The Churning Wake

Chapter Two - Now

When the car pulls up, I can see it from my window. Jen Thomas hurries around the back of her car and takes Beanie from the backseat. Jen's probably the nicest person, besides my mom, when talking about what happened. She isn't crass, like those people from the school board who came to talk to us after they reopened Crestview. She hugs Beanie tight, and takes her hand, walking her up the front path to me. Beanie is just three now, and her tangly black hair is pulled into a puff atop her head. Three years without Cole, that makes it. Three years without Lex. The doorbell rings and I hear my mom open the door. I am not required to be down there, and I'm usually not, but today I set the laptop aside and hurry down the worn stairs. Jen smiles when she sees me, "Brianna!"

"Hi, Miz Thomas," I say, picking up Beanie. She snuggles into my shoulder when I lift her up.

"Are you alright?" Jen asks, "What with the anniversary and all."

I nod, "I'm doing fine. Started a project about it, I think."

"That's nice! I'm sure you're doing fabulous, Bri."

"Thanks."

She looks around, "I'd better be going. Have to get the girls from dance."

"Alright. See you Friday, Miz Thomas."

"Friday," Jen says, nodding slowly, "Friday. Well, see you later, Beanie."

"Bye!" Beanie calls, waving her little hands toward her grandmother.

We wave until Jen turns off our street, and then I look down at Beanie, "How was your weekend?"

Beanie babbles about her weekend, while I fix her dinner and bathe her. I turn off my light and lay her in her bed. She's all ready for bed, and normally she'd be sleepy, but she isn't today. I tune in to what she's saying, "...Grandma said Daddy. And I looooove Daddy, Mama." She stretches love out, making it a ten-syllable word.

"What?" I say, trying to calm her down as I tuck her blankets around her. Beanie is very spoiled, and sleeps with so many blankets, like literally a mountain.

Beanie wiggles beneath me, trying to get comfortable, "On Grandma's T.V."

"Why was Daddy on Grandma Jen's T.V.?" I ask her, curious, but she's fallen silent finally.

"I don't know," Beanie whispers, "Can you sing me the star song, Mama?" By 'the star song' I know she means Twinkle, Twinkle, so I sing it to her quietly. When she's asleep, I cross the room to my bed and turn on my lamp. I open the laptop and continue writing.