Everything (22 page)

“Mom’s in the kitchen starting breakfast,” Tina announced from her spot on the bottom of the stairs where she had sat to enjoy the Mick-Opal throw-down.

“Got any pudding?” Opal asked as she got up to head toward the kitchen.
 

I shook my head and smiled to myself. Opal was still Opal.

Mick started to get up. “Well, I will go and check into a hotel or something.”
 

“Or something,” Tina muttered.

“Mick, hi. I’m Eugene Davis.” Mr. Eugene extended his hand for Mick to shake.

“Hi. You another relative?” Mick couldn’t keep the eye roll to himself.
 

Mr. Eugene chuckled to himself. “No, I’m dating Opal. I couldn’t help but overhear that you need someplace to stay while in town. I am mostly at Opal’s, and my home is empty. You’re more than welcome to stay there instead of a motel that you have to pay for.”
 

I wanted to tell Mr. Eugene that he had just extended his home to a Leviathan. Mick couldn’t be trusted. But I couldn’t very well say that in front of Mick, could I?

“Well, thanks, Mr. Davis—was it? I’d appreciate that.” Mick shook Mr. Eugene’s hand gratefully.

“Great, that’s settled. Let’s go in and get breakfast before heading over and getting you settled in.” They both went in the kitchen. I would love to be in there when Mr. Eugene broke the news to Opal that he offered his house to Mick to stay.

I turned to Trevor, who had stayed silent the entire time. “So, ahh, that was Mick.”

“Wow.”

“I know,” I said.

“And him and Opal.”

“I know,” I said again.

“Wow.”

“See why you’re my island?”

“Wow.”

“Why do you keep saying that?”

“Because I actually agree with something Tina said.” Trevor turned to me.

“What is that?” I asked.

“Mick the Dick.” At that, I laughed, and so did Tina from her perch on the stairs. I should have marked the time. I had a feeling it would be the only time I was really going to laugh for the day. Or ever
.
 

After Trevor left to go home and shower, change, and check in with his mom, I went upstairs to check on Aria. On the way upstairs, I filled Tina in on what happened.

“So that explains the yelling. It’s about time someone told him where to stick it,” Tina said.

“I wish it was me and not A. It’s so unlike her.”

“You worried you’re rubbing off?”

“God, don’t say that. Mom always said we were two peas in a pod.”
 

We had gotten to the bedroom door and were about to open it when Aria yanked it open. “Oh, I thought you might be Mick coming to yell at me.” She moved aside and let us by.

“No, I think you pretty much put him in his place downstairs,” Tina joked.

“Oh, don’t tell me you’re sticking up for him, Jussy. You hate him.”

“Oh, it needed to be said. I’m just mad I missed it. Next time wake me up so I can get a good seat.”
 

Aria smiled a little.

“Dad would have been proud of you,” I said.
 

Aria’s eyes filled with tears, but she quickly blinked them away. “Everything I said was true. You don’t have to put up with him anymore.”

“I know, but I think I should. It’s what Mom would want,” I said.

Aria looked lost in thought for a moment, then something passed over her face, but she shook it away.

“Are you okay?” I asked, concerned.

“Are you?”

“Stupid question, I know, but you know I’m here for you and you can tell me anything, right?”
 

She hugged me hard around the middle like she used to when she was younger. “I know, I just feel...never mind. What time is the town arriving today?”

“I don’t know, why?” I held her at arm’s length. I knew that tone all too well.

“Riley’s picking me up in twenty minutes so I can go and get my car.”

“I don’t think that’s such a good idea, A. Not today anyway.”

“Aw, come on. I just want my car. Don’t tell me your gonna go all ‘big sister said I can’t go here’ on me. ’Cause I’m eighteen, you know.” She actually looked like she was going to throw a tantrum. She had never thrown a tantrum because she pretty much always got what she wanted. She wasn’t an untrustworthy kid and never got into trouble, so she never gave our parents any reason not to trust her.

“No, I just think that with everyone coming today, they are going to want to see both of us, that’s all. You know I don’t pull the Big Sister Card. Often, anyway,” I smirked, trying to lighten the mood.

“I’ll be back before everyone gets here, I promise. Like Riley wouldn’t follow me if you told him to anyway,” she added.

“That’s not a bad idea,” I mused.

“I bet you get one of those GPS thingies installed in her car too,” Tina chimed in.

“Not funny, Jussy.” Aria cut her eyes at Tina. “But really, I’ll be back in time. I swear.”

“Are you guys going to live together now?” Tina asked, out of the blue.

“Me and Ri-Ri?” Aria asked, confused and grossed out at the same time.

“No, idiot. You and Day,” she said, rolling her eyes.

“Why do you ask?” I looked at her.
 

Tina winked at me before she answered, “Because that makes you her guardian, and that means she has to ask permission to go out. So she might as well start asking now.”

“Oh, come on. That’s bullshit, Jussy. What the fuck?” Aria yelled.
 

I was not liking the new use-every-cuss-word-I-know Aria. “Can you watch your mouth?”

“You cuss. I used to hear you on the phone all the time, and I know you cuss when I’m not around. Riley tells me. So what if I do?” Aria said.

“I actually don’t care if you do. It’s the amount of cussing that you have been doing. It’s like ever since Mom and Dad died, you feel you have a free pass or something.”

“I’m grieving?” she tried out her excuse on me.

“So am I.”

“Dacey, I don’t know. I just don’t feel the need to hold it in any longer. What’s the big deal?”

“Nothing, I guess. Say what you want. Who am I to tell you not to say what you feel?”

“You’re right. I’ll try to refrain from using so much around you, you old prune. But no promises.”

“You guys are better than a Lifetime movie right now,” Tina said from her spot on my old bed, where she had sat, smiling wide.

“Shut up,” we said united.
 

Tina made a face. “I’m starting not to like that. You guys didn’t used to do it so much.”
 

I shrugged.
 

“It’s not like we can help it. So I’m going to go...okay?” Aria said cautiously.

“So you’re kind of asking permission, but not really?”

“You caught that, huh?” She smiled.

“Yeah, I did. And fine, but you better be back here in an hour or I will have Riley follow you.”

“Kk. I’m gonna go change.”
 

I waited until she left before I turned to Tina. “Something is up with her. I can feel it.”

“Of course something is up with her. She just lost half her family last night, and so did you.” She gave me a “duh” look.

“No, I mean, yes, it’s that, but besides that.”

“People grieve in different ways, Day. You can’t think something is wrong with her because she has chosen to take on a more colorful vocabulary. I mean, that girl is cussing more than you.”

“Right? She would give a sailor a run for their money.”

“It’s a learned trait,” Tina smirked at me.

“Shut the fuck up.”

“See what I mean?”
 

I threw a pillow at her, not amused. “Can you text Riley and tell him if he doesn’t have my sister back here in an hour, I will—”

“Oh, I have this. I’ll think of something...
hiriente
,” she said, rubbing her hands together mischievously.

We went back downstairs. Tina went to get her phone to text Riley while I went into the kitchen to see if Opal and Mick had started round two yet. Surprisingly, Opal was seated at the kitchen table with Mick and Mr. Eugene, while Mrs. D served them a breakfast of sausage, pancakes, and eggs.

I eyed Mrs. D’s sausages. Even those couldn’t ease the tension knot forming in my stomach. But one bite couldn’t hurt.

“Where is lil’ chile?” Opal asked.
 

Mick frowned at the term but wisely said nothing.

“She is getting ready to go and pick up her car. A friend of ours is going to take her.”

“Is that such a wise idea?” Mick started in. “She’s going gallivanting off with someone, and it’s a time to be with family,” he huffed.

“She’s just going to get her car. She’ll be back within the hour. I didn’t see a problem with it. It’s still early.”

“Oh, you didn’t see a problem? What do you know? You’re just a kid yourself.”

“That might be so, slick, but that there chile is the most responsible thing I know, and if that lil’ chile is anythin’ like her sister, then she is just as responsible,” Opal defended, pointing at me.

“Responsible or not, you are not in a position to give her permission to go here and go there,” he sputtered.

“Aria has never asked for permission for anything. Mom and Dad trusted her,” I said. “Besides, she eighteen. It’s not like she needs a guardian,” I added under my breath.

“They all each other got now. They hafta start relyin’ and trustin’ each other,” said Opal.

“We already trust each other. That’s why I let her go, and I didn’t see a problem with it,” I said.

“They’re not all each other have. Aria still is my niece, and she has me,” Mick said.

“Fat load o’ good that has done her in the past,” Opal said, not even trying to muffle that response.

Before he could respond with what I was sure to be something dick-headed, Mrs. D intervened. “I’m sure we are just all concerned that she will be able to make it back in time to be here with the family,” she tried to pacify Mick the Dick.

“She promised me she would be. Besides, I trust the guy who’s taking her, and he has sworn to follow her until she comes home.”

“What boy is this now? The same one from earlier?” Mick narrowed his eyes at me.

“No, this is a friend of both Aria and I. Well, mine actually, but he knows Aria as well.”

“You sure know a lot of boys,” he said smugly.

Since when is two “a lot”? I was going to point that out but decided against it. “I’ve known him since forever. He’s a really good friend,” I said. I felt uneasy about Mick thinking anything bad about Riley. Taking a bit of sausage and a little bit of courage, I turned to Mick to put a stop to at least one of the hateful stares I would get from him today. “Look, it’s done. She asked me, and I told her to go ahead. She has been through a lot, and she needs the time to just be alone, and if that is just to go and get her car, then I’m going to give her that. I’m sorry if you think that was a bonehead move on my part. While she is your niece, she is also my sister. And I
know
her. I know when it’s her breaking point and when she has had enough and when to push her. I don’t intend on you or anyone else pushing her past her ‘enough’ point.”

Opal looked at me proudly, and to my astonishment, so did Mr. Eugene.

“Well, I guess Ann was right. You do stick up for each other. I underestimated that. It won’t happen again,” Mick said. He crossed his arms over his chest and appraised me.

Then I finished my sausage and went to find Tina.

As much as I gave a silent promise to Mom to try, I have to admit, telling off Mick was kinda awesome.

Chapter 11

I had never seen so many casseroles in my life before.

The kitchen looked like it exploded in food, the majority of it being casseroles of all kinds. Apparently it was tradition when someone dies—bake them a casserole. And in our case, we got two.
 

Aria had come back as promised. We had been greeting mourners all day who had come to pay respects by way of what else, casseroles.

We had sat on the couches holding hands surrounded by people from town all day. We were unable to say what we really wanted, which was to be left alone and for everyone to leave.

A few times, Aria had squeezed my hand when someone was brave enough to ask what exactly happened with the car crash. At which, Opal shooed them away, muttering about nosy neighbors.

A few of our friends from high school and college dropped by with their parents, but they didn’t linger to talk long. I think they didn’t know what to say. I mean, really, what do you say to your friends who just lost both of their parents? Sorry just didn’t seem to cut it.

Professor Harris also stopped by to tell me not to worry about classes and to come back when I was ready.

“Thank you, sir.”

“I’ve spoken with Kelly. She has said that she has spoken with the rest of your teachers, but I’ll talk to them as well. I feel it would be better coming from an administrator rather than a student.”

“Thank you again, sir.” I shook his hand somberly.
 

He nodded and left.

Aria leaned over and whispered in my ear, “How weird is it having your teacher in your house?”

“I know, right? It’s like seeing them in the grocery store weird.”

Trevor had come back at some point, but was staying in the background talking to Mr. Eugene and Riley, who had stayed once he came back with Aria. Tina was helping Mrs. D in the kitchen to try to organize some of the food and offering some of the smaller dishes to the people who wanted to stay and talk.

It was kind of nice to hear some of the stories people would tell about our parents but also very sad, and I had to blink back tears on a number of occasions because it was all too much at times.

It was nightfall by the time the last visitor left, and the only people remaining were Riley, Trevor, the Delgados, Opal, Mr. Eugene, and Mick.

“If I see any more townsfolk...” Aria let out a long and heavy sigh.

“I’m with you,” I agreed.

Riley was trying to inch toward Opal, no doubt wanting to find out about the town’s history—that is, try and find any leads on his father. He looked torn all day, like half of him wanted to ask, the other half not wanting to impede on today’s events. If today had been any other day, it would have been comical.