Post by Rose Elliot Madison on Jun 24, 2012 1:33:48 GMT -5
Rosie rolled over in bed, closing her eyes and yet no sleep came. She just wasn’t that tired. But she didn’t have anything else to do so sleep was sort of the only appealing option. Libby was out with Declan, he took her dancing. Which was incredibly sweet of him, and Rosie supposed was just as much what he needed right now too. Just get his mind off of things. Besides, Rosie had spent the entire day with Libby in the attic, looking through old things, she could share her sister with him for tonight. And what a long, weird day it had been too…
Rosie opened another box, laughing at the first picture she pulled out, “Oh dear god, I was so small…” she remarked, looking at a grade school picture of her class, her in the far right corner. Libby reached over and took it, “Ha, I have a picture just like this of my class, same uniforms and everything.” “They probably still have those uniforms at that school.” “I’m sure they do. And I’m sure Ms. Frankfurt still hasn’t retired.” Rosie laughed, “The Frankfurter,” as she sifted through the pictures, “Ahh, Aunt Jo’s wedding. Flower girl… Oh look at this one, this is like my first Polaroid, headshot… from my portfolio…yikes.” Libby gasped, snatching a picture out of the box before Rosie could get a hold of it, “And so began the awkward stage. This right here belongs in your portfolio. No… no, no,” she said laughing freely, grabbing another, “This one. I should anonymously send these to the media. Hilarious.” Rosie shook her head, laughing, “Just awful.” “Are you smoking a bong in this picture?” “Give me that…” Rosie said, shoving that one back in the box. Libby sighed, “Speaking of portfolios, what’s your plan now?” “What do you mean?” “I mean, are you staying with Victoria’s Secret? You can tell me, I won’t judge. And don’t feel like you have to stay doing it, I think we both have college paid for well enough by now. Which I appreciate, by the way.” Rosie shrugged, “Honestly? I’m not going to bash it, you know I loved it. I got to travel, and meet some really great people. I just… I’m getting a little older, wiser. I think taking myself more serious means I should… move forward. Put some more clothes on. It paid well, don’t get me wrong…” she added, “But, what guy wants other guys seeing all that of his girlfriend, or his wife? You know, I worry that guys don’t… take me seriously. I know that sounds stupid, you don’t have to tell me.” Libby nodded, “So what now?” “Well, my contract goes until the fashion show, and you know I’m not a quitter. I’ll fulfill my obligation, do one last catwalk with the company. Then I don’t think I’m going to renew my contract.” Libby stayed quiet for a moment, and then said slowly, “Are you quitting modeling?” She sounded… disappointed? Rosie turned to look at her sister fully, ”Do you think I should?” Libby thought for a moment and then responded, “No. Not unless you really find something else you want to do. But don’t quit because of what other people think. I’m not blind; I can see you love it. Maybe you’re just kind of through with VS.” “Yeah,” Rosie said, sifting through pictures absentmindedly, “I want to model still. I do love it. Just want to keep my clothes on most of the time now I guess.” Libby laughed, “Nothing wrong with that. You know I’m at least proud of you right?” “Thanks,” she smiled a little. “Seriously. I know you try to be something for me to look up to, being as its just dad…” Libby raised her eyebrows, “I just… think you did a good job. That’s all.” Right then was what made everything worth it. Libby at least was proud of her. Rosie leaned over and hugged her, “I love you… but if any of these get leaked to the press,” she added laughing, “I will be coming to get you.” “We can burn them later.” “Deal.”
Libby stood up, stretching her legs, “So what’s the deal with this Ethan anyways?” Rosie stood up too, putting the box of pictures in the burn pile. “Nothing. We’re friends.” “Oh my god Rosie,” Libby scoffed, “Don’t even give me that. I’m your sister, at least tell me the truth. What, a friend that you just hooked up with? You liked him…? I’m confused, enlighten me.” Rosie let out a huge breath. Sometimes she forgot Libby didn’t see anything first hand and she had to explain it to her. Which she hadn’t to anyone. Explained the whole sad story in one sitting. She decided she would keep it brief. “Not really anything, we met, we were friends, he was good looking, I flirted with him, he had a girlfriend, they broke up, respectful grace period, slept with him, shame on me, he still didn’t like me as more than a friend, slept with him a again, shame on me again, nothing. I really, really liked him, and he really, really… I don’t know. He never really told me. The timing was always wrong, he was always dating someone, or we were trying to not ruin our friendship. And now he’s dating Natalia Richmond again so there’s no way we could ever talk about it now. And I don’t think I’ll ever know how he really felt. But chances are, since he never really said, there was probably nothing to tell.” Rosie sighed, sitting down on a box, resting her chin in her hands. “Jesus.” Libby remarked, sitting on a box across from her, “This is just an observation, but this seems like you liked him a lot more then you let on. Because you are, until this moment, still hung up on him. You realize Declan is like, practically in love with you right? And he won’t even go near the bundle of confusion that is you because if I was him, I wouldn’t touch that with a ten foot pole either. You need to figure this stuff out. Do you really think there’s no chance there?” “Yeah, I do. No chance at all. I’d be an idiot to let myself pine after him. I need to get over it.” “So you said it yourself, what’s the holdup then?” Rosie paused, feeling herself redden, feeling mad at herself for even thinking it, “Because as stupid as I feel for it, it’s hard to get over someone you loved.” “You think you loved him?” “I think so… I don’t know. It just… felt like it. It really, really felt like the real thing. Maybe I was just in love with the idea of him.” “Maybe. Maybe your judgment was clouded by the good sex.” “Libby!” “What?!” “What do you know about it anyways? You haven’t slept with anyone.”
Libby looked at the floor, failing to make eye contact. Rosie gasped quietly, “Libby… you so failed to mention this minor detail. When did that happen?” “Oh my god Rosie, don’t make a big deal out of it. It was a few months ago, and it was one time, and it was awful, and I didn’t want to tell anyone. And you weren’t here, and I didn’t want to tell you over the phone because it was just stupid… and I feel like an idiot.” Rosie frowned, “That bad?” “Ugh. Yeah… he just… I shouldn’t have done it. He acted so nice, and then it was like, bam, jerk. And now I’m just mad at myself for letting that first time be so un rave worthy.” “Well, not many are… Guess we’ve both slept with people we shouldn’t have. Welcome to the club sister.” “I didn’t tell anyone. I don’t even know how I went this long since you’ve been home not telling you. I was just trying to forget it happened.” “Some guy will come along and make you forget it happened.” “It gets better right?” “Oh so much better.” “Was that what it was like with Ethan? Awesome?” “Let’s not talk about that.” “Why, was it bad?” “No. It was perfectly… awesome. And now I would like to just forget about it,” she laughed. “Alright, from here on out we both forget about both situations.” “Okay.” “So… I’m not going to be getting with anyone anytime soon… but you, you need to find a new guy that will make you forget Ethan.” “So soon?” Rosie laughed. “Yes. How about our charming neighbor?” Oh god. This. Again. “Libby, he won’t even look at me, what on earth makes you think he would date me.” “Um hello, he did kiss you angrily in the rain. He argues with you. Hell, he likes pissing you off. He challenges you.” “Uh yeah, and now he is currently not talking to me because his mom died and that for some reason made me the devil.” “God you are ridiculous. He’s just taking his anger out on you because you’re an easy target and he’s annoyed that you’re so hung up on he-who-shall-not-be-named. Can you not see that he’s so into you? And if I were him, watching you practically cry about he-who-shall-not-be-named, I would be pretty freaking annoyed at you too. Admit it, he’s adorable.” “I suppose so…” “And dad loves him.” “Yeah…” “And you were totally turned on by the fact that he kissed you in the rain.” “Stop analyzing me…” Rosie stood up and crossed her arms over her chest, “Okay, even if I thought all those things, he still is not fond of me at the moment.” “He will come around.” “Maybe he will if you keep making him sandwiches.” “Is that what you want?” Libby asked, her face practically glowing with excitement. Rosie asked, “What, for you to make him more sandwiches?” “No idiot, for him to come around.” “Maybe.” “Yay!” Libby said, hopping off her box, “You DO like him. I knew it. Ethan who, right? Bazinga.” “Have you been watching American TV…?”
Rosie put her hands up laughing, “Okay, conversation over. Unless you can work some magic with those sandwiches, there is nothing else to discuss.” Libby sang quietly, “You loveee him…” Rosie turned and looked at her sister, shaking her head, “Move, let’s look at what you crushed in the box you were sitting on.” Rosie moved around her sister, lifting the flaps so they hung open, catching her breath in her throat. Inside the box was a big pile of white lace, laid perfectly, untouched for who knows how long. “Oh my god…” Rosie said quietly, just staring at it for a moment. “What?” Libby said, walking over and leaning over Rosie's shoulder to look in the box. “This is mom’s wedding dress.” “Oh my god, take it out, I wanna see it.” Rosie gingerly picked it up, watching as layer after layer of vintage lace spilled from the box. “Wow…” Libby breathed over her shoulder. Rosie agreed, “Yeah. It’s beautiful.” “What should we do with it?” “Sure as hell not getting rid of it.” “Maybe we should hang it, it’s getting too wrinkly.” “Yeah. I have some garment bag things in the back of my closet, we can put it in one later when we go down stairs.” How surreal. The thought of the person who wore this, and the fact that she had been gone for so long, was just surreal. Libby took it gently, careful not to let it drag across the dusty floor and laid it over the old dining room table in the corner. In the bottom of the box were just a few things, her parents wedding photo, an old photo album and a small jewelry box. The wedding photo, Rosie hadn’t seen since she was really, really little. It used to hang on the wall by the stairs, where all their baby pictures and school pictures were now. Rosie forgot about it when it was taken down. Until now. Her dad probably took it down after she died, and put it in this box, along with all the other pictures of their mother. Rosie didn’t think he intentionally meant to hide all of the things that had to do with their mother, but she suspected that seeing them at the time hurt too much. And then they became forgotten. Libby took the frame from their wedding from Rosie, sitting beside her on the floor and watched while Rosie glanced through the album. All pictures of their mom when she was young, just after they were married and forward until she died. A majority of the pictures was their mom and Rosie. Coloring on the big desk in the study, Rosie helping her garden when she was a toddler, Rosie and her mom, both covered in flour, baking something. Sitting on her mom’s lap, watching a Disney movie together. The picture of them in their matching aprons. Rosie on her first horse, Jasper, while her mom held onto the reins. A funny one of Rosie looking skeptically at her mother’s pregnant belly. Her mother looked so tired. But she was smiling. Rosie had been so young, she had no idea anything was wrong. On the last page, a picture in the hospital, their dad smiling and leaning over the bed, Rosie up on the bed lying next to her mom, who was holding a newly born Libby. She looked even more tired and exhausted that the last one. The last picture they had of her, and the only one of them all together. She died shortly after that. Rosie was four. Rosie took out the small jewelry box recognizing the necklace that her mother used to wear, because Rosie had an identical one. She had forgotten all about it. She hardly remembered, but she recalled her mother telling her before Libby was born, that Libby would have one too. Three to match. "You were supposed to have one of these Lib. Here." Rosie handed it to Libby who took it carefully, "You already have one like this." "Yeah, you should have mom's. You and I can have matching." Neither of them spoke for a long moment, Libby looking at the necklace. Rosie couldn't tell what she was thinking, but Libby closed the box and held onto it, not setting it down. Libby broke the silence first, saying quietly, “Do you miss her?” Rosie nodded, “All the time.” Libby didn’t say anything at first, but then added, “I wish I missed her. Is that horrible of me? How can I miss someone I didn’t know…” “That doesn’t make you horrible, Libby.” “Rosie, what was she like?” Rosie thought for a moment. She had been so young herself, “Gosh, she was just… I don’t know. I hardly remember either.” “You must remember something. Anything.” Rosie could hear the desperateness in her sister’s voice. Rosie closed her eyes, thinking back to when she was little, carefree, no stresses. When life was easy. What was mom like? “Mom was everything moms are supposed to be. She had the easiest, most free laugh. That, I can still hear sometimes. She gave the best hugs. She was funny. I don’t remember what she used to joke about, but something about the things she said to dad, always made him smile. She smelled like apples and lilacs. She called me Elliot.” “So that’s how that started.” “Yeah,” Rosie nodded. “I wish you could have had time with her. Even if it wasn’t a lot. I wish you could’ve had some memories too.”
Rosie rolled over in bed, opening her eyes and letting them adjust to the darkness. That had to be the single most thing that had bothered Rosie her entire life. She hated that her sister never had the pleasure of knowing her own mom. It didn’t seem fair that she, Rosie, had such special times with her, while Libby had nothing but a picture and what other people told her. If she could wish for anything, she would want Libby to know her. Even if she only got as many memories as Rosie had. But to not have any at all… it broke Rosie’s heart. It bothered her every day. Libby had such a different view of the woman than Rosie did. She wished she could just take all her memories and give them to Libby, so she could have them. Unfortunately, it didn’t work like that. But then again, maybe she and Libby had it better anyways. Losing her so early. If you were going to lose someone, it must be better to lose them so early that you barely remember, as opposed to Declan, who had very vivid memories of his mom, and to lose her while you were old enough to understand how unfair life really was. Yes, Rosie decided, as much as it upset her, she and Libby had it a little easier than others. Rosie couldn’t imagine how Declan must feel. Enough to want to hug him. Though he’d probably not allow that.
Rosie hadn’t realized she had actually fallen asleep until Libby was shaking her awake, still dressed from the club, “Rosie, wake up dammit, what is wrong with you?” Rosie rolled over, looking at her sister, “What is wrong with me? I was sleeping, I didn’t know that was a problem.” “I have been trying to call you for the past half an hour, you are not being reliable.” Rosie sat up, brushing her hair away from her face, “I’m sorry, what’s wrong?” Libby crossed her arms, “Declan… got into a fight. At the bar…” “Was he drinking.” “Well, yeah, but he didn’t start it! It was some other guy, who was hitting on me and being a jerk, and Declan punched him-“ “he punched someone?” “Yeah, and I can’t freaking bail him out because, oh I’m sorry miss, you’re only seventeen,” Libby said sarcastically. “Whoa, whoa, hang on, he punched someone and needs bailing out from jail? He’s in jail?” “Yeah, that’s what I said.” “Okay you didn’t, but lucky for you, I’m functioning half asleep.” “Rosie, are you gonna bail him out? He just can’t just sit in there. He’s all sad about his mom, and he was just trying to look out for me, and I can’t bail him out, otherwise I already would have-“ “Libby.” Rosie said, after pulling on a pair of jeans, “I’m going to go bail him out. Stop talking while I think for a second.” Rosie found a hoodie from high school on the floor of her closet, varsity field hockey captain, woo, and pulled it over her head. “Where’s Declan’s truck, did you drive it back here?” “No Rosie, I fricken walked,” Libby said sarcastically. Rosie spun around and looked at her pointedly, “Hey. Do you want me to bail him out? Try to be less sarcastic, you just woke me up, I was dreaming about a refrigerator full of sugar cookies that tasted like Twix.” “Oh. Sorry, that does sound delightful.” “I know.” Rosie pulled her shoes on and left her room, Libby trailing along behind her, “I’m coming with- hi Dad.” Libby stopped, looking at their dad. “Girls… going somewhere?” “Well,” Libby said, scrunching her nose, “Funny story dad… you see-“ “Declan is in jail and I’m going to bail him out.” Libby looked at her, blank faced. Rosie didn’t think it mattered where Declan was, their dad practically looked at him like a son. Which meant the sun shined out of Declan’s ass. Rosie could say she was going to bail him out of Hell and their dad would be like, ‘okay, tell him I said hello.’ Yeah.
Their dad had just nodded and gone back to bed, Rosie headed out to the driveway with Libby close behind, zipping up a hoodie over her dress that she’d grabbed on the way out. Rosie saw Declan’s truck where Libby had parked it, opening the door of her dad’s and getting in, Libby getting in on the other side. Libby put on some music while they drove over to the station, not saying much to each other. One, because Rosie was still kinda not woken up completely yet, and two, because Rosie suspected Libby was suspicious about why Rosie had agreed to bail him out. But Libby loved the guy, her dad loved the guy, how could she not bail him out? Plus, as Libby had pointed out that afternoon, Rosie really did wish Declan didn’t dislike her so much, as much as she was not going to admit that out loud. Rosie parked the truck and got out, following her sister into the station and went up to the desk, speaking to the woman through the window, explaining basically that a friend of hers was in jail and she wanted to bail him out, blah blah. “Name?” The woman said lazily and Rosie sighed, “Declan O’Reilly.” Some paper work later, he was officially out on bail and the woman said they could have a seat until they brought him out. Libby went to sit down in one of the chairs, Rosie seeing she was running out of steam too, tired. The exciting night was catching up to her. Rosie turned to go sit down, the woman adding, “I see your adds, in the catalog. I almost ordered some new bras online. Had me convinced.” Rosie stopped, looking at her, “From all the way over here?” “Well yeah,” she woman said, laughing, “You’re kind of a hometown hero, as is O’Reilly in there. I keep up with your ad work.” That was almost ridiculous, she could not be that known. Well, people from her hometown couldn’t like her that much that they might order bras online because they saw her wearing it in a catalog. But, it made her smile anyways. The things people did. Rosie sat down beside her sister, resting her head against the wall behind her. Libby said, yawning, “Thanks, by the way.” Rosie reached over and hugged her, kissing the side of her sisters hair before sitting back, “Anytime.”
Rosie opened another box, laughing at the first picture she pulled out, “Oh dear god, I was so small…” she remarked, looking at a grade school picture of her class, her in the far right corner. Libby reached over and took it, “Ha, I have a picture just like this of my class, same uniforms and everything.” “They probably still have those uniforms at that school.” “I’m sure they do. And I’m sure Ms. Frankfurt still hasn’t retired.” Rosie laughed, “The Frankfurter,” as she sifted through the pictures, “Ahh, Aunt Jo’s wedding. Flower girl… Oh look at this one, this is like my first Polaroid, headshot… from my portfolio…yikes.” Libby gasped, snatching a picture out of the box before Rosie could get a hold of it, “And so began the awkward stage. This right here belongs in your portfolio. No… no, no,” she said laughing freely, grabbing another, “This one. I should anonymously send these to the media. Hilarious.” Rosie shook her head, laughing, “Just awful.” “Are you smoking a bong in this picture?” “Give me that…” Rosie said, shoving that one back in the box. Libby sighed, “Speaking of portfolios, what’s your plan now?” “What do you mean?” “I mean, are you staying with Victoria’s Secret? You can tell me, I won’t judge. And don’t feel like you have to stay doing it, I think we both have college paid for well enough by now. Which I appreciate, by the way.” Rosie shrugged, “Honestly? I’m not going to bash it, you know I loved it. I got to travel, and meet some really great people. I just… I’m getting a little older, wiser. I think taking myself more serious means I should… move forward. Put some more clothes on. It paid well, don’t get me wrong…” she added, “But, what guy wants other guys seeing all that of his girlfriend, or his wife? You know, I worry that guys don’t… take me seriously. I know that sounds stupid, you don’t have to tell me.” Libby nodded, “So what now?” “Well, my contract goes until the fashion show, and you know I’m not a quitter. I’ll fulfill my obligation, do one last catwalk with the company. Then I don’t think I’m going to renew my contract.” Libby stayed quiet for a moment, and then said slowly, “Are you quitting modeling?” She sounded… disappointed? Rosie turned to look at her sister fully, ”Do you think I should?” Libby thought for a moment and then responded, “No. Not unless you really find something else you want to do. But don’t quit because of what other people think. I’m not blind; I can see you love it. Maybe you’re just kind of through with VS.” “Yeah,” Rosie said, sifting through pictures absentmindedly, “I want to model still. I do love it. Just want to keep my clothes on most of the time now I guess.” Libby laughed, “Nothing wrong with that. You know I’m at least proud of you right?” “Thanks,” she smiled a little. “Seriously. I know you try to be something for me to look up to, being as its just dad…” Libby raised her eyebrows, “I just… think you did a good job. That’s all.” Right then was what made everything worth it. Libby at least was proud of her. Rosie leaned over and hugged her, “I love you… but if any of these get leaked to the press,” she added laughing, “I will be coming to get you.” “We can burn them later.” “Deal.”
Libby stood up, stretching her legs, “So what’s the deal with this Ethan anyways?” Rosie stood up too, putting the box of pictures in the burn pile. “Nothing. We’re friends.” “Oh my god Rosie,” Libby scoffed, “Don’t even give me that. I’m your sister, at least tell me the truth. What, a friend that you just hooked up with? You liked him…? I’m confused, enlighten me.” Rosie let out a huge breath. Sometimes she forgot Libby didn’t see anything first hand and she had to explain it to her. Which she hadn’t to anyone. Explained the whole sad story in one sitting. She decided she would keep it brief. “Not really anything, we met, we were friends, he was good looking, I flirted with him, he had a girlfriend, they broke up, respectful grace period, slept with him, shame on me, he still didn’t like me as more than a friend, slept with him a again, shame on me again, nothing. I really, really liked him, and he really, really… I don’t know. He never really told me. The timing was always wrong, he was always dating someone, or we were trying to not ruin our friendship. And now he’s dating Natalia Richmond again so there’s no way we could ever talk about it now. And I don’t think I’ll ever know how he really felt. But chances are, since he never really said, there was probably nothing to tell.” Rosie sighed, sitting down on a box, resting her chin in her hands. “Jesus.” Libby remarked, sitting on a box across from her, “This is just an observation, but this seems like you liked him a lot more then you let on. Because you are, until this moment, still hung up on him. You realize Declan is like, practically in love with you right? And he won’t even go near the bundle of confusion that is you because if I was him, I wouldn’t touch that with a ten foot pole either. You need to figure this stuff out. Do you really think there’s no chance there?” “Yeah, I do. No chance at all. I’d be an idiot to let myself pine after him. I need to get over it.” “So you said it yourself, what’s the holdup then?” Rosie paused, feeling herself redden, feeling mad at herself for even thinking it, “Because as stupid as I feel for it, it’s hard to get over someone you loved.” “You think you loved him?” “I think so… I don’t know. It just… felt like it. It really, really felt like the real thing. Maybe I was just in love with the idea of him.” “Maybe. Maybe your judgment was clouded by the good sex.” “Libby!” “What?!” “What do you know about it anyways? You haven’t slept with anyone.”
Libby looked at the floor, failing to make eye contact. Rosie gasped quietly, “Libby… you so failed to mention this minor detail. When did that happen?” “Oh my god Rosie, don’t make a big deal out of it. It was a few months ago, and it was one time, and it was awful, and I didn’t want to tell anyone. And you weren’t here, and I didn’t want to tell you over the phone because it was just stupid… and I feel like an idiot.” Rosie frowned, “That bad?” “Ugh. Yeah… he just… I shouldn’t have done it. He acted so nice, and then it was like, bam, jerk. And now I’m just mad at myself for letting that first time be so un rave worthy.” “Well, not many are… Guess we’ve both slept with people we shouldn’t have. Welcome to the club sister.” “I didn’t tell anyone. I don’t even know how I went this long since you’ve been home not telling you. I was just trying to forget it happened.” “Some guy will come along and make you forget it happened.” “It gets better right?” “Oh so much better.” “Was that what it was like with Ethan? Awesome?” “Let’s not talk about that.” “Why, was it bad?” “No. It was perfectly… awesome. And now I would like to just forget about it,” she laughed. “Alright, from here on out we both forget about both situations.” “Okay.” “So… I’m not going to be getting with anyone anytime soon… but you, you need to find a new guy that will make you forget Ethan.” “So soon?” Rosie laughed. “Yes. How about our charming neighbor?” Oh god. This. Again. “Libby, he won’t even look at me, what on earth makes you think he would date me.” “Um hello, he did kiss you angrily in the rain. He argues with you. Hell, he likes pissing you off. He challenges you.” “Uh yeah, and now he is currently not talking to me because his mom died and that for some reason made me the devil.” “God you are ridiculous. He’s just taking his anger out on you because you’re an easy target and he’s annoyed that you’re so hung up on he-who-shall-not-be-named. Can you not see that he’s so into you? And if I were him, watching you practically cry about he-who-shall-not-be-named, I would be pretty freaking annoyed at you too. Admit it, he’s adorable.” “I suppose so…” “And dad loves him.” “Yeah…” “And you were totally turned on by the fact that he kissed you in the rain.” “Stop analyzing me…” Rosie stood up and crossed her arms over her chest, “Okay, even if I thought all those things, he still is not fond of me at the moment.” “He will come around.” “Maybe he will if you keep making him sandwiches.” “Is that what you want?” Libby asked, her face practically glowing with excitement. Rosie asked, “What, for you to make him more sandwiches?” “No idiot, for him to come around.” “Maybe.” “Yay!” Libby said, hopping off her box, “You DO like him. I knew it. Ethan who, right? Bazinga.” “Have you been watching American TV…?”
Rosie put her hands up laughing, “Okay, conversation over. Unless you can work some magic with those sandwiches, there is nothing else to discuss.” Libby sang quietly, “You loveee him…” Rosie turned and looked at her sister, shaking her head, “Move, let’s look at what you crushed in the box you were sitting on.” Rosie moved around her sister, lifting the flaps so they hung open, catching her breath in her throat. Inside the box was a big pile of white lace, laid perfectly, untouched for who knows how long. “Oh my god…” Rosie said quietly, just staring at it for a moment. “What?” Libby said, walking over and leaning over Rosie's shoulder to look in the box. “This is mom’s wedding dress.” “Oh my god, take it out, I wanna see it.” Rosie gingerly picked it up, watching as layer after layer of vintage lace spilled from the box. “Wow…” Libby breathed over her shoulder. Rosie agreed, “Yeah. It’s beautiful.” “What should we do with it?” “Sure as hell not getting rid of it.” “Maybe we should hang it, it’s getting too wrinkly.” “Yeah. I have some garment bag things in the back of my closet, we can put it in one later when we go down stairs.” How surreal. The thought of the person who wore this, and the fact that she had been gone for so long, was just surreal. Libby took it gently, careful not to let it drag across the dusty floor and laid it over the old dining room table in the corner. In the bottom of the box were just a few things, her parents wedding photo, an old photo album and a small jewelry box. The wedding photo, Rosie hadn’t seen since she was really, really little. It used to hang on the wall by the stairs, where all their baby pictures and school pictures were now. Rosie forgot about it when it was taken down. Until now. Her dad probably took it down after she died, and put it in this box, along with all the other pictures of their mother. Rosie didn’t think he intentionally meant to hide all of the things that had to do with their mother, but she suspected that seeing them at the time hurt too much. And then they became forgotten. Libby took the frame from their wedding from Rosie, sitting beside her on the floor and watched while Rosie glanced through the album. All pictures of their mom when she was young, just after they were married and forward until she died. A majority of the pictures was their mom and Rosie. Coloring on the big desk in the study, Rosie helping her garden when she was a toddler, Rosie and her mom, both covered in flour, baking something. Sitting on her mom’s lap, watching a Disney movie together. The picture of them in their matching aprons. Rosie on her first horse, Jasper, while her mom held onto the reins. A funny one of Rosie looking skeptically at her mother’s pregnant belly. Her mother looked so tired. But she was smiling. Rosie had been so young, she had no idea anything was wrong. On the last page, a picture in the hospital, their dad smiling and leaning over the bed, Rosie up on the bed lying next to her mom, who was holding a newly born Libby. She looked even more tired and exhausted that the last one. The last picture they had of her, and the only one of them all together. She died shortly after that. Rosie was four. Rosie took out the small jewelry box recognizing the necklace that her mother used to wear, because Rosie had an identical one. She had forgotten all about it. She hardly remembered, but she recalled her mother telling her before Libby was born, that Libby would have one too. Three to match. "You were supposed to have one of these Lib. Here." Rosie handed it to Libby who took it carefully, "You already have one like this." "Yeah, you should have mom's. You and I can have matching." Neither of them spoke for a long moment, Libby looking at the necklace. Rosie couldn't tell what she was thinking, but Libby closed the box and held onto it, not setting it down. Libby broke the silence first, saying quietly, “Do you miss her?” Rosie nodded, “All the time.” Libby didn’t say anything at first, but then added, “I wish I missed her. Is that horrible of me? How can I miss someone I didn’t know…” “That doesn’t make you horrible, Libby.” “Rosie, what was she like?” Rosie thought for a moment. She had been so young herself, “Gosh, she was just… I don’t know. I hardly remember either.” “You must remember something. Anything.” Rosie could hear the desperateness in her sister’s voice. Rosie closed her eyes, thinking back to when she was little, carefree, no stresses. When life was easy. What was mom like? “Mom was everything moms are supposed to be. She had the easiest, most free laugh. That, I can still hear sometimes. She gave the best hugs. She was funny. I don’t remember what she used to joke about, but something about the things she said to dad, always made him smile. She smelled like apples and lilacs. She called me Elliot.” “So that’s how that started.” “Yeah,” Rosie nodded. “I wish you could have had time with her. Even if it wasn’t a lot. I wish you could’ve had some memories too.”
Rosie rolled over in bed, opening her eyes and letting them adjust to the darkness. That had to be the single most thing that had bothered Rosie her entire life. She hated that her sister never had the pleasure of knowing her own mom. It didn’t seem fair that she, Rosie, had such special times with her, while Libby had nothing but a picture and what other people told her. If she could wish for anything, she would want Libby to know her. Even if she only got as many memories as Rosie had. But to not have any at all… it broke Rosie’s heart. It bothered her every day. Libby had such a different view of the woman than Rosie did. She wished she could just take all her memories and give them to Libby, so she could have them. Unfortunately, it didn’t work like that. But then again, maybe she and Libby had it better anyways. Losing her so early. If you were going to lose someone, it must be better to lose them so early that you barely remember, as opposed to Declan, who had very vivid memories of his mom, and to lose her while you were old enough to understand how unfair life really was. Yes, Rosie decided, as much as it upset her, she and Libby had it a little easier than others. Rosie couldn’t imagine how Declan must feel. Enough to want to hug him. Though he’d probably not allow that.
Rosie hadn’t realized she had actually fallen asleep until Libby was shaking her awake, still dressed from the club, “Rosie, wake up dammit, what is wrong with you?” Rosie rolled over, looking at her sister, “What is wrong with me? I was sleeping, I didn’t know that was a problem.” “I have been trying to call you for the past half an hour, you are not being reliable.” Rosie sat up, brushing her hair away from her face, “I’m sorry, what’s wrong?” Libby crossed her arms, “Declan… got into a fight. At the bar…” “Was he drinking.” “Well, yeah, but he didn’t start it! It was some other guy, who was hitting on me and being a jerk, and Declan punched him-“ “he punched someone?” “Yeah, and I can’t freaking bail him out because, oh I’m sorry miss, you’re only seventeen,” Libby said sarcastically. “Whoa, whoa, hang on, he punched someone and needs bailing out from jail? He’s in jail?” “Yeah, that’s what I said.” “Okay you didn’t, but lucky for you, I’m functioning half asleep.” “Rosie, are you gonna bail him out? He just can’t just sit in there. He’s all sad about his mom, and he was just trying to look out for me, and I can’t bail him out, otherwise I already would have-“ “Libby.” Rosie said, after pulling on a pair of jeans, “I’m going to go bail him out. Stop talking while I think for a second.” Rosie found a hoodie from high school on the floor of her closet, varsity field hockey captain, woo, and pulled it over her head. “Where’s Declan’s truck, did you drive it back here?” “No Rosie, I fricken walked,” Libby said sarcastically. Rosie spun around and looked at her pointedly, “Hey. Do you want me to bail him out? Try to be less sarcastic, you just woke me up, I was dreaming about a refrigerator full of sugar cookies that tasted like Twix.” “Oh. Sorry, that does sound delightful.” “I know.” Rosie pulled her shoes on and left her room, Libby trailing along behind her, “I’m coming with- hi Dad.” Libby stopped, looking at their dad. “Girls… going somewhere?” “Well,” Libby said, scrunching her nose, “Funny story dad… you see-“ “Declan is in jail and I’m going to bail him out.” Libby looked at her, blank faced. Rosie didn’t think it mattered where Declan was, their dad practically looked at him like a son. Which meant the sun shined out of Declan’s ass. Rosie could say she was going to bail him out of Hell and their dad would be like, ‘okay, tell him I said hello.’ Yeah.
Their dad had just nodded and gone back to bed, Rosie headed out to the driveway with Libby close behind, zipping up a hoodie over her dress that she’d grabbed on the way out. Rosie saw Declan’s truck where Libby had parked it, opening the door of her dad’s and getting in, Libby getting in on the other side. Libby put on some music while they drove over to the station, not saying much to each other. One, because Rosie was still kinda not woken up completely yet, and two, because Rosie suspected Libby was suspicious about why Rosie had agreed to bail him out. But Libby loved the guy, her dad loved the guy, how could she not bail him out? Plus, as Libby had pointed out that afternoon, Rosie really did wish Declan didn’t dislike her so much, as much as she was not going to admit that out loud. Rosie parked the truck and got out, following her sister into the station and went up to the desk, speaking to the woman through the window, explaining basically that a friend of hers was in jail and she wanted to bail him out, blah blah. “Name?” The woman said lazily and Rosie sighed, “Declan O’Reilly.” Some paper work later, he was officially out on bail and the woman said they could have a seat until they brought him out. Libby went to sit down in one of the chairs, Rosie seeing she was running out of steam too, tired. The exciting night was catching up to her. Rosie turned to go sit down, the woman adding, “I see your adds, in the catalog. I almost ordered some new bras online. Had me convinced.” Rosie stopped, looking at her, “From all the way over here?” “Well yeah,” she woman said, laughing, “You’re kind of a hometown hero, as is O’Reilly in there. I keep up with your ad work.” That was almost ridiculous, she could not be that known. Well, people from her hometown couldn’t like her that much that they might order bras online because they saw her wearing it in a catalog. But, it made her smile anyways. The things people did. Rosie sat down beside her sister, resting her head against the wall behind her. Libby said, yawning, “Thanks, by the way.” Rosie reached over and hugged her, kissing the side of her sisters hair before sitting back, “Anytime.”
