A Shattered Glass, My Life Without Her

Haught Posse

When the tea is ready, I pass Iev a mug. 'Here you are,' I sit down at the end of my couch, facing her.

'Thank you Dom.' She raises her knees to her chest and places the warm cup on her kneecap. Her bare feet, slid off the floor, pressing against the couch cushion. How is it she can go bare footed in the middle of winter?

We sit silently as I watch Iev watch the snow fall outside. I'm not sure what it is, but I am pretty sure, I am captivated by her.

I attempt to break the awkward silence, 'Do you want to talk about it? What's bothering you?' I offer, my intuition tells me there is something behind her pensiveness and maybe as a friend, I can at least listen. She silently sips the warm liquid and I see her sit back and relax slightly.

'Dr. Keston says I should talk tuh people...tuh friends.'

I smile in encouragement. 'You can talk to me.' I offer. 'We're friends... if you want us to be.' She looks at me, uncertain and maybe hesitating to share. I feel like maybe she doesn't quite trust me yet since we only just met last night.

'I'm sorry about what Emily said earlier...I didn't tell her or anyone what you said last night...which, by the way was...' I smile at the memory of how it felt, my stomach fluttering, 'well, if I'm honest...you...took my breath away.' I smile, looking into her eyes. There is sadness in them as if she is disappointed with my revelation. We both awkwardly redirect focus to our tea. That was a bit much Dom, I think to myself. She's vulnerable and you're not helping.

Iev put her mug down on the table. 'I don't have many friends.' She quietly noted. 'I...' She looks up at me then away again. 'I shouldn't.'

'You shouldn't...have friends?' I ask perplexed at what this meant. Iev looks out the window once again. I can tell she's uncomfortable. And I start to feel the same.

What time is it? I hope Kat can come soon. She might have a few minutes between scenes. I'd finished my scenes for now and I had promised Kat I would hang out with Iev to keep her company, but now I wasn't sure if I was being a poor host and perhaps am the cause of Iev's discomfort.

'Dom?' I hear Iev and snap out of my thoughts.

'Yes Iev?'

'D, do you have some g, ginger tea?' Iev studders out.

'Oh. I don't here...umm, you know I think maybe Tim might have some....let me ask him.' I grab my phone and text Tim to see if he is available and if he has some ginger tea. After a minute, he replies and we're in luck. 'Oh good, he has some.' I share with Iev. 'He'll be here in less than a minute. Tim's trailer is close, only two over from here.' I smile at the success.

Soon there's a knock on the door and it is pulled opened, a hooded Tim pops his head in. 'Dominique!' He stomps his feet to shake off the snow and steps into my trailer. 'What day you've chosen to request some ginger tea?' He questions.

'Sorry Tim. I had run out of it and Iev...well...Kat might be here any minute, so we're a bit stranded right now.' I attempt to explain.

Tim looks over at Iev. 'Hello. I'm Tim...aka John Henry Holliday. But most folks call me Doc.'

'You haven't met Iev yet?' I say in surprise.

'I haven't...Dom you know I just can't keep up with all your affairs.' He smiles slyly and winks at me.

'Tim!' I look at Iev, hoping she didn't catch his teasing remarks. 'This is Iev Barrell, Kat's sister.'

Iev stands and tips her pretend hat at Tim. 'Very nice to meet you, Mr Tim.'

'Oh! So this is Iev Barrell! I have heard many wonderful things from Kat about you Iev. It is a pleasure to finally meet you in person.' He lifts his pretend hat at Iev following in the game and pulls the box of tea from his puffy down jacket. 'I suppose you are all fixing to have some ginger tea?'

'Yes, it was a special request by our guest. So thank you for making the trek.' I take the tea and move to the counter to prepare it. 'Make yourself at home Tim. Here, I'll take your coat.'

Tim takes his coat and boots off and settles on the couch where I was before. 'So Kat has told us you are a poet. I don't know much about poetry myself but I always did like Dr. Seuss...Today you are you, That is truer than true,'

Iev quickly joins him, 'There is no one alive, Who is you'uh than you!' Tim smiles and Iev bursts out into laughter. What a precious sound that is. I instantaneously felt the weight of her sadness lift off my shoulders.

'That was the first poem I evuh read!' Iev shared delighted to hear it. 'Carson gave me that book for my birthday when I turned, I guess, fourteen!'

Iev's excitement is uplifting as we are now all laughing playfully. 'So, now I've heard about Carson twice this afternoon,' I said passing each of my guests a steaming mug. Iev smirked at the mention of the name, significantly less nervous than earlier.

She took her ginger tea, 'Thank you Dom...and Tim.'

'Tell me why he makes you smile so joyously? And why he gave you Dr Seuss for your fourteenth birthday?' I ask eager to learn more about Carson and Iev as well.

Iev blows on the tea not to be scalded. 'Carson...' she pauses in thought, 'he taught me how to read and to write and ...well everything really. And a year after we met, he gave me a copy of Happy Birthday to You by Mr T.S. Geisel...bettuh known as Dr. Seuss.' She was so happy to share the memories now that Tim was here. Perhaps my doubts are not unfounded, I am the source of her earlier brooding.

'That's a perfect reason to read that particular book.' Tim acknowledged.

Then came a knock on the door. 'Come in!' I replied as Kat stepped into the trailer, covered in snowflakes.

'Hi! Wow, it's a party in here.' She says seeing everyone. She pulls her hood off and sniffs the air, 'A ginger party?'

'So glad you made it.' I stand to greet her. 'It looks like it's getting pretty deep now.' I nod gesturing out the window.

'Oh no, it's only a few inches. The big snowflakes make it look worse.' She says peeling off her coat and blinking the snowflakes off her lashes. I reach over to take her coat, 'Thank you Dommie.' as Kat steps further into the space. 'Hi Tim.'

'Officer Haught.' Tim stands to greet Kat with a kiss, acknowledging her costume.

'Iev' Kat looks over and tilts her eyebrow at Iev. She smiles at Kat, delighted to see her but also giving her a mischievous grin. I notice her cute dimple appear, just like Kat's. 'I see you've gotten Tim caught in your web as well?' Kat raises her brow hinting at her sister's puckish ways.

'Kat, come sit next to me!' Iev replied excitedly while avoiding her sister's accusation. 'We're sharing Dr Seuss poems with Tim!'

'Okay, but just for a minute.' Kat relents from her interrogation. She clearly misses Iev as well and she quickly steps around to sit behind Iev, snuggling up to her sister to warm up. 'Your hair! Look how beautiful your braid is! Did Jo-Dee do it?' Kat expressed in surprise.

'Yeah, Jo-Dee got fifteen layers in and she did Dom's hair too. We're applying to join Sheriff Haught's demon posse.' Iev explained eagerly. 'Dom, show Kat your Haught braid too.' I smiled at Iev's excitement and turned to show off our braids.

'That's amazing! Jo-Dee is the best.' Kat smiled and was likely elated she hadn't walked in to find a distraught sister. Though her tone changed quickly, noticing Iev's drink in hand. 'You're having ginger tea, Iev.' She states, a concerned look coming over her.

'Are you feeling okay?' Kat questioned, bringing her arm around Iev's torso to place her palm on her tummy. Iev nods with a reassuring smile. Since Mel's party, I've noticed Kat has been a little more on edge with things having to do with her sister. She has mentioned a few times to Mel and I her frustration with Iev not wanting to have a mobile phone. It would definitely help her stay in touch more often throughout the day and ease her anxiety.

'Tim rescued us with his ginger tea he brought from two thousand inches away.' She said with a giggle while leaning back into her sister's embrace. She is so pretty when she's happy. And that nerdiness that comes out sometimes, it's so adorable.

Hoping the ideas are coming across. The awkward tension that exists when two people are attracted to each other but are not aware of it juxtaposed to the more amicable dialogue when meeting an acquaintance.