Page 31 of 2204 Hunter Lane
“Hi Hunter,” she spoke, her voice levelled and… kind? “Happy Thanksgiving.”
“It’s tomorrow.” I grumbled out, eyeing her with suspicion.
The only encounters I’d had with Bambi, she’d been quiet, then snappy, then bitchy, then quiet, and the cycle restarted like a goddamn carousel.
This… thisweirdside, this, whatever the fuck - I hadn’t seen.
I didn’t like the way I noticed her freckles more in the afternoon light. Or how the snowy ground brought out the darkness of her hair. Her eyes were still the prominent feature of her face, like miniature globes that contained the world and all its land within them.
“It’s close enough.” She smiled.
She fucking smiled.
And it wasn’t a ‘fuck you’ sarcastic smile either. It was sort of… pleasant? Sweet? Pure?Jesus Christ, stop reading into it.
I gave her red puffer and black jean combo a look down before moving to the back of my truck and yanking out my duffel bag, shutting the door to carry it up the walkway.
The cobblestone path was covered by a fresh blanket of snow, the lake completely frozen over by ice. The sun’s reflection on the stilled water made it look like a mirror; a mirror reflecting the sky where I knew my mom was smiling down at me.
I paused to take in that view, remembering where we’d sailed out on the marina and stargazed by the docks.I’ll see you soon, Mom,I thought.I’ll see you soon.
“Hunter!” my dad called from the bottom of the driveway. “Come help me out with the girls’ bags, will ya?”
I turned to look at him, catching another glance of Bambi and Payton staring off into the lake, chatting as if they were the best of fucking friends. Her eyes met mine briefly before she quickly returned to her conversation.What was this girl’s damn motive?
Throwing my duffle to the stone entrance, I jogged down the driveway to meet my dad.
“Christ, they pack for a month long vacation or what?” I blurted, surveying three different luggage’s; one with an I <3 NYC keychain attached to the strap.I knew she was a big city brat.
“Let ‘em be.” My dad retorted, hauling out Payton’s massive cargo.
I reluctantly grabbed the black luggage with the keychain, knowing it held Bambi’s possessions and an odd feeling came over me that I quickly shrugged away.Just get over it, Hunter. Can’t do anythin’ about her being here no more.
“Why’d you let her come?” I prodded as my dad collected the last of the baggage.
“Payton asked.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
He began wheeling up the baggage through the snow, looking out to the lake where he’d sailed with my mom many times.
I watched a hint of sadness contort his features but he tried his damn best not to show it. I knew he missed her, but fuck that man did not allow a single prick of pain to come through. Sometimes, all I wanted was to sit down with him, have a beer and talk about Mom. But God forbid the name Leslie ever came up in conversation.
The girls retreated inside the cabin but my dad still stood, looking out to the shadow of the mountains covered by a misty fog.
I took my place beside him and watched as well, accepting the cold air into my lungs before breathing out the frost.
“I miss her.” I whispered, hoping,prayingthat he’d say something.
His chin quivered but of course, he didn’t. He didn’t say a damn thing about my mom, hiswife. He just stood there like a fucking mannequin, studying the empty lake filled with dead memories.
“Don’t be an ass this weekend, Hunter.” He finally released, turning to me with a stoic expression.
“Dad –”
“No I mean it, boy. I get you don’t like Marley, that’s fine. Havin’ a hard time myself adjusting to this new situation. But she’s done some damn good work for us and as much as you don’ like it, you’ve gotta respect it, you hear me?”
I forced my words down and nodded as he made his way towards the cabin, leaving me alone with the memory of my mom to hold on to by myself.
