Chapter 2

“You were gone a long time, honey. Is everything okay?” Auntie met me at the front porch, a look of concern on her face.

“I was a little upset but everything’s fine now,” I said, surprising myself that I was able to smile what I thought to be a very sincere-looking smile.

“That’s good. We were a little worried.”

“No need. Thurston and I just had a great time getting to know each other again.” He was leaning against my leg as I spoke, nearly pushing me over one more time.

“He’s always so glad to see you. He doesn’t get to run too much when it’s just the two of us.”

“He does love to run. Oh, and I saw Auden too. He’s moving to Atlanta.”

“Yes, I know. His mother was very excited when she told me. With both Auden and Duane gone, their house will certainly be different.”

I wondered if I should tell her about the names. “Do you know something odd about those names?” I asked, a knowing smile on my face.

“You mean the same five letters,” was Auntie’s quick reply.

“Now you’ve ruined my surprise,” I giggled and she joined me with her little laugh. Normalcy seemed to be returning much quicker than I had expected.

“We knew it when she named Duane. She was proud of her cleverness.”

Auntie had said the name and I hadn’t cringed or winced or begun to tremble. Maybe the tears had cured everything, expunging the total aggregate of all that had happened the last three summers, cleaning my slate so it was ready for the next entries, whatever or whoever they might be. Yet, even having these thoughts told me that wasn’t quite true.

“It is kind of unique,” I suggested, my eyes drifting off toward...

“Listen. Granny and I have something important to tell you. Come inside and we can get started.”

Now, that certainly did pique my curiosity. What important thing could they have? I’d heard enough important things for one day, more than enough. More than enough for my entire fragile life, actually. What was coming next?

We went inside and Granny was there, of course, a big smile on her face. I was thinking, “what the hell is up,” but I would never say anything like that. I think Auntie might still seriously consider washing my mouth out with nasty lye soap if she still had any of it around. It was hard to find in stores but she somehow managed and Granny still liked it and used it.

“You may already know this,” Auntie began.

I already knew lots of things but I didn’t know if I knew this thing. It seemed sometimes that she delighted in tormenting me. Maybe it was just her age.

“We enjoy so much having you come to visit in the summer. It puts new life into this old place.”

“You know I love being here and I love this house so much.” I couldn’t help but look around.

“Well, this old house loves you too and so, one of these days, it will be yours.”

I was frozen, a stunned expression on my face. Mine? How could that be? I was going to be a freshman in college. One of these days? When was that?

“I’ve put it in my will. It will be yours free and clear.”

Now wills were about death and I certainly didn’t want that. But the house. Mine. Still, that would mean no Granny and Auntie. My heart was bursting and tearing all at the same time. I looked from one to the other but somehow couldn’t mirror their smiles. I was overjoyed. I was terrified. Mine!

“Who knows what may happen, Serena? Our lives change. You may find it to be a burden one of these days.”

“Oh no, Aunt Natalie, never,” I blurted out, finally able to speak.

“Who else would it go to?” Granny added.

“Yes, we spoke to your mother and she said absolutely not. She didn’t want it.”

There it was again. The elephant in the room. But what was it? Why would Mother not want a beautiful place like this? What was there that kept her away from here, even to the extent of knowing she was making me unhappy? No furtive looks this time, just that statement. I could just ask, if I had a bit more courage. But I doubted they’d tell me. They had to know of my constant curiosity about that but they volunteered nothing. Maybe when I was a college graduate, I’d have gained enough confidence to ask them outright, maybe even demand they tell me. I rather doubted that, though. I’d questioned Mother about her stubborn resistance to even visiting but she turned almost cold and withdrawn when I did, shutting me out totally. So, I had stopped.

Still, mine.

I rubbed Thurston’s head. Mine!

For the second time that day, there were tears on my cheeks. I evidently had replenished my supply somewhere between the agony I had endured at the shed and getting back to here.

“Thank you,” I mumbled, a slight gasp escaping my throat. A deep breath. “I can’t think of anything that would make me want to give up this place.”

“I hope not, honey, but it will be yours and yours to decide.”

I was still petting Thurston. “Does Thurston go with the house?”

Now there were three unison laughs.

“Thurston is six, so he should have plenty more summers of running through the woods with you.”

I gave him another kiss on top of his head. This day had twisted my heart and mind and spirit in directions that I had never imagined in my 19 years. Summer would be good. I was determined that that be true.

I was home again, the summer nearly ended, and Mother was glad to see me, between her business and volunteering, and I was ready for school to start. Actually, that was not true. I was never ready for school to start and in particular, this year. I hated change in a very general fashion. It was just that I treasured security, and insecurity so often hovered ominously around change. Last year I was the one who knew all the ropes, the tricks for surviving, the idiosyncrasies of the teachers, the places in the building where you could be ‘out of sight’ if you chose to be. Now, I was a freshman again. And that was irritating as well. I was not a ‘man’ by any definition or description, and it just annoyed me. Possibly because of the insecurity I felt being one of those fresh-men. But it was beginning and I was being allowed to live on campus so I could be a ‘part of things” as mother said. I wasn’t totally sure she didn’t want to be away from the annoyance of me interrupting her various activities but I was probably just being a brat for thinking that.

I moved into the dorm and quickly met my roommate, Maddie. Right away I could see that she was not like me at all and I was wondering how we’d be able to get on together. Her hair was short, mine was long. She was short and a bit muscular, I was tall and a bit lithe, I guess. Those were just physical things though.

She was bubbly and I was sedate. Her voice was deeper and had a gravelly quality to it, mine was gentle and melodic. At least that’s what I’d been told by the fellow freshman who made a dramatic effort at hitting on me when we were paying fees. I sent him pedaling as I wasn’t quite ready for that yet. Plus, I used one of those words that would have gotten me a mouth washing at Auntie’s. A very severe mouth washing.

Despite all that, I don’t think I could have found a better roomie, even if I’d created her myself. We were destined to be together for all four years and far beyond. Quite different years than I might have imagined, and I could never have envisaged how such a fortuitous occurrence could have such a profound effect on my life. Also to be involved in that profound effect was Maddie’s boyfriend, Chuck. If Maddie hadn’t been such a good friend, I might seriously have considered trying to steal Chuck from her. He seemed to be the kind of a guy that every mother hopes her daughter will bring home to meet Mom and Dad. Tantalizingly cute, no one a stranger, considerate to a fault and it was totally obvious he had picked Maddie and he treated her like a queen. At least, it seemed so to me.

“What are you taking?” Maddie asked right away.

“Classes, courses, I don’t know.”

“Still figuring it out, huh?”

“Trying to. I kind of like physics but I don’t know. I guess there are female physicists around but, when I walked through the physics building, other than secretaries, I didn’t see many.”

“Don’t let that stop you. If you like it, do it. What the heck.” I got a strange little look from her. “How the hell did you get interested in physics?”

“Kinda weird. I liked the Discovery Channel and watched it a lot. They started a new one called Science Channel and it had stuff about physics and, I don’t know, I just seemed to enjoy it. Mom said I was weird but I always knew that.” A punch on the arm from Maddie. “I just have to figure it out before too long. Don’t need to waste a year.”

“Freshman stuff is about all the same, though. You won’t be wasting that.”

“Does that bother you?”

“What?”

“Being a fresh-MAN.”

“No. Does it for you?”

“A little.” My resistance to change was coming out in my reluctance to being called a freshman. I shrugged. “What’s your major?”

“Nursing. I have two aunts that are nurses and they wouldn’t change for anything. They get annoyed at the hours sometimes but they still like it. Gonna give it a try.”

“Lots of chemistry?”

“Some, I think. Not too much.” She giggled. “At least, I hope not.”

She was silent for a moment and I was thinking about beginning the unpacking process.

“You a neat freak?” she asked, grinning.

“Freak is an awfully strong word there,” I answered, smiling back at her.

“Still. I guess I like things arranged a little. I’m not OCD about it, though. Why are you asking?”

That brought a big laugh from Maddie. “Well, I can be a little, well, disorderly at times, I guess. I just didn’t want it, you know, to be an issue. Maybe we’ll each be an influence on the other. Mostly, I guess, I hope you’re an influence on me since I need to get a little more order to things.”

“I think you’ll find I’m a little laid back about most things. Sure, we all have stuff we like and don’t like. But, hopefully, they’re not end-of-the-world things.”

“I know what you mean and, yeah, let’s just be that way.” She held up her hand and we high-fived. She grinned. “I’m not into that chest-bumping stuff like the guys do. Are you?” Her expression changed to a coy grin this time.

“Um, no. I leave that to the football players.”

“Speaking of that,” Maddie said, “that’s why I’m here. My dad played football for the Buckeyes. O-H.”

“I-O. Really? How cool is that?”

“Yeah, he wanted me to go here more than anything. Even willing to pay the out-of-state fees.”

“So, where are you from, then?”

“Tallahassee, Florida.” Another big grin. “It nearly kills dad to be stuck down there at the home of Florida State. He still has trouble sometimes getting the Ohio State games on TV. But he says he can get us some good tickets, better than student tickets, because he’s in Varsity O.”

“So, are you getting them?”

“They’re way more expensive and he’s paying so much already. Want to just get student tickets together?”

“Sure. I’m not a huge football fan but I guess I can learn.”

“So, where are you from then?”

I loved the way she could hardly talk without grinning. I knew it was hard to tell so quickly but I just didn’t see how we’d have any problems at all.

“I’m from right here, Columbus.”

“Oh my gosh! And you’re still living on campus?”

“Yeah, thought it would be fun.”

A kind of far-away look crossed her face and she looked out the window. I debated about whether I should tell her or not. I didn’t want to insult her or anything plus, we were getting off to a good start here. I thought I knew where that look was coming from so, I decided to just barge ahead.

“Listen,” I said and she looked at me again. “I don’t want to insult you or, well, whatever, but my dad was killed a while ago and, with insurance and stuff, mom and I got, well, more money than we know what to do with. So, we don’t have to worry about stuff like that.” I was actually a little nervous about saying it but it was said.

“I don’t want to take your money.” A serious expression crossed her face.

“Listen, you want to be a nurse to help people, right?

A shrug and a nod.

“So, when we want to have a good time, we can, and not worry about that.”

“Still.”

“I enjoy helping people, too.” I took a deep breath. “Don’t steal that from me.”

The smile came back. “We’ll work it out.”

No high-five this time, just a big hug.

“Okay,” she said. “So, your dad died then?”

“Yeah, a plane crash on a business trip. I was seven.”

Her head dropped.

“I was eight when mom and dad split up.” Slowly, her head came up and she looked at me, a sad and twisted look on that normally smiling face.

“And?” I encouraged.

“It was ugly. Screaming, shouting. We don’t talk about it now but I think there was another man. Lots of ugliness. They fought over me. But mom wanted to move to California, with that man I guess, and I think the judge just let me stay with dad.”

“I’m so sorry. That had to be so hard for you at eight.”

“No harder than for you at seven, I bet.”

“So, I guess we’re survivors, huh?” Maddie grinned. I could see that we were going to be good roommates.

“Hey, are you going to Florida for Thanksgiving?” I was hatching a plan. Not a big deal but I hoped Maddie might like it.

“Um, don’t think so. Not enough time to drive and don’t want to blow the bucks on a plane ticket.” I had expected that to be the case, thus my plan.

“So, you’re stuck here then?” Thanksgiving was only two days away now and I’d already made the plan so I hoped Maddie would fall into it with no complaints. She had very quickly become my genuine best friend and I wasn’t about to let her hang out here alone if there was any way I could prevent it. Thus, that plan.

“I guess,” she said but, since I couldn’t hide the grin that was forming on my face, she eyed me very suspiciously. “Serena, what’s going on and I hope it’s what I think it might be?”

“Probably is. I’ve already talked with Mom and you’re coming to our house for Thanksgiving weekend.”

“Yay!” she yelled and I got a huge Maddie hug. “I’m so lucky.” I knew what was coming and didn’t really need it but ... it warmed me all over to hear it, particularly from her. “Aren’t you going to ask why I’m so lucky?”

All I could do was grin and hope my eyes didn’t tear up too badly. I could be very emotional at times, watching Hallmark movies, TV commercials with little kids, pet rescue places advertising for dog adopters. Other things, too. I loved animals, little kids and syrupy, happily-ever-after movies. Mom teased me about it a lot. Nothing I could do, though.

“You’re going to tell me whether I ask or not.

“I am, and I mean it. Over 7,000 freshmen here, make it 3,500 if you get rid of the men, don’t know how many live on campus but, of all of them, I got you as a roommate. The very best and I’m thankful.” She stepped toward me. “Tears yet?” she asked teasingly.

“Of course. I’m Serena. What did you expect? But thank you, and it goes double for me.” We hugged.

“You know, when Dad gets a little sentimental and thinks about how it was with Mom the first few years, he tells of how she came down the aisle at their wedding, just sobbing – you could hear it all over the church. Can’t wait to be at yours. I’m sure you’ll be able to top that.”

“You may have to wait a while. No weddings in my future.” The way I felt now, after the summer, there may not be any weddings in my future, period, end of story. It almost made me shiver thinking about it.

“I may have something up my sleeve,” Maddie threw in, a wicked grin on her face.

“Maddie!” I could just tell, from the first day we became friends, that she was figuring some way to match me up with a guy. “Don’t you dare.”

“Did you just say you dared me?”

“Maddie, you’re incorrigible.”

“That one of your physics words?”

“You’ll find out when you’re a nurse. That’s how some of your patients will be.”

“I hope not, but I’m sure you’re right.”

Maddie packed up clothes for the weekend and we headed for Mother’s place. My place, too. She still couldn’t imagine that the house was only 30 minutes from school and yet, I lived on campus. I reminded her about what she had said, about all the students and us getting to be roommates and she dropped it. Even with what I’d told her about the money and how I worked hard not to spend it like I had plenty, it was still a bit awkward when the subject came up, whatever the form. I was sure that, over time, it would disappear as an issue.

Mom was actually home and waiting for us, which I appreciated to no end as that often wasn’t the case. She met Maddie, and asked her a few of the normal questions and soon, they were chatting away like Maddie was the daughter and I was the guest. I finally took Maddie to her room and came back downstairs.

“She’s a doll, isn’t she?” Mother had a huge grin.

“Even nicer than she looks, too.” That much was totally true.

“That makes me happy, you know. Everything going okay?”

I live 30 minutes from our house, everyone was getting cell phones, and I had to come to that house for her to ask me if everything was going okay. My fault as much as hers but, unfortunately, we both seemed satisfied with this arrangement. Still, it was good to get home and see her. After all, she was my mother.

“Going great, Mom. You?”

“Good, too.” She stared at me for long seconds, a little awkwardly and in a way that sent vibes my way that she had something more to say. But she didn’t say anything more. She took a breath. “Decided on a major yet? Still looking at Physics?” She screwed up her face as she said the word, “physics.” It seemed to go with that word from more people than just her.

“Yeah, but haven’t decided for sure yet. Still got some time and I’ll be taking some physics courses next quarter so I’ll have a better feel for it.”

“What about Maddie?”

“Nursing. No doubt in her mind at all.”

“That’s nice. She looks like a nurse.”

Maddie came back downstairs about then and Mom went to the kitchen to finish cooking. I showed her around and she wanted to go outside and see more of the snow that had fallen last night. It was only about three inches but, when you’re from Florida, that’s snow. She walked around and kicked it, tried to make snowballs and groaned about how cold it was. She wanted to make a snow angel but I talked her out of that. If she was already cold, that would just double it.

When we came back inside, Mom was putting dinner on the table.

As we sat down, she said, “I’m cooking tonight but I can’t deal with tomorrow so it’s being catered.”

I cringed, grabbing a quick look at Maddie but didn’t see a reaction from her.