Papá's Girl

Cold Shoulder

©JRF2016

      I ran up to Shane as soon as I saw the car drive through the gates. "What happened to you out there? I thought you were going to be careful." I glanced over at Rick who just turned away and stared at the ground as he leaned against the car. "I'm fine Isabella," Shane said as he gently pushed me to the side and walked away from me. I turned and watched him as he walked inside the house. Andrea was watching me and avoiding Rick.  Jessie came running down the street to greet him, throwing herself into his arms and kissing him on the cheek.  The look on Andrea's face would have been comical if I wasn't so worried about Shane's new attitude toward me.

     I went inside to find Shane. He was in the room that we had just decided to start sharing, standing over the bed, and staring at a pile of clothes. "Whatcha doin'?" I said playfully trying not to show that my heart was breaking. Trying not to show that there was anything wrong between us. "I think it's best if we stay in our separate rooms after all. I think we may have jumped the gun on this thing."

"Jumped the gun? This thing has been going on for a while between us, Shane.  We just started having sex.  What exactly are you saying that we 'jumped the gun' on?" He didn't answer, just threw those clothes in his bag and walked out of the room.

     Over the next few weeks Shane avoided me like the plague. Andrea was starting to hang around my uncle more and more as Rick was hanging around Jessie. He didn't seem to care that she had a husband. He didn't seem like the greatest husband in the world for some reason but he was still her husband. Shane hated me now as much as Andrea still hates me. "Hey niece," Uncle Daryl spoke up as he put his arm over my shoulders, "What's goin' on?"

"Nothin' much. So, what's up with you and Andrea lately? I've noticed you're hanging out with her a lot." After a substantial pause I looked up at my uncle who had a deep blush on his face. I leaned over and nudged him smiling. "Just blowing off steam," he mumbled so softly I could barely make out his words. I chuckled a little. "What?" He asked almost as if he was offended. "At least we know she's good for something," I responded and then paused as I noticed Carol walking toward us with a smile, "What about her?"

"She's like a mother to me. She cares about me but not like that." He finished as Carol finally approached us. "You look like you need something to do," she said as she looked at Daryl, "Perfect, I have a job for you. Come on." She grabbed Daryl's hand and pulled him away. He turned his head back to yell at me, "I wanna meet up with ya later.  Got somethin' I think you could help me with." I nodded my answer and I was left alone with my thoughts again.

      I stood there on the porch every day just watching people. Our people, their people. The interactions and friendships being made. We had found a couple of old rocking chairs that we put out on that porch.  It was calming just to sit there and rock back and forth for some reason.  Day after day I just sat there and watched people like some old lady sitting in her rocking chair, on her porch and just waiting on some kids to step on the lawn so she could yell at them. I had nothing better to do anyway. No one to talk to anymore since Shane refused to even acknowledge me. Uncle Daryl had started scouting with Aaron. They seemed to be really close friends and getting closer. Now that he has his job he has been spending less time with Andrea, which made me happier. 

      My uncle was straddling his new motorcycle and talking to Rick as I was leaning into the rail just watching, as usual.  I thought back over the last few weeks.  Uncle Daryl had talked me into helping put that bike together in an effort to keep my mind off the fact that Shane was completely done with me.  I didn't know much about mechanics so I wasn't really much help.  Most times I just felt like I was in his way.  A few times I even think he was aggravated with me but he never said anything, he really didn't let on at all if he was aggravated, I was just feeling my insecurities creeping in.  I remembered being little and Papáworking on his bike in the drive.  He always had me by his side when he went out to work on it and he tried to teach me what I needed to know but I was just a little girl.  All I cared about was being with my Papá.  I had unknowingly swiped at a tear in my eye just as Uncle Daryl had looked up to ask me for something.  He had stood to his feet and wrapped his arms around me in a tight hug.  I didn't want to tell him at first, and he didn't push, but a second later, against my own mind, I was spilling my guts about Papa.  We spent all our time working on that bike and reminiscing about our lives with Papábefore all this.