paper rings (l.h.)

20

"How do you like your new room, Grandma?" I chirped as I moved around the space, what was once bookshelves and antiques had been taken over by twin-sized mattresses and her bedroom furniture. Orange pill bottles and old mystery novels already littered the room, the TV we had moved from upstairs blared throughout the downstairs level. My Mom paid the pizza man at the door, and I watched as the bright sun turned the sky into hues of oranges and pinks, and the tree line suddenly turned completely black. "Your new view is lovely."

I had opened the neglected curtains to exhibit the wide view of her property. It was beautiful, especially now since the sunset was in full force. "I miss my room."

"This just for a little while," I assure her, turning over my shoulder to glance at the matriarch in the bed in front of me, and my Mother standing at the door. "Until you get your strength back. How do you feel?"

"Tired," she answers honestly, looking over to the doorway. "You shouldn't have to stay here with me. You should go home."

"I didn't come just for you, Mom. I came to help Mary, too. I told her I'd come help out whenever I got the opportunity, anyway. I had a few favors to cash in."

I feel my Mom's loving gaze towards me, as I lean against the desk we had moved right in front of the window, my arms crossed. I feel Luke's message buzz my phone, like it had been all day. "I'm alright," I clear my throat. "I'm just glad you are here, Mama. Are you hungry? I'll go make you a plate. We can eat in here."

"I bought two pizzas for the three of us. That's too much," my Mom turns and watches as I walk through the bedroom, and to the kitchen a few paces away. "Maybe Luke would like to come over and help us finish it."

"Luke?" I turn towards her, raising my eyebrow as I open the pizza box. "Is Grandma alright with it?"

"Yes, she is," my Mother answers quickly, as if this had been discussed prior to my knowledge. "I think it would be nice. To thank him for helping out the other day. Do you think he would like that?"

I smile warmly, shrugging as I gently replace the lid back over the steaming hot pie. "He has been waiting for me to tell him to come over all day," I glance up at her, watching her smile grow as I give her the truth. "I can ask."

I step out of the kitchen and onto the patio, watching as my thumbs find his face in my contacts. I press dial, sitting my bum on the railing and holding my phone to my ear. It rings once. "Hey."

"Hi, Luke," I could hear his smile grow through the silence as my lips formed his name. "How was your day?"

"It was alright," I hear a sleepy voice mutter on the other side of the line. It was quiet where he was, quieter than here. I am sure that he could pick up the sounds of the approaching evening through the phone. "I have been writing all day."

"Yeah?" I tug at the seam of the dress I had changed into once we had settled in. It fit loose over my body, and the light fabric brought out how tan my skin had grown since I began living out here. I had freckles as dark as the hair on my head now, and my cheeks were always red - whether that be sunburn or Luke's doing. Earlier, when my Mom was helping my Grandma shower I had been sent out to clean the coop. I had been out there for nearly half an hour, but my skin burned as if it was half the day. I had showered to cool myself off, and for the most part it worked. I hated the faint burn of my skin rubbing against the cloth of the dress. "How about your friend, have you heard from him?"

"Kinda..." he begins, a soft sort of uncertainty trailing behind his words. "I was thinking about what he said, Mary. And I think I am going to do it. It'll be good to be back, if it was just for a night. What do you think?"