Maya

I eat breakfast - eggs, toast with strawberry jam, orange juice - at the big wooden table in Nella and George's beautiful kitchen. All of the appliances are stainless steel and everything is practically sparkling. I wonder if it's weird for Nella to have a house this nice, since we grew up in an old cottage type house on the water, with nothing really nice or fancy. It's weird for me, that she has a house this nice.

George, Nella and I chat a bit about nothing and I stare at Willow, who's back in her high chair with more food. Toddlers eat a lot, I am figuring out. I notice there's music playing from a speaker on top of the fridge. As soon as my stomach is full, Nella pours me a coffee and hands it to me, black. She still knows me.

"So, I wish you could stay here, Maya, but we just renovated the third bedroom to make it the nursery and it's all set up for when this baby arrives, and-"

I hold up my hand, my stomach twisting up. Of course Nella would feel bad about this. She would invite me to stay, if she could. But would I have accepted? I don't expect anything from her.

"No, no," I say, stopping her. "I just came here right away because I needed you to know that I was back. I'm okay at a hotel for a few nights, and then..."

"Have you talked to dad?" she asks, but I figure it's obvious from the look on my face that I have not. "He's... got that whole house to himself."

"I'm not talking to him, let alone staying with him, Nella," I say, shutting down that idea right away.

"You can afford a hotel? And what's the plan after that?"

She doesn't know that I worked very hard over the last six months and saved every penny that I could. Even though leaving Albany was a last minute decision, a part of me had been planning it. Or at least hoping for it.

I nod, but I can tell she's not sure. "I'll get a job, get an apartment."

"The new buildings by the harbour are nice," George adds, and I can tell he's just trying to help. He's likely surprised that I'm planning on staying in Boothbay.

"They are too expensive," Nella says, shaking her head. "She's better off renting a place close to here, in the suburbs."

"There's no suburbs in Boothbay, Nell," George laughs, and Willow shrieks happily.

"I can help you look at places this week," Nella says to me, as if I asked her. "Oh, do you think Marcus could find some places that are available?" Now she's talking to George again.

He nods without hesitation. "I'll give him a call."

Everything is happening really fast and I just look down at my black coffee. As soon as the cup is at my lips, I feel a bit better. At least Nella isn't mad that I came back. She might be, once she knows the whole truth, but for now we are okay. I have coffee. And Ryland doesn't know where I am. I'm okay. I'm safe.

An hour later, I feel like I've over stayed my welcome already. They don't make me feel that way, but I am sort of in the way and I can tell that they have a schedule that I'm messing up. I knew they didn't expect to entertain me all day.

"I was looking on my phone, and there's rooms open at the Spruce Point Inn," I say to Nella. She's on the floor doing a simple puzzle with Willow, though Willow is mostly throwing the pieces around. I'm on the sofa, watching. George disappeared a little while ago, but I am sure he is still home.

"That's all the way down at the harbour. The Ocean Point is just a five minute drive from here," she says, not even looking at me. Has she already planned this out for me?

"Oh, okay."

"George can take you, whenever you're ready. I have to put Willow down for her nap soon, but we can meet up for dinner? We obviously have a lot to talk about," she goes on, and I feel overwhelmed immediately.

"Okay, sure," I answer. "I can leave anytime."

Nella sighs. "I'm not trying to kick you out, just so you know."

"I know," I repeat. "But I know this is a lot. For me, too."

"I'm glad you're here. But I need to process this. And I need more information," she tells me, giving me a half smile.

"Yeah," I say, because I don't know what else to say.

I'm glad that I don't have to tell my sister anything else right now. At least I can have a beer that evening, if I have to tell her. I'll be a bit more relaxed and I'll have had time to wrap my head around being back in Booth Bay.

It's early afternoon when George pulls up to the Ocean Point Inn and turns off the car. It's a nice looking place and the parking lot is mostly empty. That's probably because it's off season, no one travels to Maine in March for a vacation.

"So, Nella insisted that I go in with you and make sure you get a room, and to make sure it's discounted because you're staying multiple nights. Also, she said I am to pay for it." George feels awkward about this, obviously. 

"Oh, no-"

"There's no reason to argue it, I'm paying for it. She'll be mad at me if I don't. And I don't exactly want my pregnant wife mad at me," he grins. "Also, my best friend Marcus is a real estate agent and I talked to him already. He's got some leads and we can take you Wednesday to see a few places."

Too fast. This was all really happening, and fast. "Don't you have to work, or whatever?"

"I own my own company. I do work, a lot actually, but I also have guys who work for me, when I need to be off," George tells me easily. I remember that he does landscaping but I didn't know he owned his own company.

"And Nella?" I asked, because George is easy to talk to. I'm embarrassed that I don't even know what my own sister does for work. Does she work? Is she a stay at home mom?

"She works at the newspaper," he tells me, and I can tell he's trying hard not to sound judgy. "It's part time."

"Oh, yeah," I say, then change the subject. "I don't feel right about you paying for the hotel."

"I swear Nell would have you stay with us in a heartbeat, even after not seeing you all these years... but with the baby on the way... she wants to help by doing this, so let her," George says, then nods for effect.

"Fine."

"Good, let's go."

I follow him across the parking lot and to the main doors of the hotel. He strolls right up to the desk, where a young woman with long dark hair is standing, smiling at us.

"Welcome to Ocean Point, do you have a reservation?" Her name tag says Cheryl.

George clears his throat. "I do not. But my sister in law here just got into town, it was sort of last minute, and we recommended Ocean Point to her to stay for a few days."

Cheryl is already typing into the computer, and looks up at me for a quick second. "Just you, ma'am?"

What was with the ma'am? Geez. I nod anyway. "Yes, just me."

"I have a room with one queen bed, open the rest of the week. It has an ocean view," she goes on, typing again. "No smoking, no pets."

"Not a problem," I say, then look at George. I don't even want to know the cost, so I shut my eyes for a second.

"Is there a discounted rate for three plus nights? We are already looking for an apartment for her, but she'll need to stay at least until Thursday," George tells Cheryl.

"Of course. I'll get this all set up for you, just give me one moment here."

Ten minutes later, I'm in the elevator going up to my room. It's on the third floor and even though I only have a back pack, George insists I get into the elevator. He doesn't get in with me, so before the doors close, we say goodbye. He's such a good guy, I can tell.

I remember the email that Nella had sent me, the night after she met him. I had been away for a few months, and she was still contacting me often. At that time, email was the only way she could get to me. I didn't even reply back at first, because I was afraid of her trying to find me. In the email, she was gushing about this awesome guy she met at a get together. Back then, my twenty-one year old sister was young and smart. She hadn't dated much in high school, due to having to take care of our mom. This email hurt my heart, because I could tell this guy she had met was something special. And I wasn't there to be a part of it. 

The hotel room is nice. Not too big, but really clean and it smells like fresh laundry. I drop my bag on the floor near the bed and sit down, exhaling. Everything is hitting me all at once and that is the first time I realize I haven't checked my phone since I left the Albany apartment.  It's still in the bottom of my back pack. I'm nervous to look at it because I know what's there, waiting. Texts from Lindsey and Tamara - the two people I met during my four years in New York who were good to me. They'd be wondering where I was by now. I didn't think they suspected anything, which was the worst part. There would be texts and calls from Ryland, too. It was nearly a full day since I'd left the apartment and even though he didn't always come home, he would know by now that I was gone. And I knew he'd be furious.

Instead of looking at my phone, though, I put the extra lock on the hotel door and go into the bathroom. There, I strip off the clothes I'd been wearing too long and stare at my reflection in the mirror. I can only see my shoulders and up, but even those bare shoulders tell my story. Bruises, those ones likely from a week or so ago. The fresher ones were on my back and legs. Squeezing my eyes closed before I start to cry, I turn away from the mirror and run the water for the shower. As the little bathroom steams up, I step in and burst into tears. I am scared, hurt and relieved all at once.  But at least for now, for the first time in a long time, I am safe.