Danielle returned the hug, albeit lazily. Soyourewhat? Danielle teased.
Im good, Chloe said. I know I should have called butI dont know. I was afraid youd find some excuse for me not to come by.
I might have, Danielle admitted. But now that youre here, come on in. Excuse the mess. Well, actually dont excuse it. You know Ive always been messy.
Chloe laughed and when she entered the apartment she was surprised to find the place relatively tidy. The living area was sparsely furnished, just a couch, a TV and TV stand, a coffee table, and a lamp. Chloe knew the rest of the place would be the same. Danielle was the sort of person who lived on only the minimal amount of belongings. The exception, if she hadnt changed since her teen years (and it seemed she hadnt) was music and books. It made Chloe nearly feel guilty for the spacious and elaborate home she had recently purchased with Steven.
Want me to put on some coffee? Danielle asked.
Yeah, that would be great.
They walked into the kitchen, again only boasting the necessities. The table was clearly something that had been scoured from a yard sale, given at least a bit of dignity with a ruffled tablecloth. Two lonely chairs sat at it, one on either side.
Are you here to bully me about your block party? Danielle asked.
Not at all, Chloe said. I was interning today and came to this crime scene thatwell, it brought everything racing back.
Ouch.
Silence hung between them as Danielle set the coffeemaker up. Chloe watched as her sister moved about the kitchen, a bit creeped out at how much it seemed she had not changed. She could very well be looking at the seventeen-year-old girl who had left home with the hopes of starting a band, despite their grandparents wishes. Everything looked the same, right down to the sleepy expression.
Have you heard anything about Dad lately? Chloe asked.
Danielle only shook her head. With your job, I thought youd be the one to hear anything. If there was anything to hear.
I stopped checking a while ago.
Cheers to that, Danielle said, covering a small yawn with the back of her hand.
You look tired, Chloe said.
I am. Only, not like sleepy tired. The doctor had me on these mood stabilizers. It screwed with my sleep. And when youre a bartender who usually doesnt get home until after three in the morning, the last thing you need is a medicine that fucks with your sleep.
You said the doc had you on them. Are you not taking them anymore?
No. They were fucking with my sleep, my appetite, and my libido. Ever since I stopped, I feel much betterjust tired all the time.
Why were they prescribed in the first place? Chloe asked.
To deal with my nosy sister, Danielle said, only half-joking. She waited a beat before giving an honest answer. I was starting to get easily depressed. And it would come out of nowhere. I dealt with it in somepretty dumb ways. Drinking. Sex. Fixer Upper.
If it was for depression, you should probably get back on them, Chloe said, realizing as she said it just how intrusive she was being. What do you need a libido for anyway? she asked with a snicker.
For those of us that arent about to get married, theyre pretty important. We cant just roll over in bed and get laid whenever we want.
You never had problems getting guys before, Chloe pointed out.
And I still dont, she said, bringing mugs of coffee to the table. Its just too much work. Especially lately. This new one. A serious guy. We decided to take it slowwhatever.
Thats the only reason Im marrying Steven, you know, Chloe said, trying to get into the joking mood right along with her. I got tired of having to go out and work for sex.
They both had a laugh at this. It should have felt natural to laugh and smile together again but something about it felt forced.
So whats up, sis? Danielle asked. Its not like you to drop by. Not that Id know, as we havent had that opportunity in almost two years.
Chloe nodded, remembering the one time they had actually spent together in the last handful of years. Danielle had been in Philly for some concert and had crashed at her apartment. Theyd talked a bit, but not much. Danielle had been hammered and passed out on her couch. Their mom had come up in the conversation, as had their dad. It was the only time Chloe had ever heard Danielle openly speak about wanting to go visit him.
That scene this morning, Chloe said. It made me think of that morning outside of the apartment. I kept thinking about the blood at the bottom of the stairs and it got to me. I thought I was going to puke. And Im not that kind of person, you know? The scene itself was pretty vanilla compared to some of the stuff Ive seen. It just hit me hard. It made me think of you and I had to see you. Does that make sense?
Yeah. The mood stabilizersIm pretty sure all of the depression was coming from nightmares I was having about Mom and Dad. Id have them and then be in a funk for days. Like, not wanting to get out of bed because I trusted no one else out in the world.
Well, I was going to ask how you cope with it when you think of what happened, but I guess I know the answer, huh?
Danielle nodded and looked away. Meds.
You okay?
Danielle shrugged but she may as well have flipped Chloe her middle finger. Were together for about ten minutes and you already go there. God, Chloehavent you learned to live your life without dragging that shit up? If you recall, when you called to tell me that you were moving to Pinecrest, we decided to not talk about it. Water under the bridge, remember?
Chloe was taken aback. Shed just watched Danielle go from dry and sarcastic to absolute furious in the blink of an eye. Sure, the topic of their parents was a sore subject, but Danielles reaction was bipolar in nature.
How long have you been off the meds? Chloe asked.
Fuck you.
How long?
Three weeks, give or take a few days. Why?
Because Ive only been here for about fifteen minutes and I can already tell that you need them.
Thanks, doc.
Will you start taking them, please? I want you at my wedding. Maid of honor, remember? As selfish as it might seem, Id like for you to actually enjoy it. So would you please just start taking them again?
The mention of maid of honor did something to Danielle. She sighed and then relaxed her posture. She was able to look at Chloe again and while she was still angry, there was something warm there as well.
Fine, she said.
She got up from the table and went to a little decorative wicker basket on the kitchen counter. She pulled out a prescription bottle, shook out a pill, and swallowed it down with her coffee.
Thank you, Chloe said. She then pressed a bit more, sensing something else amiss. Is everything else okay?
Danielle thought about it for a moment and Chloe caught her casting a quick glance toward her apartment door. It was very brief but there was fear thereChloe was sure of it.
No, Im good.
Chloe knew her sister well enough to know not to press it.
So, what the hell is a block party, anyway? Danielle asked.
Chloe laughed; she had nearly forgotten Danielles ability to drop a subject and start another one with all the grace of an elephant in a china shop. And just like that, the subject was changed. Chloe watched her sister to see if she ever looked back to the door with that bit of fear in her eyes, but it never happened again.