Chapter 19 Chapter Nineteen
CANDY’S POV
Ever since I asked Peach to make a quick stop at her favorite ice cream place so we could get some, she’s been looking at me like I’m in possession of her peace of mind, keeping it locked in my dark chambers of secrets. I can literally see her itching to ask for detailed recounts of every single thing that happened on my trip because I don’t ever ask for Ice cream stops except it’s for comfort ice cream.
Her patience so far though Is as admirable as it is surprising because my sister that I know would have started grilling me for answers as soon as she got out of the car back at the airport.
Pretending I don’t notice her inner struggles, I keep shoveling ice cream into my mouth as I reacquaint myself with the usual scenery from the airport to the house, letting the sweet coldness of it dull the fiery ache in my heart. When the ice cream runs out, and it starts to hurt again, I’ll keep busy with waiting to see how long Peach lasts before she caves in and starts shooting her question.
The rest of the ride goes by In a blur and next thing I know, I’m walking into the warm embrace of my adorably surprised mother. I’d momentarily forgotten that no one else is expecting me back before next week but the smile on her face when she saw me made it all worth it.
Hate her life like I do, I still love her and I missed her and all our differences. Even Terry, my frenemy runs to nuzzle my legs and lick all over me like he’s missed me.
“You’re back early, did something happen, Candy?” Mom asks.
I wince at the name. My mom is the only one who still calls me that, she’s adamantly rejected Candice and every other name I’ve come up with as a substitute, claiming she wasn’t drunk when she gave me the name. Debatable.
“I got bored, mom.”
I tell her, forcing a smile that doesn’t nearly reach my eyes to get her off my back. If I have to do anything besides lie about why I’m back, I might just break down and cry and that’s the last thing I want for myself right now. I can’t deal with the smothering love and concern that’ll follow because it’ll do exactly what the name implies- smother me.
“Where’s dad?” I ask, half to distract them from asking more questions about me and half because I’ve missed him.
The look Peach and mom exchange tells me something serious is up with him and I have a sneaky feeling it’s all tied back to the same thing Peach was on about the last time we spoke.
“Married to his study.” Peach sighs. “The only time he leaves it is when he’s going to the office. Something is wrong but for every time we’ve tried to ask, all he’s done is snap at mom and I. Maybe hell tell you, you’re his favorite.”
Currently Debatable.
“Don’t burden her with all that, she’s only just got back.” Mom chides when she notices the worry starting to take over my face. “The world is not burning, at least not today. Go and freshen up and come eat.”
I do as she says, going up to my room to drop my bags and have a long bath before going down to eat and play the happy daughter.
I spend the next couple days cooped up in my room, sorting out my shit. It’s about time I faced my reality and moved past my grief and the victim syndrome weighing me down. I got betrayed and hurt, so what? My life shouldn’t end there. I have my house to reclaim, my properties to sort and a job to hunt since I got fired without reason from the last one.
Yanking on my big girl panties, I sort my things into the keep, donate, burn piles. Everything Brent and Lindsay related sit pretty in the donate and burn pile waiting to wave goodbye to my life so I can move on.
I spend the afternoons at my system, looking up jobs and sending in my application. Hopefully something clicks soon because going on an impulsive self recovery trip is one thing and life after it is another. I’m kind of low on funds, I’ve realized and I’m too proud to ask for hand outs from my dad.
Speaking of him, I’m starting to get real worried now. I haven’t seen or run into him in the few days I’ve been home and that’s something. No matter how busy work has gotten in the past, he’s never been this absent. And there’s no way I can help if I can’t even catch him long enough to find out what’s going on. Ughhh!
The sound of my door cracking open has my head shooting up from my screen and the application I’m half way through working on only to find my sister’s head poking in with a wide smile that spells trouble plastered on her face.
“I’ve waited and waited and nearly gone insane giving you space to do your thing but you know how I get when you have information I want.”
Aha! Sixty seven hours it is then. That’s how long she’s lasted from bringing me home till now and that’s a record, if I must say. I should have know she’d show up sooner than later to milk me for gist.
“Go away.” I shoo, trying to pick up where I left off on my application, knowing even then that I’m fighting a losing battle. She’d rather lose a limb than go away.
“You know I can’t. I’ve missed you, Cay.” She pouts, deploying her puppy face that gets her most things.
“We both know that’s not why you’re here.” I roll my eyes. “ You’re just finishing for gossip.”
“Guilty as charged.” She laughs, matching in like she owns the place, her play at cuteness forgotten.
“So give it all to me, I’m ready.” She plonks her ass on the bed next to me, successfully ending my efforts to finish up this one application. You can’t get anything done around Peach when she gets like this. It’s like trying to keep a hound dog from a blood scent.
“I’m not saying shit without ice cream.” I tell her with resignation in a last attempt to chase her off but apparently she came prepared because she pulls out a small, familiar bag from literal thin air, shinning her pearly whites.
“I knew you’d say that and so I came prepared. And yes, it’s from the same place “ She opens it up and drops one big sized cup in my hand, along with its tiny scoop. “That should last you a while so you don’t get parched.”
“I can’t get rid of you can I?”
I sigh when she shakes her head no, smiling a little too sweetly.
“Where do I even start?’ I scoop a small piece of goodness into my mouth, my laptop sitting forgotten on the bed.
“The beginning, the very beginning.”
She opens her own cup and takes a scoop, looking at me expectantly.
Well, here we go.