Stargazing: Walker Women, #2

By Brianna Michelle

It's not easy being Helen Walker's relative.  Nobody knows that better than Sally and Jane, her elder sisters who have borne witness to her journey.  Charged with picking up the slack left in the wake of their sister's detached parenting, these two women fight to maintain the well-being of their adored niece.  And to protect their entire family from the re-awakening of an enemy they believed had long-ago gone dormant.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brianna Michelle
• Release date: Feb 23, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386307785

Brianna Michelle

Brianna Michelle has been a lover of words and writing all her life.  She believes stories are the most universal form of connection for human beings, and she loves nothing more than having others share theirs with her, and sharing hers with others.  Some of her other favorite pastimes include collaging, practicing the guitar, and watching Johnny Depp movies.  Currently, she resides in St. Paul, Minnesota.  She can be reached at www.brianna-michellebooks.com.

Book preview

STARGAZING

A Walker Women Story

by Brianna Michelle

For all those who love a magical dissident

Copyright © 2019 Brianna Michelle

All rights reserved.

Sally

Dishes need to be washed. It’s as simple as that. Sally’s sisters seem to be under the impression that she makes such a big ruckus about these little banal tasks because it brings her joy. As if she sincerely stakes her whole life’s happiness on keeping the house in a condition fit for a surprise visit from a Home and Gardens photographer.

The reality is that, the majority of the time, Sally aches to be stripped of her title of Big Sister Extraordinaire. To rewind the clock to the days when running lemonade stands and making dandelion crowns were the only items on her agenda. Some days, it hurts so profusely that she seriously considers conjuring herself a Pinto and taking off, allowing herself to be engulfed by the open road.

The biggest conundrum is that there is no concrete factor she can point to that is preventing her from doing it. Walker women are a whimsical breed. They are not known for sticking out un-desired circumstances merely to avoid rocking the boat. Or to preserve family loyalty. If Sally is truly this miserable, her tribe would not think less of her if she just up and left. It would almost mandate it, in fact.

So, why then? Why does she soldier on in the midst of such desolation? The answer is as simple as it is maddeningly inscrutable: Because Jane and Helen need her to. And furthermore, because Sally needs Jane and Helen to need her to. As difficult as her younger sisters’ dependence on her is, Sally would fair ten times worse if it went away. It is the road map from which she plots her life’s course. Without it, her existence would be as inconsequential as a fruit fly’s.

Never has that truth been more palpable than it is today. Here, in the Walker’s bathroom. With all three sisters staring at the same barbaric pink plus sign.

By now, Sally’s ears have adjusted to Helen’s screams. In fact, they’re almost enjoyable. Not only are they fitting background noise to the horrendous sight that’s been thrust upon her and her sisters, they’re also a call to Sally to fulfill her life’s purpose. To soothe the despair and frustration that is steering Helen into catatonia. To be the voice of reason, the problem solver who makes everything alright again.

It’s just one test, honey, Sally tells Helen, Nothing’s confirmed until the doctor gives the word.

And if he does?! Helen whimpers.

Then, we’ll get you set up here, Sally says. She continues, more to herself than to her sisters, We’ve got the old bassinet in the attic, and Baby’s R’ Us is a mile up the road.

The house will be a wreck! Helen squeals.

Any more than usual? Sally quips, adding, With the way you two flitter around leaving crap all over the place, a newborn won’t make all that much difference.

None of us will get any sleep! Helen declares.

Like we’re all such consummate snoozers as it is? Sally retorts.

Given the minor thawing of the tension in Helen’s shoulders, Sally deduces that her level-headed pep-talk has been effective so far. But her baby sister isn’t willing to surrender all anxiety just yet.

I’m too young! she exclaims.

Parenting is challenging, at any age. Everyone muddles their way through it. I’m sure you will, too.

You’re quite the optimist today, aren’t you, Jane mutters.

Snide side-commentary like this is not anything new for Jane. It’s been part and parcel of their sisterly rapport since the day Jane was born. Consequently, Sally generally doesn’t give the snarky-ness a second thought. But something about this one sets the hairs on Sally’s body on end. Not out of fear, exactly. More out of frustration that Jane is incapable of setting aside her flippant honesty just one time to play along with Sally’s cajoling. Even if it’s for their sister’s sake. What’s more, Jane’s aside carried an air of menacing. As if she were convinced this little problem was an ugly, venomous insect. One which she had already hatched a scheme to squash quickly. Sally does not intend to let Jane’s conniving go unchecked. But it’ll have to wait until Helen is sufficiently tranquilized.

We’re women of the land already. We’ll be able to grow plenty of food to keep us all adequately fed, Sally says, And that guest room is perpetually empty.

In a meek, almost inaudible voice, Helen says, Jason.

What about him, Jane asks, her first words to Helen of the entire conversation.

He’ll leave me. I don’t want to lose him.

Now would be the worst possible time for Sally to be caught rolling her eyes. Which makes it a pity that whenever she hears that man’s name, her orbitals fall back into her head like a goddamn reflex.

She doesn’t hate the man. As a matter of fact, he’s one of the only males she’s ever met that she’s had any genuine respect for. He is a multi-millionaire, A-list Hollywood actor, and he has fallen head over heels in love with a Plain Jane, workaday woman like Helen. If that’s not chucking vanity out the window, Sally doesn’t know what is. It’s practically a human impossibility to hold animosity towards somebody with that level of humility.

Still, the effect he has on Helen is nothing if not contemptible. The lady might as well be wearing a flashing neon sign that reads, I Am Sickeningly In Love, Ask Me How. It must be a real treat, Sally figures, to have the luxury of indulging in such frivolous romantic rendezvousing. And to have somebody to indulge in them with. But it’s hard to pencil in an afternoon quickie when one has three lunches to make, dishes to wash, and an herb garden to tend to. And now, it looks like there’ll be a newborn baby to care for. Sally expects she won’t be having any dinners for two or hand-holding strolls through the park with a dashing date anytime soon.

Eager to skirt past Helen’s love conundrum, Sally just says, Let’s cross that bridge when we get to it, huh? Let’s get an official confirmation from the doctor first. One thing at a time.

Whatever you need to tell yourself, Jane mumbles.

What was that? Sally asks.

Nothing, Jane mutters insolently.

That’s what I thought, Sally says sharply. She then adds, Come on, let’s get out of this bathroom.

Thank God and Goddess for small favors. It turns out that Helen is a spectacularly sound sleeper. Sally used to comment on her youngest sister’s baby-like slumber habits constantly in previous years.

The girl won’t be able to live alone, she would comment to her parents, If a burglar gets into her house, she’ll sleep right through it.

But this trait has fallen off Sally’s radar ever since her and her sisters left adolescence. For obvious reasons, her siblings went from finding her penchant for watching them fall asleep less endearing to deeming it stalkerish and creepy as the years rolled on. So she stopped.

Which means she is impressed, and a little unnerved, by how quickly Helen conks out. Of course, it may just be a result of the day’s emotional roller coaster. Hell, Sally’s nearly ready to pass out, herself. Discovering an unplanned pregnancy is a serious drain on the body’s battery. But she says a small chant to the Divine that Helen’s easy settling is not a precursor to a fitful night. And, moreover, that it’s an inheritable characteristic that will be passed down to her baby sister’s offspring.

Now that Sally has one sister settled, at least for now, she can turn her attention to the other one. She wasn’t surprised when Jane left her to deal with bedtime herself. And she’s even less bowled over to find her lounging on the Lazy-Boy with a glass of Malbec and a copy of The Virgin Suicides, a book she’s read at least four times by now.

Thanks for all the help, Sally says facetiously.

Oh, shut up, Jane snaps, She’s not an infant. She’s a 24-year-old woman. You didn’t have to sing her lullabies and rock her to sleep if you didn’t want to.

Sally always swore that if she ever became a mother, she would only have one child. To her mind, it’s