Time Comes Knocking

The morning sunlight gleams through the curtains of the living room of the beach house and hits your face on the couch where you sleep. You groggily get up, go to the bathroom and turn on the tap. You wash your face and clean out your grimy eyes. There is a bottle of mouthwash, toothpaste, and an unopen toothbrush and you say “sorry” to an invisible person as you use it. You pull out your phone. You overslept. The time is now 10:39 AM. The phone reminded you of the notifications you received last night. Baby Crazy, huh?

While checking a notification popped up:

Live Video Available – Free

You hesitated in unlocking it and watching it. A part of you feared it was a video of Jenna or Mona wondering where you ran off to.

Fuck.

You stood there looking at the phone screen. You’re not a **** to this, but… you had to know. Your curiosity wouldn’t let you not know. Like ripping off a bandaid, you clicked it. The video starts.

There is a familiar room full of stuffed animals. Paige is sitting on a familiar stool with a young girl on the bed with her back turned to her. The young girl looked like she had just finished a bath or shower. Paige is brushing her hair in long, careful strokes.

“Liz,” Phoebe asks.

“Hmm?” Paige responds.

“Why are you with Rick? No offense, but you seem way out of his league,” Phoebe asked.

You grit your teeth. That little…

“Let me guess… your dad is way more handsome?” Paige scoffs.

“Nah uh. My dad is old and bald, and he wears glasses,” Phoebe says casually, which made you **** for some reason.

“I don’t know. I just know he’s someone I want to be around with. I don’t have to try so hard when I’m around him. When you’re older, you’ll understand. You’ll see a boy, and you’ll think about him always, dream about being with him and… other things,” Paige said. Paige wrapped her arms around Phoebe, and Phoebe hugs her forearm back.

The two looked so comfortable with each other as if they knew each other for years.

“You have really pretty hair and eyes,” Paige remarks stroking the young girl's hair, the two girls smiling at each other in the mirror where they sat. “You look like one of my friends.”

“Is she pretty like you?”

Paige sighs, “Probably more pretty. At least I think Ma-… shit… I mean shoot… I m-mean, at least I think Rick thinks so.”

“Why is Rick with you then?” Phoebe asks.

“Because I got sick, and he came to me,” Paige frowns, her body slumps over Phoebe’s in self-loathing. “I think… I may have stolen him from my friend. I’m… not a nice person. I didn’t even give her a chance… I mean… I didn’t mean to, but…”

“Hmph. Friendships are always better than boys. Sisters before misters, I say,” Phoebe pouts. “Boys are yuck. Rick isn’t even that cute.”

Paige squeezes Phoebe, “You are just soooo adorable. I want a daughter just like you.”

The redhead envelops her body of her younger counterpart, hugging her and rubbing her chin against her greedily, which causes Phoebe to laugh.

Letting out a sigh, Paige says, “I want both. I want to remain friends with her… and I want Rick. I don’t know if I can do both at this point…”

“Why can’t you both go out with him?” Phoebe asks.

“Because… it’s not…” Paige thinks. “A guy dates one person, and a girl dates one person. Anyways… you are too young for this. Let’s wake up that Rick and get him to make us some pancakes, okay?”

“PANCAKES?” Phoebe gasps, her eyes widening, so it almost fills out her entire face.

The two get up, and Paige holds out the little girl’s hand, marching out the bedroom. The video ends there, and you put the phone away. You brush your hair and wash your face. Paige and her little comrade greet you as you exit the bathroom.

“Mister Rick, we demand you make us pancakes,” Phoebe says with her arms crossed.

“So two against one now? I thought you were on my side, Liz?” You smirk.

“Sisters before misters. Right, Phoebe?” Paige asked, looking down at the girl who nods in agreement. They both smile as if they were in some kind of inside joke.

“Yes, okay, your majesties,” You let out and walk to the kitchen with the two following you hand in hand.

You make the same thing you made yesterday with the rest of the bananas and emptying jar of hazelnut spread. You decide to let Paige and Phoebe have their peace, both of them talking with half-full mouths.

When the meal was over, and you were washing up, Paige, who was helping you wash the dishes, says, “You think her parents will mind if I use their shower? I really need to use it... I feel like really grimy.”

“We are already in too deep, Paige,” You say, handing her a dish to rinse in water. “I doubt the parents would mind at this point.”

“I’ll go take a quick shower. Can you babysit her?” Paige asked.

You chortle, “You really are taking this mother goose role seriously.”

Paige turns around to stare at Phoebe. Phoebe was sitting on the couch behind where you were washing at little Phoebe, who was talking with her rabbit doll. “She’s so cute, Matt. I just have this overwhelming desire to protect her, ya know?”

You shrug, “I don’t have much choice. Go take your shower, you stink.”

Paige butts you with her hips for that comment, which caused you to butt her in return. She then flicks some cold water over to you. You wave the soapy sponge you were holding, and she relents saying, “Okay, okay. Geez.”

After finishing the dishes, Paige tells Phoebe Paige will be using her shower, which Phoebe replies magnanimously with, “You and Rick are both my guests here. I’ll explain it to my parents.”

Paige leaves you there with a kiss on your cheeks and heads upstairs to use the shower. You sit on the couch with Phoebe. Now that Paige was gone, you can delve into more questions about things that are bugging you about this encounter.

“Phoebe?”

“Yes, Rick?” Phoebe was still playing with her doll.

“What’s… your father’s first name?”

“Matt,” Phoebe answers despondently, not realizing the implication of your question.

Oh…

“What’s your last name?” You ask.

Phoebe thinks about it… “You probably aren’t a bad guy, so I can tell you. It’s Jones.”

“Is… your last name important?” You wonder why giving away her last name was a big deal.

“Not really. But my dad is Matt Jones, and he’s famous,” Phoebe answers.

Really? You were famous? After the show? But reality TV stars have 10 seconds of fame. Most people forget them within a couple of weeks. Maybe… the AMA?

“And your mom… what’s her first name?” You asked.

“It’s-“ Before Phoebe can answers, the doorbell rings. It rings twice and then twice again in consecutive beats.

“It’s Mom!” Phoebe yells, recognizing her mom’s ring.

Phoebe runs to the doorway. The door opens. The view outside the door is blocked to you, but Phoebe runs towards the doorway from the living room.

“Mommy!” Phoebe yells and jumps into the air. The person on the other side of the door is blocked but your view, but it’s clear she was holding Phoebe in her arms.

You get up to make your way to the door to greet her parents. Your legs feel heavy as you do, each step feeling like a thousand tons. When you get to the door, a woman is there alone. A faintly recognizable woman is standing there with Phoebe tucked in arms.

“Mooomm.. where’s dad?” Phoebe asks nearly half crying.

“He has some business, but we’ll meet him at the café later.” The woman holding Phoebe says.

The woman sees you. She is caught up and shaken when she sees you. Her face appears as if she is looking at a distant memory or a ghost of the past. Her mature ageless face recomposes herself, shaking off her reverie. She smiles, saying, “You must be the person who took care of my daughter. I’m Mrs. Jones. Nice to meet you.”