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13. "Wait" - M83

    The past week has been a blur. The day after the incident with Aaron, I didn't get to bed until around 4 or 5 in the morning. I stayed in bed all day; thankfully, Carson's was closed for the day anyways. Marlow stayed with me in bed. I think she could tell something was wrong. She didn't whine, chew at anything; she just laid with me. It rained that day, and I kept my window open. The day after, I went back to work at Carson's. Luke gave me a list of things to do, and I did them. I barely talked to anyone. I felt bad after the fact, especially for Elera. She wanted to know all about how hanging out with her big brother was, what I thought of Lune and Adrian. I remember telling her that I would tell her all about it soon, but that day, I wasn't feeling too well and didn't want to talk. I don't know if she understands; she's incredibly intelligent but also young. I hope I didn't upset her.
After work that day, I remember calling Mom. I talked to her for three or four hours. I think I talked to Selene that day, too. Maybe the day after. I can't remember. I mostly cried during those phone calls. That I do remember.
Later that week, Vivian and Charles got back from Las Vegas - they have memberships or connections or something at the casinos - so Lucy and I went to go see them in Portland. We brought Marlow; she was happy to get out of the house. We drove past the shop I remembered Luke saying Adrian worked at, and my heart hurt a bit. I had to put on a happy face for my grandparents, but Grandma Vivian saw right through it. She started crying, saying she was sorry about Aaron. And of course, I started to cry because I wasn't mad at her. She couldn't have known. After a day with them, Lucy and I went back to our little cabin in the woods, and we baked cookies and banana bread.
I don't remember the rest of the week. I worked, came home, played with Marlow and went to bed. Rinse, wash, repeat. Today, I'm at work, and I still haven't really talked to Elera or Luke. I think Luke understands. Walking back inside from pruning one of the apple trees, I hear talking coming from the main room. Behind one of the shelves, I strain my hearing and realize Luke is talking to Elera.
"Is she mad at me? Did I do something?" Elera's voice is soft, solemn.
"No, Elera. Dakota is going through things right now, and she needs time for herself." Luke has always had a gentle way about him when he talks to Elera. He doesn't baby her; he speaks to her like a level-headed adult.
"I don't get it, though. You've barely talked to her other than telling her what to do next. What's going on? Maybe I can help her, we can help her. She doesn't have friends or family out here other than Lucy."
Luke doesn't respond for a few moments. I can practically hear the wheels turning in his head from here. "Elera, do you remember Mila?"
"Yes. You dated her for a long time."
"I did. And I loved her, immensely."
"What happened?"
I hear the shift of a chair, the clearing of a voice. "Sometimes when you are in love, you do crazy things. Things you wouldn't normally do. And love alone doesn't make a relationship last. There has to be trust, communication, compromise and many other things."
"Mom told me that once."
"And she was right. As I've grown, I've realized there aren't many things Mom was wrong about. Now, the reason I asked if you remembered Mila is because Mila and I were in love... and love made us both do crazy, stupid things. And love was all we had in our relationship. Something similar is happening with Dakota. She was in love with a boy, might even still love him, and he loves her. But Dakota's ex-boyfriend... he has done some crazy, stupid things. And it's affected Dakota. She's hurt, she's scared, and right now, she needs time to heal. It might take a week, it might take a year. But I do know one thing."
"Yeah?"
"She adores you. Whenever you're not here at work, she asks about you. And I know for a fact she isn't mad at you. I know it's hard, but give her some time. And when she's ready, she will come to you. A lot of the things she's going through she doesn't know how to explain to you, and she doesn't want to overwhelm or worry you. Do you understand?"
There isn't a response from Elera, so I assume she nods. I hear the moving of a chair, the turning of a page. It's not until now that I realize I'm crying. I keep quiet, my lip quivering. "I love you." I hear Luke say.
"I love you, too." Elera's voice is less solemn, but just as soft. I hear a couple footsteps, and then Elera calls out Luke's name.
"Yeah?"
"Why don't you and Dakota date?"
I hear the shuffle of feet, almost as if he's turning to look at her. I hear a smile in his words. "You'd love that, wouldn't you?"
"I would! She'd be over all of the time. And... maybe you both can help each other heal. You know what she's going through, and she knows what you're going through."
"Dating isn't that simple, Elera." His voice is calm, open.
"Well, you could at least be her friend, Luke. You're doing that thing."
"What thing?"
"Where you act like she has the bubonic plague when in fact you're just scared to get close to her because she might actually be something good for you."