Alpha by Essex Bridget

Author:Essex, Bridget [Essex, Bridget]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-12-03T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13: Unfortunate

“So she didn’t tell you a single thing about what happened yesterday?”

Mel stared blearily at her mother and took another pull from her mug. The hot liquid filled her empty belly, which growled in protest at being given coffee instead of food.

“No, but I think she’s getting used to the idea of opening up to me, which is…a step in the right direction.” Mel chewed on her lower lip thoughtfully. “What about this morning? Did you go in and have that talk with her?”

Andrea sighed, tapping her foot restlessly on the linoleum floor. Her library desk chair swiveled a little. “We met in the kitchen, and I told her that she had to go to school today—and stay there until classes were over. She didn’t say anything to me, but she nodded, and the school hasn’t called…so I suppose she did go.”

Mel considered this, leaning back against the circulation desk. It was nearly noon, and there were no patrons in the library. It had been particularly cold overnight, and she assumed the weather was keeping people at work or at home.

“I'm worried about her,” Mel admitted, shifting her gaze toward the window over the coffee nook.

Andrea glanced up in surprise at her daughter. “You are ?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing.” Andrea shook her head, holding up her hands defensively. “It’s just… Well, to be honest, baby girl, you’ve never shown a lot of interest in Vicky. I know you love her, honey, but…it’s a pleasant change to see you so invested in her.” Andrea gazed wistfully at Mel. “It almost seems like you’re…invested in being here.”

Mel stared at her mother, unseeing, and then swallowed a lump in her throat. “I don’t know about that,” she said slowly, “but I am invested in my family.” With a sigh, she looked down at her empty mug, clearing her throat. “Um, five seconds. I just want a refill.”

She rushed to the coffee station and gripped the counter, gazing at the cupboards in front of her with wide eyes.

Invested in being here.

Mel drew in a series of deep breaths. No. She didn’t belong here. She knew that. It had been the focus of her young life to work up the courage to leave this place, and, yeah, now she was back, but—as she’d told herself a million times—she was only staying in town for a little while. Just until she got back on her feet.

Mel poured some more coffee into her mug and stirred in the creamer without thinking.

She was only here for a little while.

But even as she tapped the spoon against the side of the mug, she wondered how true that thought was. When her sister had cried against her last night, leaking tears onto her shirt…it had done something to Mel. It had broken a dam in her chest, made her feel this rush of protectiveness and worry and love, all at the same time.

She loved her sister, obviously. But she’d never really connected with Vicky on a deep level, or spent much time with Vicky one on one.

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