*updates every few days*
The bustling town of Albright is located in seaside New England. Charming, traditional, yet artsy and modern. Known for its music scene and parties, the town attracts a lot of the young crowd during the summer. Locals and ou...
I watch his face visibly change the moment I said those words. It kind of tinged my heart a bit to see how quickly he apologized and left the salon, but it was just a drunken night we had, no need to make it a bigger deal than it was.
"You're such a bitch!" Clara laughed from across the salon as soon as the door shut behind him.
"Why?" I asked in disbelief. "Because I told a guy 'no'? He'll live, Clara."
I headed back to my station to clean and wipe it down. Clara was still working on my dog, Lily, by the time I was finished so I walked over and joined them.
"I thought you said he was a good kisser." She asked.
She was right, I did say that. "That doesn't warrant shit, Clara. He called me some other girls name."
She rolled her eyes at me "You literally just told him two minutes ago that didn't matter. Plus, you should have told him he hasn't seen you because you went out of town literally the day after the party."
That was true. When Archie said he hadn't seen me, I could have told him I wasn't in town, but I wanted to get him back for calling me a name that wasn't mine. It was fun to watch him squirm a bit.
"He was obviously looking for you." Clara finishes her thought just as she put Lily down.
The way he burst into this salon was enough evidence of that. He came in here as if he had been scouring the desert for ages, and I was a fountain of water.
"If he wants to see me again, he'll find a way to make that happen," I laugh, "If not, there are plenty of other guys who can keep me busy this summer."
God's timing is always right, because the moment I finished my sentence, the bell above the door chimed, signaling the arrival of my dad who was greeted by an excited, and freshly groomed Lily. I am the definition of a Daddy's girl, so I turn into mush when he comes over to me and gives me a kiss on the forehead.
"You ready to go?" he asks. I nod and turn to Clara.
"You're okay closing up tonight, right?" I ask her.
She says yes, and soon my dad and I are on our way to his car with Lily in tow. Everyone in town knows my dad, so it takes us a bit longer to get there due to him stopping every few minutes to strike up a conversation with someone new. Besides knowing him, everyone likes my dad. Joseph Collins is for the people. His smile lights up a room, his voice booms when he speaks, and he can connect with anyone no matter age, background, or political stance. It's what makes him the perfect politician.
The car ride with my dad and Lily is pleasant, considering where we are headed. We fill the ride with conversations about our day to keep our thoughts busy. I know my Dad is doing it intentionally once we turn down the road and enter through the cemetery gates.
I am immediately filled with an intense feeling of solemn. Every time I enter those gates, I am reminded of that night. The night we lost Mae. Dad parks the car and we walk towards the grave site. The summer night is illuminating the graveyard, but it doesn't take away the dark feeling coming over me. Lily reaches the gravestone before me do. She runs a little bit before settling and laying down in front of the headstone.
Mae Alicia Collins
Daughter, sister, friend.
January 16, 1998 – June 10, 2018
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