“Lillian! You know you’re not supposed to wander away. You could get hurt.”

  She leaned into me again and closed her eyes. “Don’t yell at me too.”

  I sighed, my heart racing at the thought of losing Lillian. Especially with everything Derek was already going through. “Promise me you won’t wander off again. Ever.”

  “I promise.”

  “Good. I’m sorry my mother yelled at you, but she was probably worried. I would have been.” If I had been awake, I thought, feeling guilty.

  “She became madder and madder,” Lillian said quietly. “And told that man that you shouldn’t watch me anymore.”

  Great. How could that woman embarrass and shame me when she wasn’t even here anymore? “You know what I want to do?” I said, mentally shaking myself. “I want to play a game. Want me to teach you how to play UNO? It’s fun.”

  “Yes!” she exclaimed, jumping off my lap.

  Gram stepped out onto the porch again, holding activity books in her hand. “I’ll set these in your room,” she said. To Lillian, she asked, “Are you going to play UNO?”

  “Yes!”

  “That’s my favorite game, too. May I play?”

  Lillian nodded.

  “There was an issue at the motel,” Gram said. “I’ll start the game with Lillian, but your grandfather wants you to see if Pedro needs any help.”

  “Oh,” I looked at Lillian, not wanting to leave her alone with anyone. Then I asked Gram, “Did you know about Lillian getting lost earlier today?”

  “No, when did that happen?”

  “I was playing hide and seek,” Lillian answered.

  “We will stay inside,” Gram assured me. “Besides, you won’t be gone too long.”

  I nodded and said to Lillian, “Start playing the game, and I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  After reassuring her that yes, I was coming back, I headed across the street. Spotting Pedro’s cart outside one of the rooms, I walked in that direction. “Hey,” I said, peeking inside the room. Pedro was finishing the beds. “Gram sent me over here. Said there was a problem.”

  Pedro didn’t answer. Just kept working on making the one bed.

  I stepped inside and without asking, grabbed the clean comforter and began finishing the other bed.

  “You don’t have to help,” Pedro said without looking up. “I’ll take care of it.”

  “I don’t mind helping,” I said, continuing to work. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on? Or are you going to keep being angry?”

  “I’m going to keep being angry,” he said.

  “Okay.” I finished the bed, trying not to get riled up. I told myself that it had nothing to do with me because I hadn’t been over here. “How is your mom doing? Is she giving you a headache?”

  “She left,” he said, throwing dirty linens in the canvas bag.

  I followed him out of the room. “What rooms are left?” I decided not to ask him to talk about his mother.

  “I’ve got this, Macy. I’m not asking for your help.”

  “What is with you and asking for help? I don’t mind helping.”

  Pedro paused and took in a few breaths. “You’ve already covered for me before. I still owe you. So, don’t worry about today.”

  “You don’t owe me anything.”

  “Yes, I do. And I don’t like owing people. It’s gotten me into trouble before.”

  “Like I said, you don’t owe me anything. It’s what friends do for friends. If I say I’m going to help you, there’s no expectation.” I stepped closer and took his hand. When he turned to me, I felt the warmth inside that made me all tingly. Suddenly, I dropped his hand. “Anyway, if you need my help. I’m here.”

  “I’ve worked late hours here before, Macy. I’ll be fine. But thank you for being my…friend.”

  “I’m going to get my cart,” I said, ignoring him. “I’m going to clean some rooms because customers need to check in. So, what rooms still need to be done?”

  Pedro finished wiping down the sink. “I think my mother left your cart on the other side of this building. It’ll have her room list on it.”

  I went to leave, then paused. “What happened?”

  “She didn’t like it. Part of the problem is that drugs have made her really weak, and this is a pretty demanding job. She blamed it on her bad back. I don’t know what to do,” he admitted. “She needs to keep busy. And she needs the money.”

  “And Gramps needs help. He still needs to hire another person or two.” I thought of all the hours he spent working in the motel office. “That’s it! What about if she worked in the office? Gramps is practically there all the time. I’m sure he’d go for it.”

  Pedro nodded. “That’s a good idea. If Mr. Elmsworth says yes.”

  “I’m sure he will. Okay, I’ll go get started.” I headed toward the direction of my cart.

  “Macy?”

  I paused and turned around. “Yeah?”

  “Thanks,” he said with a small smile.

  “No problem. That’s what friends are for.”

  I found the cart, abandoned behind the first row of rooms. Pushing it around the corner, I parked it next to room 124.

  I frowned. This was Derek’s room. I’d yet to clean his and Lillian’s hotel unit. I wasn’t sure why I was so hesitant, but I thought about asking Pedro to switch with me. There was something intimate about them living in the room and I didn’t want to violate that privacy. Oh well, it needed to be done.

  I unlocked the room, another one of the larger units complete with kitchenette, and was relieved at how picked up it was. Lillian’s toys were flung here and there, and there was two laundry hampers full of dirty laundry, but nothing disgusting. As I cleaned, I kept eyeing the two hampers. No doubt Derek had to take the laundry to the laundry mat. The two looked to be separated. One for his clothes, and one for Lillian’s. I wiped up the sink and counter, still thinking about their laundry. Finally, I gave up talking myself out of it. I dropped the rag and went over to the hampers. I could only pick up one at a time, so I grabbed one and carried it out of the room and across the parking lot to the motel office. Walking around the office to the back room, I opened the laundry room door, and using an available washer, dumped the contents of the Lillian’s hamper into it.

  Once the washer had been started, I headed back to their room and hurriedly vacuumed. I made the beds, stopping to study the photograph on the bedside table. It was a framed picture of Derek and Lillian with a pretty woman between them. She had a pixie cut with a twinkle in her eye, her chin jutted out as if ready for her next adventure.

  “Where’s Lillian?” Derek asked.

  I jumped, dropping the frame. “Oh hey,” I said, clumsily picking it up and setting it back where it had been. “She’s with Gram. We were going to play UNO, but Pedro needed help, so…” I couldn’t look him in the face. “Okay, so you should be set. Let me know if you need anything.”

  “Where’s Lillian’s hamper?”

  “I, um, put in the washer. Just trying to help. Okay, so, yeah, um, I’ll see you.” I left him in a hurry.

  “Macy?”

  “Yeah,” I said, turning to face him. This was where he told me to leave his stuff alone. “I know. I shouldn’t have touched your picture. I was just curious, that’s all.”

  “I don’t care that you touched the picture.”

  “Oh, okay.”

  “I only wanted to thank you for washing Lillian’s clothes. It saves me some money.”

  “That’s what I thought,” I said. “As soon as hers are done, I can throw yours in.”

  “I can wash my own clothes, but thanks.”

  “Well, then feel free to go into the laundry room. I know Gramps wouldn’t mind.”

  “Maybe I should check with him to make sure. I don’t want to take advantage of his kindness. He’s done a lot already.”

  We both kept standing there, neither moving. “She’s pretty,” I said. “Full of life.”

  Derek nodded. “That picture was taken about a month before the accident.”

  “How old is she? She looks young.”

  “25.”

  “Wow.”

  “We met straight out of high school. I came up north that summer to visit some friends. She worked at a bar here in town. My buddies and I went into the bar, and there she was. We actually argued over who would hit on her.” He gave a half-hearted laugh.

  “You won the bet?”

  “No,” he said, laughing more. “But my friend who won the bet lost interest as the night went on. I saw my window, so I took it.”

  “Nice,” I said, nodding in approval. “And the rest is history?”

  Derek shrugged. “I fell in love, and spent the entire summer up here. She had left home for freedom and was rooming with a couple other girls. After a month at Western, I saw her. That’s where she went to school. She looked so different. A proper girl with proper friends.” He smiled at the memory. “Let’s just say we picked right up where we left off. We quit college and decided to move up north where we met. That was seven years ago.” He paused, then added, “Now I’m a 26 year old man living in a motel with a five year old daughter while my wife dies. Not exactly how I planned my life.”

  My heart lurched as I watched him struggle to keep his emotions in check. Without thinking, I took his hand, just like I had done with Pedro, an hour earlier. Only this time, I didn’t pull away. “Your life’s not over,” I said. “I’m sorry about the accident and what happened with your wife, but you’re still standing here. My Dad would say that means you still have purpose running through your veins.”

  “Thanks,” he whispered. “I needed to hear that.” He let go of my hand. “I should go get Lillian.”

  As I finished the room, I thought about that young, beautiful woman in the picture. I wish there was something I could do to help. Feeling powerless, I pushed the cart to the next room. And nearly plowed into Pedro’s mother. “Where is Pedro?” she asked with a thick accent.

  “Last time I saw him he was just finishing room 109.”

  “Is he your boyfriend?” she asked.

  “Pedro? No, we’re just friends.”

  “No,” she said shortly. “Him.” She pointed toward Derek who had already crossed the street.

  “Oh. No,” I said, waving my hand and shaking my head. “Definitely not. He’s…you know…old. I mean, not old, but older than me. And he’s married.”

  But she wasn’t listening. Her gaze hadn’t left Derek’s direction. “Where’s his wife?”

  “In the hospital.”

  When she finally looked in my direction, she said, “I came back to help, but if you are helping, I will go.”

  “I’ve got this. Thank you,” I said with a thin-lipped smile. Great, I inherited the thin-smile gene. “But, I was talking with Pedro, and we thought maybe you could work in the office. That way it’d be easier on you.”

  She crinkled her nose. “I don’t know. I’ll think about it.” Then she left me with the cart.

  I shook my head and unlocked the next motel room door. No wonder Pedro was so stressed. Both of our mothers were a piece of work.

  Chapter 13~

  And the Verdict is…

  Gramps pulled up beside my family’s house. It was a typical two-story ranch with a two car garage and a small apartment above the garage that we used as an additional bedroom. It used to be my home. Now I felt like an outsider. The undesired and unwelcomed feeling of not being wanted poked at my heart. Not that I would show it.

  “Ready?” Gramps asked.

  “I guess so,” I said. “Thanks for going with me. I know it’s hard for you to leave the motel.”

  “Your Grandmother covers for me all the time. Plus, Lillian is back at school, so there isn’t that additional responsibility. Come on, let’s go say hello to the circus.” He winked at me, then opened his door and stepped out.

  I stepped out of the car, and straightened my black-and-pink striped dress. I had just worn it to Gram and Gramps church the last Sunday, and I received so many compliments, I decided to wear it and maybe win-over the judge. But as I wobbled in my black heels, I regretted not slipping on my flats instead.

  “Stop fidgeting,” Gramps said gently. “You look very nice. You look older with your hair twisted up like that.”

  “Maybe I should take it down,” I said panicked. “I don’t want them to think I’m older than eighteen.”

  Gramps chuckled. “Stop worrying. Worrying won’t fix anything.” We walked up the sidewalk to the door. Gramps opened it without knocking. “Hello, we’re here.”

  “MACY!” Adrianne ran out of the living room with Rex at her heels. She threw her arms around me while Rex barked and licked my leg. “I’ve been waiting for you!”

  I squeezed her tight, then leaned over to greet the dog.

  “There’s my girl,” Dad said, coming out from the kitchen. “Look at you. Very pretty.” He hugged me.

  “Yeah, I’m not in a dirty sweatshirt, and I actually did my hair.” I laughed nervously but stopped as Hannah descended the stairs and Jake followed.

  What was he doing here? My heart banged in my chest, and my stomach churned. I quickly looked away.

  “Lucas wanted me to say hello,” Dad said. “He’s in my office taking one of his online assessments to complete his school year.”

  I barely listened. “Are we ready to go?” I asked Dad.

  “In just a few minutes. Your mother is still getting ready.”

  “Hannah,” Adrianne said. “Macy’s here!”

  “Oh, look at that,” she said with a bite behind her words. “And you’re all cleaned up too. No puke all over your face.” With the same breath, she smiled at Gramps and said, “Hi, Grandpa! Good to see you. You remember my fiancé, Jake, don’t you?”

  “Of course,” Gramps said, shaking Jake’s hand. “How’re the wedding plans coming?”

  “So stressful,” Hannah said, interrupting Jake. “I’d elope, but I want to wear my dress.”

  “I’d never let you elope,” Mom said, as she came down the stairs. “I want to see you walk down that aisle.”

  I wouldn’t look up from staring at my shoes. I had to press my lips together to keep from mouthing off. It wasn’t that I was afraid of Hannah. Whatever. I’d give her a piece of my mind in a New York minute. No, it had everything to do with Jake standing directly across from us, leaning against the stairwell. I allowed myself one glance before looking back at my shoes. He looked good. Really good. Images of our times together flashed in my mind, and my face warmed from a warring mix of guilt, anger, and shame. It didn’t help matters that when I glanced up, he was staring right at me.

  “Macy, you look very nice,” Mom said, giving me a brief hug. “When I saw you last week, you were wearing a gigantic sweatshirt to your knees. This is much better.”

  I smiled tightly. “I’m aiming to impress.”

  Dad’s cell phone rang. Before answering, he said, “Go ahead and wait outside. I’ll be out in a minute.” Then he turned from us and took the call.

  Adrianne gave me another hug. “I have to stay here with Hannah.”

  “That’s okay. You wouldn’t want to go with me anyway. We’ll meet up for lunch.” I opened up my purse. “But I have something for you. I was going to give it to you last week before you all left.”

  “You took a nap because you were tired,” Adrianne said.

  “Yeah, because someone was hogging my bed.” I winked at her and handed her the unfolded drawing.

  “Is that me?” she asked.

  “Sure is.” While Adrianne slept in my bed, I sketched the scene, complete with my comforter and her stuffed bear.

  “I’m going to hang it on my wall!” Adrianne showed Gramps the picture.

  “Wow,” he said, taking it in his hands. To me, he asked, “You did all this?”

  I shrugged.

  “If you think that’s good,” Hannah said. “You should see the entire book of sketches that Macy drew of my fiancé.”

  My head snapped up and my eyes narrowed. “Oh, shut it, Hannah.”

  Hannah stepped forward. “I’m sorry. Did you not tell Gramps about how you stalked Jake?”

  “That’s enough,” Gramps said. “Hannah, I don’t like your ugly spirit. You haven’t said one nice thing to Macy since she got here.”

  “Maybe because she took my car without permission and puked in it while trying to commit suicide!”

  Adrianne started crying. “Stop it! Stop yelling at Macy!” She threw her arms around me.

  “Hannah, calm down,” Mom said. “Your grandfather is right. You’re acting ugly right now.”

  Hannah looked from Mom to Gramps to me, then shook her head. Before she could leave, Dad came back into the hallway. “The verdict’s in…” he started, grinning at me. “And Macy is cleared of all charges!”

  “What?” Hannah, Mom, and I all asked the question at the same time.

  “Ahmad dropped the charges. The court just called and said that he didn’t want to prosecute.”

  Relief washed through me. Thank you, God, I said in my head. I’ll try not to ever be that stupid again.

  “Do you know what that means?” Dad asked. “It means you can come home! You don’t have to do community service. You, my daughter, are free and clear!” He hugged me, picking me up off the ground.

  Adrianne’s tears had dried up and she now danced across the floor. Gramps said a prayer of thanksgiving. But my eyes were on Mom and Hannah. Both shared a displeased look that held some secret conversation.

  It didn’t hurt as much as it used to, especially when I began to think of this new little life I created in just a couple weeks’ time up in Manistee. I thought of Lillian and Derek and Pedro and Gram and Gramps. And that’s when I knew for sure that I couldn’t live here again. At least until Hannah married and moved out. Even then I wasn’t sure this home would ever be mine.

  But somehow I’d have to break it to Dad and Adrianne.

  “Let’s do an early lunch to celebrate!” Dad said, opening the front door.

  “What’s everyone yelling for?” Lucas said from the end of the hallway. “I’m trying to take a test.”

  “Sorry,” I told him. “They cleared me of all charges.”

 

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