“I have Saturdays off from the clinic, but I give riding lessons now. I got a new student,” I tell her, knowing exactly where this conversation is going to lead…especially since Mom knows my lease is up on this house in December and I haven’t signed a new one yet. Teaching riding lessons at Hollow Creek Stables is the only way I can afford to continue to pay the monthly board for my horse, Mystery, and most months are pretty tight.
“You’re welcome back home so you don’t have to work two jobs,” she starts, and I close my eyes, reminding myself her heart is in the right place. “There’s no shame in staying here for a year or so in order to pad your savings account. Paying rent on a house and board for a horse is a lot for anyone, Anora.”
“I know,” I say with practiced patience. It is a lot, and staying home the year after I graduated was tempting, but my relationship with my parents has always been a bit rocky, and I needed out of the house as soon as possible. It’s been a good thing, and my relationship with my mother has gotten much better since I moved out.
A big believer in science, Mom insisted the spirits I saw were “all in my head” and I lost count of how many therapists she had me go see as a child. Eventually, I learned to keep my mouth shut, but there’s something about your mother thinking you’re crazy to ruin that mother-daughter relationship.
We got into a heated argument just last week about vampires. I insisted what I know to be true: vampirism is the result of a curse or some sort of dark magic, and she insisted magic isn’t real and we’ll get to the bottom of the disease that causes them to not be able to withstand sunlight, consume “typical” food, and be subjects to outbursts of dangerous rage. Being invited to dinner tonight is Mom’s way of offering an olive branch, and the fact that she got Harrison, my twin brother, to come lets me know she really does want to put this whole thing behind us.
“Do you want me to bring anything to dinner tonight? I cleaned out my pantry last week and found a bottle of blueberry wine I got last spring from that vineyard by Aunt Muriel’s place.”
“Ohh, that was good wine! Yes, bring that, but nothing else is necessary. When are you going to the barn?”
I look at the clock, suddenly panicked that I don’t even know what time it is. I let out a small sigh when I see that I didn’t sleep through my lesson. “In like an hour or so.”
“If you want to drop Hunter off here on your way, you can. Buster needs someone to play with. That dog is driving me crazy.”
“Probably because you let Dad name him Buster.”
Mom laughs. “It’s not the most original name, I’ll side with you there.”
“I’ll get dressed and will head over now.”
“I’ll see you soon then, honey. Love you.”
“Love you too,” I say and end the call. Sighing, I get up, raking my fingers through my messy hair as I walk into my bedroom. I change into boots and breaches, feed Romeo, and grab Hunter’s harness and leash.
My parents’ house is halfway between my little rented house and the barn, which is another point Mom has brought up a few times. I’d save on gas and time if I relented and moved back home. They live in an expensive neighborhood with gossipy neighbors who no doubt know me as the weird girl who talks about ghosts.
My phone buzzes with a text on my way over, but I don’t check it until I’m parked in the driveway. It’s from Mom, saying one of her patients is in the ER and she’s going to check on them. Hunter and I go inside through the backdoor, and I let him out into the fenced-in yard with my parents’ golden retriever, Buster. The dogs love each other and start wrestling and running around right away.
I go inside and head into the kitchen to find something to eat. A large cardboard box sits on the island counter, and I know it’s from my great-aunt Estelle as soon as I see the shipping label. Her tiny cursive handwriting is hard to read, and it always surprises me anyone was able to read it and get the box delivered to the right house.