January 2013

“Who?” “Joe.” “Get out. Now.” “How?” “Come up with an excuse to leave.”

“I can’t think.” I could barely breathe.

“How many bedrooms are there in the house?”

“Yeah. Shannon and I shared a room when he was here.”

“Be magnanimous. Say you’re going to stay at Maude’s so he can have his own room. You don’t want him to be uncomfortable on the couch.”

“Then what?”

“One thing at a time.”

“So I’ll go stay at Maude’s.”

“Like hell, I’m turning around. I’ll pick you up at Maude’s.”

“Then what?”

“You’ll stay with us until we get it figured out. Don’t go downstairs until you’re sure you can convince them.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll see you in a couple minutes.”

I sat on the edge of my bed feeling dizzy, feeling cold and wondering what he was doing back. There was a large duffel bag in the back of my closet. I packed it carefully with everything I considered important, everything I wanted in case I never went back. That was a real possibility. If Joe was going to be here forever, I was never going to live under the same roof with him again.

It didn’t bother me leaving this room and this house. I had been little more than a boarder here. When I closed the door to my room, I heard them downstairs. Toby and Joe were on the way to being drunk but weren’t there yet. If I waited, Joe was a mean drunk and so was his sister. Right now, they were celebrating to be together again.

The window of opportunity was very small and this was going to be the performance of my life. If I could get through this, the Enchanted Garden Canoe Rental gig was going to be a cinch.

They were in the living room with the television blaring and for a moment, I thought about just leaving but didn’t want to risk it. If they caught me sneaking out, there would be hell to pay. I left the duffel bag by the door so I could grab it and go and they wouldn’t see how much I was taking with me.

I waited until they were laughing then went into the living room. “Janie. I have a good idea. Maude’s knees are bothering her, you know how much I’ve been down there helping out.”

Janie nodded. Toby and Joe weren’t paying attention, after all, it was me talking.

“If I stay there, it’ll help her and Joe can have my room. He shouldn’t sleep on that old sofa.”

He looked up at the mention of his name and tipped the bottle up to his lips.

“Temporary. We’ll figure it out,” I waved my hand like it was all a nothing little thing.

“Thanks, Neal,” Joe said.

“Just like old times,” Toby added, looking at him adoringly. “Our rooms next door to each other.”

“Okay. See ya, then,” I said, turned and made for the door. The duffel bag fought me on the way out it was so oversized and so full. Clothes, books, fiddle, laptop and a couple remaining items that belonged to my parents.

Hurrying down the road to Maude’s house, soon I could see the light. Then as I got closer, I could see all the outside lights were on, his truck was parked next to her car in the driveway. I felt almost safe as I dropped the bag and went to open the kitchen door.

Maude was there. “Are you all right? Truly’s told me what he knows.”