Jason
The car came closer. It barely took a minute or two for the car to crest over the top of the hill. It was a small silver four-door Toyota Yaris. For some reason, I got nervous standing here, practically an open target, especially when it slowed down as it came towards the prison gate. I watched curiously as it got closer and the headlights no longer restricted my view of the driver, who looked like it may be a woman with long black hair and a cap tucked low over her eyes looking over towards the entrance. She was most likely a visitor, which I found odd since visiting hours ended at 3 pm.
Either way, it was none of my business. Shifting to the side, I tucked myself back into the bus shelter trying to make myself as small as possible, which was a little difficult, since I now topped 6’3” inches and 220 lbs. I heard the car engine purr as it moved forward. I squatted down pretending to be preoccupied with my shoes and waited for the car to pass.
But I would be so lucky; instead it rolled to a stop in front of the bus shelter. I chose to ignore the car and driver, but curiosity gnawed at my gut as I forced myself to keep my eyes down, willing her to just leave. A moment passed and then I heard the unmistakable squeak of the window rolling down. Shit.
“Well aren’t you a sight for sore eyes.” The woman’s voice had a hint of laughter, a very distinct, very familiar sound.
Curiosity got the better of me, and I looked up. The brunette casually rested her chin on her arm as she smirked out the window at me. She had pushed the cap back on her head to reveal chocolate brown eyes that were currently full of mischief. Even if I didn't notice the twin dimples that came to life when she smiled, I would have recognized that cap anywhere. Not many people would dare to wear a faded Nebraska cap in Okee country. Especially one as worn and faded as this one, with the fish hook still stuck on the brow. I knew this because it was mine. It had been my favorite hat, a gift from my dad. I had worn it everywhere.
A grin split my face, as recognition hit me. Warmth spread through me for the first time in over eight years at the sight of my baby sister. But she had lost that innocence she once owned, she had grown up, we both did.
“Jaime?” I said as both shock and surprise catapulted my earlier mood out of orbit. She was the last person I would have ever expected.
She squealed in delight, barely remembering to put the car in park before she got out and launched herself into my arms. I caught her before she could knock us both to the ground and held her tight to me as I swung her around in a circle. She squeezed me tight, burying her face in my neck and I just held her against me, reveling in the fact that she was actually here. I hadn’t told anyone about my release, and I wasn’t sure if she would have wanted to know. When started my sentence, she came to visit me twice a week, that changed to once every other week, and after mom died, all visits stopped. I set her feet down on the ground.
“I’m so glad you’re here.”
I tried to remove her arms from around my neck, so I could step back and get a good look at her, but she held on tight.
Her shoulders were shaking, and at first, I thought it was from laughter, but then I felt the tears against my neck.
“Hey…” I said quietly, “What’s this all about?” I tried for nonchalance, but I couldn’t keep the concern from my voice.
She sniffled and sucked in a breath before pulling back looking up, her large brown eyes red and rimmed with more unshed tears, and filled with sorrow.
“I’m sorry, I told myself I wasn’t going to cry,” She said softly, “I just can’t believe you’re really here. I never thought this day would come.”
I gently wiped the tears away with the pads of my thumbs and then held her at arm’s length, just drinking in the sight of her. It felt so good to have a family again. Studying her, I could see that she had finally gotten some of dad’s height. When we were kids, she barely came up to my chest, but now her head skimmed the bottom of my chin. No small feat, considering I was a respectable 6’3”. Gone were the chubby cheeks of youth, her face had thinned out, and her cheekbones were defined but not in a gaunt way. I was happy to see that she was a healthy weight, hadn’t fallen into society’s norms of girls being wafer thin and sickly.
“How did you know I was getting released today?” I asked curiously.
A slight frown marred her pretty features and she pouted her lips, “Well, it’s not like I heard it from you big brother,” she said and playfully angry.
But as always, she was more bark than bite. I did feel a little bad for not having contacted her to let her know, but then again, in my defense I had no idea where she was.
“I’m sorry Jaime. I really am.” I hesitated, not sure what to say. “It’s just that we hadn’t had any contact after mom died, and I just kind of figured it didn’t matter. Besides, I wasn’t even sure if you were still living in town.”
“You thought it wouldn’t matter?” The expression on her face quickly changed. Playfulness was replaced by hurt, “Of course it mattered. You’re my brother.”
She looked away and sighed, “I’m sorry. I know things were…difficult and strained when mom died. I didn’t handle it very well.”
I put my hands on her shoulders, forcing her to look at me, “James,” I started using my old pet name for her, “I should be the one apologizing, not you. You were barely 19, and you were left alone to deal with her death and all the arrangements by yourself.”
Regret washed over me. I had missed so much in the years spent in jail that I never once thought about how much she would have to do all on her own. The only thing that mattered to me at the time was what I had saved her from. Never once giving thought to everything else she would have had to endure once the dust had settled.
A small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth, flashing one dimple, “It’s not your fault Jason. And besides, I got through it; at least it made me grow up faster. I had no choice really, I only had Ally, and I couldn’t depend on her forever.”
At the mention of Ally’s name, my mind drifted to earlier memories. Immediately, I could feel the blood rush below and my groin tighten uncomfortably. Now was NOT the time for this.
Abruptly changing the conversation back to my initial question, I asked, “But that still does not explain how you’re here, how did you find out I was being released early?” I tugged on a lock of hair affectionately, “Don’t get me wrong I’m glad you are I am just curious how you found out.”
“Oh, well, a little birdie in town told me.”
I could always tell when my sister was lying. She would never look me in the eye, her eyes darting anywhere but my face, while tucking her bottom lip under her teeth.
I chuckled and crossed my arms cocking a suspicious brow. She shuffled her feet, still refusing to make eye contact. But, I knew how to wait her out.
With a huff, she finally blurted it out, “Okay fine! I found out from the old bitch Gladys.”
Gladys. A name I had tried to burn from my memory. I could feel the familiar burn of rage simmering just below the surface of my skin. After all the pain and hurt her and her family had put us through, it killed me to hear that she had any part in my sister life or our blissful reunion. Refusing to let it mar this occasion, I suppressed my anger and kept my tone blank,
“What do you mean you found out from her?”
“Well, I know she didn’t mean for me to find out, that much was clear.” Jaime began to pace back and forth, gesturing wildly with her hands.
“I had been in the county office, paying the back taxes on the house…”
My teeth inadvertently clenched and my jaw tightened at the mention of her having to handle back taxes, but I remained silent, allowing her to continue uninterrupted.
Eyeing me warily, she continued, “The clerk at the county took me around back to her desk to verify the amounts owed. So, I was half-hidden behind her cubicle wall when I heard her voice, you know, Gladys’s? She was obviously irritated about something because she wasn’t even trying to keep her voice down. I was trying my best to ignore her until I heard you name.”
I loved my sister, but she tended to be long-winded. I tried not to show my impatience as I willed her to get to the point. She must have sensed my agitation because she rushed through the rest of her story.
“Anyways, she was talking with the Sheriff about your release. She was trying to get it denied and threatening the Sheriff’s job and throwing around her family name and so on.” Jaimie rambled on, getting all worked up again, hands waving around as she explained what happened, “So I stood up and made my presence known. Gladys immediately turned red and accused me of spying on her. I don’t know what came over me, but I was tired of being bullied by that woman and her family. So I blatantly told her that if she hadn’t wanted the whole world to know, she shouldn’t be shouting it from the rooftops, like a banshee.”
Jaime managed to look both proud and a little sheepish at the same time, “I may have also mentioned that she may have been able to buy the judge and jury of this little town, but that her influence stopped there.”
I hated that I hadn’t been there to protect her from Gladys’s sharp tongue, but I couldn’t help but admire the fierce young woman she had become. I smiled at her proudly as I put my arm around her.
“I’m proud of you. You’ve managed to rise above everything and thrive despite that family, and what they did to us.”
“Eh, I did what I had to,” she said and shrugged, “Come on, let’s get you home.”
As we pulled away from the desolate bus stop, I forced myself not to look back at the prison. For the first time in years, I felt light. I felt hope.