by Charley Lynn
“I’m so glad to see you. I’ve been worried about you,” she said.
Rosemary’s eyes filled. “I’m okay, Mrs. Noah, no need to worry.” She turned slightly when she felt John at her side. “I don’t know if you remember John Masters, my step-dad.”
Mrs. Noah still held Rosemary’s hand. “I do remember. Thank you for coming.” She smiled tremulously. “Rev. Masters, my son loved Rosemary very much; she meant so much to him.”
John smiled gently. “I always enjoyed seeing Pete. We had several long chats about seminary and ministry. I’m sorry the world has lost such a devout soul and I’m saddened that my daughter has lost her friend.” John put his arm around Rosemary’s shoulders. “I know they’d been friends since pre-school and she misses him terribly.” Rosemary nodded, her eyes damp.
“Dear girl, please don’t stop visiting us. I know it will be hard without him, but Tad and I think the world of you and we’ll miss you if we don’t see you.”
Rosemary hugged Pete’s mom again and promised her she would visit. As they walked away, John tucked Rosemary’s hand into his elbow. She smiled slightly. “I’m fine, John. You don’t need to worry.”
“Parents worry, honey. I know you’re strong, but that doesn’t mean I don’t still worry.”
Rosemary smiled and patted his arm. “How about a frozen yogurt sundae? I’ll buy.”
“Just don’t tell your mother.” John patted his slightly protruding belly. “She thinks I’ve gained weight.”
“Your secret is safe with me.” Rosemary looked up, shocked to see the short, slightly-built man staring at her. What was Armand doing here? He was standing a dozen feet from the group of mourners, somewhat hidden between a large tree and a huge gravestone. She stumbled a little at his cold stare, trying to ignore the chill going up her spine. Not wanting John to see her distress, she turned her face away from Armand.
While John drove away, she couldn’t help but remember. She’d run from Armand’s apartment on a cold morning three months ago.
The February wind was cold, especially this close to the Chicago river. Sobbing, Rosemary touched her phone with shaking fingers trying to see the Uber app through her tears. She didn’t know why she’d awakened naked, except for a quilt, on the couch in Armand’s studio. The apartment was quiet and Armand’s bedroom door was shut. She threw on her clothes and ran into the quiet street. Nothing was open before dawn on that Sunday morning except the small convenience store where she waited for her ride.
When the ride finally came, Rosemary stepped into the back seat when the car stopped at the curb. She had tried to pull herself together, but she was still crying. The driver, a middle-aged man wearing a turban, looked at her in his mirror. “Are you all right, miss?”
Rosemary nodded, unable to speak. She covered her face with her hands.
“Did someone hurt you?”
Rosemary gulped. “I…I’m not sure. I don’t remember.” She whispered the words.
“Are you going home to your parents now?”
“No. No, my parents are in Iowa. I’m going to my aunt’s.”
“She will meet you there?”
“No, she’s…away. For work.”
“I wouldn’t want someone to leave one of my daughters on a sidewalk after they’d been hurt. Forgive me for being intrusive, but I am going to take you to the hospital. It’s not far.” Rosemary was too traumatized to protest. She merely nodded.
Hours later, she was asleep in the emergency room. She had finally calmed after the shot they’d give her. When the nurse woke her, she said quietly, “Rosemary, your dad and your brother are here.” When Connor and John appeared at her bedside, she burst into tears.
Rosemary took a deep breath and wiped her face. John, thinking she was thinking about Pete, patted her hand. Rosemary did her best to put the memory of that awful Sunday morning out of her mind.
While they ate their sundaes, Rosemary was quiet for a long time. She finally broke the silence. “John, can I talk to you about something?”
“Sure.”
Rosemary described seeing the light around Mrs. Noah and Tad, then the feeling she’d experienced a few seconds later. “Is that just my brain trying to find comfort?”
John smiled gently. “Well, not in my opinion. I think Pete and the Holy Spirit shared a priceless gift with you.”
Rosemary nodded. “I’ve read about things like it, but I’ve never experienced it.”
“People tell me a lot of stories like that. My mom had many experiences when she was working as a hospice nurse; I believe God is often very close when someone is preparing to go Home. It seems that Pete wanted to comfort you and remind you he’ll see you later.”
Rosemary nodded again. “It did comfort me.”
“It comforts me, too. Even a man of faith likes an occasional bit of evidence.” John smiled again. “Thank you for sharing it with me.”
Chapter 2
Rosemary dropped some bread in the toaster and poured juice. Her mother came downstairs with the baby while Rosemary was eating.
“You’re up early, honey.”
“I woke up early. Let me take Jared while you finish getting ready.” Rosemary settled her brother into the crook of her arm while she waited for her toast.
Margie was back in the kitchen ten minutes later. “Do you want to ride together? You could walk over after school and wait for me and then we can come home.”
“No, I’m okay to drive. I’m just dreading going back to school knowing I won’t see Pete.”
“I know, honey.” Margie poured a cup of coffee and took a sip. “Maybe this isn’t the right time to bring this up; but John and I would like you to transfer to Central Marion in Ivy for your senior year.
“I don’t know, Mom. It isn’t that I particularly like Roosevelt, or the daily commute, but at least it’s familiar. C-M would be completely new for me.”
“Well, think about it. John hates that you drive almost two hours a day, especially in the winter. He worries.”
Rosemary chuckled. “John worries no matter what.”
“True. But it would be easier for you to be five minutes away from home instead of an hour. If nothing else, you could dance in the studio a lot more.”
“I’ll consider it. Pete was my only friend at school, so I might be just as happy to get away from Roosevelt.”
Rosemary checked in with her guidance counselor about transferring. The next day, the counselor tracked her down. “You only have two requirements left; a semester of Algebra II and a semester of Advanced Grammar. They also offer Spanish IV if you want to continue with that. The dance coach took the liberty of calling the coach at Central Marion to ask about auditions for next year. The C-M dance coach would like you to audition, although Mrs. Chambers is afraid you’ll be bored with their program.”
Rosemary shrugged. “I could give up dance for next year; I’d rather not, but I could. I teach a class at the nursing home, I could teach a couple of kids’ classes instead of being on the dance team.”
“But you will audition, won’t you?”
“Probably. When are auditions?”
“Less than two weeks away. You’d have to make a commitment to transfer and register for classes. They can’t let you audition if you don’t.”
“I understand.”
Rosemary struggled to hold it together the first day she went back to school, the day after Pete’s funeral. She realized it would have been better if she’d ridden with her mother, as Margie had suggested. When she walked to her truck at the end of her very long first day back, she thought she saw Armand sitting in a van in the parking lot of the fast-food restaurant by her school. When she looked a second time, though, there was nobody in the van.
On Wednesday, there was a sunflower stuck underneath one of her truck’s windshield wipers and on Thursday, a tiny stuffed animal in a cloth bag was tied on the windshield wiper. The bear had a card that said, ‘I love you.’ On Friday, there was a huge bunch of pink
carnations and a box of candy in the bed of her truck.
Rosemary had a tougher time going back after the weekend that she had the days immediately after the funeral. School was really bad without Pete. She hadn’t considered how many times during the week she ran into him, ate lunch with him, or texted him. People stayed away from her, unsure what to say about Pete, because everyone who knew them at all knew they had been best friends. Even the few girls she was friendly with on the dance team stayed away.
Armand became bolder. He let her see him, but he didn’t talk to her until ten days after Pete died. She was walking out of school, her steps heavy, when she saw him leaning against her truck. She hesitated, unsure of what she should do, but she took a deep breath and made her way to her truck.
“Rosemary, I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“I’m fine, Armand. Why are you really here?”
“I know poor Pete was your only friend, aside from me. I thought you could use a friend now that he’s gone.”
“You shouldn’t be here. I severed ties with the agency because I didn’t want to see you again.”
“But, darling girl, you must be so sad. So very sad. You and your sweet little boyfriend have known each other since you were three years old. You told me that. I just want to give you a shoulder to cry on. You must be so lonely without him; he had been your best friend for so long. You did so many things together; all those church activities. I always wondered if he had been taller, if you wouldn’t have ended up with him. He loved you so much and tragically, he’s gone. Soon to be nothing but dust.”
Rosemary burst into tears. “I don’t want to talk about him with you.”
“Of course, my dear, of course. Please accept my sincere condolences on the loss of your dearest friend. Poor Pete, poor, poor, Pete.”
“Armand, please, go away.”
“Dearest, I just want to help you. I know you haven’t been modeling; I know your lawyer negotiated your release from the agency. How is your family faring? I know you support them with your modeling.”
“I don’t support my family. You don’t need to concern yourself with them.”
“I worry, dear heart, I worry. I hope you will let me be your friend again; I can come to you until you feel well enough to come to Chicago again.”
“Rosemary?” The two boys who had carried her away from the wreckage of Pete’s car approached. The blond whose name Rosemary couldn’t remember stepped closer. “Is everything alright? Can I help you?”
Armand’s face darkened with fury. “She is fine,” he said through gritted teeth. “She doesn’t need help.”
Rosemary saw his hand go into the pocket of his coat. She knew Armand well enough to be afraid of what was in the pocket. She plastered a smile on her face. “I’m fine, really. I just got a little emotional, talking about Pete. Thank you for checking on me.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure.” She smiled widely, calling on every modeling skill she possessed to accomplish keeping the smile on her face.
“Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow.” The blond boy looked back over his shoulder as he walked away.
Rosemary kept the smile on her face as he walked away, waving when he turned around to look at her.
“How sweet,” Armand growled. “Another conquest?”
“No, of course not. Just an acquaintance.”
“I want to talk to you in a more private setting. Across the street, on the east side of that little mall is a coffee shop. Meet me there tomorrow after school.”
“No, Armand.”
He gritted his teeth. “You will meet me as I’ve suggested. I have something to discuss with you.” Suddenly changing his tactics again, he smiled ingratiatingly. “Please, my dear. I have something to discuss with you. Please.”
Rosemary finally gave in. “I’ll be there. Now, please let me leave.”
“My dear, you act as if I am keeping you.” Armand stood aside, a sick smile on his face and his hand hovering above the pocket where she was sure he had a gun.
Rosemary was walking towards the school exit, dreading her scheduled meeting with Armand.
“Hi, Rosemary.” The blond guy who’d helped her twice fell in beside her.
“Hi,” Rosemary answered. “I’m so sorry, I can’t remember your name.”
“Linc.” He fell into step beside her. “I was worried. I was just checkin’ on you.”
“I’m okay. Thanks for your help…the other day and for checking on me yesterday. “
“Are you scared of that little dude you were talking to yesterday?”
Rosemary took a deep breath. “Not scared, exactly. We have a history; we used to work together.”
“Has he hurt you?” Rosemary was silent. “Rosemary?”
“No, not hurt me.” She avoided looking at Linc. “I have to go. My mom’s expecting me at home.”
“I’ll walk you to your truck.”
“No, that’s okay, you don’t have…” Rosemary trailed off when a tiny girl rushed towards them.
“Lincoln, why did you rush off after class?” The small blonde clutched at Linc’s arm.
“Just left when class was over is all,” Linc mumbled.
“Hey, I’ll see you later. Thanks, again.” Rosemary smiled and waved.
“Wait, Rosemary. I’ll walk you out. See you, Hanna.” He pulled his arm away from the girl.
“Lincoln!” The little blonde pouted. “I’m sure that girl has somewhere to go. A snack to eat. Something.” Rosemary cringed.
“Yeah, whatever.” As Rosemary slipped around two groups of people talking in the hallway, Linc turned around. He whispered something in the blonde’s ear. She looked embarrassed. “Got it?” When she didn’t answer, he repeated the question.
“Yeah, got it.” She tossed her head and stomped away. Linc took off at a run to catch Rosemary.
“Rosemary, wait up!” He found her standing beside her truck in the spitting mist, looking into the open door. “What the heck?”
“I don’t know. I found the driver’s door open. The roses were on the seat.”
“That guy?”
Rosemary took a deep breath. “Maybe.”
“Is that a note from him?”
“Yeah, but it’s nothing.” Rosemary tried to push it into her pocket, but Linc grabbed it and read aloud.
“Stay away from the blond behemoth.” Linc handed her the note. “I think he means me.”
“Maybe he does.”
“You gonna call the police?”
“No. No need. I’m heading home.”
“I don’t like this.”
“I’m fine. But, you need to get back inside before you get even more soaked.”
Filled with dread, Rosemary parked in front of the coffee shop. She pulled on a red raincoat and buttoned it. Dropping her wallet and keys into an inner pocket, she stepped out of the truck, muttering to herself. “You can do this, Rosemary. You can.”
Armand was waiting, two coffees in front of him. “I ordered for you, sweetheart.”
Rosemary barely stopped herself before she rolled her eyes. “Thank you,” she said as she sat at the table. “I said I’d meet you and now I’m here. What can I do for you, Armand?”
“My dear, it’s what I can do for you. With my contacts, I have found you several modeling jobs. You must be getting short on cash.”
Rosemary didn’t visibly react. “I have an agent and I have jobs scheduled for the summer. Thanks for the interest, but I don’t lack for jobs or cash.”
“These jobs are in Chicago, where you belong.”
Rosemary laughed softly. “I don’t belong in Chicago and I’m not going back to Chicago. What is this about, Armand? I’m not ever working with you again. Even if I wanted to, my parents wouldn’t allow it.”
Armand sneered. “Those people will let you do anything that earns them more cash. You have always been so delusional about your parents. They don’t care about you; they only care about the
money you earn.”
“That’s not true, but I’m not going to argue with you. I’m going now.”
Armand sneered again. “You think you’re so special, don’t you? You’re nothing. You had one little pathetic friend and now he is dead. You have no friends, no support, except me. Everybody else in your life is only interested in you because you make money and can make their lives better by your hard work.”
Rosemary started crying; she couldn’t help herself. “You’re wrong, Armand. I’m leaving. Never contact me again.” She stood to leave.
“You are embarrassing me, you little nothing. People are watching!” Armand hissed, his face a mask of fury. “You are being so unattractively uncooperative. Here. I wrote everything down. Read it when you get home. Get it through your head; you are nothing without me.” He thrust several sheets of paper at her. “You turn eighteen in November; your parents have no claim on you or your money once you turn eighteen. Don’t forget that.” Rosemary stuffed the papers into her pocket and ran out of the coffee shop.
After she wiped the tears away, Rosemary made up her mind while she was driving home. She would transfer to Central-Marion for her senior year. Maybe being in such a small town would discourage Armand from following her; it would be more difficult for him to blend in or hide. People knew her in Ivy, too. At least the people who went to John’s church knew her. Any of them would notice if a strange guy was hanging around her.
The rain stopped as she approached Ivy. When she stepped out of her truck to fill it with gas, she took off her raincoat, folded it and set it in the plastic tub where she kept her winter travel emergency kit. After she pumped the gas, she halted on the sidewalk, watching while an elderly woman slowly made her way through the door. She stopped for a minute to smile at the young man holding the door, and after the woman had passed, the guy held the door for Rosemary. Still engrossed in her ruminations about Armand, Rosemary smiled briefly and murmured her thanks as she walked past.
While she waited to audition for the Central-Marion Dance Team, Rosemary glanced around. She wasn’t overly invested in becoming a part of Central-Marion’s dance team and she noticed everyone currently on the team was short and petite. But if being six feet tall and curvy kept her off the team, so be it. After she did the flawless routine that had earned her the highest possible score in individual competition last year, there was silence in the gym until Chelsea Keller, the daughter of the associate pastor at John’s church, clapped enthusiastically. Rosemary winked at her as she took her seat, intending to show Chelsea the same courtesy. Chelsea didn’t try out, though; her twin sister Chloe did. Rosemary clapped for Chloe.