“Benny!” a woman squeals, rushing down the steps.
She’s pretty –petite, blonde, and dressed more stylishly than I imagined for someone living in the middle of nowhere. Her energy is… a lot.
“And you must be Lina!” she beams, coming straight for me. “Let me look at you, sweetie!”
I stand awkwardly as she fusses. I’ve spent two days crammed in a car, wearing the same sweats, and I desperately need a shower. Still, her compliment catches me off guard.
“You’re so beautiful! You have your dad’s eyes.”
Her genuine smile softens me toward her, slightly.
“Thank you,” I murmur, appreciatively.
Her graciousness surprises me. I honestly wouldn’tblame her for hating me. As far as I know, she had no idea I even existed.
“Well, come in, come in! Let’s get you settled. Are you tired? Hungry? The boys should be home soon!”
She doesn’t wait for answers, just sweeps me inside. I follow her through the foyer and up the stairs to a tasteful guest room. Neutral tones with pops of aqua here and there make the space feel calm. Safe.
“We can redecorate if you want,” she offers. “Maybe go shopping once you’ve settled in?”
“I’d like that,” I reply honestly, offering her a small smile.
I sense Ben watching our interaction closely. I’m sure he expects me to be cold to his wife, but it’s not Maryanne’s fault he left. Or that my mom chose a monster to replace him.
It’s notreallyhis fault either, but I need someone to be angry at.
“The bathroom’s right through there,” she gestures to a door on the right. “I hope it’s ok, but you’ll be sharing with Axel. Johnny has his own. Just keep it locked if it makes you more comfortable.”
She demonstrates the second lock installed from the bedroom side. It’s surprisingly considerate. From my experience, teenage boys are walking red flags. Everything will be locked.Everything.
“Thank you. Seriously,” I tell them. “I’d love a shower… and maybe something to eat?”
“Of course! Ham and cheddar sandwich, ok?”
“Perfect.”
She heads downstairs, leaving me and Ben on our own. The room feels heavier without her, and I find myself poised, just waiting to see what he’ll do next. Will he yell at me? Grab me by the hair?
“Thank you,” he murmurs, doing none of the above.
I raise an eyebrow. “For what?”
“For being kind to Maryanne. This’ll be an adjustment for all of us, but I’m glad you’re here, Lina. I thought about you often over the years, but I really believed I was doing the right thing.”
He pauses. “I can take your anger, but Maryanne doesn’t deserve it.”
I give him a curt nod. That’s all he’s getting for now. If we’re going to have a relationship, it’ll take time to heal and build.
He leaves, and I spend some time unpacking and organizing. Mrs. Smith salvaged what she could of my old room. I’m thankful to at least have the familiarity of my own clothing when everything else feels new and foreign.
Once everything’s put away, I check out the bathroom. My eyes widen at how spotless it is. Either Maryanne cleaned it herself, or Axel is a unicorn. My money’s on Maryanne.
The towels are stacked neatly on the vanity, soft and smelling faintly of lavender. I press one to my face and breathe it in. It helps. Just a little.
While the water takes a second to heat, I double-check the lock to Axel’s room before peeling off my clothes. Rinsing away two days of road-trip grime feels incredible. It’s tempting to take my time, but my stomach rumbles, reminding me it’s been hours since my last meal. Even if eating hasn’t been easy lately, I need to make more of an effort to take care of myself.
I towel off before pulling on my favorite pair of jean shorts and a well-worn, soft tee, opting for comfort over style. I scrunch curl cream into my damp hair and swipe on a quick coat of mascara to darken my pale lashes. After tidying up the bathroom, I find myself lingering.
