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“Hello to you, too,” I greeted my frantic sister.
“Maye,” she nearly shouted for the second time, and guilt flooded my entire being.
“Shep, calm down. What’s going on? You okay?”
“Yes, I’m okay. Where the hell are you? I waited at school for like twenty minutes. Are you still inside? I’ll head back.”
Shit. I hadn’t really thought this through. What was I going to tell her? I couldn’t tell her I was at Professor Chaplin’s house. Although, she’d be the one person in my life to give this whole craziness two thumbs up.
“No, I left. Joel showed up?—”
“Oh no, Maye. Don’t tell me you’re back with that loser.”
“You didn’t let me finish,” I chided. “He showed up while I was waiting for you, and when I told him to go away? No kidding, Shep…he got physical with me.” I whispered that last part because I could barely admit it happened. And that in itself made me so angry. Why did I feel guilty when he was the one who was so out of line? It didn’t make sense, and rationally, I knew that. Yet here I was, feeling embarrassed as though it was my fault.
“You can’t be serious right now,” she gasped. “What did you do? Knee him in the dick, I hope.”
“No, he ran off when Professor Chaplin came out of the building and got in his face.”
I could picture her salacious expression when she asked, “Ooooh, did they actually brawl?”
“No,” I said immediately, and I could almost hear her excitement deflate. “Joel took off.”
The line was quiet for a moment while she put all the pieces together. “Okay, so where the fuck are you?”
I stood up and walked into the front room. I wanted a little privacy while I explained to my sister what was going on. “Well, it’s kind of a long story. I fell and really hurt my arm, so he brought me back to his house.”
“He who? Chaplin? For real?” Her questions came faster than I could answer and louder than I was expecting. Not sure if it was the general quiet of this house or if Shepperd was shouting.
“Shut. The. Front. Door,” she continued, emphasizing each word with her disbelief.
“Please don’t tell Mom and Dad, okay?” I waited for her to agree. “Shep? Okay?”
“Why would I tell them? I don’t even speak to them unless I have to.” If I hadn’t been standing in my teacher’s living room, I’d dive deeper into that remark. Every relationship she currently had was in disrepair because of her surly attitude. Except ours. That worried me and comforted me at the same time.
“Thank you,” was all I came up with at first. “I’m not really sure when I’ll be home. Cover for me?” I asked sheepishly. I wasn’t used to being dishonest, and it didn’t feel good inside. I wasn’t doing anything wrong necessarily. So why was guilt doing a magnificent two-step all over my conscience?
“Duh. You know I got your back.” Then she began calculating. I could hear it in the way her voice shifted when she finished with, “Only if you give me every single detail when I see you.”
I laughed with relief. “You got it. Thanks, sister.”
“Have fun. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” she advised.
“And what does that leave?” I teased back. This was an ongoing bit we had between us. Or used to have. My sister rarely joked anymore.
“Nothing!” She cackled, and it was the most animated I had heard her in a long time.
I hung up and went back to the kitchen with a big smile still on my face. Andrew had set a place mat and napkin at the spot I’d been sitting, and also the spot right beside it. He was walking around the island from the stove as I came back into the room, a plate in each hand.
“Smells good.” I smiled and took my seat gingerly. My whole body was starting to ache, and I was anxious to take something for the pain.
“Everything okay?” he asked and motioned to my phone with his chin.
“Yes, thank you. My sister was supposed to pick me up after school today. She freaked out a bit when I wasn’t there, but she’s good now.”
“Please start eating. I’ll get you something for the pain. You’re moving very carefully, and I’m guessing it’s getting worse?”
Instead of admitting he was right, I just dipped my chin and reached for the sandwich with my left hand. Everyday things were going to be a real hassle with my dominant arm immobilized.
