“You know, I think you are, other than James’s parents couldn’t make it since they both came down with the flu. His brother is here, though.”
“Okay. I’ll make sure to find Leo and say hello. And, uh, what about your sisters? I saw Miranda.”
“Yeah. Miranda got in late last night. She’s been trying to make up for not being here for the party set up yesterday by helping this afternoon—and byhelping, I mean playing hostess on steroids.” Marley huffed playfully. “Maureen’s around here somewhere, too.”
Nice to receive confirmation Maureen was ‘somewhere,’ but she certainly wasn’t in the backyard. And she hadn’t been in the living room.
Marley and James sat down, bottles of water in hand. Most of the outside guests were looking at the side of the house, where a projector displayed photos of the happy couple onto the cream-colored siding. I gave James an upnod—which he sloppily returned—before heading back into the house.
My gut told me Maureen and I were playing opposing games.
I searched for her. She hid from me.
From speaking with James, I knew Maureen was temporarily living there, so I guessed she was in her room. It seemed impolite to wander to that side of the house, since none of the other guests had, but after a while the strain of not being able to locate her outweighed my need to be polite. I allowed myself a few steps toward the bedrooms.
As I neared the cracked-open door of the guest room, it wasn’t Maureen’s voice I heard. It was the squeaky, high-toned voice of a child, then peals of laughter. A deeper, full-throated sound I recognized followed those giggles. Maureen’s laugh.
Pinning myself against the hallway wall, I listened for a moment, preparing to knock.
“Mo-reen, I wanna try the shiny purple one!” A squeal of delight followed the sound of things being shuffled around.
“That scarf is perfect, Scarlett,” Maureen said. “You look very chic.”
“Huh? Cheek? That doesn’t make sense, Mo-reen.”
“She’s saying you look like a butt.” A young boy’s voice came from a corner of the room. “That you look like butt cheeks.”
“I did not say that!” Maureen protested, an edge of laughter in her tone. “Connor, that’s not a nice joke. You know full well I said your sister looks chic, as in beautiful and fashionable.”
“Yeah,” the sister stated indignantly. “I’m beautiful andcheek. You’re the buttface!”
“Alright, you two. Enough.” This time, Maureen didn’t stop herself from a small laugh, and I couldn’t catch myself before also letting out a chuckle, immediately clamping my hand over my mouth. I crossed my fingers that she hadn’t heard it.
No such luck.
“Hello?” Maureen called. “Is someone out there?”
I knocked softly on the door a few times before gently pushing it open. Maureen sat on the bed next to the girl. Her mouth fell open in anOwhen she saw me.
“Sorry,” I said. “I was walking by and couldn’t help overhearing.”
“Who are you?” The boy, probably eight or nine years old, walked over from beside the bed and spoke without looking me in the eye.
“I’m Will. An old friend of James’s. And Maureen’s.”
Maureen inhaled loudly. But since she didn’t dispute my words, the kids seemed satisfied.
“I’m Scarlett,” the little girl, maybe six or seven, said brightly. “Mo-reen was giving my brother a break from the party. Connor is au…autistic. He’s okay, but he needs lots of breaks when it’s loud and stuff.” She looked at her brother and smiled, giving him a thumbs-up. I noticed James’s dog Bambi was also in the room, resting his head gently against the boy’s thigh.
Maureen gazed at the girl with fondness. “Scarlett, do you want to know a secret?”
“What?”
“I’m glad you guys came to my room with me. I needed a break myself. We all need them sometimes.”
“Of course we do, silly,” Scarlett agreed. Turning back to me, she added, “Mo-reen’s letting us look at her box of ax…ax…axetories.”
“Accessories,” Connor corrected his sister kindly, apparently not truly believing she was a butt cheek. “I like the bracelets.”
