Cranberry Lane

by Laurèn Lee

  “Just spend the night. I’ll take you home in the morning.”

  “If you say so,” she said. “I’ll crash on the couch.”

  “You need any extra pillows or blankets?”

  “I should be fine with what’s there,” she said.

  “Goodnight, Serenity,” Sammy said sheepishly.

  “Night, kid. I mean, goodnight, Sammy” she smiled broadly, and it was easy to see how Sammy presumably was falling for the West End heartbreaker.

  I nodded and headed to my bedroom. I’d had one hell of a day and now that Sammy was home safe, I imagined I’d be asleep in thirty seconds flat. Once I heard Sammy’s door shut, I lay back onto my bed and sighed heavily.

  I’d been drifting off when I heard a slight rap on my door. I figured Sammy forgot to tell me something.

  “It’s open,” I said.

  The door creaked open and instead of Sammy, Serenity tiptoed her way into my room and closed the door behind her. She still hadn’t changed into the clothes I’d set out for her. Although, now, she’d taken her hair out of the second towel and it hung loosely and damp upon her shoulders.

  “Are you asleep?” she whispered.

  “Yes,” I said sarcastically.

  She sat on the bed, her weight shifted the balance ever so slightly. The moon had finally come out to play and it illuminated my room like a nightlight. The soft glow also washed over Serenity and she looked like an angel in her white towel. Almost- her pink hair threw off the angelic look a touch, though.

  “What? Do you need something?” I asked.

  “I just wanted to say thank you. For you know, saving me again,” she murmured.

  “You’re going to have to start paying me for my services,” I chided.

  “Sammy’s a good kid,” she said, changing the subject.

  “Yeah, he is.”

  “I’m sorry I got him into trouble tonight.”

  “It’s okay. Well, it’s not, but no big deal.”

  “How did you find us anyway?” she asked as she scooted closer to me on the bed. She smelled like lavender and lilacs. She must have had some lotion in her purse because I sure as hell didn’t have anything like that around here.

  “Don’t worry about it,” I dodged.

  She nodded, not pressing me any further.

  “I like your place,” she said.

  “It’s not bad.”

  We sat in silence for a few more minutes until Serenity crawled closer and sat next to me. My heart pounded through my chest and I had no idea why. Sure, I’d had plenty of girls in my bed before, but none like Serenity. She had an aura about her, like she could turn your world upside down in a second. She looked like she could ruin your life, but you’d end up thanking her for it.

  “Wayne?”

  “Yeah?”

  She didn’t answer me, but instead, put her head on my chest and wrapped her arm around my waist. I wanted to protest, to tell her I’d go on the couch if she wanted the bed, but I couldn’t bring myself to speak up. Her wet hair felt cool against my skin, but her body radiated heat, balancing out the chill.

  We drifted off to sleep, Serenity still in my arms, without saying another word to each other until the morning.

  22

  Serenity

  I don’t know why I did it. I don’t know why I crept into Wayne’s bedroom. I don’t know why I sat closer and closer to him. I don’t know why I put my head on his chest. I don’t know why I put my arm around his waist. I don’t know why I let myself fall asleep in his arms. And, I sure as hell don’t know why he let me.

  I’d woken up at the first signs of dawn: birds chirping and the sun peaking above the horizon. Wayne snored softly, and I carefully eased myself out of his embrace. Neither of us had moved an inch since we fell asleep only a few hours ago.

  Without making a single peep, I slowly stepped out of Wayne’s bedroom, closed the door gently behind me and listened to see if Sammy had woken up yet, too. I didn’t hear anyone scuffling about, so I went to the couch in the living room, quickly changed into the clothes which waited for me all night and lay down on the couch.

  I knew Sammy had a crush on me; girls always know. I didn’t want to upset him by letting him find out I’d slept with his older brother. Well, not actually slept with, but slept next to. He was a sweet kid and I could see why Wayne strived to protect his innocence as long as possible.

  I wouldn’t be able to fall back asleep now, so I gazed around the living room. It certainly seemed like a man’s place. Very few pieces hung on the pristine white walls and not many photographs in view either. While the boys appeared to be cleaner than most, the sink did have quite an impressive stack of dirty dishes and there were enough empty cans and bottles in the recycling bin to buy a new twelve pack.

  The big screen TV alluded to many showings of sports games and I imagined Wayne and Sammy, maybe some other friends, huddled around it on a Sunday afternoon with their fill of beer, pizza, and chips.

  I wondered how many other women had slept in Wayne’s bed or been to the apartment, too. If I had to guess, I’m sure it was more than I could count on my two hands. Wayne was handsome and charming, but most of all, he seemed responsible and caring. That’s the type of combo to make any girl’s panties drop in a hurry.

  Again, I couldn’t imagine why he didn’t kick me out of his room as soon as I’d stepped foot inside. He was older than me and quadrupled my level of responsibility. I doubted he needed the attention or had ever pinned for a woman’s touch. And, there’s no way he had a thing for me. I mean, look at me, I’m a total mess. I’m a fuck-up with no future.

  A door creaked open and Sammy hobbled out of his room and sported only his boxers and a sleepy gaze.

  “Mornin’,” he said as he rubbed his eyes.

  “You’re up early,” I noticed.

  “You too. How did you sleep?”

  “Not bad. You?”

  “About the same.”

  “How are you feeling?” I asked as I noticed the faint green twinge in his cheeks.

  “No more Wild Turkey,” he moaned.

  I snickered to myself. I had a minor stomach ache, but nothing I couldn’t manage.

  Sammy turned on the Keurig and set out three mugs next to it while the water heated up. Then, Sammy walked over to the living room and sat next to me.

  “Aw shit,” he said as he looked at my face.

  Instinctively, I covered my mouth with my hands.

  “What?” I asked, muffled.

  “Your cheeks,” he said and reached over to me with his arms outstretched.

  “I’m fine,” I urged. “Just missing a tooth, but it was a molar. No one will even notice.” I tried to smile reassuringly.

  Sammy sighed.

  Another resident strolled out of their bedroom in their boxers to the living room: Wayne. He looked at me and I turned away, blushing. I didn’t want to remember last night. I didn’t want him to think I thought anything of it either.

  “Ah, you’ve already turned on the coffee. I’ve taught you well,” Wayne said as he went into the kitchen. I could see him from the living room as the kitchen wasn’t sectioned off, but part of one big open space. The design made the apartment feel larger, more inviting.

  “Hey, Wayne?” Sammy called out.

  “Yeah?”

  “Can we go out for breakfast?”

  Wayne thought for a moment, “Sure, why not?”

  I didn’t want to assume I was invited, so I started gathering my dirty clothes and purse to leave.

  “You’re coming, right?” Sammy asked me.

  “I don’t want to impose.”

  Wayne snickered.

  “What?” I asked aggressively.

  “Nothing,” he said. “Come with us. My treat.”

  “No, it’s okay,” I said reluctantly. It was nice to be invited, though.

  “I’m not going to beg ya, Serenity. Just come with us,” Wayne said.

  “All right. All right. Have any
other women’s clothes lying around?” I asked as I looked down at the sweatpants and PINK tank top I was wearing.

  Sammy looked positively gleeful.

  “I might have something else around here,” Wayne said.

  “That tank top looks good on you, Serenity!” Sammy said.

  “I’d rather be caught dead than spotted wearing this corporate bull shit,” I responded with a smirk.

  Wayne disappeared for a few minutes and then returned with another outfit which he threw at me with a smile.

  I caught the clothing and examined it carefully; I’d gotten a Gap tee shirt and ripped jean shorts. “I guess this is better than nothing. But, why do you have so many girl’s clothes again? Is there something you’re not telling us?”

  “Hardy, har har.”

  “Wayne has a ton of ex-girlfriends,” Sammy mentioned again.

  A pang of jealousy stabbed at my gut.

  “You’re exaggerating,” Wayne said not looking at me.

  “I’m going to change; then can we go? I’m starving,” I said, trying to shift the subject.

  In less than a half hour, we’d arrived at a local diner, Betty’s Kitchen. Naturally, families, couples and friends had packed the tiny restaurant. As we waited for the next available table, I couldn’t help but watch Wayne from the corner of my eyes. He’d rescued me twice in the past week, let me crash at his apartment and was now taking me out to breakfast. Could some guys be this nice? Or, did he have an ulterior motive for being so kind?

  “Wayne? Party of three?” a plump waitress called out.

  Wayne raised his hand and we followed the waitress to the back of the diner where a booth had just opened and been wiped down for us.

  “Can I get y’all something to drink before you order?”

  “Coffee,” all three of us chimed in.

  “Three coffees coming right up,” she said.

  Sammy had sat next to me in the booth, although I’d secretly hoped Wayne would have done so. Wayne started asking Sammy about the game last night and I had no idea Sammy played football. That explained by so many other guys in jerseys had slapped Sammy on the back periodically throughout the party. I sat back, though and enjoyed listening to Sammy recap his performance and his favorite plays.

  “Sounds like you had a great game, man,” Wayne said.

  “Wished you could have been there,” Sammy said sullenly.

  “Next time. I promise.”

  An awkward silence blanketed the conversation and I wondered where the underlying animosity had come from? Wayne excused himself and I waited until he was inside the restrooms to dig into the situation.

  “Why couldn’t he come to your game last night?”

  “He had to work,” Sammy said as he rolled his eyes and made air quotes with his fingers.

  That’s it? Just work? Seemed like a reasonable excuse to me. So, why was Sammy so upset?

  “Oh, okay. Where does he work?”

  “He’s a mechanic at Rusty’s,” Sammy said carefully.

  So, he’s good with his hands? God, Serenity. Get your head out of the gutter!

  I noticed the quickness in which he responded, and I felt oddly suspicious of his answer.

  “He had to work late on a Friday night?”

  “Yes, I did,” Wayne said, surprising me.

  “Must have been a real clunker to keep you so late,” I smirked.

  Sammy and Wayne looked at each other knowingly.

  “What?” I asked.

  “Nothing,” both brothers said simultaneously.

  The waitress returned with her notepad at the ready. “What can I get for ya folks this morning?”

  Wayne broke the silence between us and ordered first. “I’ll have the steak omelet with home fries on the side.”

  “Same,” Sammy said.

  Caught off guard considering I hadn’t really looked at the menu yet, I asked for something simple. “I’ll have two eggs over-easy and a side of bacon, please.”

  “You got it,” the waitress confirmed and hustled to the kitchen to give the cook our order.

  “I have a feeling you’re both hiding something,” I said with narrowed eyes.

  The brothers looked at each other, smiled and kept sipping their coffees.

  23

  Wayne

  Once Serenity had gone home, it was just me and Sammy again. We went back to the apartment and binged the second season of Breaking Bad. Sammy insisted on watching the show, while I didn’t care for the drama. I lived through many similar situations; I didn’t need to watch it on TV, too. But, I did it for the kid. He thoroughly enjoyed watching Walt morph into a transparent asshole through each episode.

  “So, how was your night?” he asked me.

  “Complicated,” I managed to admit in between sips of a cold Blue. I knew it was a bit early to drink, but hey, it was the weekend.

  “What happened?”

  I gave him the same exasperated sigh I always exhumed when he’d ask about my jobs.

  “You can’t tell me anything?” Sammy questioned.

  “If anyone ever caught onto me and questioned you, you’d become an accessory if you had any knowledge of my crimes. You know, I think I’ll start collecting a dollar every time you ask.” I smirked.

  Sammy sighed and leaned back into the leather couch cushions; he looked defeated. I wish he realized everything I’ve ever done has been for him. Anything I’ve ever hidden was to protect him. One day, he’ll understand, but it seemed that it wouldn’t be this day.

  “Serenity have fun last night?” I asked.

  “I think so.” He shrugged. “We got really drunk.”

  I eyed him suspiciously. “Yeah?”

  “It’s not like she made me drink that much or anything,” Sammy said, coming to Serenity’s defense.

  “Just be careful around her, okay?”

  “Says the hired hitman,” he mumbled.

  “I heard that!”

  Time passed quickly that day, as it often does. By the time the clock struck seven, I’d just finished cooking dinner for the two of us: steak, mashed potatoes, and green beans.

  During the weekends, Sammy and I made sure to spend as much time together as possible. Sometimes, we’d go to the movies, go to a concert, or check out a new restaurant. Of course, most of our outings involved going outside the city limits. Not much happened around here. Unless, you counted the illicit gambling on the side streets or watching the hookers try to lure in a new John.

  “How’s the steak?”

  “Really good,” Sammy managed to say while he chewed animatedly.

  “You like this cut? I wasn’t sure about the filet, but it looked too good in the window to pass up.”

  He gave a thumbs up and continued to scarf down his dinner. I delighted in seeing him enjoy it. The mashed potatoes were my favorite, personally. I’d seasoned them to perfection.

  We both finished our plates around the same time. I rubbed my belly and unbuckled my belt a notch or two.

  Sammy stood, grabbed our plates, and carried them to the sink. Without another word, he ran the water and soon, steam poured upward. Sammy grabbed the dish wand under the sink, and started scrubbing our plates.

  I couldn’t help but smile. He’d become one hell of a man soon enough.

  “Watch some more episodes of Breaking Bad?” I asked.

  “You know it!” He paused before speaking again. “Actually, do you think I could ask Serenity if she wants to come over and watch with us? We could watch a movie instead. What do ya think?”

  I groaned.

  “What?”

  “You’ve gotta crush on her. Don’t you?”

  “Do not!” Sammy called out like a child in kindergarten.

  “She’s too old for you,” I said.

  “She’s only three years older than me. That’s like nothing,” he said.

  “Well, maybe not in age, but in life experience, she’s way more experienced than you.”

  I thought back
to holding her in my arms and falling asleep together. I don’t think Sammy could handle her gumption. She’d wrap him around her finger, and most likely toss him aside once she’d had her fix. He was too good for her. And yet, I wished she could come over. I’d barely been able to stop thinking about her all day.

  What is wrong with me?

  “Well, she probably has plans. It’s a Saturday night, after all.”

  “If you don’t want her to come over, you can just say so,” he accused.

  I sighed. “It’s not like that, Sammy. I just figured we’d keep hanging out. I might have another job tomorrow,” I lied.

  “Fine.”

  We ended up watching the last three episodes of the AMC masterpiece and each went our separate ways into our respective bedrooms.

  “Night,” Sammy called out grumpily.

  “Sleep well,” I called back before I closed my own door.

  As routine would have it, I removed my jeans and tossed ‘em on the floor missing the laundry basket by a foot at least. I stretched my tee shirt over my head and it landed even farther from the basket than my jeans. I wanted to put them with the rest of the dirty clothes, but I couldn’t muster the energy.

  I lay back onto my bed and took a deep breath. I couldn’t stop thinking about Serenity. I wanted more than anything to cast her aside from my mind and think of virtually anyone or anything else, but I couldn’t. We shared more than just a similar address; we had a remarkable connection. I didn’t know why we bonded so well, or why I felt so attached. I needed to put a stop to it as soon as possible, though. It was visibly clear Sammy had a crush on her. The last thing I’d need is a chick coming in between me and my brother. He could have her. She was closer to his age, anyway.

  I willed myself to sleep and thankfully, not an image of Serenity crossed my mind the entire night.

  24

  Serenity

  “Ma?” I squinted early on Sunday morning.

  “Get up, dear. I need you to help me clean the apartment.”

  “Um, why?”

  Ma never cleaned the apartment. Usually, I tidied up when I could, but between the two of us, we didn’t make a ton of messes anyhow.