An Alpha's Inheritance

This Time is Different

I’m disoriented when I wake up the next morning. The curtains are thin so it’s super bright in the room I share with Gracie. I can hear her soft breathing in sleep. I slowly remember we’re back in the low country, and, for some reason, avoiding grandpa. I try to bury my head under my pillow. At least Gracie and I have separate beds this time, or else I’d need to steal back a blanket too.

As I start to wake up, I slowly recognize the pillow case I’m using. It’s something grandma made for me before she died. I sit up in bed and look at the blanket too, smiling when I recognize the last quilt grandma made me. I run my fingers along the outline of the stars she threaded into the design. I always left it at grandpa’s house because I was afraid it would get left behind in some frantic move that mom didn’t plan for. I guess grandpa must have dropped it off when he came over to turn on the gas and electricity.

I hug the quilt close to my chest and breathe in the smell of my grandparents' home. It smells like the dirt from a garden and cookies in the oven and something spicy. I sigh in contentment.  I’m going to go see my grandfather today, no matter what mom has to say about it.

Now that I’ve given up on falling back asleep, I get up as quietly as I can and sneak into the hallway. As I leave, I pull Gracie’s blanket up around her shoulder. At least one of us can sleep in today.

The rental looks different in the light of day. Smaller, but somehow more spacious at the same time. There’s a closed door at one end of the hallway. I assume that’s mom’s bedroom. She must blissfully still be asleep. Across from my door, there’s a bathroom. I walk in and splash some water on my face. The cold water is refreshing, but I still wish I were asleep.

It’s sweltering in the living room. I see a window AC unit and turn it on. I don’t even care about the noise. If mom and Gracie can sleep through this heat, they can sleep through the noise of the AC too.

I stand in the wake of the air and let the breeze cool me. I finally turn to look around the living room. There’s some old furniture. I recognize most of it from grandma and grandpa’s house. Once the room cools down a little bit, I start to investigate the kitchen.

It’s not that I necessarily need coffee. I’d just really like it, and it makes for a nice quiet morning routine. And there’s coffee everywhere.

I’m happy to see that grandpa left us a bag of coffee from the Crenshaw’s farm down the road. I load it into the coffee pot, and flop into grandma’s old chair to wait. The coffee pot gurgles and the room is filled with the earthy sweet coffee smell. I sigh and lean back in the chair, trying to relax.

This is nicer than most of our mornings after a move. We actually have some furniture, and more than that, it’s familiar. Coming back to grandpa’s town really feels like coming home. I’m used to waking up wrapped in several sweaters and hoping there’s somewhere nearby that I can buy some food. This is pretty nice.

I pour myself a cup of coffee and sit back down in front of the air conditioner. It’s still early, but I know grandpa will be awake. I still would rather wait until mom or Gracie wake up to go. Well Gracie. I’d rather not talk to mom before I leave today. She was cagey when I got home last night. She hardly seemed to notice how late I was out, and kept saying weird things about avoiding grandpa. I don’t have time to get involved in whatever old feud they have going on. Honestly, they’ve been going at it as long as I can remember. I think it must have started before mom even graduated high school.

I’ve tried asking a few times. Mom just starts ranting about how much of a disappointment she must be to grandpa. ‘His only daughter and I still turn out like this!’ When I asked grandpa, he just laments about how mom ‘had the odds stacked against her, but she still made choices.’ Whatever that means.

I miss grandma. She also wouldn’t really acknowledge the question, but she always just reassured me that they all love me, despite their personal disagreements. And then she’d give me cookies to distract me. Maybe I can pull out one of her old recipe books and make a batch today. I’m sure the town is keeping Mr. Mayor grandpa busy, but I’m sure he could use the trip down memory lane. I know I can.

I’m quietly sipping my coffee and enjoying the quiet morning when I hear a noise outside. My ears perk up and my muscles tense, listening for more. I try to reassure myself. It’s probably just a squirrel or something. I’ve always been really attuned to weird noises outside, and it’s hard to tell what’s something important and what’s just random nature sounds.

I hear a rattling at the door, and I jump up. The door swings open, and I brace myself. A figure walks in, and my arm automatically gears up to throw the only thing I have on hand.

“Layla, what the f**k?”

I scream and pull back my coffee cup, but not before most of it splashes on mom walking in the door.

“Mom?!?” I yell. “What are you doing outside? I thought you were still asleep?”

Mom starts to wipe coffee off her face with her sleeve. “Thanks for that,” she mutters.

“Sorrrryyy.” I run into the kitchen to grab some towels. “Where were you anyways?”

“I went out to get some breakfast to celebrate our first day here,” she says. As if to prove it, mom holds up a paper bag before putting it down on the counter.

“Ohhhh, what did you get me???” I hand her the towels and start digging into the bag.

Mom smiles and announces, “I got donuts. Your favorite! And some bagels for Gracie. Is she awake yet?”

“Nope!” I say, turning to look at mom, a donut in hand. It takes a second for me to notice that mom’s still wearing the clothes she wore for the drive. “Mom?!”

She stops the coffee from her shirt, and looks up at me. “What is it dear? I know that’s the right kind of donut.”

I’ve forgotten about the donut, but when she says this, I gently put it down on a napkin, trying to wipe the sticky gooey frosting off my fingers. “Mom, what are you wearing?” My voice sounds almost like an accusation.

Mom sighs. “Layla, what are you even talking about? I’m wearing my clothes.”

“You’re not even going to try to explain yourself! You were wearing those clothes last night. You didn’t even sleep here!” I’m yelling now. I don’t even care if I wake Gracie up for this conversation. “We literally just got here. I know it’s your hometown, but it’s been one night!”

“Layla, I am your mother, and I don’t have to explain myself to you.” She starts to turn towards her room, and I follow her.

“How could you do this to us? It’s our first night in a new place and you leave me and Gracie alone to go off and see some guy who’s probably been trying to get in your pants since high school?”

“Stop it!” she snaps. Mom sighs, and turns back to face me. “Please just don’t wake up Gracie.” She drags me away from the bedrooms and out the front door. Her grip feels stronger than I ever remember it being. “I don’t expect you to understand this,” she starts.

“Then at least try to explain.”

She’s silent, and eventually looks away.

“Please,” I beg her. After another minute of silence, I add, “Because right now, it just looks like this is another one of your ‘fresh starts’ where you just go off and leave us alone for some guy you just met. It looks like you’re just as selfish here as you were in every other city, and it looks like I shouldn’t even unpack because we’ll be leaving again soon.” I start to pace, tears forming in my eyes.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see mom start to reach out to put a hand on my shoulder, but she thinks better of it, and takes a step back before she reaches me.

“Layla, this time is different.” She leans back against the SUV. “I can’t explain it in a way that will make sense, but this is home. Your grandpa’s here and--”

“AND you haven’t talked to grandpa in a decade. I had to tell him we were coming.” I turn to face her. “All he does for us? All he did for you to get this trailer set up, and you can’t even pick up the phone?!”

“It’s more complicated than that,” mom says quietly. For once, she looks small, like she’s folding in on herself.

I consider just letting it go, but I’m already too worked up for that. “It’s not more complicated than that. It’s the same stupid story, where you abandon us for some asshole guy you just met. No wonder grandpa doesn’t want to talk to you! You probably ran around like this all the time when you lived at home!”

“Layla, you can’t talk to me like this.”

“I’m sure dad was just a blip on your sordid history. Thank god he up and died so he didn’t have to see you jump in bed with a new guy every 10 minutes.”

“Layla, get inside. You’re grounded.”

I stop and face her. “FROM WHAT?” I yell. “We literally just got here. I don’t know anyone, and there’s nothing to do besides.”

Mom seems to hesitate for a second considering, but I jump in before she can say anything.

“You know what, no. I’m going to grandpa’s until you can sort out who’s more important in your life.” I don’t look at her as I storm past her to get to the road. After a few steps, I start running, and don’t look back.