Driving with the Top Down by Mary Strand

Author:Mary Strand
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Triple Berry Press

“Why are you avoiding her?” The deep voice growled into Gwen’s ear, too early in the morning for most people to call. Peering at the clock on the nightstand, she groaned. Twenty after seven on a Saturday.

“Mac. Good morning to you, too.”

Her brother chuckled. “Yeah, mornin’ yourself. But what’s up with you and Mom? I hoped you guys would patch things up if I stayed away a while.”

“Right.” She rolled her eyes, wondering when someone—anyone—in her family would get a clue. “You stayed away because of work, or maybe your latest flavor-of-the-week girlfriend. Whatever. It’s been only three weeks. Vivian and I have been working on this feud for forty years.”

Silence greeted her. Mac wasn’t known for it.

She sat up in bed, punching her pillow a few times for no good reason. “Besides, I talked to her. You and Dad are crazy if you think anything will change.”

He sighed, the sound loud in her ear. “She’s dying, Gwen.”

“We don’t know that.” She felt the usual pinprick of guilt that accompanied any thought of Vivian’s cancer. She hugged her pillow, crushing it. “Besides, it’s not like I didn’t try.”

“A week ago. Yeah, I heard all about it.”

“From Vivian?” It’d be just like her to go running to Mac. Her favorite child. Her only child.

“No, I didn’t hear it from Mom.” Mac hated it that she called Vivian by her first name. Too bad. “Dad told me. He was pretty shaken up.”

“Dad’s a big boy. He didn’t say anything to me.”

Still, the pinprick grew into a gaping knife wound. Unable to face another reopening of other old wounds, she’d avoided her mother—and therefore Dad—over Labor Day weekend. The week that followed had been beyond lousy, bringing her no closer to another dreaded visit. She couldn’t stomach it.

“And you’re a big girl.” Mac’s voice caught on something. “Mom and Dad aren’t getting any younger, Gwen. It’s time to quit blowing everything that ever hurt you completely out of proportion.”

“Is that what they say?” Gwen fought the urge to throw her cell phone at the wall, especially since she couldn’t afford a new one. She yelled instead. “What the hell do any of you know about me, or how I feel, or how much I’ve been hurt? I’ve taken care of myself my whole life, Mac, while Mom—” She sneered the word. “Spent all her time kissing your damned boo-boos. Give me a break.”

“That’s not how it was.” Mac dropped his voice to something just short of a whisper. “Mom’s reserved. Tough to get close to. Fine. You know what kind of family she grew up in, and they were all like that. If you’d worked at it, like I did—”

She clenched the phone in her hand, feeling the sting. “Tell me about it. Tell me how cozy I had it. I dare you.”

Silence greeted her, then the rushing sound of an angry breath. Next came Mac’s voice, low and controlled. “You don’t know me any better than I know you, but I’m at Mom and Dad’s.

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