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avoided that morning.

 
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Three
    “Meredith, you had me worried sick. Where did you sneak off to this morning?” Aunt Rose asked impatiently, trying to maintain a serious tone as she held her hands on her hips.
    Dropping my backpack and purse at the foot of the stairs, I tried to snap myself out of the daze I was still in. The last thing I wanted was to make Aunt Rose worry about me more than she already did. When I looked at her face, I had to press my lips together, trying to make an effort to not smile. I knew how hard it was for her to play the strict guardian role. She was more like an older sister to me than anything.
    But to please her, I decided to play along and act like the disobedient child taking her punishment. “Sorry, I should have told you that I was headed out.” I exhaled, hanging my head low. “I went to the cemetery.” Even though it was a low blow, I knew mentioning it would quiet her. I was just not in the mood for talking or playing that part for very long.
    “Oh—well, I just wish you would have told me. I would have gone with you. All you had to do was ask,” she said, immediately changing her stance and attitude.
    I smiled timidly. “Don’t worry about it. I already got the lecture from Roger on going there by myself. But like I told him: I just wanted some time alone with them.”
    When she smiled back at me, I knew that was the end of that conversation. Then guilt washed over me, and I started to feel bad for throwing out the cemetery card so early on. It was tough looking at her face, seeing her sympathetic eyes staring back at me. Maybe I should’ve played the disobedient child part a little longer.
    Aunt Rose was my guardian, my adult supervision, my answer whenever I was asked who I lived with, but she was not my real aunt. She was actually my mom’s best friend; they had grown up together in Marblehead.  Since I had had no other family around when my parents passed away, she was the lucky one that got stuck with me. The only name I ever called her growing up was Aunt Rose. She had given up everything for me and never thought twice about it. She had left her apartment and nursing job in Boston and moved into my house, not wanting me to have any more change than I had had already.
    “To change the subject, how about we talk about your plans for this summer? You know, just so I can get an idea of your schedule and stuff.” She bit her lip, knowing that was a bit of a touchy subject between us.
    “Okay, but I already told you most of it. Get a job, save up some money, and then travel a bit when the summer ends. What else do you need to know?” I questioned, hoping she didn’t want specifics because I had none.
    “Oh, nothing, that’s perfect. I just wanted to make sure those plans had not changed. You are so wishy-washy lately.” I was not wishy-washy, but before I could defend myself, she began  again. “Which brings me to tell you that I have the perfect job for you.” Her eyes lit up in excitement.
    “Oh, no, please not the hospital. You know I can’t stand sick people, blood, or the smell of that place,” I complained.  My throat went dry with fear and I made my way into the kitchen for a glass of water.
    She laughed, following me persistently. “Relax, it’s not the hospital. Although I think that would be nice, you know, so we could spend some extra time together. But I wouldn’t do that to you.”
    Aunt Rose was a nurse at our small, local hospital. Even though the town rarely ever saw any action, there were the occasional deep cuts with a kitchen knife, kids jumping on their bed, falling off, and busting their heads open, and lots of gross sick people.
    I listened to her as I drank some water, quenching the dryness in my throat.
    “Well.” She hesitated for a moment. “I kinda ran into Ms. Donaldson today, and she asked about you. I mentioned that you were going to be here this summer, and she said that there was an opening for