"I'm trying to have a serious conversation with you!"
"And I'm trying to subtly avoid it!"
Michael almost sighed but reframed. It would not help anything if Jean got it in her head that this was bothering him.
She would continue doing it for no other reason, but it bothered him.
"Can we save this until we are back home?"
Sara asked, standing between the two, holding all of hers and Jean's shopping bags.
They had gone out shopping, Jean searching for anything that didn't involve Michael, and Sara in search of a new dress.
And judging by the scene now unfolding, Sara was going to be the only one who succeeded, like usual.
"Just give me one good reason."
"Uh, I don't &*%*#^$% want to go?!"
Michael's frown deepened if that was even possible.
"She's your mother."
"No. she's the lady who &*^%&& dead before doing anything, she never did any &**%% thing for me!"
"She died! what do you want from her?"
"Nothing! absolutely nothing!"
Jean stormed off or tried to, but Michael was not done yet.
"Fine, but I want you to come with me."
"And why the ^&%% do I care what you want?"
"I'm asking as your brother."
"And again, I ask, why do I ^*&%%& care?!"
Michael did sigh this time, still not letting go of Jean's arm.
"Please, just this once, please come with me."
Jean stared at him and silently fought herself for a few minutes before jerking her arm out of her brother's grip.
"No., not today, not tomorrow, not next year. never."
And this time she did storm off, leaving Michael and Sara alone in the crowded mall.
Years later.
Jean stood by herself in the dark cemetery.
Even the wind had fallen silent a long time ago, and the moon was hidden behind storm clouds, which explained why she was alone.
She set the small bouquet of daffodils on the grave.
In loving memory of Mary. H. McCall.
Born 2208 - died 2232.
Loving mother, sister, wife, and friend.
"Just this once, mom.....I'm not coming back....."
Jean swallowed back her tears and stood there for a few more minutes before walking away and back up the hill to her parked car.
Ignoring the grave next to her mother's completely.
In loving memory of Michael. P. K. McCall.
Born 2232 - Died 1986.
Loving Brother, Son, and Friend,
You will be missed.
"You know I care about you, right?"
Michael paused in surprise. Of all the things he expected his sister to say at this moment, it was not this. It would never be this. She spent most of the time cussing and complaining about him.
"I mean it, I do care about you and your stupid opinions and your nagging voice that makes me want to jump into a lake.......but I do care."
Michael smiled.
"Yeah, even though you are the worst at showing it."
"Uh, well &*^$ you so......."
Michael refused to laugh as his sister flipped him off, walking backward into the house.
"I love you two!"
He called after her, meaning every word.
Jean pulled on her shoes and turned back to stare at the empty living room and bar.
Everything had been cleared out.
Daniel had gone to stay with his sister for the time but would show back up soon. Jean had no doubt.
Sara, likewise, had gone back to her own home and family.
Austin and Kira had run off like the young fools in love they were.
She clenched her hand around the keys and sucked in a deep breath pushing back the tears that wanted to spill out over her face.
This was it, no more movie night or Christmas parties, no more lazy Saturday mornings, it was all gone and would be lost to time in only a few years.
She flipped the last light off and listened to the mansion shift and fade back to the run-down mansion it had been 30 years ago when she first arrived.
"Ready?"
Michael, her twin brother, her anchor, her only family left, asked.
"No. not at all, it's all gone, the cloak the mansion our friends....even the kids....."
Michael pulled her into a hug.
"I know, but we've been through worse, and I'd bet it only gets better from here."
Jean nodded as best she could. Her face was pressed hard against Michael's shoulder.
"Let go, this isn't our house anymore, and I'd hate to call Sara to tell her we both got arrested."
"True that."
They pulled apart, and Michael headed back to their parked car. Jean turned back to the now empty and dark mansion and whispered one last goodbye before locking the door and headed off to the next better, brighter chapter of her life.
