Page 19 of Stage Dive: Short Stories & Novellas
I was fine.Everything was fine.With a deep calming breath, I turned my hand, hiding the chip in my polish.I’d fix it later.
I stared mindlessly at the contents of my closet.The next job on my list of not particularly necessary things to do alone in my room.First had come the pedicure, facial, long soak in the tub while catching up on the entertainment industry news on my smart phone.Followed by eyebrow maintenance, some replying to emails, and my moisturizing routine.Now for this…how much exactly to unpack was the question.Outfits suitable for the New York party scene were less appropriate for wrangling small children and my previous work gear pretty much fell under the same category.None of it would stand up to the kind of rough usage a toddler could provide.Food fights.Shuffling around my knees picking up toys and such.Chasing after short, evil children on the run from their vegetables and bath time.
Fair to say I no longer quite recognized myself or my life.But I’d needed a job.More importantly, I’d needed to come home.
“Hey,” said Lizzy, wandering in without knocking.Guess it sort of was her house.“What are you doing?”
“Just organizing myself.”Caught out minus the heavy makeup, I kept my face angled down.Hopefully, with the low lighting, Lizzy wouldn’t see anything.
“You didn’t come down for dinner.”
“Not hungry.”
“You know where the kitchen is if you change your mind,” she said.“We were going to watch some TV.Did you want to come join us?”
“Sort of busy right now,” I hedged.Because while I might have reluctantly realized I needed to be around my family, actually giving in to the need was another thing entirely.“But thanks for asking.”
“Okay.So long as you know you don’t have to hide out in your room.”
“I’m nothiding.”I took in the baby monitor attached to my sister-in-law’s waist and sighed.“Should I be wearing that?”
She snorted.“We don’t expect you to be on duty twenty-four-seven, Martha.Sheesh.”
I just shrugged.
“Is that how things normally go in your line of work?”Lizzy sat on the end of the bed, making herself comfortable.
“Mostly I do a mix of PR and executive assistant type functions.Usually for people with delicate egos, lots of money, and busy planners.Entertainment industry, mostly,” I said.“Being summoned at four in the morning isn’t unheard of.”
“My baby boy can be high-maintenance all right.But any four in the morning nonsense can be handled by me or his father.”She grinned.“Is the room okay?”
“Yes, it’s lovely.Bigger than my whole apartment back in New York.”
“Good.Glad you like it.We want you to be comfortable here.”
I leaned back against the antique closet, arms crossed over my chest.
“Maybe you could even be comfortable enough to tell me about that bruise on your face sometime.”
“Lizzy…”
“Don’t worry,” she said.“While I might be freaking out internally, I’m not going to push you for answers you’re not ready to give.And I really am freaking the fuck out internally, FYI.”
“Thank you for not pushing.”
“Yet.”Her shoulders rose on a deep breath as she took her time, obviously thinking over what to say next.How damn awkward.“Martha, your brother’s missed you, you know?You’re pretty much the only family he has.”
“He’s got the guys.”
Lizzy shook her head.“It’s not the same.You’re his sister, he loves you, and we’ve barely even seen you since Gibby was born.Plus my child should have an aunt he can actually recognize on sight.That would be nice.”
“Well, I’m here now.”
“Yes, but for how long?”She eyed the still mostly packed suitcase sitting open on the floor.It was a mess.A fitting description for my life right now.“Come on, hang up your clothes, Martha.Settle in and give us a chance.”
My laughter sounded brittle and false to my own ears.I doubted Lizzy would be swallowing it.The whole psychology degree thing had to get in the way.While she might not be grilling me about the black eye, her gaze kept returning to the ugly mark just the same.At least she wasn’t showing me any pity or other such unwanted weirdness.
“I’m serious.”
