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“Shit. For real?”
“Yeah.” My shoulders slump.
“Do you think that means she is thinking of moving us to Thatcher's Bay to be closer to him?”
“She isn’t applying to jobs on the island just for kicks, Daisy. Yes, I definitely think that’s where her head is at.”
“Ah, man. That’s a bummer.”
“Is that all you have to say? Mom is probably going to uproot us from our childhood home and all you have to say is that it’s a bummer?” I ask incredulously.
She shrugs.
“That’s life. What’s true today, might not be tomorrow. You just have to roll with the punches. So, we'll move. Big whoop. Think of it like a new adventure. New school. New friends. You can even create a whole new you if you wanted.”
“But I like who I am.” My brow furrows at that remark.
“I know you do. But I think you’d like yourself a whole lot more if others did, too.”
I turn my face away from her, since I don’t want my sister to see how her words cut into me. I always pretend that I’m like Daisy and don’t care what people think about me either, but it’s a big fat lie. In truth, I’m getting pretty sick of everyone treating me like a basket case just because I prefer to spend my precious time with the fictional characters in my head than with flesh and blood people.
Real life has a knack of disappointing you.
Fiction never does.
The air in the room grows tense and I can feel that Daisy wants to say something or maybe even apologize for the callous remark, but thankfully, a rap on my bedroom door prevents her from saying anything else.
“Hey, girls.” My mother smiles that big-ass grin she’s been sporting lately. “Do you mind if we talk for a minute?”
“If it’s to apologize for doing the walk of shame when you got home this morning, then no need. We’re good. Although, I do want you to remember how empathetic I’m being right now when it’s my turn to come home at all hours of the morning,” Daisy states, hiking up a mischievous brow.
“Noted.” My mother laughs softly as she takes a seat on the edge of my bed, unable to hide the blush that blooms on her cheeks. “In fact, that’s what I wanted to talk to you girls about.”
“Ew, Mom. No,” Daisy starts, scrunching her face like she just sucked on a lemon wedge. “I know you like us to share what’s up with our lives and all, but knowing the details of you getting it on with your new man is where I draw the line. I’m more than happy to tease you about it, but I really don’t need to know how many times you and your new boyfriend have been bumping uglies.”
“Daisy!” My mother lets out an exaggerated exhale. “Can you please act like the well-behaved young lady I raised long enough for us to have a serious conversation? Please?”
Daisy takes her phone out of her back pocket, fiddles with it for a bit, and then turns the screen over to our mother.
“You got five minutes. I’m timing you.”
“Fine,” my mother retorts, grabbing my hand in hers so I can feel included in their banter. “As you girls know by now, I’ve been seeing someone.”
“You mean you’ve been fu—”
“Daisy, please. Five minutes. You promised,” our mom warns, her cheeks turning redder by the minute.
“Please proceed,” Daisy snickers, wrapping her arms around my waist and plopping her chin on my shoulder.
“As I was saying, I’ve been dating Curt for a while now. Six months, to be exact, and, well…things are serious.”
“Seriously dirty, she means,” Daisy whispers in my ear, but thankfully my mother doesn’t hear the hushed innuendo.
“How serious?” I ask, ignoring my sister’s need to add her own commentary to the situation.
“Serious enough that he would like to meet you girls.” My mom smiles widely, while wringing her hands together.
She’s nervous.
