by CeeCee James
Lightening flashed outside, echoing my heart. The black clouds couldn’t match the dark thoughts in my head. I could barely see, and who knows if it was the rain or the tears.
I found myself standing in the downpour at the foot of Mrs. Crawford’s wide veranda. I’d gotten out of the car, and trudged straight through the mud puddles that had formed at the sudden dump of water, not caring.
My nose ran, but there was nothing left to dry it with. I stumbled up the stairs and stood, shivering, on the welcome mat. I had no idea what she’d think. I usually only came by her house to pay my rent, and what with the deal we made, she’d know that’s not why I was here.
She opened the door without a smile, having seen me through the glass.
“Stella?” she said. “Is something wrong at the house?”
I shook my head. “It’s fine. It’s just… please, I’m sorry for barging in.” I didn’t even know what I was going to say to her. “I just had to be around someone right now.”
“Absolutely. Let me get you a towel.” She scurried back down the hall and came back a moment later with a white towel. Humming comfortingly, she wrapped it around my shoulders, bringing a scent of lavender. Its heavy weight was welcome, and I wiped my face on the corner.
“Is it Oscar?”
I nodded. “He’s not dead or anything.” The words came out grudgingly. My life felt changed forever.
“Come on. Let’s go sit down and talk a spell.” She led me into her sunroom and sat me on the settee. She settled into a white wicker chair across from me and nodded, and her kind face made me burst into tears again.
“It’s my uncle. He told me the worst story. All the men in my family have betrayed me.”
And, for the first time ever, I cried over the loss of my mom. Everything spilled out. She nodded and hmmed sympathetically through the whole ordeal, though I have no idea how she understood me through my hiccups and rabbit trails. She didn’t ask any questions, just gave me space to let it all pour out like the rain from the clouds.
When I was done, she stood up and tucked the towel a bit more around my neck. And then she disappeared into the kitchen where I heard the sound of water running and the comforting clinks of stoneware. A moment later, she came back with two steaming mugs, one of these she settled into my hands.
I took a sip and stared at her a little nervously, waiting to hear her response. But instead, she leaned back to relax and nodded at me to do the same. We sipped our tea and allowed the soft sounds of the rain to fill the silence for a while. The downpour had turned into patters that lightly danced across the ground.
When she did speak, her voice was low, comforting. “Stella, I hear your frustration and pain at the consequences that other people’s choices have caused in your life. Your anger, your grief, and your feelings of betrayal are all understandable.
But you need to know you are going to get through this. Even though now you might not be able to see how, this is not where you will always be.” She took a sip of her tea and watched out the window. “You know, sometimes I think our greatest fear in life is that the situation we’re in right now is forever. I can tell you from experience, you won’t always feel the way you do today.
You have a beautiful story… the story of your life. Take the time you need to sit here in your emotions and then wipe your face. Your story doesn’t end here. You will figure out the next step. As my father always said, ‘Look up. There’s always a path ahead.’”
I nodded. I couldn’t think too much past the anger right now, but I knew in my heart that Mrs. Crawford was right. Life was different now. I didn’t know all the ways that it had changed. But I knew one thing. When I looked up, all I saw was a path leading to my mother.
The End
Thank you for reading Home Strange Home. The story continues in Duplex Double Trouble.
