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“On a Sunday?” He scoffed. “You don’t have a life, Ethan. You are a doctor who works in a small town, and you have no girlfriend and no friends. Except for me and Grayson, of course.”
Grayson. He was also another person I had been avoiding like the plague. Once upon a time, I used to see Grayson every day but then everything changed after my sister came back.
I sighed into the phone. “What do you want, Marcus?”
“Nothing. I just wanted to check in on you man. You haven’t been yourself these last few weeks. You dodge guys night like a flicking STI. I feel like I haven’t seen you in a while.”
“You sound like a whiny girlfriend. You know that?” I teased. “I know. I’ve just been caught up with a lot of stuff. I have a lot on my plate with the case and work. It all piles up.”
“How is that going? Baby sister doing a good job?”
“Yep,” I popped the p on the end. “Look, I got to go. I will talk to you later.”
I didn’t give him a chance to speak and just hung up. I didn’t like dodging Marcus, but I preferred my solitude now. I didn’t have to talk. I didn’t get asked how I was feeling. Nor did I have to be constantly reminded to be strong.
When I was alone, there was no noise.
I hopped into my car and revved the engine to life. I started driving with no real intent other than not returning home.
After an hour, I found myself in the town center. I parked along the sidewalk and got out of my car. I walked to the local grocery store and made my way inside. I had almost made it inside when I heard the last voice I wanted to hear.
“Ethan?” Nora Stone called from behind me.
I contemplated acting like I hadn’t heard her, but I knew I couldn’t do that. Nora had done nothing wrong to me. In fact, throughout my mother’s entire journey, she had been there. She had been one of the first people I had called when she passed,
I turned around slowly and face Nora. I plastered on my best ‘so happy to see you’ smile.
“Hi Nora, how are you?”
She walked the short distance between us and came to stand in front of me. She had that warm and kind smile only mothers could have. She reminded me so much of my own mother. When she was sober and not dying of course.
“I’m good. I haven’t seen you around these days. Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, everything is great, Nora. Just been busy with work and all of that.”
She nodded, “I understand. But I do miss you, Ethan. You should come to the family dinner today. I know Grayson would love to see you. He told me that you guys don’t talk much anymore.”
Why was everyone discussing me?
“I would love to Nora, but I’m heading out of town later today. I was asked to consult in a case in Shacklewood. Maybe next week.”
Her shoulders sagged in disappointment. I didn’t want to make her sad, but I was in no mood to pretend to play happy family with people I didn’t want to be around.
“Okay, that’s fine,” she smiled sadly. “But at least come by the bakery and pick up some muffins. I was going to bring them around after work but, seeing as you are here now, you might as well collect them before you go.”
I wanted to say no but when I opened my mouth I found myself saying, “sure.”
Nora’s face split into a megawatt smile. She started walking toward the direction of her bakery that was just a short walk from where we currently were. I followed behind her begrudgingly.
Nora started talking about all the things she had been up to during the week. I smiled where I needed to, nodded where I had to, and asked the odd follow-up question or two.
I had gotten very good at this game of pretend. As long as people saw me as a functional human being, they left me alone for the most part. Aside from my sister and Grayson, who were relentless.
I only wondered how long I could keep up the façade.
