“Like what? Your brother is fine. I don’t understand what you want me to do.” I raised my hands in exasperation, then dropped them against my thighs with an audible slap.
“You need to help Lee paint the house.”
“You … What now? You want me …” I jab my thumb into my chest. “… to paint? Is this some kind of Mr. Miyagi stunt?” She has got to be kidding.
“Trust me on this one. Please?” She clasped her hands together in mock prayer. Those big eyes, so much like her brother’s, implored me to agree.
Tilting my head up to the ceiling, I let out a groan. “Sure, why not? It’s not as if I have a life.”
“Aw, don’t be like that. You’d have more of a life if you stopped pushing everyone away.”
“I’m pretty sure you know why I have to do that.”
She nodded. “Yes, but you don’t have to. You just need to be selective about who you let in.” Her expression suddenly became alert. “Heads up, Beverly’s coming. You need to help her soon. Time is running out.”
“Everything okay? I heard you talking.”
“Yep. Just on the phone with my granny.” I waved my phone at her, and dropped it back in my bag. “I like to check in regularly.”
“Okay. Well, enjoy your lunch. I wouldn’t mind some tucker, myself.”
I smiled tightly on my way past.
Returning from lunch, I headed to Beverly’s office to apologise for the earlier altercation. This was why it was safer for me to stay away from people. Her door was open, as always. When I knocked softly to get her attention, she had her smile ready. To my surprise, I returned it with ease. Her mother stood guard over her shoulder, her expression impatient. I kept my gaze on Beverly.
“Back from lunch? What did you have?”
“You need a mammogram.” The words spewed unchecked from my mouth. My eyebrows shot up, as my throat snapped shut. I was sure I looked like I was choking on a fish bone. She blinked rapidly with her mouth agape. The whooshing sound of the air-conditioning vents seemed as loud as a jet engine. Or, maybe that was my heartbeat.
“Uh.” Shit. “I mean, I need a mammogram and I was wondering if you’d come with me? I’m a bit scared.” What?
Her shock transformed to motherly concern. “Oh, Ronnie. It’s nothing to be concerned about, sweetie. They squish you flat as a pancake, this way and that, then you’re out in fifteen minutes. I’d be happy to accompany you. Truth is, I’m six months overdue for mine. It’s so easy to keep putting these things off. Have you been to your doctor? You might need a referral because you’re so young.” She waited, looking at me expectantly.
Right, what have I gotten myself into?
“Okay … I’ll need to book an appointment first, then. Best to get the doc to check first. It could all be in my head.” It’s most definitely in my head. “Do you need a referral, or can you just book in? I don’t want you to wait if you’re overdue. Why don’t you book and I’ll come with you? I can wait in the waiting room. Check out what it entails, so I’m not nervous if my doctor requests one for me. Then you can come with me, if need be.” Please book your appointment, now.
“Okay, I’ll book my appointment, if you book yours. How about that?”
I breathed a sigh of relief, and my shoulders sagged. Beverly’s mother performed a happy dance behind her back. I disguised my laughter as a cough, biting my lips as I took out my phone.
I flexed my calves to make sure my feet were still attached to the ground. I didn’t understand how much weight had piled on my shoulders from ignoring all the requests for help, and denying my gift. Using it to help was a high I never expected. Wow. Maybe I could do this. Maybe it was okay to be who I was. I just had to be creative with the explanations.
Ronnie
The loud honk from a taxi blended with the sounds of lunchtime in the city. The rush of people on a mission to fill their bellies, and find a patch of peace to enjoy their half hour of freedom. My mission was to face my fears, and cross another old building off my list.
“What about the Casino?”
“Nope. It’s too tainted. Too many people. I’d rather face a ghost than the energy surrounding hundreds of people losing their hard-earned cash. Beautiful buildings, though. From the outside.”
She narrowed her eyes, and tapped her finger on her chin in contemplation. “The Old Windmill? That place is haunted. All those convicts forced onto a treadmill for hours to grind the grain. Nasty business.”
“No. That part doesn’t float my boat. It’s the old buildings I love. I’m not aiming to visit every ghost in Brisbane. I just want to be free to pursue a love of mine without being put off by a spirit who can’t let go.” I looked at her pointedly. The shame of setting my sharp tongue free hit me the moment her bottom lip popped out. Years of snapping back was a hard habit to break.
“Sorry. I’m no good at this friendship thing.”
“Well, you’re letting me tag along with you, so that’s a good start. Friends share what they love to do with each other. You know, Lee would love to do this with you. He loves buildings, new and old.”
“Humph.” I put more force into each of my steps. My go-to move. Running. More like power walking right now, but I wanted to run so badly the adrenaline was already surging.
We weaved in and out
