The Undertaking of Adam Novak

by Sofie Hern

  “I’m good.”

  I know he isn’t going to open up so I leave it alone.

  We continue to clean with neither of us saying much and leave the kitchen the way I found it, spotless.

  We drive the five minutes to the beach but I feel like we’re being followed. A black Honda has been tailing us since we left the house but far enough that I can’t see who it is. I’m probably being paranoid because when we enter the parking lot to the beach, the car drives on.

  –

  Jaycob gets out and takes the chair down while I unload Aaron. The weather is absolutely perfect. I put Aaron in the chair and he rolls away immediately. We walk all the way to the shore where Aaron is taking photos of the ocean and enjoying the breeze. Jaycob walks by his side and I follow a few feet behind, holding my shoes in one hand.

  Aaron and Jaycob stop ahead to admire the view while Jaycob talks to him about who knows what. I figure he feels more comfortable talking to him. I sit with my heels in the sand and my phone rings. My heart flutters and the butterflies go crazy in my stomach when I see that Rita’s calling.

  “Hi Rita, Merry—”

  “Are you busy?”

  She sounds upset. The sound of the ocean and the wind make it difficult to hear so I stand and walk away.

  “No, what's up?”

  “I'm visiting Tianna's grave and…” She starts to cry.

  “I know it's a difficult day.”

  “It was vandalized!”

  I stop walking. “What?”

  “There's paint all over it and…”

  I immediately think of Levy and worry about Rita’s safety.

  “Are you still there? At the cemetery?”

  “Yeah… I called the cops and they're going to look into it, but… who the hell, Adam?

  “I don't know, but I'll find out.”

  “Thanks.”

  I’m not sure what to do next. I’m confused and scared. I decide to call Thomas, the PI and I explain to him what’s going on and he tells me he’ll go to the cemetery right away. I apologize to him for bothering him on Christmas, but he says it’s no trouble. I look to the ocean, wondering who—if not Levy—would do such a horrible thing, and why? He was gone after the funeral and…

  “Irene,” I whisper and start to shake and I feel sick. I take a deep breath and then call Rita back.

  “Yeah?”

  “Thomas is heading out there now, do you mind hanging around till he gets there?”

  “Not at all, I’m here.”

  “Are you alone?”

  “Yeah,” she cries again and I’m so worried about her safety. “Did you find out anything?” she asks.

  “No, but I… think I have an idea who might have done it.”

  “Who?”

  I hesitate for a moment. “My ex or Levy. I’m just speculating though.”

  She’s quiet for a moment.

  “Okay. I'll wait for your friend.”

  Maybe the problem is that I’ve been too relaxed about everything? “Don't let your guard down,” Rita had said after Tianna’s funeral.

  What the hell? Maybe it’s time for me to start taking things seriously. What am I missing? I don’t know, but I’m starting to think that Colin’s suspicions are valid.

  “Jordyn was happy,” Colin’s words echo in my head. Then why did she kill herself? I shake my head. No, I’m getting ahead of myself.

  But Levy shows up at the funeral and then at Aaron’s school. That is still up in the air, but it was him. Then Tianna’s grave is vandalized? It has to be him. It all has to connect somehow. I take a deep breath and turn to see Aaron and Jaycob approaching.

  “This is so fun!” says Aaron.

  Jaycob looks at me. “Everything ok?”

  I nod. “All good.”

  But he doesn’t look convinced.

  My heart is still pounding and my legs feel like Jell-O. I try to act normal as I drive home and decide not to tell Jaycob anything, even though I know he’s going to hate me for it.

  15

  RITA

  When Rita told Frank that she was planning to go to LA for Christmas he wasn't pleased.

  “First, you skip the camping trip and now you’re going to LA?”

  “The kid lost his mom. He can’t walk, Frank, and needs all the support we can give him.”

  “And somehow that includes you?” he asked and shook his head. “Well, if you do go to LA I'm going with you,” he said as he stood in the garage, wrench in hand. He’d been working on a motorcycle all morning.

  She didn't like the tone of his voice. She was frustrated because she could not explain to him how important it was for her to stay in touch with Aaron. She thought he was making it very difficult and overreacting.

  They’d spent Christmas together every year since they were kids so she tried to understand where he was coming from but it would only be one time!

  “Fine”, she told him and turned to go.

  “And it will be the day after Christmas,” he said without looking at her.

  “What? Why?”

  “Cause we're spending Christmas at my mom’s like we've done for… oh, I don’t know, ever?”

  Rita knew she’d lost the argument and went back in the house. That argument had taken place a week before.

  –

  After breakfast, and to Frank’s dislike, Rita announces that she’s going to the cemetery to visit Tianna’s grave and is glad to be out of the house. Alone.

  She loves her family and gets along great with Frank’s family as well. She’s known them all her life and has nothing to complain about. But recently she’s been feeling alone and Frank doesn’t understand. He wants her to be her old cheerful self, which is not possible because she lost her best friend, someone she considered a sister.

  –

  She stops at the flower shop across the street from the cemetery and buys a small Christmas tree which comes decorated with beautiful garland and topped with a small white angel. She feels completely alone in her grief and the only ones who truly understand are 300 miles away.

  She drives to her friend’s grave and even though it is a cold day, the cemetery is abuzz. There are people everywhere.

  From the back seat, she takes the miniature Christmas tree, a bouquet of flowers and walks the few feet to the grave. In the last few weeks, the grass has gone from pale green to yellow and it’s still wet from the rain that fell the night before.

  As she approaches, she is shocked by what she sees. “Oh, my God,” she whispers and drops to her knees in front of it.

  Tianna’s name is completely covered with black paint. She looks around, but isn’t sure what to do. She manages to stand; her pants are wet at the knees. She leaves the tree and flowers on the ground and goes to her car. She’s crying as she drives to the front office.

  –

  A woman is behind the desk, which is decorated with bright lights and a tree a bit bigger than the one she bought. To the right of the desk is the security office, but Rita approaches the front desk first.

  She explains to the woman how she found Tianna’s grave and the woman calls the lone security guard who approaches the desk. Rita explains the situation once again and together they return to the grave.

  –

  Rita steps back, allowing the guard to do whatever she has to do and looks around in hopes of finding some kind of clue as to what happened. Who would do such a thing? She wonders.

  The guard takes a few photos, then walks around; scouting the area and Rita assumes she’s making sure that no other graves had been vandalized. She returns a few moments later and takes out a notepad.

  “Looks like this is the only one that was vandalized. Do you have any idea who might have done this?”

  Rita shakes her head.

  “Is this your relative?”

  “My friend,” Rita tells her and the woman writes that down.

  “Aren’t you going to call the police?”

  The woman looks at her and
continues to chew on her green gum. She then takes her walkie-talkie and talks into it. “We’re going to need a police unit at Devotion Lawn number 259C.”

  “Copy that,” the other voice answers and the woman puts the device away. The woman’s lack of urgency irritates Rita and she steps away to call Adam.

  She starts to cry as soon as she tells him what’s going on. He sounds upset and tells her to hang tight. He mentions Irene, and Rita is certain it was her, it has to be. Tianna had told her how much Irene disliked her and more than once said she feared her. Adam also tells her that Thomas, is on his way and she feels relieved.

  Onlookers walk past ever so slowly wondering what is going on. “Move along,” instructs the guard and they keep walking.

  “When was the last time you visited?” asks the guard.

  “A week ago.”

  Rita is startled by her phone ringing. Frank is calling her.

  “Yes,” she answers.

  “Where are you?”

  She steps away from the guard. “I'm at the cemetery.”

  “Still?”

  “Her grave was vandalized, Frank,” she explains, hoping to catch a break. “I'm waiting for the police so I can file a report.”

  He really is starting to get on her nerves.

  “You?”

  “Yes, Frank.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I found it that way.” She isn’t sure how much longer she can tolerate his attitude and ends the call. She’ll deal with him later.

  The police arrive and approach the guard who gives them a brief update and they too take notes. They ask Rita a few questions and when they ask if she has any idea who might have done it. She shakes her head. As usual, she wants no conflict and certainly does not want to make an enemy in Irene. She’ll leave that part to Adam even though she’s pretty sure that Irene is somehow involved.

  “Is there a surveillance or security camera we can review?” one of the officers asks the guard.

  “Yes.”

  “We’ll review that,” the officer announces and they go back to the office but Rita stays behind.

  She’s too involved already and is starting to feel nervous. She doesn’t want Irene to see that she’s involved. She also doesn’t want Frank to know about all the bad things that have happened since Tianna’s death. She didn’t tell him about Levy or else he would have told her to stop seeing the Novaks.

  “Rita?” a man asks and she feels nervous and takes a few steps back.

  The man is a bit bulky with muscle. He’s wearing jeans and a green bomber jacket. He has a handlebar mustache and a man bun. “I’m Thomas,” he tells her.

  “Oh, hi,” she says and they shake hands. Once again, and for the fourth time, she has to give a recap of the events.

  “The cops are in the office reviewing the surveillance footage.”

  He nods. “I think I can take it from here.”

  –

  She wishes she could just go home instead of her in-laws to have a good cry and sleep for hours.

  Frank is the only one in the living room watching a movie and she joins him. A few of her nephews and nieces are running around the house which makes the situation less awkward. Frank takes a sip from his beer and says, “I have to be back by Saturday.”

  Rita’s confused and he sees that puzzled look.

  “So if we go to LA tomorrow we have to come right back. Same day.”

  She feels her face flush with anger. Why is he acting like a jerk? They’ve had a good marriage and always agree on everything so she doesn’t understand what’s happening to them.

  She takes a deep breath. “That’s fine,” she says and they don’t speak for the rest of the day.

  She thinks now that maybe the reason their marriage has worked all these years is because she never disagrees with him. On anything.

  The drive home is no better. “So this is how is going to be like from now on?” he asks.

  “What do you mean?”

  “You, being quiet and all depressed.”

  She says nothing and turns her head to look out the window.

  “I know that they’re your friends and all but they're not your family.”

  She starts to cry and he says nothing more.

  16

  ADAM

  I had a restless night, tossing and turning. Thomas and I talked about what happened at the cemetery and he told me that he’ll definitely follow the investigation closely. The surveillance was no help as it only shows the entrance and records with snapshots every few seconds. Thomas and I also touched on Colin’s suspicions and he promises to look into that as well.

  –

  I get out of bed after seven-thirty and go check on Aaron, who is still sleeping so I go downstairs and find Howard in his office.

  “Working huh?” I ask and lean against the doorjamb.

  “I’m just checking on a few things.”

  “Do you mind if I take over the kitchen this evening?”

  “No problem… like I said before, make yourself at home.”

  “Remember I told you about Tianna’s fried? Rita?

  He nods.

  “She’s coming to visit Aaron today and I think she’s leaving tomorrow. Do you mind if she stays here the night?

  “No, go right ahead.”

  “Thanks, Howard,” I say and leave him to his work.

  I go to the kitchen to get breakfast started, but first I need to make a call. I take my phone from the table and step out to the patio.

  The morning is cool, but I don’t need a jacket. My heart is pounding as I make the call.

  “Adam?”

  I need to buckle down and get to the bottom of it. “Yeah,” I say and press my eyes with my free hand.

  “Hi, love.”

  I shake my head. “Were you at Tianna's grave?”

  She’s quiet for a long time.

  “Irene?”

  “Look, babe I—”

  “Where you at her grave, yes or no?”

  “I’m sorry, Adam,” she says and starts to cry.

  Maybe I’m being too harsh. She just lost her daughter, damn it!

  “Irene, I’m… I’m sorry. I just need to know, okay?”

  I start to pace the patio and look to the door making sure no one’s listening. I worry about Jaycob.

  “Why do you ask?” She sounds nervous.

  I take a deep breath and again check the door. “Her grave was vandalized. Who was it?”

  She only cries and I know I’m pushing it.

  “Have you heard from Levy?”

  “No, why?”

  Somehow I know she’s not telling the truth. I think about dropping it, but that has always been my problem. I always drop things to keep the peace, but this isn’t a small matter.

  “Okay… well, the investigators are looking into it. I’ll just wait for their update then.”

  She responds immediately. “Who's investigating?”

  “Sorry, can't say much more. I'm actually waiting for the phone call so I have to—”

  “Wait!” She continues to cry. “I’m sorry, Adam I don’t know what got into me. I was angry and it just… I’m sorry!”

  I take a deep breath and try to keep my cool. “Why, Irene?”

  “Because you love her more than you love me!” Her accusation is unexpected. “I know I’m fucked up in the head, Adam. I know that and I’m sorry. I was a horrible wife and a horrible mother and now Jordyn is gone… I’m sorry!”

  I feel horrible for her. I know that she’s not in the right state of mind.

  “We’ll talk later, okay?”

  “Please, Adam. I’m sorry. Please don’t go to the police... I’ll go back and clean it and do whatever you want, but… please don’t go to the police!”

  “We’ll talk later. Bye.”

  Shit. What the hell do I do now?

  I hold the phone for a moment, thinking about what to do next.

  –

  Back inside I call T
homas just as Howard emerges from his office to get more coffee.

  “Thomas, good morning.”

  “Hi, Adam.”

  “I have some news,” I say and lean back against the counter.

  “Okay?”

  “I just found out, or confirmed, rather, that my ex-wife was the one who vandalized the grave.” I feel ashamed and embarrassed.

  Howard stares at me.

  “Oh, wow. Okay, so how do you want to proceed then?” asks Thomas.

  “I need to think about this. I just need a minute, okay?”

  Howard shakes his head.

  “Well, okay then,” says Thomas. “Let me know when you’re ready to proceed.”

  “Will do.” The call ends.

  I put the phone on the counter and Howard does the same with his mug.

  “You’re pressing charges, right?” he asks with his hands on his hips.

  “I might.”

  He shakes his head once again.

  “What?” I ask, looking at him.

  He picks up his mug and takes a sip. “I just… well, I thought you’d be a little more upset about someone messing with Tianna’s grave.”

  “Who messed with Tianna’s grave?” Jaycob walks in.

  Howard and I exchange glances, then I face Jaycob who is in front of the refrigerator with the carton of orange juice in his hand.

  “Irene,” says Howard.

  I look at him shaking my head. He puts his hands up in surrender mode, then walks back to his office.

  Jaycob takes a glass, places it on the table and pours OJ. “She messed with it?”

  I go around him and start taking down the ingredients for waffles, but I feel his eyes on me so I turn to him.

  “I’ll take care of it, Jake,” I say, but he continues to look at me.

  “She sprayed painted it, but I’ll take care of it, okay?”

  He’s about to sip his juice, but stops and lowers the glass. “What? What’s her fucking problem? You… you told the cops, right?”

  His question is more like an accusation. “She's... she's lost, Jake. She’s in a bad place and needs help.”

  “Are you fucking kidding me?”

  “I haven’t decided yet what to do, okay? Will you just chill?”

  His face is red with rage.

  “I just need a minute to—”