Neve always worked herself into a tangled mess when she was about to see family. She took her GABA pill, a supplement that helped with relaxation. Reva had recommended it for both of the girls to help ease the irritability they all felt during PMS and with anxiety. Neve drank her hibiscus tea. She made it through her morning yoga instruction. James brought back some wavy cap psilocybin mushrooms from the dispensary. In the early afternoon, they ate some of the mushrooms with peanut butter and then walked Travis.
An elderly wiener dog with a gray and grizzled muzzle and a bad back, Travis was going blind, barked at everything and had trouble pooping. He was 14, but the vet thought he was okay. Neve was amazed that she was only nine years older than the troubled canine, but then considered that James was nine years older than her and the symmetry seemed to matter for some reason.
Neve had been James’ yoga teacher first. He was a poor student, but a kind soul. James was one of the few Tucson residents who’d lived there his whole life. After a few romantic nights, which James was good at providing, Neve allowed James to move in. His lease was up and he’d been fired from a restaurant for selling the mushrooms to employees.
That was about a year ago. “Allowed” was the appropriate word, as James worked at the dispensary a few times a week, didn’t pay rent or clean up. He did help out by driving Neve around and sometimes made spaghetti, omelets, or veggie tacos for dinner. Travis came along with James. Neve didn’t love the barking or the grumbling, but she begrudgingly came to appreciate the cranky old guy.
As they walked through the afternoon drizzle, on the quiet edge of Tucson, James wanted to know more about everyone he was about to meet.
“So tell me about your Mom,” James began.
“Where do you want me to begin?” Neve preferred to be evasive. Couldn’t they just enjoy the mushrooms and stroll?
“I dunno. Is she mean? Sad? Funny?” James asked.
“She can be all of those. Depends.” Neve held the leash. Travis pulled, angling to sniff at a discarded pizza box near a trash can.
“Does she work?” James wondered.
“Yes. She’s a superintendent of a school district. She was a teacher and then went the admin route. She doesn’t love it.” Neve explained.
“Oh, cool she was a teacher. I thought about doing that,” James added.
“You still could. You’re not retirement-age yet.” Neve replied.
“I might,” James said. “When the time’s right.”
Neve began to think that bringing James and Travis would be a mistake. But they’d shield her from her mother’s interrogations.
Finally, they made it to the square of grass two blocks away. Travis was nearly out of breath. Neve wondered if the dog might die on the trip to Santa Barbara. Nine hours in the car. Leaving at four a.m. tomorrow. Travis didn’t mingle with the other dogs. He ambled over to a spot under the bench and lay down. Neve and James sat down on the bench. Neve took out some edamame and they began munching.
“What about Jules?” James asked. “How old is he?”
“Hmm, let me see,” Neve curled her auburn hair around her fingers and tried to remember. “He’s in his 80s. Probably 82 or 83,” she said. “He’s a curious and funny old fella. He’s had some bad luck.”
“Oh yeah?” James waited for Neve to elaborate. She didn’t.
“What kind of bad luck?” James asked.
“What about your parents and grandparents?” Neve turned it around, a favorite technique when she felt like blocking a person who asked too many questions.
“I told you about my mom. She’s in prison for another two years. Grand larceny. Her ex-boyfriend was dealing with some dirty shit. Don’t know my dad.” James said.
“What about your mom’s parents?” Neve asked.
“My grandma was sweet to me. She died a while ago. About 60, lung cancer. Her name was Rosa.” James took a handful of edamame. Travis groaned at them. He was shivering in the drizzle.
“Let’s walk him back,” Neve said. “He looks uncomfortable. Besides, we have to get to sleep by nine or 10 if we’re leaving at four.”
“Okay, I’ll make tacos when we get back,” James said.
“We had tacos last night,” Neve groaned.
“Eggs and bacon?” James asked.
“Sure,” Neve said.
The drizzle stopped. The late-afternoon sun was peeking out. As they turned the corner on their street, a wavy rainbow decorated the horizon in an arc. Neve stopped and pointed it out. She gave James a hug. Travis whined. They agreed James would drive the first three hours and last three hours. Neve would take over in the middle.
Neve called Reva to let her know everything was set. It went to her voicemail. Neve left a message: “Hi Mom. We’re leaving early tomorrow. See you about one or two. Glad we’ll all be together this year. Safe flight. Love you.”