Again, I look around the neighborhood before I open Mari’s door. The house next door is similar to mine but a bright yellow. The only vehicle I see in the driveway is a large SUV. This is a newer neighborhood that was built since I was a little girl. I shake my head to clear away the memories of Gram’s farm. My mom will be moving back soon. She had a house built on Gram’s property. She had to stay in South Africa for a bit longer to finish out her contract and also to keep an eye out for me. I lean in as Mari coos at me. Her beautiful hazel eyes sparkle as she opens her full lips and smiles at me. Her arms and legs kick in excitement. Her chubby, little body is covered in a knit sweater outfit with knitted leggings. She even has a matching knit hat over her curly, fuzzy hair. I have mostly straight hair with a bit of a wave, so I’ve had to learn how to take care of Mari’s naturally curly hair.
“How is Momma’s baby girl?” I coo back to her as I unbuckle her and lift her out. I kiss her tawny skin and take in her baby smell. She laughs as her hands grab for my loose hair and wraps it in her tiny fists. I grab the diaper bag and slip it over my shoulder. She starts rooting around wanting to nurse, which means I don’t have much time before her smiles turn to cries.
Making my way up the walkway to the front door, I imagine flowers lining the large, covered porch and a couple of Adirondack chairs or a swing. I’m about to unlock the door when I hear a loud muffler sound…more than one. I turn and look down the street as a couple of motorcycles approach. Well, maybe I was wrong about the neighborhood. But everything I read and researched said it was a quiet, family neighborhood. The two bikes pull up at the yellow house next door. One guy gets off and waves at me. I nod and quickly open the door so I don’t have to talk to him.
As I close the door, I see the other rider is watching me intently. I pause and take him in. His thick legs are braced on the ground, straddling the bike. He’s dressed in jeans and a leather jacket. He has one of those brain bucket helmets on and dark sunglasses covering his eyes. The lower half of his face is covered in dark blond scruff and a mustache. My body tingles and a feeling I’ve never felt before causes my heart to clench. He starts to rise from the bike, and I close the door, needing to cut the connection I feel to him.
I turn away from the door and take in my house. There’s a small foyer that opens into a great room. The kitchen is on the front wall. Two bedrooms are to my left and the master is to the right. My new home. Mari squirms in my arms.
“Marinda Parrish, give Mommy a moment and I’ll let you down.” I chuckle and pull out a blanket from the diaper bag, then spread it out on the hardwood floor. I change her diaper and then roll her to her stomach and let her play a while before nursing her. I take the opportunity to explore our new home. I can’t wait to see all the new furniture I bought in here.
I hear the bikes start up and take off. I wait until the rumble of the pipes is in the distance before I open the door and head to the car for our luggage.
As I step back into the house, Mari lets out a loud squeal. That’s my cue. I pick her up and sit on the floor with my back to the wall. I’m facing the slider door looking out on the backyard. I can put in a swing set, and maybe an above-ground pool when she gets a bit older.
* * *
Hours later Mari is asleep on the floor in the spare room while I move around her. The movers have all left and there are boxes and furniture everywhere. They helped me set up her crib and my bed along with some of the larger pieces of furniture. There is a box I forgot in the back of my car I need to get. Opening the door, I look out and take in the neighborhood. There is more activity now that it’s getting into the evening and people are coming home from work. I quickly move to my car and open the hatch. Once I get the garage cleared of boxes, I’ll keep my car in there. I didn’t know I had so much stuff in storage, but only a few things are from South Africa. I kept a storage unit here and would have a friend deliver stuff to it as I needed from my travels. I can’t wait until Lydia can drive out and see me. It’s been years but we’ve tried to keep in touch. She is the one who helped me get my job. I lean over into the back of my car.
“Hello,” a soft southern accented voice says from beside me. I jump and scream, stumbling a bit on my still messed up ankle. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I’m July Silver. I hope my husband’s and his friend’s bikes didn’t bother you earlier. He said he saw you.”
I turn to see a beautiful blonde a couple inches taller than me. A niggle of something, like a memory, hits me, but I can’t place it right away. While her name is uncommon, it’s almost familiar to me. I realize she’s smiling at me waiting for me to say something back.
“Um, hello. I’m…” I pause. I’ve been hiding who I am for months, but my attorneys have assured me that I should be safe to use my real name now. “I’m Sydney Parrish. No, the bikes didn’t bother me. If they aren’t doing that at all hours, it shouldn’t be a problem. My little girl isn’t used to the sound of motorcycles, but she didn’t seem scared earlier.” I realize it’s true. Mari wasn’t scared by the loud pipes. She just watched them.
“A baby?” July’s smile gets bigger, and a memory hits me hard. I’ve seen that smile before.
“Can we move over to the house?” I hold up my box and then wiggle my hip showing the baby monitor attached to it as Mari makes a noise.
“Of course. Let me help.” She reaches into the back and pulls out the other box. We move to the porch, and I step through the door as Mari lets out a noise letting me know she’s awake now. I enter the spare room that will be my office and find Mari kicking and cooing.
July follows me in with the box.
“Just set it there.” I point to a group of boxes. These boxes are from South Africa and can wait. I don’t want to go through them now because the memories are still too raw.
July sets it down and then kneels next to Mari. “Oh, she is just beautiful. How old is she?”
“She’ll be four months on Monday.”
“She is just so precious. I can’t wait to have one.”
“Can I ask you a question?” I can’t help it, I need to know. What would be the odds? July stands up and looks at me.
“Sure, what?”
“It’s about your name. I lived here a long time ago when I was a kid. I knew a July Mayson…” I bite my lip to keep from saying more.
“Mayson is my maiden name.” She laughs, and the memories of all the times we had sleepovers or played at her parents’ house roll through me. “I was wondering if it was you when you said your name too. I can’t believe it’s really you, Sydney. My mom said she saw you when you came home for your grandma’s funeral, but you only stayed for a night.” She pulls me into her arms for a hug. I hold my body still for a moment until the memories flood me. I wrap my arms around her and hold on. I need a friend, but I can’t confide in any of them.
“July,” I say her name and the tears start. She was my best friend until I moved away before starting seventh grade. “I tried to stay in touch, but life happened.” I had fought moving because I was sure I wouldn’t have a friend like her again.
“I know. I got a few letters, emails, and then postcards. But they stopped about six years ago.”
“Yeah, college.” We giggle as she nods in understanding, and Mari releases a yell. “Come sit with me. I need to nurse Mari. You can tell me about your sisters and parents and husband.”
I pick up Mari and we make our way out to the living room. I sit on the sofa and curl my legs under me to relieve some of the pressure on my ankle. The doctors said I would always have issues with it. They couldn’t repair every part that was destroyed. I reach into the diaper bag and pull out a nursing cover since we have company. Mari sits in my crossed legs letting me know she’s hungry as I slip the cover over my head.
“Hold on, Marinda Gorata Parrish. Mommy is hurrying.” I chuckle as she reaches for my shirt and the cover.