We're Not Related Anymore...

Harsh Words

Maddie: Present day

In order to have some peace and quiet to make my phone calls, I asked Shelley, before she left, if I could use her room.

The attic sits right above the bedroom. Since I've been cooped up here, I've heard Josh storm up there just about the entire morning. However, it's a different set of steps that walk up there after I end my call with Shelia. She's called to check up on me, something I'm grateful for. Before Shelley left for her grandma's, she warned me Aunt Linda was coming. The woman has never been a fan of mine (I remind her too much of my mother) and I can use all the positive conversation I can get.

Unfolding myself from the bed, I slip my sneakers on and follow whoever just went up into the attic. I hear something fall, someone curse, and then I see Jacob picking up old pictures and papers.

"What happened?" I ask, coming near to see what he's got. He's holding a picture of Dad and Lilian from when they were young. My chest constricts when I see it. Whenever I remember that they were together before he met my mom, I always wonder if he regrets his first marriage. He and Lilian were so much more in love than he and my mom ever were.

I crouch down, a sad smile tugging at my lips, and take the picture out of Jacob's hand.

"It's weird thinking our parents had lives before us, isn't it?" Jacob doesn't answer my question. I look up to see him throwing things into the box before picking it up again. "You're not still mad at me, are you?" I ask, thinking about our conversation this morning.

Jacob sighs, leaning the box against his hip so that he can look at me. "I'm not mad, Maddie. I just can't do the whole small talk thing with you."

"Why not? I just want things to be normal, Jacob. Why won't you try?" I ask, and sit down on the floor. The palms of my hands meet the dusty floor as I lean back to look up at him.

"Maddie, things have never been normal with us. I'm sorry if I'm being an ass, but I can't do the easy conversations just as much as you can't do the hard ones." He turns as if he's about to walk back down the steps again but I stop him with my words.

"I'm really trying to not make things awkward here. I'm trying to be friends," I tell him. He laughs darkly at my words and sets the box down on the steps.

"Friends?" He repeats but whatever tirade he's about to go on gets cut short when another two sets of feet climb up the stairs.

"What's taking so long?" Demands an old crotchety voice and I steel myself for Linda's arrival.

She spies Jacob first as she hits the top steps. Josh stands a bit behind her, looking severely unprepared for her visit.

"Jacob, is everything alright?" she asks, looking at him and the box he's picked up again.

"Yeah. The bottom was broken but it will hold for now." I look over at him. He's holding the box on it's side so that none of it's contents spill out.

Even though I'm looking at Jacob, I know the minute my great-aunt Linda sees me. Out of the corner of my eye, I see her lips curl up. God, I'm not ready for this conversation.

"Well, well, well. Look who finally traipsed back home," Linda drawls as she enters the attic more fully. She looks at me from down her nose, the glasses she's wearing sliding off just a bit.

"Hi, Aunt Linda. It's good to see you," I say standing up and dusting off the back of my jeans. Since Betty's comment yesterday, I've made a determined effort to wear less 'provocative' clothing and I'm glad I made that choice before this old hag's arrival.