The Peach Pits

Chapter 17

Mae woke up with the mother of all headaches. She eased herself downstairs. Unfortunately, she hadn't gotten too drunk to forget the previous night's events and how she'd made an emotional fool out of herself in front of Louis. He probably wouldn't even call her. He'd probably just said he would out of pity. Besides, a boy calling her should have been the least of Mae's worries right now. Keeping herself together and making sure the truth didn't come out was much more important than a phone call from some boy who was practically a stranger. Her whole body ached. Mae wasn't sure if it was from the drinking or her secrets weighing down every inch of her being.

Trina sat at the kitchen table drinking a cup of orange juice. Mae avoided eye contact. She grabbed two pieces of bread out of the bag on the counter. They were a little stale, but it was better than nothing. She put them in the toaster and stared at it, waiting for the bread to come out.

Trina cleared her throat. Mae braced herself for a lecture. "I'm not mad at you. I told your mom you think you have a little cold. But I am worried about you, Mae," Trina said quietly. "Really worried."

Mae kept her back to her cousin. "Thanks. I'm fine. Do we have aspirin?"

"Maybe." The bread popped out of the toaster. Mae took it out and put it on a plate. She joined Trina at the table. They ate in silence, both unable to think of something to say to the other. The tension and stress hung between the two of them like a thick fog.

Finally, Trina spoke up first. "Aunt Lisa and I are visiting my mom today," she said. "I know you're probably not feeling well, but she'd like to see you." Trina drummed her fingers on her glass and waited expectantly for Mae's answer. 

Mae nodded. She hadn't been to visit Aunt Lynn once. It wasn't that she didn't love her aunt, but Mae couldn't imagine how hard it would be to see her lying there in a hospital bed, or seeing Trina try to force a smile though the brokenness that was evident in her eyes.

"I'll think about it," Mae lied. "But don't wait on me. You're already dressed and I still need to shower and all of that." She hoped Trina would get the hint that she didn't want to come. 

"Alright." Trina got up and took her plate and glass to the sink. Then, she disappeared into the living room and turned on the television. Mae ate her toast slowly. The dry, hard bread scratched her throat. At least it settled her queasy stomach somewhat. When she finished, she pulled her checkbook close to her.

Mae's mother walked into the kitchen. "Morning," she said, glancing down at Mae. Mae noticed the stack of mail she carried.

"Mhm."

Lisa rifled through the envelopes in her hand and handed one to Mae. "I think that's from the college," she said as if she didn't care either way. Mae tore open the envelope. It was an invitation to come to a summer program and stay the night for a few days. Mae's eyes scanned the back page of the brochure, immediately looking to see how much it cost. Before, she wouldn't have even looked and automatically known it wasn't a possibility. If she was going to be eaten alive by guilt, the least she could do was get another college visit out of it. She'd already booked her campus tour in the upcoming few weeks.

"Trina said you don't feel well?" her mother asked. "You look fine."

Mae nodded. Of course, she hadn't noticed. That would require her to pay attention to Mae in the first place. Or maybe 'fine' meant sleep deprived as usual.

"The cold's on the inside of my body, not the outside," Mae said bitterly.

"Mae," her mother chastised. "How do the bills look?"