Page 25 of Unsaid Things

And now Chris was here. Knowing he’d been here days before didn’t make bringing him here any easier to swallow. But he didn’t comment about the state of the yard or the outside of the house, parking behind a beat-up old Honda that she assumed was her brother’s car, rust patches showing through the dark green paint, with an Arizona license plate. Is that where he’d been? For how long?

She unbuckled, getting out of the car along with Megan and Chris. She glanced at both of them and started for the worn concrete steps to the front door. They followed. Both of them. Didn’t Chris say he’d stay in the car? She turned to them before putting her key in the door. “Um, so, I think it’s best if I go in by myself.”

Megan shook her head, and Chris crossed his arms.

Before they could say anything, Abby cut in. “This is my family. You guys are outsiders to them. If you come barging in, it’ll only make things worse. Just stay here.”

Chris’s jaw firmed, but he gave a short nod. “Leave the door cracked.”

A twisted smile came to Abby’s mouth. Even if it were closed all the way, they’d be able to hear anything above normal conversation. This house was not soundproof. At all. But arguing seemed stupid, so she agreed. “Sure.”

The light from the open door lanced through the dim living room when she stepped inside, narrowing to a sliver when she pushed the door mostly closed. The familiar stale smell of a place that had been shut up for too long hit her nostrils. She blinked a few times, letting her eyes adjust and stepping into the room. “Mom?”

A door opened in the hallway, and her mom’s thin form came into the room, her face lighting up at the sight of Abby. “Hey, baby girl. You came home for Christmas.” Confusion marred her angular features. “Wait, I thought you were in Texas all week with that boyfriend of yours.”

Abby swallowed and nodded. “I was. But I heard that Aaron came back. He wouldn’t let me talk to you when I called the other night. I got worried, so I came home early.”

Her mom stepped closer, and Abby noticed her dingy white t-shirt looked like it hung off her frame more than normal, her strawberry blonde hair fell in greasy hanks around her face. Abby reached out a hand, but let it drop when her mom flinched back. “How are you feeling, Mom?”

Wrinkling her nose, her mom crossed her arms, hugging herself. “Not great. But it’s nice to have both my kids home for Christmas.”

Abby looked around the room. “Where’s Aaron?”

“He’s taking a nap. Do you want something to eat? I still have a lot of groceries from when you stocked me up before you left. Aaron’s been eating some, but we still have plenty.” She moved toward the kitchen, ready to open the fridge and get something out.

Abby shook her head. “No, I’m good. I can’t stay long. My friends are waiting outside.”

Disappointment crossed her mom’s face. “Oh. Okay.”

“I’m sorry, Mom. I really came by to check on you. Chris and Megan were worried too, especially since Aaron wouldn’t let anyone see you. You’re really okay?”

“I’m fine, Abby. Why wouldn’t I be fine with Aaron? He’s my son.”

Abby stared at her mom. “Well, he’s been gone for years without a word to anyone most of that time. Then he suddenly shows up and won’t let anyone see or talk to you.” She paused, pulling at her lower lip. “Why is he here? Did he say? And how long is he planning on staying?”

“That’s a nice welcome home for your big brother.”

Aaron’s deep voice made Abby jump and spin around to face the hallway. She hadn’t heard him come out. He stood in the opening to the hallway with his arms crossed wearing a pair of lounge pants and no shirt, more muscular than she remembered him, his blond hair buzzed close to his head, but a full beard on his face.

Abby stepped closer to him, but still on the other side of the living room. “Hey, Aaron.”

“Abby.”

“What are you doing here?”

He raised his eyebrows. “A guy can’t visit his mom without having ulterior motives?”

“Given how long you’ve been gone, no. You can’t. You left. You told me that Mom was my responsibility now, and you were done. You haven’t even called in over a year. Why are you here now, Aaron? Do you need money? You should know that Mom doesn’t have any more than she ever did. It’s not like she can work.”

He laughed, a warm, booming sound that contrasted sharply with the tension and worry cranking Abby’s muscles tighter and tighter. “Oh, Abby. Just because we haven’t talked doesn’t mean I haven’t talked to Mom. Right, Mom?”

Abby spun to look at her mom. “What? Did you know he was coming? Why didn’t you say something?”

Her mom shook her head. “No, I didn’t know he was coming. But yes, he’d call me every once in a while. He came home for Christmas. Why do you think?”

“I don’t know. It just seems strange.” He hadn’t been interested in coming home before, even when she’d asked him to that first year he was gone. Back when he still called occasionally. She turned back to her brother again. “Where have you been all this time? Arizona?”

One corner of his mouth turned up in a mocking smirk that made Abby want to smack him. He’d been this way before he left, too, making fun of her for being so serious, one corner of his mouth turned up in a perpetual smirk, like everything was a big joke, but his jokes were always the nasty, sarcastic variety. And once again, that was directed at her. She hadn’t missed that about him. At all.

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