Ecie & Esme II: Another Day Like This

Four

'When does dad get back?' Esme asked looking across at her sister who seemed distracted.

'I don't know?' Ecie replied.

'Did anything happen?'

'No,' Ecie replied.

Esme nodded. 'So what was it?'

'I don't want to talk about it,' Ecie replied.

'Okay then,' Esme replied. 'What did you talk about in therapy?'

'Ellis,' Ecie replied. 'We talked about Ellis.'

'So now you're thinking about it,' Esme replied turning a corner. 'You know he was no good for you, E. You know he was. All he did was make you upset.'

'But he didn't,' Ecie replied moving for the first time. She looked at her sister. 'He didn't upset me all the time.'

'But look at what he's done to you,' Esme replied. 'You're in therapy twice a week, sometimes three times; you're having terrible painful nightmares; you cry all the time and sometimes you just space out completely. What's not upsetting about all of those?'

'You know, normal people have things called "emotions". You might want to try it out,' Ecie replied. 'You're like a piece of steel.'

'Yeah well I think you'd be too if some guy ruined your sister,' Esme replied. 'I can't believe they just let him go and you didn't even want to press charges.'

'Well I can't believe that you and Taylor's sex life has completely plummeted and you're not doing anything about it,' Ecie said. 'I think we're both pretty screwed.'

Esme laughed. 'Seriously E.'

'I heard you guys a couple nights ago and as much as I did enjoy it, I have to say that I preferred the old days,' Ecie said. 'You both would have benefitted in forgetting about having sex in the first place.'

'Come on now E,' Esme said as she turned into their drive way. 'That's between Taylor and me.'

'And it's between Ellis and me,' Ecie said.

They got out of Esme's white Audi A5 coupe and walked into their home and into the kitchen where they found Sofie reading through a script.

'Hey girls,' Sofie smiled. 'How's it going?'

'Fine,' Esme replied opening the refrigerator. 'Everything is just fine.'

'Ecie?'

'Yeah mom,' Ecie replied sitting down at the counter. 'It's going good. What are you reading there?'

'Cassie wanted me to read this,' Sofie replied. 'She's planning on buying it, but she's not sure if it'll be a good investment.'

'Is it any good?' Esme asked.

'It's pretty good,' Sofie replied. 'Maybe you'd like to read it sometime?'

'Sure,' Esme replied.

Ecie looked up at the clock in the kitchen. 'Well I've got work, so I'll see you guys later. Have fun.'

Ecie left the room and went upstairs to grab her car keys before leaving the house and heading over to Chêne de Pois.

'Mom,' Esme said. 'Do think that E's getting better?'

'I think so,' Sofie replied. 'She doesn't cry as much anymore.'

'She screams at night, mom,' Esme replied. 'I hate hearing it, but I know that there's nothing I can do. The bruises aren't there anymore, but I know she's still hurting inside.'

'You just need to let Ecie recover in her own time,' Sofie replied. 'No one ever said it'd an easy ride, but all you can do is be there for her.'

Esme nodded. 'I suppose.'