One Wrong Turn: A Novel

by Deanna Lynn Sletten

  “I’m glad to see your mother kept the old piano,” he said, looking over at the girls. Maddie had one foot on the staircase, and Jilly was standing near her, watching him.

  “How do you know about the piano?” Maddie asked. “You’ve never been here before.”

  “Yes, I have,” he said, setting down his duffel bag. “I came up here with your mom to visit her grandparents before you two were born. Your grandmother played that piano every day. She had a real talent for it.”

  “Maddie plays too,” Jilly offered, but was given a dirty look from her sister for her effort.

  “Maddie, you still play?” Clay asked. “I’d love to hear you play something.”

  Maddie frowned. “I don’t play anymore,” she said stiffly.

  Jilly looked at her quizzically. “What do you mean? You play in the middle school orchestra.”

  Maddie nudged her. “Let’s go to our room, Jilly,” she said, waving her sister upstairs. Jilly turned and silently followed.

  Clay picked up his bag again and headed up the stairs behind the girls. He was exhausted and couldn’t wait to crawl into bed. The emotions of the day, from the moment he’d learned about the accident to the cold way Maddie had received him, had been more than he’d thought he could take. His nerves were frayed and raw. He hoped that sleep would calm him and get him through what he was sure would be another stressful day tomorrow.

  They walked up the stairs all the way to the attic. “Why are we going way up here?” Clay asked.

  “This is our living space away from guests,” Maddie answered. “Our room, Mom’s, the bathroom, and our own sitting room. The other rooms in the house will be for guests.”

  He nodded. The ceiling was tall and flat here, but he knew the bedrooms on either side would have slanted ceilings. The girls headed through the sitting room and went into a bedroom that held two twin beds. He headed for the room on the opposite side. Opening it, he knew right away that this was Jess’s room by the soft scent of lavender. Memories of Jess rushed past him as he inhaled her favorite perfume. Their first date, the first time they kissed, the night they made love under the stars. His heart swelled with love as he remembered it all.

  “What are you doing?” a sharp voice said, interrupting his thoughts. Clay turned.

  “You can’t sleep in there. That’s Mom’s room,” Maddie insisted, her green eyes flashing.

  “I’m sure your mother won’t mind,” he said.

  “No! That’s not your room!”

  Clay was taken aback by the sheer outrage in her tone. The last thing he wanted was to upset the girls tonight. “Okay, that’s fine. I’ll sleep in one of the bedrooms downstairs,” he said.

  Maddie strode into the middle of the sitting room. “You can’t do that. The rooms that are finished are for guests. You’ll mess them up. Mom worked really hard on them.”

  Running a hand over his face, he tried to stay composed. He had to hold it together. This was a difficult time for all of them, and getting angry at Maddie wouldn’t help. “Tell me where I can sleep, then.”

  Maddie looked unsure. There was a sofa between them, but it wasn’t long enough for Clay’s tall body to sleep on. He decided to take matters into his own hands. “There’s a sofa downstairs in the living room. How about I sleep there tonight?”

  Maddie took a moment to think this over. “Fine,” she said. Turning, she stormed past Jilly into their bedroom.

  Clay sighed, then forced a smile for Jilly, who was still watching him. “Good night, Jilly-bear,” he said, then headed back down the stairs.

  Stepping into the living room, he snapped on a lamp beside the sofa. He was so exhausted that he didn’t care if he had to sleep on the floor—he knew he’d fall asleep as soon as he lay down. He dropped his duffel bag and carefully set his guitar on the floor out of the way. As he stood up, he heard a small sound in the entryway.

  “Dad?”

  He turned. There stood Jilly, her arms filled with sheets, blankets, and a pillow.

  “You’ll need these,” she said shyly.

  Clay’s heart melted. He walked over and took the bundle from his daughter’s arms. “Thanks, sweetie.”

  Jilly gave him a quick nod and scurried up the stairs.

  Thank goodness one of his daughters was on his side.

  Quickly, he made up the sofa with the bedding, slipped off his boots, and crawled under the blankets with his clothes on. The last thing he remembered before dropping off to sleep was the sweet scent of lavender and Maddie’s flashing green eyes.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  June 2001

  Clay and Jess cruised along the curvy coastal road in his battered pickup truck, with the windows wide open and the Eagles blaring over the speakers. They stopped at a little burger joint tucked away a block from the beach and sat at an outside table under a striped umbrella. It had been a beautiful day, and even now, as the day was winding down, the weather was perfect.

  After ordering, Jess looked at him curiously. “So, how do you know about this place?” she asked.

  “Played here a few times. They have a small stage in the back corner where we barely fit. But the place brings in a good crowd.”

  “Do you play at all the little bars in the area?”

  Clay grinned. He liked that Jess was interested in his band. She looked so adorable tonight wearing a red tank top under a white cotton shirt that she’d tied at the waist of her faded blue jeans. Her blond hair hung loose, and she kept slipping it behind her ears. He thought the splash of freckles across her nose and cheeks was cute. He could barely believe he’d talked her into going out with him. She was much too good for a lowly band guy like him.

  “We play anywhere they’ll pay us to,” he told her. “I’ve been doing this since high school, so I’ve been in a lot of little dives up and down the coast.”

  Jess gave him a sly look. “And do you ask out every girl you meet in those little dives?”

  Clay shook his head. “Actually, no, I don’t.” Seeing the surprised look on her face, he continued. “I take playing music seriously. When I’m not playing with the band in a bar, I’m at the studio either playing background tracks for other artists or hoping to. Last year, I was on the road for six weeks playing lead guitar and singing backup for an up-and-coming country singer. I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t had time for a social life.”

  Jess cocked her head. “So, why me?”

  Leaning in closer to her, Clay propped his elbows on the table. “You were too cute to resist.” He grinned.

  “That’s it?” She rolled her eyes. “California is packed full of cute girls. There has to be more to it, unless you’re giving me a line of bull.”

  Before he could answer, their burgers and fries came. After the waitress left, Clay took a bite of his burger, chewed slowly, then looked seriously at Jess.

  “You’re right. There was something more. Girls who flirt with band guys are a dime a dozen, but you had no interest in any of us. You were there to do your job and not to mess around. I liked that. You piqued my interest.”

  “Hmm. Well, that sounds like an honest answer. Do you know how tired I get of band guys coming into the bar and asking me out? And most of them aren’t serious musicians like you seem to be. I’ve learned how to blow them off.”

  “So, why did you say yes to me?”

  “How could I say no? You cut your hair for me. I figured you must have been serious about going out with me if you’d cut your hair to prove it.”

  He laughed and Jess joined in. They ate in silence for a while until Clay spoke up again. “So, what’s your story? You know I’m a musician, but what about you? I highly doubt your life ambition is to be a waitress in a bar.”

  Jess gave him a small smile. “No, waitressing isn’t my dream, but it’s a good way to earn money for now. Actually—and don’t you dare make fun of me—I’m saving to go to school next year.”

  “Why would I make fun of you? I think it’s great you’re plann
ing on going to college.”

  She looked sheepish. “I’m not exactly going to a regular college. I want to go to pastry school.”

  “You mean like baking?”

  “Yes. I love to bake, but I want to learn to do more than just the basics. I think it would be fun to create beautiful desserts.”

  “What made you fall in love with baking?” he asked.

  Her face glowed. “I think it started when I was very little. My mom worked all week long, so on weekends we’d bake cookies or cakes together. She had one of those old cloth pastry bags where you attach the different tips, and she’d let me decorate cakes and cupcakes with it. It was our way of spending time together. And as I grew older, our creations became more complicated, and I realized how much I loved learning to make new desserts. My high school friends liked it too. They were my taste testers.”

  Clay grinned. “Lucky them. Can I taste test all your tasty treats?”

  Jess giggled. “We’d better still be talking about baked goods here,” she said, making him laugh. “We’ll see if you’re still around when I finally get to it.”

  “Hey, you’re not going to get rid of me now. With all those great desserts? I’m there.” They laughed and then left the restaurant and drove the short distance to the beach. The sun was low in the sky, and they took off their shoes and walked along the water’s edge on the hard-packed sand. After a time, Clay reached for Jess’s hand and held it as they walked. She didn’t resist, which made him happy. It was almost sunset by the time they made it back to the truck.

  “Wait here,” he said, and then he went to the truck and returned with a small cooler in hand. He led her to a quiet spot where they could watch the sunset, then reached into the cooler and handed her a bottle of beer.

  She looked at him a moment, seeming unsure. “I’m only nineteen,” she said.

  “You’ve never had a beer before?”

  “I didn’t say that. I’m just warning you that I’m underage.”

  He chuckled. “Well, as far as I’m concerned, if you can serve the stuff, you can drink it too. Don’t worry. I’ll only let you have one.”

  She took it, and they sat side by side, watching the sun touch the water and turn it a brilliant reddish-orange color.

  “I had fun tonight,” Clay said, looking at Jess. She gazed back at him, and her eyes were sparkling in the fading light.

  “Me too.”

  “Do you think we can do this again sometime?”

  She smiled. “Sure.”

  As the last rays of the sun faded into the ocean, Clay bent down and kissed Jess lightly on the lips.

  Bang! Bang! Bang! Clay woke suddenly from his dream to a loud rapping noise. He shook the sleep from his head and glanced around, confused for a moment before remembering where he was. Bang! Bang! Bang!

  “Who in the hell is making that racket?” he said as he picked up his phone and looked at the time. It was eight thirty in the morning. “Cripes!”

  Bang! Bang! Bang!

  He finally realized someone was knocking on the door. Untangling himself from the sheet, he stumbled across the room. Jerking the door open, he saw Eileen standing there, a bag of groceries in one hand and a gallon of milk in the other. A large cloth bag hung from her shoulder.

  “Did I wake you?” she asked, giving him the once-over.

  He stared at her blankly, unable to comprehend how anyone could be wide-awake and crisply dressed this early in the morning.

  “Yes, I was sleeping. Yesterday was a long day,” Clay said, trying not to sound rude. Realizing how disheveled he must look, he ran his hand through his hair. He doubted that it helped.

  “I picked up the girls’ homework for them this morning. And I brought a few groceries too,” she said, stepping into the entryway and handing the bag and milk container to Clay. “I figured you must be almost out of the basics. Jess had groceries in the car when she had the accident.”

  He realized he didn’t know many details about what had happened. It felt strange that the neighbor knew more than he did. But then again, she’d been here and he hadn’t.

  “Thank you,” he said. “I’ll put these in the kitchen.”

  “Where are the girls?” Eileen asked, glancing around. “I can give them their assignments.”

  “I’m sure they’re still asleep,” Clay said.

  “Asleep? Really?” She appeared shocked, as if sleeping in on a weekday was a mortal sin.

  “Hi, Mrs. Neilson,” Maddie called out as she pushed open the kitchen’s swinging door and padded through the dining room. Jilly followed her. They were both awake and dressed. Clay wondered why he hadn’t heard them get up.

  “Oh, there you are,” Eileen said, sounding relieved. “I brought you milk and cereal in case you’d run out. And your teachers gave me your homework.” She handed Maddie the cloth bag she’d had over her shoulder.

  Maddie didn’t look thrilled about the schoolwork but thanked her for bringing it. “We do need milk. Jilly and I used the last of it for breakfast.”

  They already ate breakfast? And I didn’t hear them? Clay knew he’d been tired, but he must have been dead to the world.

  “Well, I’ll be on my way,” Eileen said, seeming satisfied that the girls were still alive and well.

  “Thank you again for the groceries,” Clay said as he followed her to the door. “I can pay you for them.”

  Eileen looked insulted. “Don’t worry about it. It’s the least I can do for my friend. I may see you later at the hospital. I plan on dropping by to check on Jess.”

  Nodding, he said good-bye. He turned to the girls. “Good morning. I didn’t know you were up already. I was sleeping pretty heavily, I guess.”

  Jilly giggled. “You were snoring. Like an old grizzly bear.”

  Clay laughed. “Yeah, I guess I do that.”

  Maddie didn’t look amused. “When are we leaving for the hospital?”

  His smile faded. “Let me grab a shower, and we can be off. I’ll put these away first.” He headed into the kitchen, then stopped short. When Jess’s grandmother had lived here, the kitchen had been old and tired, with white appliances from the 1970s and faded wallpaper with big orange flowers on it. But now he was standing in a newly remodeled kitchen with oak cabinets, quartz countertops, and stainless-steel appliances.

  It looked bigger and had more cabinets and counter space than before. A sliding glass window had also replaced the small windows on the far wall, allowing the sun to light up the space. Clay turned to the girls, who’d followed him in. “Wow, your mom did a nice job on this kitchen. This is beautiful. And more spacious.”

  “Mom’s been working really hard,” Maddie said. Clay thought it sounded more like an accusation about his not being here to help than a compliment to her mother.

  “Yes, I can see that,” he said, choosing to ignore his daughter’s tone. He put the milk away in the fridge and pulled the groceries out of the bag. He hesitated, not sure where to put things.

  “The cereal goes up in that cupboard,” Jilly offered, pointing to the spot.

  “Thanks, Jilly-bear,” Clay said. Eileen had also bought baby carrots, apples, bread, butter, and yogurt, so he put those away in the fridge.

  He turned to the girls. “If you don’t mind, I’ll go upstairs and shower.”

  Maddie frowned. “That’s our bathroom.”

  Clay took a deep breath. Maddie was battling him at every turn, and it was gnawing at his nerves. He didn’t want to fight with her, though. It would only make things tougher. “Okay. Then where should I shower? I can’t go to the hospital looking like this.”

  Maddie wrinkled her nose. “There’s a bedroom and bathroom in the back of the house—behind the kitchen—that Mom said was originally built as a maid’s quarters. She’s keeping it empty in case she hires help. You can use that room.”

  Wow, I’ve been relegated to the maid’s quarters by my daughter, Clay thought. It wasn’t worth arguing over, though. At least he’d have a pla
ce to stay.

  “The maid’s quarters it is,” Clay said, walking past the girls and heading for the living room. He picked up his duffel bag and walked to the back of the house. To the left was the bedroom, and off the back was a large screened-in porch. Beyond that was the backyard, with its apple and pear trees and plots where flowers grew every year. At least I have a nice view.

  The room was small, and so was the bathroom, but it was serviceable, and soon he was clean-shaven and showered. He slipped on a pair of jeans and a cotton plaid shirt over a black tee before pulling on his boots. When he looked in the mirror, he saw a semirespectable man looking back at him—except for the shaggy hair—but inside he felt in turmoil. He had hoped a good night’s sleep and a shower would calm his nerves, but he still felt on edge. The stress of Jess’s accident and medical condition, along with Maddie’s angry reception, had really done a number on him. He needed to do something quickly before he came undone.

  Clay picked up his phone and dialed his friend Cooper James, a bass player he’d known for twenty years. He was also his AA sponsor. Coop answered on the second ring.

  “Hey, man. Good to hear from you. How is Jess doing?”

  Clay had texted Coop yesterday about Jess’s accident.

  “Not very well, I’m afraid,” Clay told him. “She’s in a coma from a head injury. The doctor put a positive spin on it, saying it’s how her body will heal. So I’m hoping he’s right.”

  “Sorry to hear that. I hope she comes out of it soon. How are the girls? Were they happy to see you?”

  Clay sighed. “Well, Maddie isn’t too happy with me, but Jilly is warming up. Can’t blame them, though. They haven’t seen me in two years.”

  “Might be a good time for an amends, eh?”