The night has progressed as normal. Walking through the living area to the kitchen, flashes of Mr. Theo talking to her at the table, feeding her his wisdom are there clear as day. Mr. Theo was the only person they knew as a father. He took them in as kids and loved them as his own. At the back window, she can see Alex in his black college pull over, swinging the ax to chop those big logs that sat along the back of the house for years. The old white door opens with a hard tug, and shuts even rougher, shaking the pull down blind, causing it to hit the thin glass. The screen adds it’s small creak, as she walks through. “The backyard hasn’t changed much,” she says to gain his attention. The back lights glare, showing him in clear light.
“Not much,” he replies. Tonya moves down the back stairs, closer to her ax-wielding brother.
“Alex, can I talk to you for a second?”
“Sure, I thought we were done talking” he says as he’s swinging the ax blade into the log to split it.
“Why didn’t you tell me you kept the place?” she asks referring to him not telling her he held on to the house.
“I did initially attempt to sell it, but I couldn’t go through with it?”
“Why not?” Stopping the work of chopping, Alex leans the ax against the log and looks at her.
“It’s not the why, it’s the what for?” He says cryptically.
“What does that mean Alex?
“I just couldn’t, plain and simple. Honestly, there’s no need for us to have this conversation.”
“So you can make decisions and I can’t.”
“Wait, wait, wait one second…I don’t owe you anything and I’m not going to stand out here and argue with you. You want someone to argue with, you go your old boyfriend back in Seattle. I’m in a great mood and nothing is changing that. I’m getting over the death of my wife, and that’s it. You can either like the fact that the house is still here for us to enjoy or you can’t like it. I really don’t care one way or the other. Now if that’s all, I’m going to finish this. I mean Tonya, when are you gonna grow up. We haven’t really discussed our feelings all this time and all you want to do is pick a fight. Could you please go away so I can finish? Thanks…” Alex picks up the ax and continues to chop, sending her the message to just walk away. Head down, she walks towards the back of the house, foregoing the door, and walking around the side of the house to sit on the porch. Arriving at the old swing bench on the porch, she sits, mentally kicking herself for not just talking to him.
Sitting there for a period of time, she see’s Alex enter the house to place the wood by the fireplace. Rising from the rigged old bench, she rubs her hands together to warm them because of the clamminess that has set in. The old porch swing moves back and forth, drawing attention to the partially rusted chains. Opening the door she sees Alex stirring the fire, just like Mr. Theo used to do.
“Hey, can I talk to you for a minute?” she says to him as he loads the wood into the fireplace.
“Um, sure…” She notices that Alex isn’t at all upset, although her past attempt could have made him upset.
“I’m sorry for what I said to you earlier. Didn’t mean to start anything.”
“Okay…”
“I’m also sorry that I haven’t had the time or made the effort to talk to you.”
“Tonya, sit down on the couch.” Alex gets the fire going and the flames rise with every second. Slapping his hands together to remove the dirt from his hands, he sits on the couch. Tonya remains standing in the doorway, “Please, have a seat Tonya. I’m not upset with you.”
“You’re not?” She asks, surprised at his response. Tonya removes her black fleece jacket and places it across the arm of Mr. Theo’s chair.
“No…so what’s on your mind?” Alex asks.
“I feel so disconnected from you, that’s all.” It was the beginning of a conversation that has been waiting to take place. Maybe now they can learn how to move forward, and be together. Maybe?
To be continued….
“Return to Pier 35” is on every Monday at 9am PST. Please participate in the show by leaving comments and suggestions about the show or what you think it should happen next! Our author might consider your ideas for the next episode!
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