Tuesday, November 22, 2022
From the beginning, Renald and Honey—or, as they were soon to be called, Nina and Gramps—were in unanimous agreement. They would never be able to reconcile with Brynn, but they could raise her daughter.
Loxley was only a few months old when Brynn died, and the Finches were thrown back into the routine of changing diapers and making bottles, something they hadn’t done in over thirty years.
When she was three, Loxley broke Honey’s green and gold mug. At five, she spilled chocolate milk while rocking in Renald’s chair. By age seven, the coffee table legs were riddled with dents, the upstairs hallway displayed a tiny picture of a rainbow, and the Finches rarely ate anything other than mac and cheese, chicken nuggets, and PB&J sandwiches.
Eighteen years went by full of ups and downs, sleepovers and school dances, puberty and a first date. By the time Loxley had finished her senior year of highschool, everything seemed to have settled. Honey tried to hold onto the peace for as long as she could, but something told her it wouldn’t last.
“Nina, why didn’t you get along with my mom?” Loxley asked one night during dinner.
Honey squeezed her fork. “Why- why do you ask?”
“People talk. They said you didn’t call her or anything after she left. I guess I just… want to know.”
Honey looked at Renald, hoping he would answer, but he fixed his gaze firmly on his plate. “Really, Loxley, it wasn’t that big of a deal.”
“You didn’t talk to her for three years. How is that not a big deal?”
“It really isn’t something I want to talk about. It was a… private situation.” Honey refused to meet her eyes.
“But I’m her daughter, your granddaughter, and I’m eighteen. I think I deserve to know!” Loxley glared at the ceiling and clenched her jaw, as if she was trying to hold in her frustration.
“No. Just no. We had a fight, she left, that’s the end of it.” Honey picked up her plate and jerked away from the table.
***
Several days later, while Honey folded laundry, she received a text from Loxley.
I wanted to let you know, I reached out to my aunt, and she agreed to meet with me. I am driving out to Cleveland to see her now.
Come back tomorrow to find out what happens in Returning.