by L. P. Dover
I swatted at him as he backed up and laughed at me. He held his hands up. “Grumpy and violent. I love it.”
I shook my head and walked past him as he watched me. He called out and it stopped me dead in my tracks.
“Have fun with your sisters.” I hunched my shoulders as the thought of it really sucked. I mean, it would be hard enough to handle the funeral and all of them together…but this? The promise of a man in my life who would not be there? Ugh.
I sighed and then turned back to him and placed a hand on my hip. I walked towards him and stopped about three feet away.
“It is your fault that they think we are dating.”
“I know, I thought I was helping you. I mean, you said all kinds of heinous stuff about them last night when you were drunk and I felt sorry for you. I mean, not like in a pathetic way, I just have an older brother and he is an asshole.”
“I did not,” I said as he nodded his head ‘yes’ to me.
“Yes, you told me a lot of things.”
I rolled my eyes. “How much older is your brother?” I asked him and he rubbed his neck.
“Four years, and he thinks he knows everything but he doesn’t. It annoys me.”
I sighed and could just hear it now, it would be a blood bath if I showed up alone. It would give them all a reason to grill me and maybe with Cody there, I could avoid it and just do what I came here to do, bury my dad.
“Nothing happened at all?” I said and he leaned forward.
His eyes lingered on my lips. “Well, you almost kissed me, but I stopped you. I mean, you were drunk.”
I felt flustered, my cheeks turning red. “I did not.”
“You did so.”
I rolled my eyes. “I don’t just kiss people.”
“Oh I know, you said that before you tried to do it.”
I raised an eyebrow and stared him down. “I was drunk.”
“And 'emotionally compromised' if I remember you correctly,” he added as I sighed. Damn it. He was just too comfortable to be around. I hesitated and then heard the train whistle blow to give everyone a five-minute warning.
He crossed his arms on his chest. “It is me or you go in with no sword.”
I bit my lip. He would make things easier and difficult all at the same time. What the hell was I thinking?
The whistle blew again. “Okay, fine.” I said as he grinned at me.
He ran off, calling out behind him, “Let me get my bag.”
“Fine,” I said as he jumped back on the train and I could see him moving through the cars. He reached his room and stepped in, grabbing his backpack, then he looked up and saw me through the window. He stopped for a minute as he looked me over and I turned and stared at the people on the platform. He returned to me and slung his backpack over his shoulder as I watched him. I had to be completely insane or in the middle of a breakdown to be allowing this to happen.
He waved his hand like a wand in front of him. “Ladies first,” he said to me as I started to walk with him alongside me.
We rounded the corner and there it was. Stillcreek. I stopped and watched the trees blowing and smelled the air as he looked around too.
“This is nice,” he said as his eyes wandered over the old structures and the cobblestone street running down Main. It still looked just like a postcard. The mixture of bread and berries wafted up around us and he smelled it as I did.
I looked at him and nodded. “It is beautiful, it always has been. I guess I just don’t think about it in the City, I am busy working.” He nodded to me as we continued on, past the downtown shops and everything until we reached my side of town. I had not said anything to him as we walked, but I did notice him studying everything. I stopped on the corner as the light sat on red and he nodded.
“This is something else, Jazz. I mean, it looks like a painting.”
I glanced at him. “I loved it here, minus my sisters some days, but it was not all bad.”
“Did you leave because of them?” he asked as the light changed and we started to cross the street.
“No, I left because I wanted too. I dreamed of living in New York City and after I graduated from college there, I stayed.”
“I don’t know, Jazz, if I had come from a place like this I would have found a man, got knocked up and settled down.”
“Oh really, so you can get knocked up then? Medical breakthroughs astound me.”
I stopped walking and then he busted out laughing. “I was kidding, people can do whatever they want to do and who is to say that a family is a bad thing? I wish I could remember being in a family, I do…I mean, I really do.” I looked him over.
“Listen, I am sorry. I did not mean to assume that we did anything or that you would take advantage of me. I just was not myself last night. Not at all. I don’t just meet people and try to make out with them and then invite them into my bed.”
He grinned and looked into my eyes. His blue eyes brighter with the mid-day sun shining in them.
“I felt your boob.”
I stepped back from him. “What?”
“Just a little grab, it was nothing special.”
“Oh really?” I said as I could feel my temper rising.
He pointed at the palm of his hand. “I mean, it was small, barely fit in my hand.”
I swung my suitcase at him and caught him on the side as he laughed at me.
“Are you serious?” I yelled and he held his hands up.
“About the size or if I did it?”
“Cody!”
“I did NOT grab your boob okay? I am just kidding!”
I shook my head and stepped back from him. “No lie?”
“No lie, Jazz, I did not touch you.”
“Not even a little?”
He tilted his head as I sounded as if I wished he had.
“I mean, I am taking you to my house, my family lives there.”
“I swear I did not touch you, I was just kidding. I swear, you looked sad, I was just trying to make you laugh.”
I narrowed my eyes. One thing my dad always told me was that a person could not stare you in the eye if they were lying and I started to relax as he stood up straight and shook his head.
“I swear,” He added as he stepped up and I got caught up in his eyes again.
“You are a dick.”
“I can be,” he said as he grinned.
I turned and walked away, he stood there until I stopped and called out to him.
“Come on,” he grinned and followed me. I stopped and turned to him
“Why?”
He stopped and stared me down. “Why, what?”
“I mean, you didn’t even try to kiss me?”
He grinned and shifted from one foot to the other. “Not yet,” he said to me and I turned as my heartbeat fluttered in my chest.
Two Rooms
I RAISED MY hand to knock on the door and Cody reached past me and opened it up, as if he lived here. I have no idea why I was going to knock. I am completely off of my game and feeling foreign, even to myself. I mean, here I am bringing a man home, who I barely know, to try to avoid all the same old shit. I could hear my mom’s voice in the other room and it only took about fifteen seconds for the sisters to descend on us like vultures. Violet came in first and was grinning like she could not be any happier to see anyone. It kind of disturbed me, followed by Poppy, Daisy and Rose. I set my suitcase down as they all stared at me and then the attention went straight to Cody, of course. Evidently he was good for diverting their attention from me. I could at least be grateful for that.
“Well, look at you,” Daisy said as Rose smiled. Violet and Poppy stood by them and the four of them reminded me of how they would be when I was younger. It was always a wall of them versus me.
“Hi,” I said as I waved a hand and they all fawned over him until mom stepped into the room. The chatter suddenly stopped and they parted as she stepped through them. She walked up to me and then gave me a big hug, which was unlike her. I lo
oked towards my sisters and they looked as if it was something I should get used too. She held onto my arms as she stepped back and looked me over.
“You need to eat and what have you done to your hair?”
“I do and I cut it off.”
“Mmm,” she said, as she looked me over.
“I said the same thing,” Cody added as my mom’s eyes went to him. She let me go and it was on. I mean, he asked for it. Mom walked up to him and looked him over. Her gaze steady on him. She would always be the same. Strong and intimidating. There wasn’t a resident in this town who did not know her or try to avoid her wrath. She wasn’t mean, but you just have to know her and how she is. To outsiders, she would appear cold, but the truth was she was not. Just appeared that way.
“So you are dating Jasmine, Cody Baker,” she said, it was not even a question, just a statement, like she was known for. I grinned, I had too. If any payback was coming to Cody for messing with me it would be paid in full now.
He nodded and she crossed her arms on her chest, I am sure it reminding him of me. If one thing was true, I got my temper from her and my attitude. My desire for travel came from my dad.
“How long?”
“I’m sorry?” Cody asked her.
“How long have you been dating Jasmine?”
“Six months,” he said and she uncrossed her arms.
She held up her hand and two fingers stood up straight in his face. “Two rooms.”
He looked at me and I smiled.
“Okay,” he said and she started to walk away.
“No sneaking in later, either. I am a light sleeper,” she added as she continued to disappear around the corner and back towards the kitchen.
Violet laughed, as well as my other sisters, and I picked my suitcase back up.
“Come on,” I said to him as I started for the stairs and he followed me.
Violet held up two fingers and I rolled my eyes. I swear it doesn’t matter how old you get, your siblings are always childish when the opportunity arises, like I would sleep with him, in this house, even if we were actually dating. My mom is here. I wouldn’t dream of it.
I stood in my old room and Cody stepped up behind me as I scanned it. I could not believe that my old Duran Duran posters were still up. Yes, I went through a weird 80’s phase, it happens. In fact, by looking through my closet you may suspect that I never outgrew it. I smiled as he walked in and looked around.
“If I use hairspray in my hair and a little lip gloss do you think I could get lucky tonight?”
I laughed at him. “No, not unless you wear the pirate boots, that is the deal maker right there…the boots.”
He smiled. “I need to go shopping.”
I stared at him as he sat down on my old bed and bounced on the edge of it.
“I need you to get off of my bed, Cody.”
He stood up and stared down at it.
He tapped it. “It is a little small anyway.”
I grinned and walked to my window, looking out at the two treehouses and sighed. I touched the glass and he looked past me and saw them.
“I know why you are here, Jazz.”
I turned to him and the words stung a little bit. I really did not need to be reminded.
“How?”
“You told me when you were drunk. I mean, as you cried on my shoulder.”
“I did not.”
“You did, why is everything a situation where I have to convince you?”
I hesitated and then walked to my door. “Let me show you to your room.”
He stared at me and decided to give up, I guess my facial expression probably told him it was best anyway. I had no need to talk to him about my dad. I was having a hard enough time accepting it myself. I walked out and he followed me until we reached the end of the hallway. I opened up the door and he looked in at all of the baby dolls on the shelves. He shook his head ‘no’ and I grinned.
“You get the creepy craft room.”
“Great,” he muttered as he stepped in and looked around. He then looked back at me and I suddenly felt bad for him.
I cleared my throat as I stared at the dolls. “This is the only spare room.”
“I can handle it, I mean, come on.” He walked to one of the dolls and picked it up as its eyes blinked and he dropped it. I laughed under my breath as he picked it back up and placed it on the shelf, adjusting its frilly dress.
“Just call out for an old priest and a young one if any of them start spitting pea soup at midnight.”
He stared at me, wide-eyed and still creeped out, “What about midnight?”
I closed the door and stood there for a second. I heard him knock something over and I shook my head as I walked back to my room. I closed the door behind me. I sighed and rubbed my arms as I returned to the window and stared out at the treehouse.
“Two rooms,” I whispered as I shook my head and smiled.
I SAT ALONE in the treehouse and stared at the maps on the walls. I had marked “safe” routes if we needed to move quickly as the zombies invaded. I smiled as I reached up and touched one of the maps and then turned as I heard Cody’s voice behind me. His head was popped up in the opening on the treehouse floor.
“Safe house?” he asked me and I nodded, I had left him to deal with my mom and sisters for a couple of hours and I had to assume he was vetted to a certain degree.
He climbed in and sat down on the floor, like children do. His legs crossed and looking around the treehouse in wonder. The sun was setting and the little light it spared us showed through the cracks, one beam of sunlight was lighting up his face and his eyes. I had to admit that his eyes were my favorite thing about him. I mean, he was attractive, but my dad always mentioned eyes with people, he said they truly were the windows to the soul. I could see that Cody was pure in that way.
“Your mom sent me to get you for supper.”
I looked around the room. “I guess I should go then, I mean, if I don’t, she will try to climb up here and I don’t need that.”
“Did she do that when you were little?”
“Just once,” I said and he tilted his head as I sighed and then looked at him. “My parents didn’t always get along. In fact, as I grew older, the fighting was all I could say I knew about either one of them…it wasn’t like that when I was little. It started when I was around thirteen and continued on until I was sixteen.”
I stopped talking as memories of them flooded my mind.
“Then what happened?” he asked me.
I blinked and looked back into his eyes. “It stopped.”
Cody had a look of confusion on his face. I sighed and looked down at my hands and then back up at him. “I ran away.”
“Oh.”
I nodded to him. “Yeah, dick move on my part, but it brought them together and after that night it all changed. I mean, I ran to the train station and I had every intention of leaving and never coming back, I didn’t care. I mean, teenagers are pains in the ass anyway, I know that now, at the time I thought I was in the right. So I stood there and then suddenly the train pulled away and I found myself still here. I snuck back home and climbed up here. It was sometime later on that night that my mom climbed up here, which she never ever did, and she found me. She didn’t wake me up; she curled up next to me and kept me warm. I woke up the next day with her right here. It was the one time I felt really close to her and after that night, they never fought again.”
I looked up at Cody who was staring at me. His eyes a bit glassy and I tilted my head.
He spoke as if he understood. “She loves you very much. Parents are supposed to. That is their job.”
I nodded to him.
“Let’s go eat,” he said as I smiled and followed him out and down the ladder.
WE ALL SAT around the large table that I had so many memories of. This was where we all discussed boyfriends, prom, school, gossip and so on. It was the one place we all sat as equals and shared what we wanted to say. I looked up at my mo
m, who took a bite of her potatoes. She was always careful to take small bites, to chew with her mouth closed and appear to have impeccable manners. I still remember laughing at the table with my dad and spitting out food. She didn’t laugh, but he did. I look back on these things now and I know she only had the best intention in mind for me. She may be harsh to some, but her manners always stayed intact in social situations. I turned to see Poppy laughing as Violet told her about her soon-to-be-ex and Rose was on her cellphone explaining why the sitter had to use the lactose free milk. Mom then stood up and spoke as everyone stopped talking altogether.
“Your dad and I had been divorced for ten years.”
She sat back down and I leaned back in my chair, my mouth opened ever so slightly, as I had nothing to say. Rose dropped her phone and then picked it back up.
“I don’t give a shit, I will call you later,” she pressed the button and set it down. Poppy shook her head and Violet leaned forward.
“What?” Violet asked.
Mom took another bite as if nothing had happened at all.
“Mama?” Rose said as Mom then looked at her.
“It is true. We divorced and he stayed here so no one would be upset. Our marriage was over years before that, but we decided to do the right thing, for you girls and keep it a secret.”
“Holy shit,” I said as Violet held her hand up to me and narrowed her eyes.
“You know Mama does not like cursing.”
“Oh fuck it, Violet, why hold back now?” Mom said as I laughed under my breath and shook my head.
“This has to be a joke,” I muttered.
“No, Jasmine, it is not. I just thought that it was time, seeing that he is gone now. I mean, really gone,” she said and then she took another bite of her food.
Poppy stood up and started to cry, she was always the emotional one. She stepped back and ran up the stairs to her old room. I sat there as Cody was completely silent. I felt so bad for him. I mean, here he was doing me a weird favor and now this bullshit.
“I cannot believe this,” I said as I stared at her. She set her fork down and looked at me.
“You know we were not happy Jasmine. Every one of you knew it, well minus you, of course, Cody.” He nodded to her and took a drink from his glass. “We fought for years, to the point of running you away from us,” she looked at me and I shook my head.
