Rushing Whispers

    Geoff had given Cameron more news since we’d last seen him on Christmas Day, but he refused to share it with me until everyone had arrived for the party. I gave up trying to get the news out of him after the third time asking, and instead contented myself knowing it was good news, at least.      I was in my bedroom, trying to decide on a shirt to wear, when I heard the front door open. I sighed at the selection of clothes on my bed but when Sylvia entered the room, I thanked myself for having already put my jeans on.      “Sylvia! Come on in,” I told her. “I’d be downstairs but I can’t figure out which shirt to wear.”      She picked one up off the bed and handed it to me.       “Thanks.” I put it on and grabbed the rejected options to put them back in the closet. “How are you doing?”      “I’m alright,” she answered, her voice quiet. Sylvia met my gaze and I saw her deep frown. ...

    I had to admit that I’d felt slight worry when Cameron told me of his plan. He would be gone for most of the day, picking up various alcohols for our New Years party. I’d spent my early life living only slightly above the poverty line and even when adulthood brought me a job and a steady flow of income, the fear of overspending was still with me.      The Missing Persons tour had been quite successful and the band had made good money, but it took Cameron to convince me that we could spend money and not be in fear of becoming penniless. Cameron set off for the alcohol run, leaving myself and Liliane to spend time together at the house.      When I heard a knock at the front door, I assumed it was Cameron and that he would walk in momentarily. When the door didn’t open after a minute, I crossed the room and opened the front door myself.      “Hi, Emily.”      It was Lee, looking slightly different ...

    When I woke on Christmas morning, I carefully tiptoed out of bed. I let Cameron sleep; he was so tired that he hadn't even heard me get dressed.      I went downstairs and walked into the kitchen, where Liliane was sitting at the table with a cup of tea in front of her.      "Good morning."      "Morning," I answered. "Merry Christmas, Lil."      "Merry Christmas, sister," she told me as we hugged. "The kettle's still hot."      "Good. I need a coffee," I said through a yawn.      It was about an hour later when Cameron came down the stairs and into the kitchen.      "Happy Christmas, ladies," he said with a smile as he walked towards us. Cameron bent down and kissed me, winking as he pulled away.      "The water in the kettle is still warm," I told him. "We've been keeping it going."      "Which coffee are you on?"    ...

    We had spent the morning in Cruden Bay, at Cameron’s aunt’s house. Joan was thrilled to see us, and despite enjoying the time with them both, I was sad to leave her warm and loving home and return to ours.      The sun was reaching its peak for the day as Cameron and I exchanged a confused glance. The knock at our front door repeated itself as abruptly as it had the first time, so I left the kitchen and went into the sitting room.      “Were we expecting anyone?” I asked aloud as I reached the door.      No answer came from the kitchen, but none was needed. I opened the front door and was greeted by the smiling face of my sister.      “Liliane?” I exclaimed happily. “What are you doing here?” I ushered her into the house and hugged her for a long while.      “I missed you,” she answered. “And when Cameron called to ask me to visit, I couldn’t refuse.”      I turned to Came...

              The past six weeks had been exhausting. Though not much had happened, the toll of Sylvia’s situation and my recent miscarriage had been weighing me down. I had put on a brave face when Cameron and I visited my great-aunt Lily ten days ago for her birthday.      We spent the day with her and, despite her protests at the cost, took her to an upscale restaurant for dinner. Lily had enjoyed the day, and I was glad to be there with her as it was the first birthday she had celebrated with family in a long time.      The next week was spent mostly preparing for Christmas. Lily had declined our invitation to spend it with us in Cairnie, saying she would spend it with her widowed neighbour as she usually did. It would be just me and Cameron on our first Christmas together, and I felt I had a nice, simple gift for him that he would love.      I woke in the morning and moved to loo...