Vivien K. Wilk

"Really? Black numbers? Impressive."

Grace was juggling her plate of casserole on her legs while holding her mother by the ear and keeping an eye on the television. She hadn't been keen to pass the news on to her mother. But that was always better than getting another call from her.

"Looks good, yeah. And the store apparently has a very regular clientele."

"I have to admit, the idea with the cafe was actually very good. I didn't think Evellyn would change anything downstairs in the shop. That will be very good for potential buyers."

Grace clenched her jaw before clearing her throat.

"A competing bookstore owner is already interested."

"Of course he is," her mother laughed with satisfaction. "It can be a good idea to buy up the competition. I mean, if he can pay, we shouldn't really care what he does with it. It will do more for it as a company for sale as a private home. "

Her answer was an undefined murmur as Grace slipped a fork of casserole into her mouth.

Suddenly she wished the conversation was nearing its end.

"But I must congratulate you."

Grace quickly swallowed her mouthful.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, at your age, I didn't have the money to start my working life with a solid reserves. At least that means that you can finance your studies yourself. And maybe finally move out of this hovel. I know you like Samantha, but I do think she's clearly distracting you too much. She doesn't really take her studies seriously. "

As serious as most of the students at our university. She just wants something out of life.
The reply lay on her tongue, but Grace swallowed it with the next bite. The emerging silence lasted a moment before she heard her mother sigh.

"I hope you don't get this wrong again. I just know how important graduation is and I don't want you to regret anything at some point."

"I know mom."

"Good. When are the invitations to the funeral coming?"

"It should be delivered tomorrow or the day after."

"Thank you for sending us the data via WhatsApp. We have booked our flights as far as possible. Melody and I will come to support you. Unfortunately, your brother and father have to stay away because of work."

"How should we do it? Do you want to sleep here?"

"I don't know. I think I'll look for a hotel. I have no idea what Melody wants to do, or what she can afford. Nobody talks to me about such things."

"I will ask her."

"That is probably the best solution. I can pay for her hotel room, she just has to ask me."

"I'll write to you when I've talked to her on the phone."

"Then sleep well. I still want to watch my TV show. See you later."

"See you."

After Grace hung up, she took a deep breath. Before the conversation, she hadn't felt like she could just fall into bed and sleep. However, she wanted to at least discuss with Melody where she would sleep. Grace finished her meal, then called her sister on a video call. It took a little while before Melody picked up. Her sister looked like she had just fallen out of bed. Her wild, curly, chin-length brown hair stuck out in every direction. Only the subtle makeup was an indication that she hadn't been to bed yet.

"Hey little sister."

Melody tried to brush her hair back from her face, but gave up after a few unsuccessful attempts.

"Hello Melody. Am I bothering you?"

"No. Maybe it's a good thing that you called. I just fell asleep at my desk in the middle of designing."

"How did you do that?"

"I don't know, I wrapped myself in a blanket, had my tea, listened to music and stared at the screen.

And then my eyes must have fallen."

"You know that I envy you?"

"Because of my stunning beauty."

Grace took a deep breath as she tried to keep her eyes from rolling in annoyance.

"Because you have the ability to sleep anywhere."

Melody raised an eyebrow and cocked her head as her eyes focused critically on her sister.

"Are you saying that I don't look good?"

"It's just something I don't need to tell you because you know exactly that you look good."

"Don’t say again, that it isn't the case with you."

"I really don't feel like this discussion again."

Grace unobtrusively glanced at the control feed of her videofeed. Was she wrong, or did her cheeks look even more sunken than usual? At least the dark circles hadn't gotten worse, but neither any better.

"Grace", the soft and loving voice of her sister brought her back, "You don't even look half-so badly, as you tell yourself. Yes, you are a little pale and look like you never get a proper sleep, but that's also because you put too much pressure on yourself. Look at old photos of me, I didn't look any different. "

"Can't remember any," Grave evaded, staring up at the camera to avoid direct eye contact.

Melody was silent for a moment before a slight smile appeared on her lips.

"Anyway, why did you call me?"

"Oh ... I wanted to discuss funeral matters with you."

"Tell me."

Melody got up and fell into an armchair. Grace knew from the few times she had been to visit her sister that it was right next to the workplace. In case Melody got tired of working on the drawing board.

"First and foremost, it's about where you want to sleep. Whether here, in Evellyn's house, or in a hotel room."

"Where are the others staying?"

"It's just mom. And she's going to a hotel."

"If you have room for me, I would like to sleep in Evellyn's house. Then we will have some time to spend it together."

There was a silence as Grace wondered if she should really ask her next question.

"And if mom had slept here."

"Then we should have found another time. As much as I love you, I don't have the nerve to hear during a funeral,which of her colleagues might give me jobs that I could use to fill my portfolio. For, of course, a discount."

"She only means well."

"I know Grace, but fighting windmills is exhausting. Even with the intention of doing something good, you can hurt other people's feelings. Especially when you don't have the ability to test your own perception against the facts."

Her mother's surprise that Evellyn had obviously been a competent businesswoman, with no real training, came back to her mind. And the feeling of anger and hurt that she felt instead of her aunt.

If ignorance hurt so much about someone else, how did you feel when it affected you?

"Don't worry, I won't make a scene. It's our mother. She means well. But she is only absolutely competent in her field and certainly not in anything that has to do with creativity."

"Somehow you sound a lot more relaxed than before. In the past you just had to mention that mom said something and you hit the ceiling."

"Therapy works wonders, my dearest sister. You should also try it. Could help you to not just swallow your anger."

"I don't do that at all. I say when something bothers me and it's important."

Melody's face spoke volumes. She burned to give an answer, but in the end she just nodded.

"Your decision. I can only tell you that you don't need only a traumatic experience in your past to qualify for therapy. We all carry our shit around with us. But let's get back to the topic. I would love to sleep at the shop. I'll tell you right away, my sleep rhythm is still completely fucked up. And I snore. "

Grace couldn't help but grin.

"So nothing really changed. Then you can sleep on the couch. There I don't care if you sneak through the house until late at night."

Melody breathed in dramatically as her eyes widened and her gaze wandered off into the distance.

"A bookstore just for me. What a dream!"

"You can live it out. You have my permission."

"I'll admit that I'm still surprised that she left the bookstore for you. I mean, of course, you've visit her the most of all of us, but has she ever said anything to you?"

"Not a word. Not even in her letters."

"Really strange. But you are lucky."

"Honestly," Grace took a deep breath, "I'm pretty uncomfortable with this. I have a feeling that everyone expects me to keep running the bookstore. And I'm thinking about selling. Besides, it's unfair. I'm getting so much Inheriting money, she could at least have shared that among her family.

She could have given you something. I know you can make ends meet, but it would have definitely made your life a little easier."

Melody's lips suddenly narrowed. Her body stretched before taking a deep breath.

"Okay Gracie, I have something to tell you and please don't be mad that I never told you."

Isn't it going so well? She must hate me for getting the inheritance.

Her chest began to contract until Grace had difficulty breathing. Melody shifted a little uncomfortably before she took another breath.

"Evellyn gave me the money that I needed to start my business. "

Grace's jaw dropped. She didn't know how to answer that. Her head was completely blank.

"I'm sorry. I should at least have told you, but I didn't want it to get through to mom, dad or Dennis.

And then they accuse me of using our great aunt with her good faith. Did you know the bookstore has a website? I did the graphics. I also designed advertisements for it from time to time. "

Melody cocked her head a little and came forward as if she could see Grace better then.

"Say something."

Grace opened her mouth, then closed it again. In her perplexity, she reached for her tea and finished it in one gulp.

"I ... honestly didn't expect any of the words you just said."

"You thought I was broke."

"No ..... I mean ... don't  broken. Maybe in a bottleneck."

Grace put her hand over her eyes and began massaging the bridge of her nose.

"It's okay. I'm not surprised that you think that way right away. Let's be honest, we've never heard anything else from Mama. The voice she put in my head sometimes still gets me."

"I'm sorry."

"As I said, it's okay. I just dropped a pretty big secret at your feet. I think I'll be the last person to complain."

"Have you two spoken regularly?"

"At least once a month. And when not on the phone, we would write letters to each other. She was always raving about my pictures."

Melody's laugh sounded embarrassed. Grace didn't see it because she had bowed her head. Her sister had done something she was not remotely capable of. It felt even more unfair that she was going to get the inheritance.

"I'm sorry."

"Good God Grace, stop apologizing. What I was basically saying is that Evellyn gave me my share of the inheritance when she was still alive. Sure, you'll get a little more, but with the bookstore you have more work too. Come on, let's really talk about it when I'm around. And we can both get drunk. "

Grace nodded slowly and looked up. Even if Melody tried to calm her down, her mind was racing and she just wanted to be alone.

"You know what. I'll reschedule the flight. I'll come on Saturday. Then I can help you with the final preparations," said Melody.

"You do not have to."

"I know. But I get the feeling that it could be good for you. And then we'll have enough time to talk to each other. And mom won't interrupt us."

Slowly a small smile crept onto Grace's face and she nodded.

"Okay, if that works."

"I'm a freelance. I'll get this organized."

"Thank you for your help."

"You don't need to say thank you for that. See you on Saturday?"

"We will. See you then."

"See you then, sister."

Melody threw her a kiss on the hand before hanging up. With a deep sigh, Grace sank into the cushions on the couch until she was almost completely under the covers. Her head was still smoking from that conversation. Was she glad Melody would come over? She honestly didn't know. But helping hands never hurt. And if she was honest, she was keen to hear the story of how the work between Evellyn and Melody came about.