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“He has plans with his friends tonight, so I don’t want to bother him.”
“You could never be a bother to him. If you need him there, you know he’ll drop everything.”
“I know. I… I want you.”
Her voice cracks, which tells me she’s really struggling right now, so I turn in the direction of her house. “I’ll be there in five.”
As soon as I park my car in front of the modest, one-story house, Abby walks outside. I expect her to wait on the porch, but instead she walks right over to my car.
“Sorry. My mom is just drunk right now, which means it’s only a matter of time before…” Her voice trails off. “I just really wanted someone here with me.”
“Should we go somewhere?” I can only assume Abby would like to get as far away from the house as possible.
Much to my surprise, Abby shakes her head. “When she gets like this, I worry that she’ll hurt herself. I don’t like leaving her alone.”
I nod. Even though I can’t relate to having a parent show up at home completely intoxicated, I would never leave one of my friends alone if they were completely drunk. “Of course. Let’s go.”
As soon as we walk inside, Abby’s mom greets us at the door. She has a shit-eating grin on her face, her eyes are glassy, and she smells like beer. “You must be Marcus’s sister, Marjorie. It’s great to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too, ma’am.” I don’t point out the fact that I’ve actually met her multiple times in the past.
“You can call me Sandra, darling.” She’s also told me that, but it feels wrong to me to call her anything other than Mrs. Crayden.
“I don’t think she’s eaten anything,” Abby leans close to whisper in my ear. “Will you come to the kitchen with me so I can make something?”
I nod. “Of course. Whatever you need.”
Abby looks toward her mom. “Hey, Mom, how ‘bout you have a seat at the kitchen table while we make some food.”
“Sure. Sure. You girls can tell me stories about what it’s like to be young and hot since I can’t remember that anymore.”
Abby ignores her mom’s comment and walks her into the kitchen, holding onto her arm as she sits down as though she’s scared she might fall. It’s a logical fear. Her mom can barely stand at the point.
Abby grabs a few things from the refrigerator as her mom rambles on about who knows what. “Thanks again for coming,” she whispers in my ear as she slips past me. “I know this isn’t the most fun place to be right now.”
I’m about to ask her why she wanted me here instead of my brother, but before I can, the front door opens. “I’m home,” Abby’s dad shouts.
In any other house, I would assume he’s just getting home from work, but I know that’s not the case. His bloodshot eyes and wobbly gait as he comes into the kitchen tell me I’m correct. He looks to where Abby is standing by the stove. “Whatcha making?”
“Spaghetti,” Abby says softly as she stares down at the pot in front of her.
Her dad pounds his fist on the table and laughs. “My favorite.”
“I know. That’s why I’m making it.”
I stand by Abby as she cooks, not really sure what I can do to help. I hope my presence will help enough. Her parents aren’t mean or angry drunks, but they are still drunk… on a Wednesday night… expecting their teenage daughter to make them dinner. I honestly can’t imagine what it feels like to be Abby. No wonder she spends so much time at our house and only has Marcus over here when her parents are out.
When she’s done cooking the spaghetti and sauce, she combines them, then separates the meal into two bowls for her parents. She sits the bowls down at the table in front of them and motions for me to follow her into the family room. Even from the next room, I can still hear her parents slurping down their spaghetti, and the sound is nauseating.
Unfortunately, Abby must notice the look on my face because she moves her eyes to the floor. “I can’t thank you enough for coming over here. I know it’s far from a good time. They’re fine… I guess. It’s just hard to be alone with them when they get this drunk.”
“You don’t have to thank me. I’m glad I can be here for you.” I put my hand on top of Abby’s and squeeze. “If you don’t mind me asking, though, why did you want me here instead of my brother?”
Abby continues to look away from me. “I know we’ve been together for a long time and your brother knows how my parents are, but I still don’t like him to see it. It’s embarrassing and I… Well, I worry if he sees it enough, he won’t want to be with me anymore. I know we’re young, but I’m so in love with your brother and don’t know what I would do without him and your family.”
I squeeze her hand once again. It makes me sad that she’s that scared of losing all of us. “I obviously can’t speak for anyone else, but I can promise, no matter what happens, I’ll always be here for you. I also know my brother, and he’s madly in love with you, so I don’t think you have much to worry about.”
“Thanks, Marjorie. You're the little sister I always wanted.”
