Harley's Girl

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Its been eight years since I last saw my dad or his new wife, Linda, back in Mount Lenny; and honestly, a part of me wished it would've been a brighter day as I arrived in the small airport. The raindrops were tumbling down the glass window adjacent to the rotating luggage, while waiting alongside the sliding doors for my fathers' neighbor, Jo, to pick me up.

As I'd heard over the phone, it'd been a long week in Mount Lenny after the death of my father, and Linda was supposedly weeping herself to pieces since Sunday evening. People were worried she wouldn't be able to keep it together, living in that big house with her dog and my half-sister, Skylar. And I was here to be supportive. Yay, me.

Don't get me wrong I liked Linda. Granted it was from the two or three fingers I could count on seeing her. But I just couldn't understand why I needed to even be here at this funeral for someone who refused to even see me grow up. Why should it be appropriate for me to say goodbye now, when he never bothered to come see me or my mom after the divorce. He'd said goodbye already, and made it very clear at that.

But nevertheless, I was here to play the grieving daughter card and hopefully I could just pull it off for a week. A week of "Oh my god! Look how you've grown! You look just like your daddy!" And I didn't know how many times I could hear that without wanting to skin myself alive. Regardless of how I felt though, I promised that i'd put on my best Daisy smile and troop it out for the small-town folks. It shouldn't be that bad at all.

"Daisy Baby Dickens! Come here!"

I'd recognize that thick southern accent anywhere. Jo Hamilton stood right there in her loud mouthed glory, arms opened wide, as I tried my hardest not to flinch.

"Hey, Jo, it's so good to see you." I said, giving my best I'm so sorry for your loss, look. Instead she didn't catch on. Her arms clamped around my petite frame, and she hummed like an overgrown mother bear.

It was hard not to love Jo. Ever since I was a kid she'd always laughed a little too loud, and ate a little too much, but with all good fun, and wouldn't hurt a fly. And I was comfortable when she'd said she was going to come collect me because Linda was still very upset. I'd take a talkative car ride with Jo over a moist-face Linda everyday of the week.

"So how's my little ray of sunshine?" She beamed up at me, adjusting her plaid red cap that clashed extremely with her green gardening pants, and a long-sleeved jean top. You can't wear red and green without looking like a Christmas parade, but that's just me I guess.

"I've been good, still in school. How's everybody?" I ask.

Her face deflated a bit, and she finally let out a small sigh. "They're doing okay. Everyones a little irritated, and there's been a lot of confusion. But that just comes with being hurt." She gave me a small smile. "But we're big boys, we'll be alright."

I smiled back. I guess the phone calls were right and things had gotten a little depressed; but the hope in Jo's eyes told me that me being here had the potential to make things go better and I quickly hoped she didn't think that. I was simply here to do my last duty as a daughter, and to this town. To clear my name, and make sure people knew that I wasn't the spoiled, ungrateful child that moved away and never came back. That my dad wasn't all peaches and honey nectar either.

And if pretending to enjoy a final week here was all it took, then let the days begin. The quicker I got back to Chicago, and my job and my life the better.

"Well come on, Daisy Dukes, lets get back to the bar before Turner gets loose goosey!" She says, effortlessly picking up both suitcases and swinging them on the back of her yellow truck. It rumbled as she leaned over and plucked the lock for the passenger door, and I hopped up into the seat.