After Dad passed so suddenly, it was only the three of us, and when Mum died, I felt lost, going from caring for someone constantly, to nothing. Taking over and worrying about my little brother was an easy adjustment and my problem more than his. He was right, I needed to give him breathing space, not that I was going to admit that to him.
“How’s Aurora shaping up? Bet it’s busy,” I said instead, offering a segue.
Aurora Ridge was like a hallmark movie over the winter and tourists and locals alike flocked to the town sometimes seeing the place booked out for months in advance. The snow-globe come to life was an adventurer's dream and a place you could easily find yourself lost within the powdered playground. My brother knew working the winter would be anything but vocational, however, he scored free accommodation, all the snow gear he would need and two days off a week to explore – his idyllic break.
“Fully booked for the whole season. I hit the tundra first thing tomorrow before taking the late shift. Shelbs, its magic this year, I…” His voice sounded sullen. Wistful.
“I’ll be back for New Years. I’ll join you at Aurora for a few days as always,” I promised, knowing he was thinking about how we would be separate this year.
“Sounds good. Cole might come up too, if his dad loosens the leash he has on him,” he grumbled. His best mate came from a sketchy family. The Evans’ were known in town for their less than legal dealings, although no one really knew exactly what they did behind the gates of the large plot of land. What wasn’t a secret was how aggressive Cole’s father was and while his son resembled him in looks, the tattoos and heterochromia were where those similarities ended. Blake’s best mate was the best and he spent a lot of time at our house escaping his own.
“Perfect,” I smiled, meaning it. They were hilarious when they were together and Cole knew exactly how to rile my little brother up, which was my favourite part. “But you are not allowed to ditch me for girls again,” I added.
“That was one time and even you said how great her t-”
“Blake!” I whisper-screamed, “I have you on loudspeaker.” I shot him a warning glare through the screen, but he only laughed.
“Sorry, sis. My cell service will be dicey here but keep me posted on where you go. I’m glad you have Corbin with you. Didn’t love the idea of you being alone.”
“Me too,” I replied honestly, looking away from the screen at a tuft of grass next to the park bench I was sitting on while I coloured and chatted to Blake.
“How is the infamous Corbin?” He asked playfully. He’d been only four when we left Australia, so his memories of our neighbours were barely there, if at all.
“Is it weird for me to say criminally attractive. I’m not even sure how he’s single. He’s a walking, talking argument for why intelligence is the ultimate turn-on and has these potent green eyes-”
“For fuck’s sake, sis. Can you please answer me as your brother, not your friend. A fine would suffice.” He emulated a shudder, and I laughed. I missed him already.
“Oops, sorry,” I giggled, not even remotely sorry. “Well, he is, I don’t know, he’s Corbin,” I shrugged. “The complete opposite to me in the best of ways.”
“I’m sorry I asked,” Blake shook his head. “How are you feeling about the drop and shake?”
“Blake! Can you not?” I smacked a hand over my face to stop myself laughing at his macabre humour. My twenty-two-year-old brother was born with zero empathy and no emotional intelligence. It meant he didn’t at all mind where Mum and Dad’s final resting places would be, but it also meant he coined the scattering of their ashes with horrendous euphemisms.
“I bet Dad would love that,” he grinned, and he was right. My brother got his sick sense of humour from our father who thought anything even remotely emotional was the perfect opportunity for a good old laugh.
“And I can hear Mum admonishing you both,” I again grinned. “I’m glad Corbin is coming too. I thought doing it alone would be no big thing but, and this is going to sound super weird-”
“Most things you say are weird,” he cut me off with an accurate interruption.
“I think he calms me,” I said more to myself. “Makes me less weird.” I added for lack of a better word.
“Nothing could make you less weird,” Blake retorted, before yawning.
“Hush. It’s what makes me the best sister you could ever have. Now go to sleep. I’ll be in touch over the next few days. Love you,” I said in farewell.
“Love you, too.” He tapped his cheek three times in quick succession, emulating the gesture I was also doing, before ending thecall. It was something we’d always done because unlike me, he didn’t really like affection, so we compromised, satisfying us both.
I took a deep breath of the warm air, already perspiring despite the loose fit of my clothes. It was only supposed to be 30? today but it felt much hotter in the mid-afternoon sun and Corbin’s truck couldn’t be ready soon enough. Ever reliable, he expected the same in his car and it was cute how he ensured everything was good to go before our road trip, even if I stupidly chose to sit across the street in the heat while the mechanic gave it a once over.
“It’s ready when you are,” he cut through my inner ramblings as if I elicited his presence with my thoughts.
“You must have read my mind,” I replied, noticing his posture against that tree looked far too comfortable for someone who just arrived.
“Nope. But I do agree with Blake. There isn’t a lot that could tone down your weirdness,” he grinned lazily, and I blanched. He looked relatively pleased with himself, which meant he’d heard the conversation. How much, I couldn’t be sure.
Narrowing my eyes, I went for optimally cool – which was difficult given the film of sweat that was serving more uncomfortable boar than relaxed.
“Your audacity is high for someone who described their mood asDeep Space Sparkleless than an hour ago,” I jibed and startling me, he threw his head back and laughed loudly. His palm pressed to his stomach as if the act took him just as much by surprise. It was a sound I wanted to record and add to my playlist because hearing it made me think ofOcean FoamorLeafy Canopy, my favourite colours in the Crayola selection.
