Page 58 of Dissonance

Which is, for reasons unknown, still occupying my brain even now.

The elevator opens just as two women push out, arms stacked with cleaning supplies, wearing matching pink and blue aprons with Clean Queens in bright lettering.

“If you’re calling to tell me Dad wants me back under his name again,” I say, pressing the lobby button and leaning against the wall, “I’m hanging up.”

“God, you’re touchy.” A quiet chuckle comes through the line, then a whispered, “And your bag too, honey. You ready?”

“Okay…” I say, stepping out into the crisp morning air. The street’s already busy with early commuters, the scent of coffee drifting from the café on the corner as I start the walk to work.

“I’m calling about Izzy’s birthday at the end of the month. Jess is doing a dinner, and I’ve been volunteered to make sure you actually show up.”

“Of course I’ll show up,” I say, frowning.

“You say that…”

“I show up, Ed.”

“You missed the last family dinner.”

“I missed one,” I argue, grip tightening on my phone.

“Three.”

“Semantics,” I mutter, rolling my eyes.

A car door slams on his end, the background noise shifting to the faint echo of an engine purring as his phone connects to his speakers.

“Hi, Aunt Thea,” a small voice pipes up, bright and happy and impossible to be irritated by.

“Hey, Izzy.”

“I got a new dolly,” she announces excitedly. “You have to come see her.”

I smile, my chest squeezing at the sound of her voice. “Is that so?”

“She has sparkly shoes,” she says, all very serious. “Daddy says you have to come for dinner.”

Ed snorts somewhere in the background, making his daughter giggle.

“Pleeeeease,” she whines, and I can picture the face she’s making: big blue eyes batting long dark eyelashes that work overtime.

“Alright,” I chuckle, smiling despite myself. “You win.”

“See? That wasn’t so hard,” my brother says.

“You weaponized your child against me.”

“Effective, though.”

My lips pinch in a line, even though he can’t see me. The office building comes into view, emails, my to-do list, and upcoming meetings filtering through my mind.

“Ed, I’ve gotta go. I’ll call you later, okay?”

“Bye, Sis,” he says at the same time Izzy shouts, “Bye, Aunt Thea.”

I tuck my phone away and push through the glass doors. The conversation’s already gone from my head by the time I reach Mae’s desk. She’s here, looking far too pleased with herself.

“Well?” she asks, jumping to her feet.