Second Choice

The Split Path

All the painful memories that I worked so hard to bury the last few years to be strong for myself and my sister are crumbling right in front of Dusty. Remembering the accident, losing my parents, the hardcore therapy I went through while he was off partying and hunting with his f*****g friends. Excuse after excuse, while I sat alone watching my sister sleep in the bed next to me at night in the hospital room. I harbored so many emotions and put up a wall. 

"It's okay, Dusty. I have to get going. Besides, your mom will need you in there when she wakes up."

Dusty's shoulders slump. "Yeah, I know. It's going to be a long road."

"Yes, it will,"  I say while adjusting purse and glancing towards the elevator.

"Excuse me."  The familiar nurse walks out of the room and says. "Mr. Hofman, your mom, just woke up. She is weak, but she is asking for you."

Dusty's eyes grow wide with a sense of hope, but he stops and looks to me, then to the door. Guilt spreads across his face. "I'm-I'm- sorry, Bailey. I have to go."

 "It's okay," I reassure. "Go do what you need to do."

"No, it's not, okay." Dusty waves his arms towards the door in frustration, "I still need to explain all this s**t to you."

The nurse oddly stands there instead of going back into the room. Dusty looks at her with concern, then back at me. "You still live at the old ranch, right?"

"Yea, why?" 

The nurse interrupts."She may fall back asleep. Maybe you should chat later, Mr. Hofman." 

This nurse, I am still not sure her connection to Dusty, but it is clear she knows him on a deeper level. I cut her a look from hell while Dusty runs his hands through his hair and mumbles. "I'll talk to you later. How does that sound?" 

"Whatever you say, Dusty." I spat and start walking away.

"Bailey, wait!"

"Mr. Hofman, your mother is waiting." The nurse says in an impatient tone.

"I know!" He whips his body around and snaps.

Not once do I look back to check and see if it is looking or went in the room. I take the elevator, my car, and drive in silence home. I call Laura, but she doesn't answer. I am not surprised. She is probably out with another guy tonight. I call my sister, and she picks up the phone by the third ring.

"Hello?" There is a lot of music in the background, but the music settles down after she says my name. "Bailey?" 

"What are you doing, partying?" I tease. 

"Funny, Bailey. You don't normally call at this time." Janie pauses, then asks, "Is there something wrong?"

"I don't know. I... just wanted to see how you were."

"No, I know that voice anywhere. Something is wrong. Spill." She says before I hear the sound of a door clicking shut.

I sigh, knowing it is hard hiding anything from my sister. We have been through hell and back together. "It's just been a long day. That's all."

"Oh, come on already. I'm calling you out on this one." Janie teases.

"You know, you're a pain, right?" I laugh.

"Yep. So what's up, Bailey? Is it boy trouble?"

 I gasp shock."Since when did you get so smart?" 

"Whatever, Bailey. I am thirteen now. I am not your little sister anymore. I actually have a brain."

I laugh. "Very funny. First of all, you will always be my little sister."

"Whatever." She giggles.

"And second, smartypants, make sure you are using that brain over there while you're partying instead of your hormones, or I am going to whoop your ass."

"Bailey!" She yells out in shock.

"I am not dumb either, Janie."

There is silence, but I swear I think I heard her roll her eyes. "Okay, well, it's getting late. I better get going." 

"You're not going to talk about what's bothering you?" Janie asks, not hiding the hurt in her voice.

So close, I come to telling Janie about how I thought I got a phone call that she was dead only to punch the life back into some stranger that Dusty now calls mom, but for some reason, as I stare at the empty house that Mom and Dad left behind. This old house that is falling apart just like me that I don't dare to tell her.

"I...I can't."

There is a silence between us two. The only sound that pushes through is the occasional thumping of the drums from somewhere near Janie. She sighs in frustration and finally speaks.

"You know what, I think, Bailey. You have been in that old house for a long time. You are hanging onto it just to prove a point. That house is falling apart, Bailey!"

"Janie, I love this house...and you know we need this home. We have to have a steady place, especially for social services."  A small teardrop sneaks past the corner of my eye. Damn her and making me feel this way.

 I try to remain calm as I remind her, but she is right. The house is falling apart, the yard too. I love this place, so damn much, but I need the income to fix it up. 

"Bailey, all I am saying is, even when our parents were alive, you were the caretaker. You haven't had a break. Sell the house and follow your dream." 

"And what dream is that?" 

"To be a writer, duh." I can hear her sigh again. "Go, Bailey. Go take some classes. Get the education you need. Get a small  two-bedroom apart and take some English classes."

"A two-bedroom, huh." I giggle.

"Well, yeah. I am still coming for the holidays." 

"I am not saying that I want to move, but for classes, I will think about it."

"No, Bailey. You won't. You need this. Besides, I just text Laura the good news that you are doing it. She is coming over tomorrow to help you get started."

"Janie McDowell! This is my decision, not yours!"

"Sorry, Bailey. It's time for us to do something for you for a change." Janie says stubbornly.

"Janie, even if I listened to you, you do realize I cannot afford to go to school and get an apartment unless someone makes an offer on this place." There is silence on the phone.

"Janie...do you hear me?"

"Oh. Sorry. I was texting Laura again. She says to tell you, see you at seven sharp, and she is so excited she is going to have to change her panties."

"You are ignoring me, but nice...real nice..." Janie giggles.

"I'm not selling this place, Janie. I'm just not."