Echoes Between Us - McGarry, Katie Page 0,16
onto her hip, covers her hand over my sister’s head, shielding her from whatever horror lies in wait and dashes up the stairs. I push past them, willingly becoming their first line of defense, then disgust courses through my veins at the sight of a figure stumbling up the stairs of the porch. A trip on the final step, a collapse, then a thud of a heavy body, and I swear aloud as I throw the bat across the porch.
It’s not a monster, at least not the ones from Lucy’s nightmares. On the ground is my mother. She rolls to her back. Her hair covers her face as her giggles grow into a hysterical laughter. I hate it when she goes out with her friends because this is how she comes back—drunk.
“It’s all right,” I call out, but I don’t sound all right. I sound pissed.
“Who is it?” Veronica asks.
Not exactly the way anyone wants an introduction to go. “My mother.”
Silence on Veronica’s end. I’m with her; there’s not much of a decent response for that.
My mom’s laugher subsides, and that’s never a good thing. She moans, and I know what that means. I wish my cast were already off because odds are she’s going to puke, and with the way my luck goes, she’s going to puke on me. The cast can get wet, but it retains toxic smells.
Lucy’s shuddered breaths are a sign she’s calming down but is still upset over whatever bad dream started this whole debacle. There’s one of me and two people who need help, and God help me, I don’t know who to take care of first.
I glance over my shoulder at Veronica who is hugging my little sister close. “Do you mind taking Lucy into our apartment?”
On the second landing where the staircase turns, Veronica leans over to get a good look at my mom just in time to see her roll to her side with a dry heave. Veronica’s lips thin out, then she rubs a hand along Lucy’s back. “Would you like me to take Lucy to my place? I can get her something to drink, let her watch TV and give you time to deal with … this.”
Do I want what she’s offering? More than I want eyes to see, but pride is a fickle beast as I’m the one who takes care of this family. That’s the job Dad left to me.
“I promise I won’t bake her into cookies,” Veronica says in a flat tone, and my shoulders drop with the reminder of how much of a jerk I am. “I already had a few Girl Scouts for dinner so I’m good for a few weeks.”
I deserved that yet I can’t bear to look at Veronica as I accept her offer. “That would be great if you could take Lucy.” I suck in a deep breath as I lift my mom into my arms. She’s a bit heavier than air, but with my cast on, she feels like dead weight. “Thanks.”
I hear a mumbled “welcome” as I carry my mom through the foyer and into the apartment. I kick the door shut behind me then head straight for the bathroom. Using my shoulder, I flip on the light, and when I set her on the floor, she barely makes it to the toilet before she vomits what’s left of her liver.
Mom makes ugly sounds as she retches, and grabbing an elastic ponytail holder, I draw her long blond hair back even though she’s already vomited on several strands. I drop my ass to the floor and lean against the cold tile wall.
I’ve never had a girlfriend. I’ve kissed a few girls, but no one steady. It drives my mom crazy and maybe this scenario is the reason why. I can’t comprehend a world where anyone would want to do this for someone they loved. It’s bad enough I have to do this with Mom. I don’t need nor want to do this with anyone else.
A few more dry heaves that contain fluid, and Mom moans as she places her head on the toilet bowl. I wince for her—we haven’t cleaned since moving in this morning and who knows what flesh-eating bacteria was on there from the previous occupants.
“I’m sorry, Sawyer,” she says in a rasp. “I didn’t think I drank that much.”
“I told you that you should have eaten dinner with us.”
“What can I say other than you’re right?”
Not much. “Is everyone this drunk? And if so, how did