Scarlet Oaks and the Serial Caller

by Michaela James

  Setting the milk jug back on the tray, Scarlet perched on the edge of the chaise and shook her head.

  Observing Rose momentarily close her eyes and her father appearing to physically decompress, Scarlet, asked, “Did they find another body?”

  “You remember the missing woman?” Rose enquired.

  At Scarlet’s nod of confirmation, Rose continued, “They found her body this morning. In the same area and with the same …”

  Rose paused, appearing to have difficulty finding the words.

  “The same flowers stuffed in her mouth,” Scarlet volunteered emotionlessly.

  A great effort, by Rose and Joe, proceeded in minimalizing the fact identical flowers had appeared on Scarlet’s car twice in the last month. Wildflowers were called wild for a reason. They were native to this area. The wind coming off the bay could easily carry them around. Scarlet almost laughed out loud when her father and grandmother began debating the possibility Scarlet’s wipers were damaged and frayed. It was very likely the case and, therefore, made them highly susceptible to picking up debris and wildflowers in the air.

  But, despite their efforts to portray a unified belief in mere coincidence, there was no mistaking the look of worry on their faces.

  Aware most of their Thanksgiving celebration had been filled with sadness and morbidity, Rose suggested watching one of Scarlet’s favorite movies while digging into a box of See’s candy. Because apparently, they hadn’t eaten enough.

  “How long will you be in Aptos?” Joe asked his daughter over coffee the following morning.

  “I took Monday and Tuesday off, but I think I’ll just stay tonight and tomorrow, then drive back on Sunday.”

  “Perfect!” Rose said, shifting her attention from the electric juicer to Scarlet. “That gives you time to get organized before you head back to work. Talking of work…” she continued, “your father and I were saying how fun it would be if we drove you.” Before Scarlet had a chance to respond, Rose rushed, “Then we could pick you up and share a hot chocolate afterward. You do love your hot chocolate.”

  Feeling her granddaughter’s scrutinizing gaze, Rose focused once again on cutting through large navel oranges.

  With a wave of love and gratitude, Scarlet smiled at Rose. “Honestly Gran, there’s no need. Besides, Tom has loaned me some weapons that aren’t weapons, for my short walk from the car.”

  Still laughing, an hour later, from the demonstration of how to correctly swing a soap-filled sock, Rose and Joe waved goodbye as Prudence and Scarlet began their trip to Aptos.

  Ending a journey filled with more thought than focus, Scarlet pulled into the winding drive. Wishing Prudence could carry something and mentally devising a cart for her to pull, Scarlet struggled up to the front door.

  Soon settled and drinking blueberry mojitos in the backyard, Scarlet attempted to not stare at her mother.

  Apparently, she must have failed. Marilyn stated, “I’ve had a little filler in my lips.”

  Wanting to say… a little? You look like Bart Simpson! Scarlet instead responded with, “I have a MAC lipstick for you.”

  Smiling, as much as her swollen lips would allow, Marilyn exclaimed, “Oh you darling girl, that’s what all the models are wearing.”

  Over dinner, Marilyn shared slideshows of the four homes she was contemplating buying.

  Remembering the conversation

  she’d had with her father about the constraints of alimony, Scarlet was lukewarm on three homes and overly enthusiastic on the fourth.

  “Really, you like the single story?” Marilyn questioned, eyebrows raised. “I’m not sure there’s enough room for Rodney and Hayden to run around.”

  “Don’t you tend to go to their place, though?” Scarlet reasoned.

  “Well…” Marilyn began, coloring as if caught in a lie, “I think Lisa’s easing up on her rules a little.”

  “Oh, is she allowing them to see your African Bumi Woman sculpture now?” Scarlet enquired.

  Taking a bread roll from the basket, Marilyn replied, “Well, it is a little odd, those women took all the time to wear fifty bead necklaces but couldn’t manage to cover their breasts. I think Lisa just got tired of the boys giggling about it. Besides…” she added buttering her roll, “that’s yours if you’d like it. I don’t want anything Rose gave me spoiling my new home.”

  Sighing inwardly, Scarlet changed the subject.

  “Are we going to get all caught up with Bella and Edward tonight?”

  Marilyn clapped her hands together softly, “Oh yes, time for New Moon and everything vampire.”

  Scarlet insisted on taking care of the dishes, then joined her mother and Prudence on the couch for the second season of their Twilight addiction.

  The following morning, cringing slightly as Marilyn applied her new lipstick, Scarlet asked, “How long do they … stay so full?”

  “This particular filler should last about three months,” Marilyn explained, standing back and admiring her reflection in the kitchen mirror. Smiling at herself, she then proceeded to remove the mirror from the wall.

  Before Scarlet could ask why, Marilyn enlisted her help in removing all the mirrors, except for the ones in the bathrooms and bedrooms. Observing the look of confusion on her daughter’s face, Marilyn, hesitantly confessed it was necessary for Lisa’s comfort.

  Removing the Retro Baroque mirror from the hall and almost crumbling under its weight, Scarlet asked,

  “Lisa’s comfort?”

  Opening the hall closet door and depositing the two mirrors, Marilyn attempted to clarify, “You know Lisa has become quite involved in this new church.”

  Scarlet, confused, responded with a slow, “Yeah.”

  Marilyn, having glanced at the Grandfather clock, exclaimed, “Oh my, they’ll be here in half an hour. I’ll talk as we de-mirror.”

  Exasperated and irritated, Scarlet asked, “How many more rooms have them?”

  “All of them,” Marilyn said unabashedly.

  Four hands were needed to remove the Florentine Gilt Antique mirror from above the fireplace. Scarlet dared not ask how they’d ever manage to re-hang them properly.

  With deep, shallow breaths, Marilyn began, “This new Pastor, or whatever they call him, believes it’s a sin to look at your reflection too often. He’s fine with mirrors in rooms where you groom and dress but anywhere else, he says, is just feeding your vanity.”

  “Perhaps we should just go to Trent and Lisa’s house?” Scarlet volunteered.

  “I know this is such a pain,” Marilyn agreed. “But I was there for Thanksgiving two days ago. If only you could have been with us.”

  Having expected this yearly complaint from her mother hours ago, Scarlet said, “I’m sorry Mom, but you know how important it is for me to keep my commitment to St. Christopher’s.”

  Marilyn sighed dramatically, “I guess I do. But really, couldn’t they set the food up in more of a buffet style? Then people could help themselves and daughters could be with mothers who truly need them.”

  For lack of anything else to say, Scarlet apologized again while continuing to labor for Lisa’s comfort.

  When the doorbell rang, Marilyn made a last-minute dash to hide her Vogue and Cosmopolitan magazines, leaving Scarlet to invite her brother, sister-in-law, and two nephews inside.

  Rodney and Hayden made a beeline for Prudence after a fleeting hello to their grandmother and aunt. Trent, once known as the best-looking boy in high school, admittedly it was a small high school, hugged his sister with a now decidedly portly frame.

  Lisa was unchanged since Scarlet’s last visit with her. She wore her blond hair in a ponytail and not a trace of makeup. Navy cotton pants, allowing room for growth, were matched with embroidered stars strewn across a white cotton shirt. Tan, open toed flat sandals completed the ensemble.

  Finding the boys petting a rather shocked looking Prudence in the living room, Scarlet asked them the obligatory questions expected of an aunt.

 
Rodney was now six years old and loved anything to do with Science. Looking at his Mother, he asked, “Can I show Aunt Scarlet my Pop Bottle Science kit?”

  “In a little while, yes,” Lisa replied looking at Scarlet rather than Rodney. “Trent and I believe,” she continued, “anything allowing children to be hands on and using their imaginations is time well spent.”

  Nodding gravely, Trent said, “Plus, this kit was written by four-time award winning, Bill Nye the Science Guy.”

  “We used to love his show,” Scarlet exclaimed, smiling and turning towards her youngest nephew.

  Hayden informed her he’d just turned five last week. Scarlet, feeling mortified she’d forgotten his birthday, silently vowed to remedy that fact before leaving Aptos. Hayden then proceeded to list off all his presents, and some were so good they got mentioned twice. His favorite toys right now were Legos.

  “Again...” Lisa interrupted her youngest child, “Legos are perfect for fine motor skills and creative thinking.”

  Watching the boys resume their affections on Prudence, Scarlet professed to Trent and Lisa how grown up and polite they were. Receiving complete agreement from her brother and sister-in-law, Scarlet began to ask what she could get her nephews to eat and drink. This simple inquiry earned Scarlet a warning look from Marilyn.

  Stopping mid-sentence, Scarlet waited for someone else to say something.

  Lisa was happy to oblige, “Trent, be a dear and get the boys’ snacks from the car.”

  Smiling smugly as her husband jumped up, Lisa explained, “Trent and I believe it’s beneficial for the boys to consume food free of colorings, additives, and preservatives.”

  Mentally and verbally agreeing, Scarlet was subsequently disappointed when Lisa added,

  “We’d also prefer them not to see the commercial packaging. Trent and I believe how the food is served is as important as the food itself.”

  Catching the core of this statement as he walked back in the room, Trent declared, “All these food containers are made from bamboo, sugar cane, and corn.”

  At a loss for words, Scarlet looked at the collection in her brother’s arms and smiled.

  Watching as he placed the unique assortment on his mother’s coffee table, Scarlet, almost holding her breath, asked Trent and Lisa if she could get them a cup of tea.

  To Scarlet’s relief, this appeared to be allowed. Marilyn followed her daughter into the kitchen and whispered,

  “Sorry, I forgot to warn you about the food rules. I tried to find the right food, went to every health store in the area, but Lisa always managed to find something in the list of ingredients that was taboo.”

  With a new understanding of why Marilyn needed her around at Thanksgiving so badly, Scarlet gave her mother a wink, “I’ll learn as I go.”

  The afternoon went relatively smoothly, the boys being a great distraction. Rodney built a volcano, which he then proudly erupted. Hayden meticulously built an impressive Lego Tower. When little legs needed to be stretched, the boys fought over who held the leash for Prudence’s walk up and down the street.

  A couple of times Trent tried to bring up the subject of their father. How weak it was of him to give up on his marriage and run away to the city like a teenager. Scarlet wouldn’t bite, instead using her Mending Men talk show skills to redirect the conversation.

  After a short discussion regarding his job and where he felt it was heading, Trent looked towards his Mother, “Did you tell her about Violet?”

  Suddenly fascinated by the length of her nails, Marilyn shook her head.

  “What’s wrong with Violet?” Scarlet asked, feeling panic rise inside her.

  Lisa let out a snort like scoffing sound and Marilyn coughed nervously.

  Sitting up a little straighter on his mother’s couch, Trent began, “Well that’s a leading question, isn’t it? There hasn’t been much right with her since the eighth grade.”

  Knowing her patience couldn’t hold out too much longer, Scarlet asked, “Is she hurt, unwell?”

  Raising his eyebrows, Trent said, “No, nothing like that. She’s just humiliated herself and, more importantly, us, once again.”

  Marilyn put her hand on Scarlet’s knee. “Your sister has apparently,” she paused to look pointedly at Trent, “featured in an adult movie.”

  “What?” Scarlet responded, struggling to comprehend the statement.

  Closing his eyes as if he were suddenly exasperated, Trent said, “Mom, there’s no apparently. It’s a fact.”

  Rubbing hands nervously up and down the length of her thighs, Marilyn replied, “I don’t know about that Trent. I’m not sure I trust your source.”

  “Who’s your source?” Scarlet interjected, marveling at how this conversation possibly could, but was, becoming even stranger.

  Trent cleared his throat. “As you know I work for the police force.”

  Desperately trying to reign in any telling expression on her face, Scarlet said, “You maintain their phone system.”

  Enough! she’d politely oohed and aahed for hours while Trent and Lisa talked about the exceptional talents their children possessed. She’d even bitten her tongue when Trent made derogatory comments about their father. She couldn’t sit here for another minute pretending the Emperor was wearing clothes.

  Silence descended upon them until Marilyn suggested, “Well, a police force isn’t too strong without a reliable phone line.”

  Lisa, eyes narrowed, stared at Scarlet. “Remind us what it is you do? From what I’ve heard, it’s talking about sports with a bunch of losers.”

  Scarlet exhaled slowly. “Guys, I didn’t intend to start a verbal slinging match here. I’d just like to keep it real and not, perhaps falsely, accuse our sister of …” choking over the words, she ended with, “making a poor career choice.”

  At this, Trent and Lisa started loudly talking over one another. Between them, Scarlet was called a fool, delusional, naïve, and ridiculous.

  Seemingly appeased after voicing these insults, Trent continued in a calm voice, “Do you remember that old warehouse on Juniper Street?”

  Scarlet nodded slowly, hating the direction this conversation was taking.

  Trent’s voice took on a serious news reporter’s tone. “Residents of the Yew Tree Motel reported seeing lights and hearing music, despite the fact it’s been vacant for years now. The police were called to the scene and low and behold, interrupted the production of a porn movie.”

  Receiving a violent nudge to his arm from Lisa, Trent colored as his wife reminded him, through gritted teeth, “We don’t say that word in front of the children.”

  “Right, sorry,” Trent said, the reporter inflection now gone. Looking over to his sons who were happily and obliviously playing with Legos, he rephrased, “The police found, right here in our little town, a bunch of low life degenerates making an adult movie.”

  “And one of the policemen recognized Violet?” Scarlet said, hoping to remove a little wind from her brother’s self-righteous sails.

  Giving his sister a look that said maybe you’re not as dumb as I imagined, Trent continued, “I don’t know if you remember Pete from my year?”

  Frowning, Scarlet enquired, “Pete Rudelski?”

  In a desperate attempt to lighten the mood, Marilyn said, “Of course, she remembers Pete. He had the biggest crush on Scarlet in high school. I’ll never forget him coming over on Saturday mornings all summer long, offering to mow our lawn.” Stroking Scarlet’s long dark hair, Marilyn added, “Do you remember how you’d refuse to come out of your room until he’d gone?”

  Scarlet pulled a face. “Yes, but Dad would always engage him in those long conversations.”

  “Well, he’s happily married now.” Lisa cut in, clearly not enjoying this little trip down memory lane.

  Raising his voice, evidently feeling it necessary to keep his sister’s and mother’s attention, Trent picked up where he’d left off. “Pete, very tactfully informed me our sister, Violet, was one of t
he …” lifting his hands, Trent made air quotes, “actors in this movie.”

  “Did he actually see Violet being filmed?” Scarlet asked casually.

  Trent pushed his chin out defensively. “No, and because of that fact, he let her go with a warning. But, of course, she was involved, why else would she be there?”

  Scarlet could think of a few reasons but decided they’d be wasted on this audience.

  Standing, she offered everyone a drink in the hope it would prompt a recognition of the time. Her scheme worked. Lisa said the boys had a very strict schedule so as not to interfere with their body clock. Scarlet eagerly helped the boys pack away their Legos and Science experiments. Prudence was hugged fondly by the children, and all the adults dishonestly claimed to have had a lovely time.

  Both feeling emotionally exhausted, Marilyn and Scarlet agreed more vampires and werewolves, accompanied by tea and lots of chocolate were required for the remainder of the day.

  The next morning, Scarlet woke before her Mother. Whole grain waffles topped with blueberries and cream greeted Marilyn when she entered the kitchen.

  Smiling in appreciation, Marilyn sat at her breakfast bar. “I’m sorry about yesterday. I know how difficult your brother and Lisa can be. It’s just …” Marilyn stopped talking and using the paper napkin next to her plate, wiped at her eyes.

  Scarlet placed a hand on her mother’s arm. “You have no reason to apologize. Try those,” she added, motioning to the plate of waffles, “before they get too cold.”

  Marilyn dutifully ate her waffles while Scarlet brewed a fresh pot of coffee. Handing the steaming cup to her mother, she saw fresh tears threatening to spill from Marilyn’s eyes.

  “It’s just…” Marilyn sniffed, “Trent and Lisa live right here in town. Rodney and Hayden are my only grandchildren, and Trent is very sympathetic towards my sadness over your father.”

  Scarlet could think of more accurate words than sympathetic, but this wasn’t the time.

  “I understand,” Scarlet soothed. “Do you really believe Violet is involved with this adult movie thing?”

  Marilyn shrugged her shoulders, the tears beginning to travel down her cheeks. “I would usually ask your father what to think. He’s so good in these situations. He’d always help me see things clearly.”