The Big Sky

Muriel should’ve known. Juliet was having problems again. Of course, she was going to come home. How long would it be before…

She looked up when she heard the doorbell ring. Muriel’s stomach dropped. Don’t tell me… The doorbell rang again. The old biddy took a breath and rolled back her shoulders. Might as well get this over with.

“Coming!” Muriel shouted. She walked over to the front door. The old biddy straightened her hair and took a breath. She looked out the peephole.

“Who is it?” she asked. Muriel relaxed when she saw Liz standing outside.

“Oh, it’s you,” she said. Liz raised an eyebrow at her.

“Is something wrong?” she asked. “I could come back later.” Muriel waved her off.

“No, no!” she said. “It’s fine! Please, come in. I’ll go put the kettle on.”

“Are you sure that’s okay?” Liz asked.

“Yes,” Muriel said. “Come inside, please.” The younger woman had an odd look on her face.

“Okay…” she said. Liz followed the old biddy into the house.

Lewis, Clyde, Aisha, and Juliet all sat around at the kitchen table. Juliet covered her mouth as she gasped.

“Lizzie!” she said. “It’s been so long! You’ve gotten big.” Liz gave her a confused look.

“Um, who are you?” she asked. Juliet gave her a look.

“It’s me, Juliet,” she said. “I used to babysit you and Clover.” It took a moment for it to sink in.

“Oh!” she said. “It’s you!”

“What did you come over here for?” Lewis asked. It took a moment for Liz to get back on track.

“Oh yeah,” she said. “There was something that I needed.”

“What?” Muriel asked.

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Crusher’s first day in the Sunny Plum started off shaky. Still, his aunt wasn’t going to give up on him. He needed this for the summer.

The boy looked up when two women walked up to the café. One of them was dragging the other one along. The big boy looked confused.

“What is that?” he asked. The women walked inside. Crusher came from behind the counter and walked over to them.

“Hello?” he asked. The woman with frizzy red hair blinked at him.

“Who are you?” she asked. Crusher broke into a huge grin.

“I’m Crusher!” he said aloud.

“Crusher?” the woman with straight brown hair asked.

“Uh-huh!” the big boy said, nodding. He chuckled. The redhead tilted her head to the side.

“Karen? Is that you?” Annie asked from the kitchen. She walked out to the café. The women perked up. The redhead waved at her.

“Hello, Annie!” she said.

“Annie?” the woman on her arm asked. Annie stood next to her nephew.

“And you brought Gloria with you,” she said.

“Yeah, I found this daft sod wandering around in the street without her glasses again,” Karen said.

“Hey!” Gloria shouted.

“I don’t know why you won’t wear your glasses,” Annie said.

“I can’t find them,” the brunette complained. Karen looked over at Crusher grinning at her. Annie patted him on the shoulder.

“Oh, this is my nephew, Danny,” she said. “He’s helping me around the café while Tucker is in Canada taking care of his grandfather.” Crusher cringed underneath her.

“It’s Crusher!” he wailed.

“I’m sorry to hear about that with Tucker,” Karen said.

“Nice to meet you, Danny,” Gloria said. Crusher dropped back his head and groaned.

“It’s Crusher!” he said. The brunette tried not to laugh.

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Meanwhile, a train pulled up into the station. A man in sunglasses stepped off. He had his luggage by his side. A woman stepped off next to him. They looked at each other before they walked into the station. They only had one destination in mind.

End