"Get the hell out of my house, Mel!"
I ducked as the coffee mug flew past my head and smashed against the wall behind me. Bits of ceramic scattered across the hardwood floor. My brother stood there, red-faced and breathing heavy, looking like he might throw something else.
"Jesus, Rob! I just asked if you'd taken your meds today!"
"You think I need a fucking babysitter? I'm thirty-four!"
I grabbed my jacket off the chair. "Yeah, and you're acting like you're twelve."
The thing about my brother is that he's actually pretty great when he's doing okay. But when he's not - well, flying coffee mugs are the least of it. I slammed the door behind me and stood on his porch for a minute, just breathing. The May air was warm enough that I didn't really need the jacket, but I put it on anyway.
His neighbor, Mrs. Kasparian, was watering her roses and pretending not to watch the whole thing. She gave me a little wave that said "I heard everything but I'm too polite to mention it."
I waved back and headed for my car. I needed to go somewhere - anywhere that wasn't Rob's disaster zone of an apartment. Somewhere pleasant.
The drive to Lakeview Park took about twenty minutes. I'd been going there since I was a kid. Me and Rob, actually. Back when things were simpler and his brain didn't occasionally try to convince him that everyone was out to get him.
I parked and walked down to the little dock that jutted out into the water. There was nobody else around, which was exactly what I wanted. Just me and some ducks and the sound of the water lapping against the wooden supports.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. Rob. I let it go to voicemail. He'd either be calling to apologize or to yell some more, and I wasn't in the mood for either.
I sat down on the edge of the dock, letting my feet dangle over the water. The sun was starting to set, turning everything golden. This was my pleasant place. Always had been.
"Mind if I join you?"
I looked up to see a guy about my age standing there with a fishing pole. Tall, kinda skinny, glasses that kept sliding down his nose.
"Free country," I said, scooting over a bit.
He sat down and started setting up his gear. "I'm Teo, by the way."
"Mel."
"Bad day?"
I laughed. "That obvious, huh?"
"You got that thousand-yard stare going on. Plus you sighed like four times in the minute I've been here."
"Just family stuff," I said. "My brother's... complicated."
Teo nodded like he understood completely. "Got a sister like that. Love her to death but sometimes I gotta get away before I lose my mind."
"Exactly." I watched him bait his hook. "You actually catch anything in this lake? I thought it was mostly just for show."
"Oh yeah. Caught a bass last week that was like-" he held his hands about two feet apart, then grinned. "Okay, more like this." He adjusted to about eight inches.
I laughed. "At least you're honest."
"Eventually."
We sat in silence for a while. It was nice - not awkward or anything. Just two people existing in the same pleasant place.
"So what do you do?" he asked finally.
"Graphic design. Mostly for small businesses who can't afford the big agencies."
"No way. I'm in web development."
"Seriously? We're like... digital neighbors or something."
He laughed. "Yeah, I guess so."
My phone buzzed again. Rob again. I silenced it.
"Not gonna get that?" Teo asked.
"Nah. It'll keep."
The sun was almost gone now, turning the sky pink and purple. The park lights were starting to come on, little glowing orbs along the paths.
"I come here a lot," I said. "When things get too much."
"It's a good spot," Teo agreed. "Peaceful."
My phone started buzzing again, but this time it wasn't Rob - it was my mom.
"Sorry, I should probably take this one," I said, standing up.
Teo gave me a little salute with his fishing rod. "No problem."
"Hey, Mom," I answered, walking a few steps away.
"Melanie, thank God. Have you seen Robert today? He's not answering his phone and I'm worried."
I closed my eyes. "Yeah, I was at his place like an hour ago. He's fine, just... you know. Having a rough day."
"Did he throw something?"
"Just a mug."
She sighed. "I'll go check on him."
"Mom, no. Give him some space. He'll call when he's calmed down."
"But-"
"Trust me on this one, okay? I know him."
After some more back and forth, she finally agreed to wait until morning if she didn't hear from him. I hung up and went back to the dock.
"Everything okay?" Teo asked.
"Yeah. Just my mom worrying about my brother."
"Families, right?"
"Yeah."
We watched the last of the sunset together. Teo didn't catch any fish, but he didn't seem to mind. When it got dark enough that we could barely see each other, I stood up.
"I should probably head home."
"Same," he said, reeling in his line. "This was nice though."
"It was."
He hesitated. "I come here most Saturdays. Around the same time. If you ever want company in your pleasant place."
I smiled. "I might take you up on that."
My phone buzzed as I was walking back to my car. A text from Rob: "Sorry about the mug. I'll buy you coffee tomorrow to make up for it."
I texted back: "Deal. But you're getting the expensive kind with the fancy foam art."
Sometimes all you need is a little time in a pleasant place to remember that the hard stuff passes too.
