Unraveled by Heidi McCahan

Matthew paused with his fork halfway to his mouth.
    “Oh, sweetheart.” Mom grabbed some towels from the counter and sopped up the water. “Why didn’t you say something?”
    “You didn’t give me a chance.”
    “So he flew in, tracked you down, and dumped you?” Matthew shot a glance at Dad. “Sounds like he’s quite a guy.”
    Lauren flinched, moving some food around on her plate.
    “I’m sorry, honey. I know this must be difficult.” Dad cleared his throat and reached for the bread basket.
    You have no idea. She nodded and fought back the tears that threatened to fall.
    “So what else is going on? Still working for that doctor?” Matthew shifted Gavin to his shoulder.
    Lauren shook her head. “He closed the practice. Friday was my last day.”
    “So what will you do when you go back?” Dad shoveled more lasagna onto a hunk of bread and popped it in his mouth.
    Lauren looked away. She’d have to find another job. And put her graphic design plans on hold. Again. “I haven’t figured that out yet.”
    The phone rang, Gavin started to fuss and Angela came back in the kitchen with a very cranky Ava in her arms.
    “Matt, we need to get going. She’s falling apart.” Angela stood behind Matt, her lips pressed into a thin line.
    “What about Gavin? I think he’s hungry.”
    “I’ll feed him, but then we need to go.” Angela slid Ava back into her chair then scooped Gavin from Matt’s arms and disappeared into the living room.
    Matt switched chairs and squeezed in between his girls, tugging his plate toward him. “Let’s finish our lunch, okay?”
    “That was Judy Maxwell.” Mom set the phone down on the counter and came back to the table. “She wondered if I knew anyone who could put together a flyer for the relay and festival. Whoever she had lined up backed out last minute.”
    Lauren leaned forward in her seat. She could probably pull something together in a couple of hours. Good thing she’d brought her laptop.
    “What does she need a flyer for? The same festival happens every year,” Dad said.
    “Apparently the cruise directors want someone on the dock promoting the festival.” Mom passed the bread basket to Matt. “How about some more bread?”
    Lauren pushed her plate aside, the buzz of a percolating project coursing through her veins. She twisted around in her chair and grabbed a pen and a discarded envelope off of the counter. The conversation turned to the new bridge project and a small development going up on the edge of town. New ramblers or something. She was only half-listening while Dad and Matt discussed the growing real estate market.
    “What are you drawing, Aunt Lauren?” Josh leaned over her arm to examine her work.
    “Just an idea I had for a flyer, that’s all.” She scribbled a tagline under a rough sketch of the mountains.
    Conversation came to a halt. Silence encircled the table. She glanced up slowly to find her parents and Matt staring at her.
    “What did you say?” Dad asked.
    A flush began to creep up her neck. “I thought I’d help Mrs. Maxwell design that flyer.” Butterflies danced in her stomach. She felt a little weird talking about her ideas out loud. It wasn’t like she was a professional, or anything.
    “You can do that sort of thing?”
    She shrugged. “I’ve done a couple of projects back h—in Portland. Nothing big. It’s kind of a hobby, I guess.”
    “There’s a whole box of your artwork around here somewhere.” Mom fed Emmy one last bite of lasagna then reached for a napkin. “You used to draw all the time. Let me wipe your face, Em.”
    Angela came back into the room, Gavin sound asleep in her arms. “He’s out already. Let’s go.”
    While Matt and Angela rounded up the kids, Lauren put her doodling aside and helped clear the table. Turning on the water at the kitchen sink, she added some dish soap and waited for the basin to fill. She reached for Granny’s locket. Do you see me, Lord? I’m washing dishes and doodling on