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I slide the key into the lock. It clicks and the door swings open with ease. Even after all this time. Like it's been waiting to welcome us back.
Daylight filters in through the front windows, catching dust moats as they dance and twirl to the ground, landing in the squares of buttery warm sunshine that spread out across the burgundy area rug in the living area. A thick layer of dust rests on the surface of every visible inch of the house. So much of their furniture was left behind. Just waiting for me.
“It looks just like I remember it,” my mom says, eyes scanning and taking in everything around us.
“Yeah,” I agree. The cream-colored walls are warm and inviting. It's just as I remember it being every time I came to visit as a child.
I set the bucket of cleaning products in the entryway and follow my mom into the living room.
“Well, at least most of the big stuff is covered,” she says.
Sheets cover the furniture in this room and the next.
“Is the water hooked up?” my mom asks.
“Yeah, it should be. Rob said he'd have someone come out this morning. Electricity is good, too,” I say, reaching out and flipping the switch for the overhead lights.
“Perfect,” she smiles one of the first real smiles I've seen on her in ages. “I'll get these sheets in the wash and then we can get to work.”
I help her remove the sheets before starting on the front windows. The glass is so cloudy, it’s a wonder any light manages to get in.
I'm about halfway through the windows along the front of the house when I notice my cousin’s blue Lexus pulling up the driveway. I wasn't aware that she was going to be coming out today, but I'm thankful for it. I haven't had the opportunity to talk to Madelyn since the night I found everything out.
I toss down the soddened crumple of newspaper and make my way out front.
Mads steps out, hair in a high pony and dressed in a black and white baseball tee and an old pair of blue jeans.
She bites the inside of her cheek as she approaches me, her eyes downcast.
“Hey, I didn't know you were coming out today,” I say.
“Yeah, my dad may have mentioned a little of what's been going on this last week,” she says sheepishly.
I have no idea what’s going on in her head right now, but if it's anything close to what I felt like after finding out my whole childhood was practically a lie, then I want to try to ease her discomfort.
“Listen, I know that everything has been really crazy, since…” I gesture widely, as if to encompass everything.
“Since you found out my dad is also your dad, which makes us a hell of a lot closer than we ever thought we were?” she says, effectively breaking the tension.
“Yeah, that. Hope you’re cool with having a brother. I think it’s a little late for any returns, not to mention I doubt very seriously anyone kept a receipt,” I say, and she laughs.
A warmth spreads through my chest, and it feels good to know that even without voicing it, Maddie and I are going to survive this chaos. Hell, we may get even closer because of it.
“Even if they did, you know you’d have thrown it out the second you found one,” she shoves me in the shoulder and I reach out, looping an arm around her neck and pulling her in, scrubbing my hand over the top of her head.
“Bodhi,” she yells from beneath my arm, and I release her, smiling brightly.
“Get used to it,” I say, and she glares up at me.
“Ugh, is this a brother thing?” she sighs, but the twinkle in her eye is enough to tell me she secretly loves this, despite the secrets and lies that were kept from us all this time.
“Pretty much,” I shrug.
She pulls the elastic from her hair, smoothing all the fly aways down before securing it atop her head.
“But seriously, I know we both just found this out, and I’m glad you aren’t mad at me over any of it, but please don’t take any of this out on my mom,” I request.
She sobers then, and I can see in her eyes that this is a sore spot for her.
