SNOW GLOBE (14 page)

“Who,
you
are. Not me.” Aja whirled to go to her room.

“What’s normal?” her mom called to her.

Aja stopped and turned. “Maybe a world where you act like a real mom, you know, ground me for talking back to grown ups, not celebrate it. Sometimes I think you like your causes and protests more than me
. I’m
the teenager,
I’m
the one who’s supposed to be in trouble all the time, not you.”

“Do you want to grow up to be just like everybody? I’m trying to teach you to be independent and embrace your own self—to be individual.”

“As long as we stir up trouble doing it, right? You can’t do anything without making it a cause!”

“Find your voice, Aja.” Her mom pleaded. “I do it for you. For you to find your own way.” She turned and said softly, “I’m sorry.”

Aja’s phone rang and she stomped to her room before her mother could say anything else. She glanced at caller ID. It was Janie. “Hey, Janie.”

“Aja, hi, this isn’t Janie. It’s Lauren, Steve Jensen’s daughter. Janie let me use her phone to call.”

“Oh, hi, how’s your dad?” Aja sat on her bed and tried to calm down after yelling at her mom. “Janie said he was in the hospital.”

“We can’t get him to eat anything.” Something like a small sob escaped. “We’re not ready to lose him, not now after Mom.”

“Yeah, I’m sorry. I know your dad really loved her. It was sweet seeing how much he cared.” Aja remembered his trembling hand holding his ailing wife’s feather-like hand. “I’d hoped to go to the funeral.”

“He keeps asking for you. He said you helped take care of Mom.”

“I asked Janie if I could visit him, but I’m not, you know, welcome there.”

“Would you come if I asked if it would be okay? I’ll do anything to make him happy.”

“Sure.” Aja hesitated. “Lauren, I didn’t steal anything.”

“I don’t have the energy or time to worry about that,” Lauren said. “If you can visit dad and make him smile, it would mean the world to us.”

“Is he strong enough to meet somewhere like a restaurant?” Aja asked.

“No, he can barely walk, and he’s getting IV nutrition.” Lauren sighed. “It’s so hard now without Mom.” She began crying. “They were two peas in a pod. I should be a good daughter and let him go with her. It’s what he wants. But I can’t bear to lose both of them.”

“Call Edna Jones and ask if I can come by,” Aja said. “If she says no, maybe I can sneak in somehow.” She swallowed hard, thinking she was already walking on a thin line.

“Thanks, Aja.”

Aja clicked off the old phone and went to recharge it, since the battery died almost every phone call. As she plugged in the phone, she looked out her window. A police cruiser passed slowly by, and she chilled when she saw who was driving.

Chapter 24

Aja considered dialing 911 on her old phone but the cord had come out and the battery had been knocked loose when Aja plugged it in. She dropped the phone on her dresser and ran to the front door.

“Where’s the fire?” Her mom stepped out of the kitchen.

“That jerk just drove by our house.”

“Clay Richards?”

“Yeah. Should we call 911?”

Aja’s mom didn’t answer but picked up a long wooden dowel that she used to stretch her canvases. “Which way did he go?”

“Mom, really?” Aja watched her go to the door. “I’m not sure you’re going to take him out with that.”

Her mom smacked the doorframe with the stick. Clay Richards was nowhere to be seen. “Okay, let’s call the police. People like him are the reason I fight causes, and,” she added, “to protect you.” She reached in her pocket and pulled her phone out.

“Wait,” Aja said. “Who do you think they’ll send? The closest officer on duty, which is him.”

“This is insane. The guy is stalking us.”

Aja felt the now familiar tingle of terror down her spine. She still hadn’t told her mother about him following her home and to the hospital. “Call the female police officer, what was her name? Smith? See if she’s on duty.”

“No, this is war.” Her mom dialed 911 and reported a stalker who had just driven by their house.

“Mom, don’t, it’s only going to make it worse.”

But it was too late. As Aja predicted, Clay Richards roared into their driveway thirty seconds later. Aja slammed the front door. “Go lock the back. Why did you call him here?”

Aja’s mom dialed 911 again and reported the stalker in their drive and to hurry. She bolted the back door and kept the wooden dowel in her hand.

“I know there’s a police officer here, but the stalker has a gun,” her mom yelled in the phone. “Hurry, he’s at the door!” Aja’s mom hung up and slid the phone in her pocket, a sly smile on her face.

Aja was mortified, but there was no way she’d leave the house with him so close.

Before long, there were three police cars, lights flashing, parked haphazardly in front of Aja’s house.

Richards had been banging on their door. “Police, open up.”

Aja’s mom went to the front door and yelled, “You are not allowed on this property.”

“You called us.”

Aja could sense his sneer through the thin door.

“I called the police because of you. What were you doing, driving by our house?”

Aja heard scuffling on the porch and voices. She looked out the window and saw Officer Smith. She tried to get her attention by knocking on the window, but Clay Richards face suddenly appeared in the glass. Aja jumped back. Her mom was there with the wooden dowel locked and loaded, ready to swing.

Aja grabbed her mom’s arm. “Put that away,” she whispered fiercely. “The last thing we need is to get tossed in jail because you hit a police officer.”

“He’s on our property.”

“
We
called 911. Let’s talk to Officer Smith.” Sometimes, Aja felt like the mature one. She hated all the drama, most of which her mom created.

“Mom, stop! Why can’t we do something normal for once? Aja threw her shoulders back and went to the door. She looked at her mom and said, “Put the stick down.” She unlocked and opened the door.

Clay Richards was right there. Aja gulped and said, “You, off our property. Officer Smith, can we talk?”

Officer Smith stepped on the porch and said, “I got this, Clay.”

“Don’t think so, this is my beat.” His beady eyes bore into Aja. “Didn’t you call the police?”

Aja could feel her mom right behind her. “We called because I saw you drive by. You’re not supposed to come around me.”

“I thought you got the memo that wasn’t approved.” He rested his hand on the handle of his gun. “I patrol here.”

“You’ve been harassing us, and my daughter saw you when you broke into our house.” Aja’s mom growled at him like a pit bull. “You take one step in here and I’ll ram this up your ass.” She held the wooden stick up.

“Are you threatening me?” He seemed to enjoy this.

Officer Smith came to the door and said to Richards, “I just got off the phone with the supervisor. I’ll take this call. You can finish your patrol.”

The look he gave Smith made Aja back away in fear that he was going to pull his weapon and shoot her point blank.

“Don’t play power games with me,” he spit out at Smith. “You’ll lose.”

Aja let Officer Smith in the house and closed the door on Richards.

Smith looked at the two of them and asked, exasperated, “Is the stalker you’re reporting Officer Richards?”

“Yes,” Aja’s mom answered. “I don’t want him near Aja.”

“May we sit?” Smith asked.

Aja’s mom and Officer Smith took a seat on the couch. Aja went to close the curtains and noticed Clay Richards next to the cars talking to another officer. Richards pointed his finger ominously to the house. A few neighbors lingered on their front lawns. Embarrassed and angry, Aja shut the drapes.

“You can’t call 911 for something like this,” Officer Smith was saying to Aja’s mom.

“I’m going to call out the troops every time I see that jerk.” Aja’s mom slapped the wooden stick on the coffee table. “Who does he think he is, driving by here?”

“If you keep it up, you’ll be charged with making false calls. Not only will you be fined, but you could spend time in jail.”

“Me? Why? We’re innocent!” Her mom was outraged. “I’m worried for my daughter’s safety.”

Aja sat in a chair across from them. “I’m sorry we called, but he really scares me. Nobody believed me when I said it was him who broke in. It seems like every time I look behind me, he’s there.”

“He was found innocent by the review board.”

“Yeah, we’re the troublemakers.” Aja sighed. “Maybe I’ll go buy myself a police badge so I won’t be the bad guy anymore.”

“Look, I don’t want to take sides, but you’re not helping your case by making a scene.”

The doorbell rang. Aja tensed, fearing Clay Richards was still on the porch, waiting for her. Aja stood and looked out the peephole. But it was Ms. Lewis, the court advocate, looking peeved.

Chapter 25

“So is the circus in town?” Ms. Lewis asked when Aja opened the door. Aja noticed that the police cars were still in the front.

“We called the police…” Aja started, but Ms. Lewis cut her off.

“I know, I just spoke to Officer Clay Richards, and he told me you and your mother are making trouble again.” She stepped over the threshold without asking for an invitation.

“Come in,” Aja snipped.

“Don’t get smart with me.” Ms. Lewis turned to Aja. “I told you we were going to check on you.” She shook her head. “And this is what I find, a crime scene?” She walked to Officer Smith and held her hand out. “Hi, I’m Hilary Lewis, the court advocate assigned to Aja. Sorry they bothered you.”

Officer Smith stared at Ms. Lewis. “It’s no bother. It’s my job. But it looks as if you’re bothered by something.”

Aja snickered, and Ms. Lewis gave her a hateful look.

Officer Smith stood to leave. “Here’s my card if you need anything.” She handed one to both Aja and her mom. She looked around the room glancing at the paintings, some hanging in the living room, some half-finished canvases leaning against the wall. “Did you paint these?” she asked.

“Yes,” Aja’s mom answered, standing. “I make a little money selling paintings.”

“They’re beautiful,” Officer Smith said, flipping through the paintings. Most were landscapes and flowers, some life figures. “You’re very talented.” Aja saw her pause at one of Walker, nude, his muscles painted with erotic accuracy.

Aja could feel the disproval emanating from Ms. Lewis, her eyes fixated on a life-size plaster bust. While pregnant with her, Aja’s mom cast her swollen nine-month belly and breasts and painted it rainbow colors. She’d fixed the mold to a light pole, and the beaded lampshade seemed to be the head.

“I’ll let you get back to things here,” Smith said. Then to Aja’s mom said, “I’ll talk to my supervisor and see what I can do, but Clay has been here for years. He may be a little hot-headed, but he’s been a good officer.”

When they finally let Ms. Lewis out, Aja’s mom closed the door hard and bolted the lock. “That woman works my nerves. Come on, let’s do some yoga to calm down. Then I’ll reheat our dinner.”

Aja fell on the couch. “I don’t want to do yoga. I’m not even hungry anymore. She’s going to report that we called the police. What if I get sent to the detention center?”

Her mom was already on the floor, stretching. “Breathe, honey. Let the tension fall from your shoulders. Find your chakra.” Her mom took a deep cleansing breath. Aja gulped back a sob.

Her mom contorted like a pretzel. “This will help us think about how to handle these people.” She breathed again.

“Mom, I know I sound like a broken record, but I need to graduate from school. I’m already eighteen and don’t want to start my life with a GED.”

“You know you can do anything you dream,” her mom said, letting a noisy breath out.

“This dream is turning into a nightmare. How did things get so screwed up?”

“Come on, Peanut. Join me. I already feel better.”

Aja got off the couch and lay on her back on the floor. She closed her eyes and wished herself on a beach far away from this hellhole.

“Do this pose.” Her mom put one leg over the other and stretched her torso. “It will relax you and help with digestion”

“I thought the tofu would help with that.” Aja giggled.

“Here.” Her mom pulled her phone from her pocket. “It’s Walker.” Then the phone rang.

“That’s so weird, mom.” Aja stayed on the floor and answered.

“Hey, Aja. I wanted to call. I’ve been thinking about you,” he said. “Sorry things ended badly the last time we talked.” He paused. “Your mom told me why you’ve been in jail. So along with everything else, you’re also a political peace terrorist.” He laughed.

“It’s a long story.” Aja closed her eyes and tried to forget about the whole police force visit. And she really wished she wasn’t so happy to hear Walker’s voice.

“So, I’ll probably get a call from Homeland Security for talking to you.”