by A. L. Jambor
He looked hopeful. She shook her head. “I have a rental I have to return.”
“I can follow you.”
“Why would you want to do that?” she asked, hoping he would say he couldn’t live without the sight of her face.
“So you won’t be alone.”
“That would be nice. I have to find out the time.”
“Call me later.”
She left him and turned to wave before going through the door. He was watching her. She went out in the parking lot and got into the car.
“Well,” Lisa said.
“He wants to take me to the airport.”
“See!” Lisa cried. “I knew he liked you.”
“You never said that.”
“Well, I did.”
“It doesn’t matter if he does or not. Like you said, we live a thousand miles apart.”
“I know I said that, but you manage a Starbucks. You can live anywhere you want.”
“I can’t leave Grandma.”
“Bring her with you. Don’t old people love Florida?”
“She has a job, Lisa. She has her friends. Can we just go, please?”
Lisa started the car and pulled out of the spot. As they passed the entrance to the sheriff’s office, Mel saw Conner. He had waited so he could wave to her again.
Chapter 25
Mel’s bag was packed and sitting by the front door of the condo. All Mel had to do was say goodbye to Lisa, who was in the shower.
Mel went out onto the porch and looked at the water. The beach was full of tourists, and kids were laughing and running into the small waves of the Gulf. She leaned on the porch rail and let the wind blow her hair. For one minute, she forgot why she had come to Florida and why she had to go home. She felt alive.
She breathed in the salt air and went back into the condo. Lisa was towel-drying her hair.
“I gotta go,” Mel said.
Lisa wrapped the towel around her head and came to Mel. She put her arms around her and squeezed.
“Ow,” Mel said. Lisa loosened her grip.
“I’m gonna miss you,” she said.
“Me, too,” Mel said. She squeezed Lisa back.
When they parted, Lisa looked into Mel’s eyes. “Do you want me to come to the funeral? I can catch a flight tomorrow.”
“You don’t have to do that. You still have a few days here.”
“A few days alone. That’ll be fun.”
“You don’t have to come, but I’m not gonna tell you what to do.”
“I’ll see how I feel tonight when I’m sitting here with a pizza and a sad movie.”
“Oh, stop,” Mel said. “I have to go.”
She went to the door and picked up her purse. Lisa came up behind her and picked up her bag.
“I can carry that,” Mel said.
“Oh, just shut up and move,” Lisa said.
Mel went out the door and down the steps with Lisa close behind.
“You don’t have any shoes on,” Mel said.
“Keep walking. This thing is heavy.”
When they got near the car, Mel pushed the button on the key and opened the trunk. Lisa slipped the bag inside and closed it while Mel got into the driver’s seat. Lisa came to the window and Mel rolled it down.
“Call me when you get there,” Lisa said.
“I will. It’s been fun.”
“Oh yeah, especially the part where we broke into your aunt’s house.”
Mel smiled, then looked sad. “You’re a good friend.”
Lisa blushed. “I know, I know, now don’t you have to get to the airport?”
“Conner said he would come.”
Lisa looked around. “I don’t see his car.”
“I’m gonna wait for a minute.”
“Um, this is awkward. My feet hurt. I’m gonna go back inside.”
Lisa bent over and gave Mel another hug. “Have a safe trip.”
Mel patted her arm. “Thanks for everything.”
Lisa backed away, smiled, then went back to the condo. Mel sat a few minutes, watching the time go by on her phone. She really couldn’t wait any longer. She didn’t feel right about calling Conner. What if he had changed his mind? She decided to let him go and head to Tampa.
She dropped the car off in the rental return parking lot and headed for the terminal. After she checked her bag, she took the elevator to the second floor where the gates were located. She could get a cup of coffee at the Starbucks before heading to her gate.
She was in line waiting for her caramel macchiato when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned and saw Conner standing behind her.
“You made it!” she cried.
“I’m sorry. I got stuck doing paperwork last night and overslept.”
“I’ve got two hours before I have to board.”
“You just have to go through the line. I think I’ll try flashing my badge so I can follow you out there.”
She smiled. “Thanks for coming.”
“I wanted to see you off. You’ve had a hard time.”
The guy behind the counter took her order and Conner got a cup of coffee. They took their drinks to the seats by the elevators and sat.
“I’ve never been to New Jersey,” he said.
“If you ever do, come in June. It’s too cold and weird before that. July and August are nice, too.”
“Three months of nice. What makes people stay there?”
“Philly and New York.”
Conner laughed. “There has to be more to it than that.”
“It has a great beach. Even in winter, I like the beach. It’s not the state so much as its location. I hate the cold. If it was warm there, I’d like it just fine.”
“I’ve got some leave time saved up. I could visit and see that beach.”
“Sure. And you could meet…”
She caught herself before she said “Nana.” Her eyes welled with tears.
“I’m sorry,” she said, brushing them aside. “I’m just, it’s just too much, you know? They’re both gone. I just talked to her. She sounded fine.”
He reached out and took her hand. He couldn’t think of anything to say.
She finished her coffee and checked the time. “I’ve gotta get to my gate.”
They got up and Conner followed her to the gate. He flashed his badge, but the TSA worker frowned.
“Sorry, officer. Passengers only.”
Conner took Mel’s hand and pulled her to the side.
“I’ve got your number,” he said. “Do you have mine?”
“In my phone.”
“Call me when you get there. Don’t feel stupid or something. Just call me. I want to hear your voice.”
He bent down and kissed her. She blushed under her sunburn.
“I promise,” she said when they parted.
“I’ll come up in June.”
“I’ll take some time off.”
“I like you. I know we haven’t known each other long, but…”
“Oh, shut up,” she said and kissed him again. She leaned back and smiled. “I have to go.”
He walked with her back to the TSA worker and watched her walk down the hall to the shuttles. She turned once and waved. He waved back.
Chapter 26
Laura was talking to an older woman Mel had never seen before. Most of the people at Grace’s funeral were strangers to Mel, so she chose to sit near the wall and watch Laura make the rounds. Lisa had flown up in the middle of the night and was sitting next to her, but she was tired. She kept dozing off, and Mel would elbow her.
“What?” Lisa said.
“You were snoring.”
“I don’t snore.”
“Well, you were breathing loudly.”
There were more people at the funeral home than Mel had expected. Grace had been well-liked. Mel thought about Audrey and felt sad. She was not so well-liked, and Mel wondered what would happen when the coroner released her body for burial. She told Laura she would go to Flor
ida and retrieve it, but Laura told her they would have Audrey cremated and shipped to New Jersey.
“You’re not gonna have a funeral?” Mel said.
“We could have a memorial, but no funeral.”
“Why not?”
“Because all her friends are in Florida. And I can’t afford another funeral.”
Mel felt sad for Audrey. She hoped when she was old, her grandchildren would have a funeral for her.
There was some commotion at the entrance to the room they were in and Mel strained her head to see what it was. Then she saw her, the only person who could completely ruin her day.
“Isn’t that your mom?” Lisa said.
“Yeah.”
Linda had overslept. She was dressed in jeans and a T-shirt. She also wore a multi-colored overcoat. She smiled at the mourners as she passed by, made a show of stopping in front of the casket, and then saw Mel. She put on her sad face and walked over to her daughter.
“Hi, Mel,” she said, putting out her hands. Mel glared at her. She put down her hands and sat in the chair next to Mel.
“Hi, Mrs. Jones,” Lisa said.
“Hello,” Linda said, though it was clear she had no idea who Lisa was. “It’s Ms.” She looked at Mel. “I’m so glad I got to see you.”
“Where else would I be?” Mel said. “Nana died. I’m here because I cared about her.”
“I cared about her, too.”
“Bullshit you did.”
“How dare you talk to me that way!”
Mel shook her head and got up. She went to the ladies room with Linda following. Mel stood in front of the row of sinks and put her hands on the counter. She was still shaking her head when Linda walked in.
“I’m still your mother.”
“Oh, can the act, Linda.”
“What is wrong with you?”
“You, that’s what’s wrong with me. You show up here and expect me to be all ‘Oh, mom, you came,’ and I’m supposed to be all happy to see you. Well, I’m not.”
“I didn’t expect you to get on your knees and genuflect, but I did think you would be civil.”
“Why? When was the last time I saw you, huh? Was it at my graduation? No, you had to work. Was it at my twentieth birthday party? No, you had to be on location in some third-world country.”
“It’s my job, Mel. If I don’t go, I’ll lose it, and they’re hard to come by.”
“It wouldn’t have made any difference, Linda. You just don’t give a shit about me and never have.”
Linda smacked Mel across the face. Mel smacked her back.
“So, are we even now?” Mel asked. “Will you stay away from me?”
Mel was surprised to see the look in Linda’s eyes. She looked hurt. She had to admit it felt good to hurt her. But when Linda started to cry, she did feel bad.
“Look, why don’t we just not play this game anymore,” Mel said.
“I’m your mother. I haven’t been a good one, I’ll admit that, but I do love you.”
“You love your job, Linda. You have always put it first. Yeah, I get it, you can’t afford to lose it, but you can afford to lose me.”
“You’ll understand things better when you’re older.”
“And I’ll do the right thing and come to your funeral.”
Mel walked past her and went back to her seat next to Lisa. She saw Linda go up to Laura and give her a hug. Laura looked annoyed. She had expected Linda to come earlier. Then she looked happy. If Linda could make her grandmother happy, then maybe Mel would give her a pass to future events. She’d try to make nice the next time they saw each other, for Laura’s sake.
“What happened in there?” Lisa asked.
“I gave it to her.”
“No wonder she looks so miserable.”
“She’s just surprised I noticed how neglectful she’s been and called her on it.”
“Be careful how you treat her. You may need a kidney one day, and she may be the only match.”
Mel smiled. “Don’t burn that bridge, huh?”
“Right. I mean it. No matter what, she’s family. You don’t have to see her, just make nice when you do.”
“Why? So I can get her kidney one day? Do you know how hard it is for me to even look at her?”
“No. I’ve never been that pissed off at anybody.”
“I’m not pissed off. I’m just tired of her thinking she can blow us off and then show up like nothing’s wrong. She really hurts my grandmother, then she leaves and forgets all about us.”
“Didn’t she pay for your school?”
Mel sighed. “Yes.”
“Well, that was something, wasn’t it? Maybe she shows you she loves you that way.”
“I don’t doubt she loves me, Lisa. I just doubt she cares about me. I’m like this responsibility she can’t shrug off. And she was legally bound to provide my education.”
“What do you mean legally?”
“I mean Grandma got a court order saying she would have to pay for my education. Do you really think Linda would have otherwise?”
“I didn’t know that.”
“I know. It’s embarrassing.”
“I wonder why she showed up here?” Lisa asked.
“Who knows? I hope she leaves soon.”
“Do you hate her?”
Mel watched Linda as she talked to another mourner. “No. I just don’t like her is all.”
“Do you love her?”
“I don’t know. I know I’m supposed to love her, but she’s so unlovable. She’s missed every birthday, my graduation, every important event in my life. I doubt her friends in California even know she has a daughter. Why should I love her? Just because she gave birth to me?”
Lisa put her hand on Mel’s and held it. “I’m sorry.”
“Thanks for that. I gotta stop complaining. Grandma was a wonderful mother. I guess I’m just, oh shit, I am pissed off.”
Mel chose to follow the limousine to the cemetery so she and Lisa could ride together. Linda got into the limo with Laura and Mel wondered what they talked about. She wished Laura would give Linda a piece of her mind, but knew her grandmother wouldn’t. She liked to keep the peace.
The internment was over within minutes. Laura asked Mel if she and Lisa were coming back to the house, and Mel looked at Linda, who was standing by the limo.
“She’s upset,” Laura said. “She said you two had words.”
“I’m sorry, Grandma, but she gets to me.”
“I know. But she is trying.”
Mel almost said something hateful about Linda, but stopped herself. Grandma had just buried her mother, a woman she loved.
“I know. We’ll come to the apartment.”
“See you there.”
The same people who went to see Grace off also came to the apartment. Mel and Lisa ate some food, then retreated to Laura’s bedroom. Mel lay down and Lisa sat on the edge of the bed.
“I feel bad about this morning,” Mel said.
“Why?”
“Because I could have kept my mouth shut. It just felt so good to tell her off.”
“Do you want to apologize?”
“Never. I just wish I’d left things alone. She’s not gonna grow a conscience just because I yelled at her.”
Lisa laughed. “Nope. Probably not.”
“Do you ever get mad at your father?”
“Why? Because he leaves me alone so much?”
“Yeah.”
“Sometimes I want to yell at him, but he does show up for things like my graduation, so I give him a pass. He has really tried since my mom…Besides, I really don’t mind being alone all that much. I did like having you and Sandy at the condo, but it wasn’t so bad when you left.”
“I thought you were having a pizza and watching a sad movie.”
“I did. But then I sat on the porch and listened to the waves. It was nice.”
“Do you think you’d like to live down there?”
Lisa lay down, put he
r head on Mel’s legs, and looked at the ceiling.
“I don’t know. I like the changing seasons. I don’t know if I could live in a place that was warm most of the time.”
“I could,” Mel said.
“Are you thinking about moving down there?”
“You said I could work anywhere.”
Lisa turned and propped herself up on her arm. She looked at Mel. “Did he come to the airport?”
Mel smiled. “Yeah. He kissed me, too.”
Lisa smacked Mel’s leg. “You didn’t tell me.”
“It didn’t come up.”
“So, this is why you’re thinking of moving down there.”
“It’s not the only reason. I thought about what you said, about asking Grandma to come with me.”
“Do you think she would?”
“I haven’t said anything yet. I’m waiting to see how I feel after the first blizzard.”
“Hey, what are they doing about Audrey?”
“She’s gonna be cremated and sent up here.”
“That’s cold.”
“It’s the easiest way to handle it. Grandma can’t afford another funeral.”
“Didn’t your nana have any money?”
“Not really,” Mel said.
“Oh.”
“Grandma sold her house before moving in here. Nana had done the same thing years ago and moved into another apartment. I think that money is gone. Grandma could get another place down there, but I think it might be hard for her to get another job.”
“I hope she wants to go. Would you go alone?”
Now Mel looked at the ceiling. “I think I would. I can always fly back and forth to see her.”
“I could visit, too. We have that time share.”
“And I would like to see where this thing with Conner is going.”
“I can see you like him, but do you like him?”
Mel smiled. “I do.”
“What else happened at the airport?” Lisa asked.
“He said he would come visit in June.”
“He did! That’s something. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I don’t know. I guess there wasn’t time.”
“Do you think he will?”
“I think he will.”
There was a knock on the door.
“Come in,” Mel said.
It was Linda. She peeked inside.
“Why don’t I see if your grandma needs some help?” Lisa said. She got up and walked past Linda. Linda closed the door.