by Harper Bliss
“I’m not going to hear the last of it if you don’t come back for Christmas,” Naomi said when they stood outside.
“Christmas?” Eileen said. “I’ll be back much sooner than that.” She lifted the bag. “I need to bring them the prints, remember.”
“Right.” Naomi snickered. “Do you have any other tricks from the days of yesteryear up your sleeve?”
“We’ll see.” Eileen’s eyes narrowed. “Best not put too much pressure on me to surprise you again.” She sighed contentedly. “It was just great to see the smiles on their faces and, more selfishly, for me to have a camera in my hands again—no matter how small or quaint.”
“How about the same time again next week?” Naomi responded to Eileen’s expression of contentment with a big smile.
“That would be nice.” Eileen sucked her bottom lip between her teeth.
“Unless…” Naomi caught Eileen’s glance.
“Yes?” Eileen rubbed her hand over her jeans.
“Unless… you want to have dinner this weekend? After the Thanksgiving family madness has subsided and we can think of having food again?”
Eileen stood there glancing at her, as though this question needed some serious pondering.
“Why not?” she said, at last.
Naomi burst into an even wider grin.
“How about I pick you up? So you don’t have to walk in this weather?” Naomi asked. “We could go to the grocery store together, if you like. You can pick some things up for yourself. It must be hard walking everywhere, let alone carrying grocery bags.”
“I’ve got my sister…” Eileen started saying, then paused. “Actually, that would be nice.”
“Saturday night?” Naomi asked.
Eileen nodded, something glittering in her eyes. Something that told Naomi she might already be looking forward to Saturday evening as well. Or maybe it was just the reflection of the low November sun—Naomi really shouldn’t get ahead of herself like that. If it really was the difference in age between them that had Eileen fleeing her apartment last week, then that was an issue that could never be resolved. But Naomi’s business in life was dealing with people’s emotions, and interpreting what they couldn’t always say in words. She might be young, but she had experience in reading people, and what she saw behind all the words Eileen didn’t say, filled her with hope.
“It’s a date then.” Naomi inched closer to Eileen, and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, before going to find her car.
Chapter Nine
Eileen gave a timid wave with her good hand as Naomi pulled out of the parking lot. While she wanted to see the young woman off, Eileen worried she was proclaiming herself an old fogey by ensuring Naomi’s car, which may be older than the driver, started and made it out of the parking lot. Did twenty-somethings still do that in this day and age? Or would they keep their eyes glued to their phones, waiting for a message stating: Car started. On way home. Or would the message solely consist of abbreviations and emojis?
Naomi’s car disappeared around the corner and Eileen set about arranging her own transportation. Something about having to catch a cab to go to Thanksgiving at her family’s seemed desperate. If she was in London, it wouldn’t have occurred to her. But in her hometown, it seemed odd at best.
Julia had offered to pick her up, but Eileen had refused for two reasons. To show her independence and she didn’t want to explain that she was volunteering that morning and wouldn’t be ready when Julia wanted to leave. Her sister would question Eileen’s motives for volunteering, because Julia questioned absolutely everything. If Eileen said she preferred red over green grapes, Julia would insist on having a twenty-minute dialogue about why and if the color red signified something about her childhood or some psychobabble bullshit like that.
Complications. Eileen was surrounded by them and she didn’t need to invite more, especially not the Julia kind.
She dialed a local cab company. A woman answered on the fifth ring, not a good sign. Eileen requested a driver.
“You want a cab now? Today?” Her raspy voice sounded as if she had a pack a day habit.
Eileen pictured the woman with a cigarette dangling from her bottom lip. “If possible.”
“Uh…” There was some rustling on the other end of the line, as if she was covering the mouthpiece. “Would an hour from now work?”
“Does Derby have Uber? Or Lyft?” Eileen scanned the empty street, hoping a lone taxi would pass by, but there wasn’t a car in sight.
“How would I know?” The woman’s defensiveness made it clear she did.
“Because you’re in the transportation business.”
“We’re professionals. Not some random dude with a ratty car who may or may not get you to your destination. Or murder you. Roll of the dice, really, with those people,” she hissed.
Eileen chomped down on her bottom lip. Getting into a quarrel with a woman on the other line wouldn’t solve her problem.
“Do you still want a car or not?” the woman barked.
Eileen looked at the clock in the middle of the town square. She’d still arrive well before the family would officially sit down for Thanksgiving dinner, at least. And, honestly, would a delay be so bad considering it meant less time with her mom? “Yes, please.”
They finalized the details, with Eileen providing her number.
Maybe she’d grab a coffee or go for a walk. Option three was to get a coffee and then go for a walk. She’d been staying inside her apartment quite a bit. Too much, frankly. While her right arm was mostly incapacitated, her legs weren’t. It would do her good to get some exercise considering how winded she’d gotten earlier, lugging the bag with disposable cameras. And if she truly planned to get back to work in the new year, she couldn’t let herself go. She had to snap out of this funk. Pronto.
Today would be the first day of… her new life.
Eileen laughed at the absurd thought.
Maybe it was Naomi’s influence. The thought of their date on Saturday. Naomi’s smile and piercing dark eyes. The type that could penetrate deep inside someone’s soul.
Or perhaps it was Tyson. Here was a young man in a hospital bed on Thanksgiving. Yet, when given the disposable camera, he was full of life. A wonderful mix of excitement, sweetness, and raw talent. Naomi had been right about learning a thing or two from the kids.
Not knowing if any places would be open on a holiday, Eileen trekked back into the hospital and grabbed a cappuccino to go from the coffee shop. Back out in the parking lot, she walked in no particular direction.
The sun hung overhead in the brilliant blue sky, although there was a nip in the air and when the wind kicked up, it cut right through Eileen’s clothes.
Even this brought a smile to her lips. To feel the wind on her cheeks. To feel alive.
She passed an art gallery and from a cursory glance through the window the offerings consisted of oil paintings of lighthouses. Her mind wandered back to high school. When she and Melissa would go for drives so Eileen could take photos of the coast and, of course, lighthouses.
Did Derby offer any photography classes? A child like Tyson would truly benefit from lessons. Eileen set her coffee on the ledge of the window so she could get her phone out and pull up Google Maps to search for local photography classes. The nearest was twenty miles away. Which wasn’t that far by American standards. Practically everyone living outside of Boston owned a car. But this particular part of Massachusetts didn’t have easily accessible buses and no subway system. Basically people like her, not to mention kids, had no way of getting around on their own.
Eileen tucked her phone back into her pocket and retrieved her coffee cup to continue her journey. She stopped at the new-looking white wooden Welcome to the Town of Derby Incorporated 1850 sign. Next to it was a yard sign announcing the Christmas tree lighting ceremony in the town center on December first. Part of her had missed this aspect of living in Derby. The sense of community. Pride.
Taking a sip of her
cappuccino, she wondered if it would be difficult to set up a photography class in town. And what was the likelihood of finding instructors? The only other photographer she’d met since her return was Jane. While Eileen wasn’t overly impressed with the subject matter of the Bitsy show, the photos themselves showed a modicum of skill. Thirteen-year-old boys didn’t need more than that to inspire them to pursue photography in life.
Eileen walked past the hardware store, then paused. Sitting on the sidewalk were pumpkins for sale, Christmas decorations, and other odds and ends that one may need from a hardware store this time of year, like snow shovels, bundles of wood, and bags of rock salt. Was it open on Thanksgiving? Eileen squinted to see inside, but the lights were off and no one stirred. They left this stuff outside all the time? Upon further inspection, she noticed none of it was secured. Didn’t they worry about theft? Not that pumpkin crime was rampant in America, but what about teenagers who might find it funny to smash them?
Her phone rang and she tossed her half-empty cup into the trash so she could answer it. “Yes?”
“Your ride is on the way,” the grumpy woman from earlier instructed.
“Thank you very much and I hope you have a wonderful holiday!” Eileen shook her head, confounded by her own cheerfulness.
The cab pulled up outside Eileen’s childhood home and she paid the driver.
The front door opened before Eileen had a chance to knock. Had she really intended to knock? How peculiar to feel like such a stranger on the doorstep of the home she grew up in.
“I would have picked you up.” Julia, in faded jeans, gray sweater, and red and black checkered wool socks, embraced her.
“I can still get around on my own.” Eileen crossed the threshold, noticing the quiet. “Where is everyone?”
“Mom and Dad are in the library. Michael and James are playing football with the neighbors. You remember Old Man Grover’s annual Turkey Football Bash? His son has kept the tradition alive and well. They’ll be here later when there’s actually food on the table. Belle is beefing up her college application by volunteering at the shelter. She’s been doing that every holiday for… Oh, I don’t remember really. She wants to go into social work. Oh to be young again, and to think you can change the world.”
Eileen thought of Naomi, but shoved her beautiful image from her mind before Julia picked up on some weird mental sibling wavelength and wanted to probe every angle. “You don’t watch the game anymore?” Eileen asked.
Julia waved a hand leading Eileen towards the library. “Mom balked and really, it’s just a bunch of boys and some fathers who still haven’t given up the ghost they could have played professionally. We can go watch, though, if you want to.”
Eileen shook her head.
“We never were very sporty, were we? Much to Dad’s dismay.”
“True. Making me a double let down.”
Julia narrowed her eyes. “What does that mean?”
Eileen cursed herself for letting her guard down yet again with Julia. “Oh, you know. Dad always wanted a son. And I’m not a sporty dyke. It was just a joke, really. No need to dissect it.”
Julia glanced over her shoulder, with a knowing smile. “Someone’s feeling vulnerable after spilling her heart out last Friday.”
Eileen rolled her eyes.
They entered the library.
“There you are. I was about to send out a search party.” Her mom rose from the leather wingback chair and air-kissed Eileen’s right cheek.
“Am I late?” Eileen looked to her father, who motioned for her not to pay any attention to his wife.
“Dinner isn’t for another hour, but I would have thought you’d want to spend time with your family on Thanksgiving. After such a long absence.” Her mom wore a gray cashmere turtleneck with gold sequins forming snowflakes, black slacks, and two-inch heels.
Her father sported his typical chinos, plaid shirt, and like Julia, he was in socks. “You look well. Your cheeks are rosy.”
“I went for a walk,” Eileen explained.
“You didn’t walk here, did you? Is that why you’re so late?” her mom asked.
“What can I get you to drink?” her dad got to his feet.
“A tea would be lovely.”
“So very British of you.” Her mother smiled fondly.
Her dad left the room, more than likely to instruct Maggie to make a pot of tea.
Her mom took a seat on the cherry-red leather couch and patted the spot next to her. “Sit next to your mom. Let’s chat.”
Eileen sat, inwardly regretting not coming up with an adequate excuse to skip Thanksgiving entirely. Maybe she could fake food poisoning halfway through the meal. No one wanted to be around that. Not even family members.
Her mom placed a hand on Eileen’s thigh. “Guess who I bumped into yesterday?”
Julia met Eileen’s eyes as she sat across from her on the opposite couch. Their father returned empty handed confirming Eileen’s suspicion that he’d handed off the order, and took a seat next to Julia.
Perhaps sensing the tension, he asked, “What’d I miss?”
“Nothing dear. I was just telling Eileen I bumped into Melissa yesterday and we ended up having lunch.” She swiveled her head to Eileen. “She’s doing so much better. Can you believe it’s been two years since her partner died?” Her mom made a mournful tsking sound, before her eyes lit up. “But I do believe she’s ready to date again.”
“Oh, Mom. You didn’t actually ask, did you? She was with Susan for over twenty years.” Julia sipped her white wine.
“Of course not.” She laid a hand over her heart. “As a woman and mother, I could tell.” To Eileen she said, “Melissa said it was good to see you at the photography exhibition. You should call her. Do you have her number?” She ran a hand through Eileen’s hair. “Before you see her again, I should make you an appointment to get your hair and nails done. What conditioner do you use? It’s so limp.”
Eileen didn’t bother telling her mom the struggle she had simply shampooing her hair. Conditioning was out of the question at the moment.
Maggie entered the library with a tray, arranging a silver teapot with a matching sugar and creamer set on the table.
“Thank you, Maggie.” Eileen leaned forward, but Maggie waved for her to relax while she poured her a cup.
“Two sugar cubes and a splash of milk?” Maggie asked.
Eileen smiled. “Your memory astounds me.”
“I’ll take a cup,” her mom said.
“Of course,” Maggie said.
“I didn’t know you liked tea?” Eileen asked her mom while accepting the cup from Maggie with a gracious smile.
“Who doesn’t like tea?” she said, avoiding her daughter’s eyes.
When Maggie closed the library doors, her mom said, “What were we talking about? Oh, yes. You inviting Melissa for lunch or dinner. Shall we go shopping for some new clothes?” Her mother eyed Eileen’s slacks and loose-fitting sweater.
Eileen, ignoring her mom’s barb, blew into her tea, the steam momentarily blurring her vision. “Dad, do you still have connections with anyone at the community center? I would like to talk to someone about starting photography lessons for children here in town.”
“So they can run away from home at their first opportunity like someone else I know?” Her mom’s forced laughter was anything but mirthful. She set her teacup down on a coaster on the end table, not bothering to take a sip.
Eileen swallowed a mouthful of scorching tea to prevent the words tumbling from her mouth— she’d never felt welcome in her mom’s life.
Her dad cleared his throat, his eyes landing on his wife briefly before answering, “I can place a few calls.”
“Will you teach a course?” Julia asked.
“Me?” Eileen squeaked. Recovering, she continued, “No. I was thinking of Jane.”
“Jane!” Julia’s eyes shot upward and she pitched one hand into the air. “She’d be terrible with children.”
> “And you think I’d be better?” Eileen blunted out the memory of seeing Tyson’s smile earlier. As far as her family was concerned, Eileen didn’t like children. Period.
“I do. Not only because you’ve won awards. Your passion for photography—"
“I can’t hold a camera!” Eileen closed her eyes and sucked in a cleansing breath. “Sorry.”
Julia wasn’t deterred. “You’ll be instructing others how to hold the camera.”
“You’re forgetting, Julia, I won’t be around after the holidays.” Eileen spoke slowly for the words to sink in.
Julia stared at Eileen. “You don’t know that for sure. I happen to know your apartment is available to rent from the new year.”
“I’ve told work I’ll be back in January.”
“That’s wonderful.” Her mom picked up her teacup, brought it to her lips, but set it back down without sampling the drink. “Derby has always been too small for you.” Her tone implied the town wasn’t big enough for the two of them and Eileen was of the same opinion.
“Ellie, are you sure that was wise?” Julia appeared to go out of her way to avoid looking at her sister’s rigid arm.
“I need to work, Jules.” Eileen locked her eyes on Julia’s.
“Surely you have money saved. Not to mention sick leave. You’ve been with the company for years. They’ll understand.”
“You don’t expect Eileen to stay in town teaching photography lessons, do you?” Her mom glared at her youngest daughter. “What kind of life would that be? After everything?”
There it was again. The not-so-subtle hint her mom gave up her life for Eileen’s. She turned her gaze to her dad. “Is there a game on today? I haven’t watched the NFL in years.”
Julia leaned forward, her eyes skipping past their mom and landing on Eileen. “You have told your employers about your stroke?”
Eileen remained mute her silence confirming the unanswered question.
“Oh, Ellie. Why are you so stubborn?” Julia supported her forehead with her fingertips.
