, Miranda got him a knife.

  After sawing the steak for a minute, he took a bite. “Water?” he choked. His eyebrows rumpled as he chewed. Swallowing, he poked the hard potato. Then, he hid his smile behind his hand.

  “It’s—” he began. “I mean, wow. The seasoning is really special.”

  She handed him his water and sighed.

  After a minute of poking and prodding, he looked at her. “I’m so sorry. I can’t do this,” he said, smiling, but his eyebrows furrowed with worry.

  “It’s fine,” Miranda muttered. “I have cereal.”

  She walked to the cupboard and brought out her box of Toasty O’s and plunked it on the counter.

  “Um.” He stared at the box. “You know, I actually ate on the way home.” He set his plate on the floor for Archer. “But, nice try. I appreciate the effort.” He walked over to her. Slowly, he laced his fingers through hers, his hand nearly twice the size. “Come on, let’s go for a walk.”

  He led her down the stairs and around the edge of the lawn. From there it opened up to the lake. The honk of a goose caught her attention. The bird glided on the water next to its partner while tiny ripples followed them. It was so beautiful.

  Jason slung his arm around her shoulders and steered her towards the water’s edge. “Look.” he pointed. “You see that?”

  Out on the lake was a boat.

  “Yeah, I see it.”

  He hung on to her while they watched the sailboat struggle to unleash the sail. Soon the canopy swelled into a pillow of white and the boat surged forward. Jason interlaced their fingers again, his rough and calloused against her own. They walked farther along the lake shore. Miranda glanced up at him.

  “Err, do friends hold friends’ hands?”

  He smiled at their hands clasped together. “Our kind do.”

  “You ever wonder why Uncle Stew left his house to us?” Miranda asked.

  Jason stared out at the water, then squeezed her hand three times. “Because he knew we were family.”

  Miranda bit her lip. Pulling on his arm, she jabbed a finger between the two of them. “I don’t want to ruin this. You and Cassie are all the family I have.”

  “You’re all the family I have, too.” He stopped her and slowly ran his hand up her arm. His thumb caressed her shoulder, his green eyes studying her.

  The way he looked at her made her feel a little breathless. She glanced back at the lake.

  He followed her gaze and they continued to walk.

  “You know what the best part of being family is?” he asked.

  “No, what?”

  “I’m your elder, so you have to respect me.”

  Miranda gave him a long blink. “Excuse me?”

  He caught the expression on her face and laughed.

  “Very funny, bucko. I’ll remember that the next time I make dinner.”

  “You mean burn it.”

  She swatted his arm. “That happened just this once.”

  “Math isn’t one of your skills either, I see. Or is it memory?” He grabbed his chin like he was thinking.

  “Shut up. I’ll give you something to remember.”

  His crooked grin came out in full force. Miranda winked when she saw the gleam in his eye.

  Chapter Twenty-Two Present Day

  Jason jiggled his truck keys. “You ready to go?”

  Miranda instantly tensed at his words. This was the moment she’d been dreading for a long time, but it was long overdue. Her sister deserved answers. Miranda pushed up the sleeves of her pale blue shirt, and grabbed a tinfoil- covered plate of cookies from her second baking attempt. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

  On the ride to the hospital Jason filled her in on how Cassie had walked to the end of the hall the day before. “She’s doing good. She’s real strong.”

  “She always has been.” Miranda agreed.

  “I told her to put those soccer legs to good use. Like the time she got red-carded.”

  Miranda snorted then, remembering the fight that broke out on the field when an older classmate on the other team had punched her sister. That gal hadn’t expected the reaction she’d unleashed. The coaches had to pull them apart, and it had ended with the two of them being kicked off the field.

  It got quiet in the truck again. Just as Jason was about to turn the radio up, Miranda asked, “Does she know?”

  “Know what?”

  “That she lost the baby?”

  Jason sighed. “Well, she hasn’t brought it up, but I imagine the doctors have said something to her.”

  “She hasn’t told you?” Miranda was shocked.

  “Nope.”

  “So, we’re supposed to pretend we don’t know?”

  Jason glanced over at her. “Yeah, that’s probably the best, don’t you think?”

  He swerved a bit, running over one of the yellow turtle reflectors in the center line. “Did you ever get that police report?”

  “What?” Miranda blinked. “Oh, yeah. Just one person in the vehicle. Cassie was definitely driving. It took over an hour to cut her out of the driver’s seat.”

  “No alcohol?”

  “No. They said it was raining hard that night, and she hydroplaned and lost control.”

  He turned up the music again and they listened to Green Day. I am strong, Miranda told herself. But sometimes it’s okay not to be strong. I am going to practice just being me.

  Peggy was at the nurses’ station when they walked in. “She’s expecting you,” she said, giving Miranda a thumbs up.

  Jason opened the door and stepped back, letting Miranda enter first. When she hesitated he gave her a wink. “You’ve got this.”

  Trembling, she blew out a heavy breath and walked in.

  Her sister sat in the bed, her eyes wide and alert. The remote in her hand was pointed at the TV as she flipped through the channels.

  Tears pricked Miranda’s eyes. “Hi, Chickee.”

 
“Hey, Sis,” Cassie turned to her and her voice cracked. Her lip twitched at the corner. “You bring me a Twinkie?”

  Miranda rushed over and nearly fell on the bed to give her sister a hug. They held each other for a long time.

  “I love you so much,” Miranda whispered.

  “I love you, too.”

  They pulled away from each other. Cassie had dark circles under her eyes, but her cheeks were pink. She plucked the neckline of the hospital gown higher and noticed Jason in the doorway. “Come on in and join the love fest.”

  He gave them a shy smile before walking over. Reaching around, he hugged both Miranda and Cassie together. His eyes were wet when he pulled away.

  “Aww, you old softie, are you crying?” Cassie teased.

  “Don’t be thinking just because you’re an invalid doesn’t mean I won’t take you down,” Jason answered. “Besides, you still owe me fifty bucks.”

  “In your dreams,” Cassie snorted. She glanced back at her sister. “It’s good to see you.”

  Miranda slid into the chair next to the bed. “You look amazing. Way better than the last time I was here.”

  “Speaking of that.” Cassie frowned. “I can’t believe you listened to the ramblings of a woman coming out of a coma. You’ve never paid attention to me before.”

  “You told me to leave. I wanted to respect you.”

  “Leave?” Cassie’s blonde eyebrows furrowed, then smoothed rapidly. She bit her lip. “No, Miranda. I was saying Leif. I was calling for my boyfriend.”

  “Your boy—” Miranda glanced at Jason, then back to her sister.

  “I guess we’ve got a lot to talk about.” Cassie added.

  “It’s okay. We’ve got time.”

  “Yeah, and, if it’s okay, I’m not ready yet.” Cassie grimaced and shifted on her bed. “But, not to put you on the spot, I want to know what happened to you when you left after the funeral.”

  Miranda picked at a thread on the thin hospital blanket, and nodded. “I owe you an explanation. But it’s not going to be good enough, not nearly good enough.” She exhaled deeply. Fear prickled her, and buzzing began in her fingers and chest. Do Not Freak Out. Inhale for six, hold for four, exhale for eight. She took a couple slow breaths, and tried to relax her body.