Old Orchard

Annabelle

Carla gets out of the shower, and I change and get ready for bed washing off the makeup she had talked me into putting on earlier. Exiting the bathroom twenty minutes later, my sister is curled up on the bed sleeping with a picture in her hands. Walking over to her, I slip the picture out of her hand. In the photo, my sister is in a black dress and leather jacket; her hair is up with a few curls coming down and a smile on her face with a guy next to her in dark blue jeans and a black shirt with his arm wrapped around my sister. The guy holding my sister is Logan. Looking at the picture closely, the girl in the picture seems carefree and different from the sister I was used to seeing. She looks content instead of now as a few tears sit on her cheeks. Logan and Carla, however, do make a good-looking couple, and I once again see how she could be attracted to him.

Annabelle: How has it gotten this bad?

Craig: What?

Craig: What has gotten so bad?

Annabelle: I do not even know who my sister is anymore.

I try to fall asleep but find it hard since I wonder what happened to my sister in the last year and what stories I have missed out on. Instead of texting me back, Craig calls, we talk for the next hour about everything going on, and I tell him about the picture and the tears. He sounds as amazed as I am since neither of us knew anything was going on with her.

I wake up groggy and find it is hard to fall asleep without Frasier snuggled up next to me. My sister's bed is empty, and I do not hear her in the bathroom. Slowly letting my eyes adjust, rubbing the sleep out of them, I make my way to the bathroom which I find is empty like I thought it would be. Instantly annoyed at my sister, I walk over cursing while grabbing my phone off the charging dock and calling her cellphone, which starts to ring from underneath all of her clothes... Awesome.

Annabelle: Carla is not in the room, did not leave a note, and left her phone behind.

I text to Craig wondering if I should call my mom to tell her what her perfect valedictorian daughter has been up to in the last two days. I should just drag her back to Iowa and give up on this road trip to Maine, but my desire to go to Maine kills that thought instantaneously. And I cannot call my mom because she would just think I am lying or playing a prank on her since Carla has never acted out in front of my parents.

When we pulled in, I saw the people around the hotel and sensed it was safe enough, but I knew it would be an entirely different story if she went further downtown. As if my mom knew I was thinking of her, my phone went off with a text from her. She had been doing pretty good suppressing the texts, but I could tell she was anxious when I talked to her on the phone.

Mom: Ready for the big show today?

Annabelle: Yea, just getting ready now and then heading into the city.

Mom: Let me know how the ride goes into the city. I am excited to hear what you think of the show.

There is no way I will tell her we had gone into the city at eleven o'clock last night. Just like she thought the road trip to Maine was my idea, she would think that the trip into NYC was mine as well. She would end up calling dad and then have him contact us, threatening that he would drag us back to Iowa. I am not in the mood for that to happen. Instead of calling her, I opt-out by sending her a smiley face. That should hold her off for a couple of hours.

I go into action mode. Writing on the paper pad, I write a note for Carla to call me if she comes back. I dress quickly and make my way to the restaurant on the top floor. I find Carla up on the top floor with a cup of coffee in front of her and an omelet. However, the shocking part is the two businessmen sitting on each side of her.

"You are so right," Carla is saying as I step up to her clearing my throat. "Let me guess, the person behind me looks exactly like me but strawberry blonde hair?" she asks the blonde guy next to her.

"Is that how you became valedictorian of our high school class? You are a genius," I say before she can finish her story. Both guys look at me and must tell from my expression I am annoyed. They are more intelligent than my sister since they get up and leave, clearing their plates with them.

"What is your problem?" Carla snaps at me when I sit down next to her taking a sip of her coffee.

"With me? What is your problem?" I say back. I laugh, not trying to suppress my annoyance at all.

"Just forget it," Carla says, grabbing her coffee from my hand and walking away.

Annabelle: Found her at the restaurant. Maybe I should drag her back to Iowa instead of going to Maine.

Craig: I like the idea of you coming back to Iowa; however, you did drive her car. Not yours... It is also 9 AM here, and it's summer vacation. I am trying to sleep.

Craig: But call if you need anything.