It’s Complicated But It Doesn’t Have To Be

6

After getting in the car, Melissa turns on the radio, turning it down to a low volume Ryan turns to her and speaks “Who’s Blake?” Thankful of driving Melissa shrugs gently and says “Just a guy I had one date with.” Pulling up at the traffic lights waiting on them turning green, Ryan speaks again “You seeing him again?”

“Yes” came the reply as Melissa pulled off from the lights grateful it was so early and the coffee shop was around the corner to try and deflect Ryan’s awkward questions.

“Well I hope you know.....” Ryan began before being cut off by Melissa “Yes I know if he hurts me he will have you to answer to. Honestly you’re worse than dad. You act like my OLDER brother.” Melissa emphasised the older, grateful to be pulling into the empty car parking space.

Getting out and locking the car, the Hartford siblings entered the coffee shop, Ryan grabbing a wrought iron table with two chairs while Melissa ordered drinks and food which is paid for after eating, if eaten in-house.

Melissa took the hot chocolate and the Black Cherry coffee over to where her brother was sitting. Placing the large mugs on the table, she grabbed some sugar packets, throwing them onto the table, as she sat down the food arrived.

It was a deep filled BLT, the bacon was just how Ryan liked it, crispy and slightly salted. Nearly salivating at the sandwich in front of him, he grabs the knife and cuts it in half.

Picking up the triangular half Ryan pushed the other half to his sister. “Eat.” He said more of an order than a request.

Raising an eyebrow at him Melissa spoke “Ryan, I’m not hungry right now. I promise I will eat something. So come on tell me.”

Ryan, having finished the first half pulled the other half of the BLT towards him and devoured it in three bites. Melissa was impressed. She’d never seen anyone eat a sandwich that quickly before.

Wiping his hands and mouth and taking a long drink of his chocolate, he placed the mug down and spoke quietly “There’s a girl I’m interested in. I don’t think she notices me though.”

Melissa laughed “Oh Ry, if she doesn’t notice you she’s not worth it. Just carry on being the sweetheart you always are and she will either see you or not. You can’t force attraction.” Ryan fidgeted uncomfortably in his black iron chair.

“Yeah or maybe she needs to get away from the football player she’s dating.” As he finishes his sentence he stands. “Listen sis, don’t tell mum or dad about this will you?” Melissa smiled “Of course I will baby bro, it will take the heat off me.” Flipping her the bird Ryan grinned knowing Melissa would keep the information to herself and walked out of the coffee shop.

Getting up to pay Melissa realised that she had a message that she hadn’t yet read. Thanks to that nosey brat of a brother. Taking her phone and debit card out at the same time. She tapped the screen for contactless payments and tapped the screen of her phone.

Blake - Hey Melissa, are you free on Saturday? I was wondering if you wanted to go Funland Amusement Park. Let me know when you get this message.

Melissa replied -Sure I’d love to go. Message me on Friday with a time. M x

And she walked out into the bright sunshine with a spring in her step.

Ryan was waiting by the car, “Get in I will give you a lift.”

Jumping in and starting the car Melissa said “Where to?”

Ryan mumbled “Chad’s place.” Smiling slightly she drove under direction, before long she pulled into to a big driveway, and there waiting on the porch was Chad. As Ryan got out he bent down and spoke to Melissa quietly so only she heard in the quietness of the car.

“Listen squirt, I know we joke around but I love you. You’re my big sister, you’ve protected and looked after me. You deserve to be happy.” Then slamming the door Ryan walks away.

Slightly stunned at the heartfelt words Ryan had spoken Melissa sat there for what seemed like an age before slipping the Boxster into reverse and pulling off the drive to go home.

Ryan approached Chad “Dude who was that?” He asked with a grin on his face.

Ryan responded “That was my sister. Hands and eyes off.” Before they both went into the house to play video games. 

ONE WEEK LATER.

The spring in Melissa’s step had quickly faded as she was back at work. Melissa had started to try to expand the company even more internationally.

She’d been scouting for businesses and plots of land in other countries. Just an idea she was tossing around, doing research, land taxes, business taxes, and a whole load of red tape.

On top of that Featherlite was going extremely well. Rick McAdam owner of McAdam Photography had been one of five businesses to “win” help from Melissa and the board of directors, after they had put all five contracts beside each other. Melissa had an uneasy feeling about Rick McAdam, she didn’t like him. He quickly had proved to be a chauvinistic and mysoginistic, working on a sixth sense, Melissa had written into his contract that if he was to make any comments about her being a woman finding would be withdrawn, although he didn’t know this, Melissa had had her lawyers draw up a watertight contract.

She hated people who were sexist men or women. She wasn’t a feminist or anything like that. She believed that you got where you were by ninty percent hard work and ten percent luck. She was proof of that. Her own father had never spoiled her. She can still remember the day she told him she was going to be CEO, he said “Of course. You do however have to prove you can do it. Prove you can work hard.” He often held her to a higher standard than other employees.

After what seemed like a hectic week, of business meetings and work.

Melissa finally sighed 4pm on Friday, “Right that’s it Sam.” Melissa said to her secretary. “We’re both going home early. I’ve had enough of McAdams Photography. That guy Rick? A nightmare. So we’re going to close this page for now and pick it up again on Monday.”

As Melissa explained this to Sam her mobile phone beeped.

Quickly dismissing Sam from her office, she grabbed her phone

Blake - Sorry I haven’t been in touch, it’s been busy at work. So tomorrow. I will pick you up about 10am.

Melissa - Ok. Here’s my address.

4224 Park Plaza

Blake - Nice. See you tomorrow. Oh wear Jeans.

Putting her phone in her coat, and slipping it on. Turning off the lights, and locking the office door Melissa made her way outside to her car.

“Keys......keys ah there you are.” Melissa told nobody in particular.

“Hey darling.” The female voice came from behind.

“Suzanna? What are you doing here?” Melissa squeaked

Suzanna Hartford-Bass, Melissa’s stepmother, she was a petite woman, she always looked well turned out. Her hair was always tidy, a short pixie cut that made her look younger than her 45 years, fashionable but classy. She was everything a mother should be.

Hugging Melissa, Suzanna pulled away quickly. “Honey, I have something to ask you and I wanted to do it in person.”

Melissa gave her a questioning look, Suzanna rarely asked her for anything, “Ok. Get in I’ll drive you home.”

Suzanna had learned to drive in the U.K. but never bothered in the USA. Driving in a foreign country scared her a bit. Everything was bigger, the lorries were bigger, the car parks were bigger, Shane had advised her if she wasn’t confident she shouldn’t do it. Besides they had their own personal drive Raymond.

Melissa started the car as Suzanna clicked her seatbelt in place.

“Are you okay Melissa?” Suzanna asked clearly worried.

“I’m fine. Just busy. Featherlite and other things.” Suzanna knew better than to delve deeper. She didn’t want to become embroiled in business that’s not who she was. She was a doctor that’s what she did.

Pulling up into the driveway of her stepmothers and dads home, Melissa killed the engine. “So what’s up?” Melissa asked raising an eyebrow in the older woman’s direction.

“It’s my father. He’s had a heart attack. I need to go back to the U.K. for a bit. Get things sorted out. The thing it your dad and Ryan are coming with me. He can do his learning online. Until the holidays at least. Now I know Christmas is in four weeks time, and usually we do the big family celebration, and in the evening we have friends over and play games. But we can’t do that this year. We need you to move back home for a while to take care of the dogs. Is this okay?” Suzanna asked guiltily.

Smiling Melissa said “Of course. You need to go take care of grandpa Bill. I will keep everything running here.”

Melissa had fond memories of her Suzanna’s dad. She recalled the first time they met.

Melissa had been painfully shy. Not speaking or making eye contact. Bill had a model train that he was restoring for a friend.

Sitting at the table in his shed Melissa wandered in

“Hello Lissie.” Grandpa Bill was the only person who got to call her Lissie. Having no other grandparents Melissa didn’t know how to act.

“What you doing?” Melissa asked her yellow ribbon, that matched her dress, straining against untameable hair. “I’m restoring this model train. For a friend.” Grandpa Bill explained.

“Can I sit here?” Melissa asked her Grandpa if she could sit on the faded green leather topped stool next to him.

“Of course. If you do that I need you to be an assistant. Pass me tools and things.” Bill explained.

“Ok, Grandpa.” Melissa said sweetly. The two of them sitting side by side the worker and his helper.

Coming back from her daydream, she realised Suzanna had got out of the car and gone into the house.

She knew that her parents didn’t expect her to go in, especially as busy as she was. Quickly before turning on the engine she called the house “Yeah?”

“Oh brother of mine, you really need to learn how to answer a phone better. Tell dad and Suzanna I will see you guys in the New Year. By the way I will have your present sent Grandpa Bill’s”

“Ooo what is it?” Ryan asked

“It’s called a fleshlight.” Jokingly Melissa said down the phone to tease her younger brother. “To save you using your hands.” Melissa cackled into the phone.

“f**k off.” Was all she heard before Ryan hung up on her.