Homecoming (48 page)

“He probably wasn’t trying to hurt me,” Jill said. “He just wanted to stop me from leaving.”

“You’re defending him?” Her voice was louder now. Painfully so.

“No, he was totally out of line, and he scared the shit out of me. I just don’t think he knew he was holding me so hard. When I dropped to my knees, he let go and didn’t touch me again. If he’d wanted to hurt me, he could have kicked me in the teeth right then.”

Lizzie was clearly not happy, but she didn’t comment further. Instead, she lifted Jill’s arm to her lips and placed soft kisses all over the angry marks. “I’ve got to call my mom,” she decided after a minute. “Want me to get out? Or can I call her from here?”

“Uhm, there’s one more bit I didn’t tell you yet.”

Lizzie’s body grew rigid and Jill could feel her suck in and hold a breath.

“Your mom called right after he arrived. I handed him the phone and he basically hung up on her. She’s the one who called the police, Lizzie.”

Without comment, she stuck her hand out as far as it would go, snagged her jeans and dragged them over by a leg. Then she yanked her phone so forcefully from her pocket that Jill was afraid she’d rip the fabric. A few seconds later, she spoke into the phone. “Jill just told me what happened.” Her voice was level and contained. “Is he home yet?” She was silent for a minute, then said, “I’m about ready to get back into Jill’s car and drive down there.”

Jill slid down to submerge more of herself in the warm, bubbly water. Lizzie was giving off waves of anger, but Jill was certain Janet would calm her down and give her some perspective. Consciously trying not to listen to the conversation, Jill tried to concentrate on the cadence of Lizzie’s words, rather than their meaning, and, in a short time, found herself in a kind of trance. Maybe it was just lying close to Lizzie. Or the belief that Janet had a lot of influence with her kids. For some reason, despite all evidence to the contrary, she held out a surprising amount of hope that everything would eventually settle down and be all right again.

***

Lizzie talked until the bathwater had started to cool. One thing Jill hadn’t thought of in her bathroom design was how tough it would be to add water once you were already soaking in the tub. Having it drop down onto your head from the ceiling was really unappealing.

They got out and Lizzie tenderly wrapped a big bath sheet around Jill, covering her shoulders while she patted her dry. “Could you tell what my mom convinced me to do?”

“Nothing, I hope,” Jill said, watching Lizzie grab another towel to dry her own body.

“Just about. She doesn’t think I’ll help the situation if I call him and ream him a new one, so she’s going to try to reason with him. I’m going to stand down until she gives me the go-ahead.”

Jill wriggled around in the big towel until she could get her hands free. She slid them around Lizzie’s body and held on loosely, leaning against her as their bodies swayed in rhythm. “I’m glad you’re backing off. He knows he screwed up. Maybe struggling with the guilt’s a better idea than poking him. He’ll just get defensive.”

“That’s what my mom said.” Lizzie gave her a gentle kiss. “I’ll let you pacifists have this round. But if she can’t get through to him, I’m going to slug him with one of those big hammers he has lying around. Fucking jerk,” she grumbled, pulling away to head back into the bedroom. This was
so
not over.

While Jill brushed her teeth, Lizzie unpacked her clothes, putting them in the guest bedroom closet. She walked back into the room just as Jill was taking the decorative pillows from her bed and snapping the quilt into place. Getting organized must have improved her mood, because Lizzie seemed lighter and perkier than she had when she left.

“You did a great job of bringing clothes over for me. I won’t have to go back until Wednesday night.”

“Want me to borrow a truck and buy some boxes? We could get most of your clothes over here in one trip.”

“Buy boxes? Look at you, Miss Moneybags. Haven’t you ever heard of going to the grocery store and taking their castoffs?”

“Yeah, I’ve heard of that. But I like having nice, clean boxes. I’m a spendthrift.”

“I’m used to having little bits of lettuce and cabbage stuck to my stuff, but I’ll give it a try your way.”

They both got into bed, and as Jill turned off her bedside light, the boys ran into the room and leapt upon the bed. Lizzie stuck out her arm and Jill cuddled up against her.

“I love having you here,” she murmured.

“Our family’s together,” Lizzie said, rubbing her face against Jill’s head. “All safe and sound.”

“This is all I’ve ever wanted,” Jill said, her voice catching as she spoke. “Someone who loves me, and wants to share her life with me.” She peeked down at the boys, both getting comfortable by kneading a prime spot. “And a few other dependents who love me as long as I feed them.”

Lizzie kissed her cheek, then nuzzled against her neck. “You’ve got to feed me too, but I’ll love you even if you don’t.” She tucked Jill up against her body and stroked her skin in long smooth caresses that ran down her torso.

“I feel better,” Jill said.

“I do too. And my mom obviously feels sorry for me because she’s going to tell my grandparents and my aunts and uncles.”

“She is?” Jill’s body jerked involuntarily and she sat up. “You’re okay with that?”

“Uh-huh. I have a gay cousin, so I’m not the first. And if any of them are weird about it, my mom will straighten them out.”

“If you’re happy to have her run interference, I’m happy too.”

“I’m done,” Lizzie said dramatically. “I’ve come out to everyone now. It was a bumpy ride, but it’s over. Now we can relax and start building our life together. Here in your beautiful house.”

“Our house,” Jill corrected. “This is our house now.”

“I like the sound of that.” She giggled softly. “I also like not living in a smokey, noisy fire trap. As soon as we buy a few shotguns to keep the crazier members of my family away, we’re set.”

Monday was an epically
annoying day, with meetings all over campus, inflexible department heads, jealous managers, and a few administrators who were nice but clueless. It seemed like the day would never end, but each meeting was mandatory.

Jill always switched off the ringer on her cell phone when she was in meetings, but when her last one of the day was over she took a look. Her eyes widened when she saw a missed a call and a voice mail—from her mother. As she hit the buttons to make the message play, the thought occurred to her that her mother had never called on a workday. And she had called so infrequently in general that Jill was surprised she had this number.

There was a pause, like her mom was waiting for a cue to start. Then she said, “I need you to come home, Jill. Tonight.”

Jill pulled the phone from her ear and stared at it for a second, stunned. Her mother hadn’t sounded particularly upset, but this was clearly not a friendly invitation to come for dinner. More like a command. She hurried to her office and closed the door. As expected, her mother didn’t answer the phone. That wasn’t unusual. She only answered when she was in the mood—which wasn’t often, and she didn’t have voice mail or an answering machine.

Checking her contacts list, she found an entry she’d made years earlier. “Parents’ Neighbors.” Her mom didn’t have a real relationship with anyone in their neighborhood, but Jill and, to a lesser extent, her father, at least knew their immediate neighbors well enough to stop and chat when they saw them.

Dialing Mrs. Jennings’ number, she rolled her eyes when a robotic voice said it had been disconnected. It had been quite a while since she’d updated the list. The next call was a hit. “Mr. O’Reilly? It’s Jill Henry.”

“Well, hello, Jill. Seems like it’s been years since I’ve seen you. How are you?”

“I’m fine, thanks. I was wondering if I could ask you for a favor.”

“Sure. As long as it doesn’t require me to lift anything heavy.”

“No, nothing like that. If you’ve got time, I’d like you to go over to the house and see if my mom’s all right. She left me a message, but when I call her back she doesn’t answer.”

“Did she say she’s ill?”

“No, she didn’t. But I’m worried about her. I’m going to drive down, but it’ll take me a few hours to get there.”

“All right, Jill. But…” He took a breath. “I can’t imagine she’ll answer, even if she’s sitting right in the living room.”

She closed her eyes, embarrassed to think of how the whole town probably thought of her mother. “I know, Mr. O’Reilly. I’m just…”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll check and call you back. Give me your number.”

She did, then turned her chair so she could look out the window. She had a nice view of campus, even though she was only on the second floor. Her perch was high enough to look across the street to see students scurrying around, rushing to their next class. Seeing them now, all looking so normal and predictable, somehow calmed her.

She had to go home. Her mother had never, ever asked her to come, so she had to have a good reason. Knowing her, it could be anything. Illness, financial ruin, divorce, joining the circus or even a convent. Anything at all.

After a few minutes, her phone rang and she answered quickly. “Hi, Mr. O’Reilly.”

“How’d you know it was me?”

“My phone shows the number of the person calling,” she said, anxious to get to the point.

“Go figure. Well, like I thought, your mother didn’t answer the door. But her car’s there, and I could hear the TV on. Want me to have the police come by? They can get that door open, no problem. You should’ve seen them hit the door with a battering ram when poor old Helen Jennings died in her house. Oh, that was a
mess
.”

“Uhm, thanks,” she said, her mind now full of gruesome images. “But my mom wouldn’t appreciate the police coming by if she’s all right and if she’s not…” She hated to say it, but it was the truth. “A few more hours probably won’t hurt.”

“I’d rather have someone come in and get me if I fell or something, but your mom would probably rather suffer alone.”

“That’s probably true,” she agreed. “I’ll be down in a few hours, Mr. O’Reilly. Thanks very much for your help.”

“No problem, Jill. I hope she’s all right.”

“Me too.”

She hung up, then called one of her employees. “Cari? Can you swing by?”

“Sure. Be right there.” She had to come from the other side of the floor, but Cari was there by the time Jill had her briefcase packed.

When Jill sensed her standing in the door, she said, “I’ve got to go down to Sugar Hill to take care of something. Can you keep an eye on things?”

“Okay. Want me to sit in your office?”

“Yeah,” she said. “Good idea, given that people stop by all day looking for something.”

Jill started to walk out, but Cari stopped her by putting a hand on her arm.

“Is everything all right?”

“I’m not sure,” she said honestly. “My mom left me a message, asking me to come home right away.”

“I hope she’s all okay.”

“Me too. I’ll call if I’m not going to be in tomorrow.”

“Take care,” Cari said, giving her a reassuring pat on the back.

As Jill started her walk home, she called Lizzie, getting her voice mail. “Hi. I just got a message from my mother, asking me to come home right away. Not sure what that means, but I’m heading out.” She started to hang up, but added, “I wish I could wait for you, but I think I’d better get going. Call me when you can.”

***

After an exhaustive search, she found her old house key, which would make getting into the house easy so long as her mother hadn’t changed the locks when Jill left for college. She wouldn’t have put it past her.

Lizzie must have been involved in an event, because Jill arrived in Sugar Hill with no return call. After she parked in the driveway, she went up to the front door. Before she could knock, the door opened and her mother stood there, looking perfectly normal. “Took you long enough,” she grumbled as she went back to sit in her comfortable chair. “Did you send that nosy man over here?”

“I did. I thought you might be sick or injured.”

She waved her hand dismissively. “I’m as healthy as a horse. And if I drop, I’d rather be left alone.”

Well, that was clear. Strange, but clear.

Jill moved over to sit on the sofa. “Can I ask why you called?”

“I’m going to move,” she said, actually turning the TV down, a rarity.

“
You’re
going to move? Not Dad?”

Even though the volume was down, her muddy brown eyes stayed locked on the television. If Jill had counted the times their eyes had met and held a gaze, she probably wouldn’t get to twenty.

“Yes, Jill,
I’m
going to move. To Arizona. I’m sick and tired of this weather. And since I don’t have any other reason to stay, I might as well go now.”

Jill had learned to parse her mother’s words like a sacred text. Each one had meaning, sometimes multiple meanings that you ignored at your peril. “What do you mean, you don’t have any other reason to stay?”

“Well, Jill,” she said, her eyes narrowing dangerously. “Given that this whole town knows something important about you. Something you haven’t taken the time to tell
me
about…

Oh, fuck!
How could you respond to that?

“Well? Would you like to explain why I had to learn about this from Lisa Byrne?”

“God damn it,” Jill cursed quietly. “She’s a horrible little jerk.” Then Jill let the comment really sink in. Why would her mother open the door to Lisa? “How do you know her?”

“I went to school with her mother. She was a real piece of work. Slept with every boy in Bellows Falls. Probably a few sheep too.”

Jill shook her head, trying to get that information, undoubtedly a wild exaggeration, out of her brain. “But do you know Lisa?”

“I made the mistake of going to church yesterday, and she cornered me. Nosy little brat couldn’t wait to tell me all about you. Everyone who passed by laughed. They all knew what she was saying.”