The Parker Women

by Kay Correll

  Not really a Parker… but that never stopped the town from calling them that.

  Heather came walking up to them and looked about as excited as she had been to see the twins. “Hi.”

  Olivia sent her a quick not-my-fault look.

  “Oh, Heather, dear. Jillian and I were so very sorry to hear about your parents.” Okay, so that must be Jackie talking. But what did they know about her aunt and uncle?

  “Right, thanks.” Heather shrugged.

  “These things happen, I guess. But we are sorry.” Jillian said, nodding so vigorously that she looked like a bobblehead. “And someone else? That’s just shameful.”

  “Right.” Heather still looked noncommittal.

  Olivia gulped and grabbed Heather’s arm. “Well, we have to run. I don’t have much time until I need to get to work.”

  “Tell your mother if there is anything we can do, to just ask us,” Jackie said. “Of course we’d do anything to help her, poor dear.”

  Olivia dragged Heather toward Brewster’s. When they got further away from the twins, Heather stopped and turned to her. “What in the world were they talking about?”

  A sinking feeling hit the pit of her stomach. So Aunt Evelyn hadn’t talked to Heather yet. “Um… I’m not sure.”

  Heather stared at her. Stared at her hard. “Yes, you do. I can tell.”

  “Heather—I—” She swallowed. “Let get our coffee and sit.”

  “And you’ll tell me?” Heather pinned her with a no-nonsense look.

  “I’ll tell you. But it’s not really mine to tell.”

  “But you’ll tell me because you’re not only my cousin, you’re my best friend and we have no secrets.”

  Well, they’d had a secret for two days. It appeared like the secret was out. Or would be in another moment or two. Olivia wished she’d just told Heather she couldn’t come this morning. It would be easier than… this.

  They got their coffee and a table away from any other customers. Olivia blew on her cup of coffee, trying to find the right words, annoyed that Aunt Evelyn hadn’t told Heather yet.

  “Livy, talk.”

  “It would be better if you went and talked to your mother.”

  “And I will. But first, you’ll tell me what you know.”

  “I can’t. I don’t know how to tell you this.” Olivia set down the cup.

  “Just tell me.” Heather’s face was a stony mask of dread.

  “Okay.” She took a deep breath. “Your dad asked your mom for a divorce.”

  Heather’s eyes flew open wide. “He did?”

  “Yes.”

  Heather frowned. “But why wouldn’t Mom tell me?”

  “I don’t know. But obviously the word is out now since the Jenkins twins know. And who knows how they found out. Of course, they seem to find out everything that happens here in Moonbeam. And if the twins know it, soon the whole town will be talking about it.”

  “But why would he divorce her? She does everything for him. I doubt if he even knows where the dry cleaner is to take his clothes to. And who will plan his business functions? And… well, Mom is beautiful. I always thought he liked being married to someone so glamorous and capable. She made his personal life and business life so easy for him. Not to mention he’s a hard man to please. I don’t understand…”

  “I don’t know the details. But listen, I’m pretty sure there are financial issues, too.”

  “Father lost his money?” Heather’s forehead creased.

  “Um… no… more like your mother lost any money.”

  “Surely there’s a settlement. Mom should get half of what they have, right? They’ve been married forever.”

  “There’s some kind of legal paper she signed before they were married. I don’t think she’s getting much of anything.”

  Heather’s eyes flashed. “That is so like him. Always in it for himself. Expecting perfection from everyone, but so underhanded himself.”

  “Anyway, she’s going to move in with Mom for a bit until she sorts things out. It appears your dad is taking the house and um… moving someone new in with him.”

  “That—lowlife, that scum, that scoundrel.”

  Olivia let out a small laugh. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard someone actually use the word scoundrel.”

  “I have more words to call him… but… I won’t. Oh, wait, scalawag.”

  “That’s another good one.”

  Heather looked down at her coffee, then back up. “How’s Mother doing?”

  “I haven’t seen her since I found out. But Mom says she’s pretty rocky.”

  “I should go see her.”

  “Yes, you should.”

  “This is why she’s been taking these jobs, isn’t it?”

  “Probably.”

  “I could help her out with money.”

  “Mom offered to help out financially, but Aunt Evelyn turned her down.”

  Heather stood. “I’ve got to go. I’m going to track down Mom.”

  She watched her cousin thread her way through the tables and disappear. She sat and finished her coffee, wondering how all this was going to work out. Aunt Evelyn living with Mom and working at the cafe. Would Heather stick around for a while now? And would Aunt Evelyn adjust to a working life?

  So many questions. But one thing was certain. Uncle Darren was a scalawagish scoundrel. And if that wasn’t a real term, it should be.

  Heather rang the doorbell at her mother’s house, but no one answered. She walked around back to see if her mother was out on the patio, but no sign of her. She peeked through the windows. Nothing. Too bad she didn’t still have her key to the house. But then she knew her father had changed the locks to the house the day she’d told him she was moving out all those years ago… so there was that.

  She remembered the days leading up to her escape in excruciating detail. He’d lit into her as soon as she came home one evening. Her scores on the entrance exam for college were not acceptable even though they were in the top three percent. He moved on to the fact that her outfit was unacceptable—simple shorts that weren’t even that short and a t-shirt from Lighthouse Point. She and her friends had been at the beach and she thought her clothes were perfectly fine for that.

  Her mother had tried to change the subject and he told her to be quiet. He did that a lot. Dismissed anything her mother said.

  He started listing off new rules for her. Curfew. What friends she could see. What colleges she would be applying to. What classes she’d be taking. And then said he’d have to approve any outfit she wore out of the house.

  She’d gone upstairs without even arguing back. That should have given him a clue. She’d stayed for exactly one more month. Luckily she’d saved up money from various jobs and stashed it in an account he didn’t know she had. She squirreled away some of her personal things she wanted like her art supplies and books and some of those exact same clothes he disapproved of. Olivia had taken boxes of things for her.

  Then one night she’d come home, and her father started yelling at her when he found out she’d dropped out of the debate club. She’d had to so she could work more hours after school to earn money, but he didn’t know that.

  Her mother tried to change the subject once again, and he turned and screamed at her, her mother’s face draining of all color. That’s when she knew she had to move out. She was just causing more trouble for her mother. She’d gone upstairs, packed a duffle of belongings, and traipsed back downstairs and into the living room where her father was reading and her mother was writing on some endless list.

  She told them she was leaving and her mother begged her to stay. But her father? He’d said goodbye and he was tired of dealing with such an ungrateful and totally unacceptable child. She still remembered the words… totally unacceptable.

  She’d moved in with Aunt Donna and Olivia for the rest of her senior year of high school, then moved from Moonbeam the day after she and Olivia graduated.

  “Heather?” The French d
oor opened, and her mother’s voice drew her away from the haunting memories.

  “Mom. There you are.”

  “I just got home and saw your car in the driveway.”

  She threw her arms around her mother and hugged her tight. She couldn’t remember the last time they’d had a real hug. She clung to her for a moment, then stepped back. “You should have told me.”

  “So you heard. Come in.” Her mother closed the door behind them.

  “The Jenkins twins know.”

  Her mother let out a long sigh. “Well then. Everyone one will very soon, won’t they?”

  “They will. But we don’t care.”

  “I guess I should try to track down my own mother and tell her before she finds out from someone else. Though, I think she’s still off on her world travels.”

  “So, it can probably wait until she’s back home, right?”

  “You’re right. I don’t think I’m ready to hear her opinion on this. I’m fairly certain she’ll think it’s all my fault.”

  “Probably.” Her grandmother totally approved of her mother’s marriage. Thought that Darren Carlson was the ultimate marriage material. But then, he’d been so like her grandfather. Domineering and demanding. Maybe grandmother just thought that was how powerful men were and everyone had to take it.

  “There’s nothing I can do about that. I’ll tell her soon.”

  “So, what’s this I hear about Father taking everything? Leaving you with nothing? We’ll fight it.”

  “I’ve already talked to two different lawyers.”

  “We’ll find another one.”

  “Well, in the meantime I need to move out and learn to support myself.”

  “I can help money-wise. I can loan you money. Give you money. Anything. This art thing of mine… .” She shrugged, unsure of what to say. “It’s kind of worked out for me and I… I kind of invested in Livy’s cafe and the expansion at Parker’s.”

  “You did?” Her mother cocked her head. “I didn’t know. Why didn’t anyone tell me?”

  “Looks like our family is good at keeping secrets.” She quirked an eyebrow up and grinned. “Aren’t we?”

  “Yes, I guess we are. And thanks for your offer of help, but no, it’s time I learned to make it on my own. I don’t want to be dependent on anyone ever again.” A determined look was etched on her mother’s face.

  A strong look. Stronger than she’d ever seen before. Where was this look for all those years when her father had harangued her mother endlessly? Well, she was glad to see the look there now. Her mother would need to be strong to get through this.

  “You could live with me if you want.”

  “Oh, Heather, I appreciate the offer, but your condo is small and it only has the one bedroom. I’ll live with Donna until I can save up some money and find a place of my own. She has that whole big old house.”

  “Father’s a snake.” Heather’s face flushed with the heat of anger, furious that he’d do this to her mother, his wife, after all these years.

  “Well, be that what it is, I still need to move out.”

  “Then let me help you pack and I’ll take a load of things over to Aunt Donna’s for you.”

  Her mother looked at her gratefully. “I’ll accept that help. Between trying to pack up what I need and finishing up the last-minute details for the gala, I admit to being overwhelmed.”

  “I’m here to help. Anything you need.” And at this very strange time in life, she felt closer to her mother than she had in years.

  Chapter 22

  Donna looked up and down the street after she touched the plaque by the front door of Parker’s and locked up the store. But there was no sign of Barry in either direction. She’d thought that maybe he’d stop by and walk home with her. Vague disappointment seeped through her, but that was silly. She was perfectly capable of walking home alone. And she had a lot to do. She’d cleaned out the room for Evelyn but hadn’t finished dealing with all the boxes lined up in her laundry room and spilling into the kitchen.

  She glanced at her phone when it pinged with a text from Heather. She and Evelyn were on their way over with a load of Evelyn’s belongings. Good thing she got the room cleared out.

  She hurried home, dropped her purse on the table by the door, and kicked off her shoes. She wondered if they were going to stay long because Barry had mentioned coming over tonight for a drink…

  She padded barefoot into the kitchen, thinking about making a quick sandwich for her dinner.

  “Aunt Donna?” Heather’s voice rang out as she entered the house.

  So much for that sandwich. She turned to go help them. Heather and Evelyn stood inside the doorway with their arms laden with boxes. “Just take them up to the guest room. The one you stayed in when we were girls. I’ll go out to your car and grab some things and help bring them in.”

  The three of them made numerous trips outside and then upstairs until both Evelyn and Heather’s cars were empty. Afterward, Donna poured them all glasses of tea. Heather sank onto a stool by the island in the kitchen. “I’m beat. We must have packed a million boxes today.”

  “Heather helped me take some boxes to storage, too,” Evelyn said as she slipped onto the stool next to Heather. “She’s been a big help.”

  And look at that. Heather and Evelyn getting along. This was an improvement. “Good. I’m glad you had help. When do you plan to move in here?”

  “A few more days. After the gala, if that’s okay.”

  “Anytime is fine with me.” Donna leaned against the counter, tired from the long day at work and the multiple trips up and down the stairs with Evelyn’s things. She heard a knock at the door and glanced at her watch. It was probably Barry. She’d have to send him away. Evelyn needed her now.

  “Want me to get that?” Heather started to climb off her stool.

  “No, I’ve got it.” Evelyn went to answer the front door. Barry stood there with a bottle of red wine and a warm smile.

  “Oh, Barry. I’m sorry. I’m going to have to cancel.”

  She couldn’t miss the disappointed look that flashed through his eyes, though he quickly covered it with another smile.

  “No problem. Maybe later this week.”

  “Maybe. I mean, sure. It’s just… Evelyn is moving in, and well, things are complicated.”

  Barry looked uncertain and shifted from foot to foot. “Okay, then maybe you could just let me know when you have some time?”

  “Yes, I will. It’s just right now is… tough.”

  “I don’t want to bother you.”

  “It’s not a bother. I want to spend some time with you, it’s just—” She looked past Barry and frowned as a car she didn’t recognize pulled into the drive. The door swung open, and Donna leaned against the doorframe in surprise.

  Well, this would be interesting.

  Her mother stepped gracefully out of the car, dressed precisely in country club casual complete with high heels. She glided toward them—because gliding was how her mother always walked. There was really no other way to describe it.

  Barry stepped back as she approached, looking at her mother then back at her, a questioning look in his eyes.

  “Donna, what are you doing standing in the doorway letting out all the air-conditioning?” The ever-familiar critical frown was etched on her mother’s face.

  “Mother. Welcome home.”

  Her mother stared pointedly at Barry.

  “Mother, this is Barry. He’s working on the renovations of The Cabot and he’s renting the house next door. Barry, this is my mother, Patricia.”

  Her mother looked from Barry’s face down to the bottle of red wine in his hand.

  “Pleased to meet you.” Barry gave her mother a smile.

  “Yes. Same,” her mother answered.

  What kind of greeting was that?

  “I should go.” Barry took another step back and she nodded.

  “Thanks. Sorry about tonight.” She shrugged and gave him a weak smile
. They needed to talk, but the time wasn’t right. She thought life had gotten complicated with Evelyn moving in. Now she could add her mother back in the country to the list of complications.

  Barry nodded once and turned to head back home as her mother breezed past her and into the house.

  Sure, go right in, Mother.

  Evelyn and Heather stood in the entranceway from the kitchen.

  “Mother,” Evelyn said and walked close to give her a quick, perfunctory peck on the cheek. “You’re home.”

  “I am. Didn’t you pay attention to my itinerary?”

  Evelyn looked guilty. “I guess I just lost track of time.”

  Donna had lost track of time, too. And lost the itinerary. “Well, we’re glad to see you,” she assured her mother.

  “Hi, Grandmother,” Heather added.

  “You’re all here. Isn’t that a nice surprise?” But somehow her mother’s voice didn’t sound pleased as she floated past them all and into the kitchen. They followed in her wake.

  “Here, Mom, would you like some tea?” Donna reached for the pitcher.

  “No, thank you. I don’t do caffeine this late in the evening.”

  “Water?”

  “No, I’m fine.” Her mother looked around and her gaze settled on the stools and drinks at the island. “Are you all just perching here in the kitchen?”

  “Ah… we were just going to sit down at the kitchen table.” Heather grabbed her glass and headed to the table. Donna sent her a grateful glance.

  Her mother slid effortlessly into a chair and they all took seats around her. Her mother glanced over at the stack of boxes leaning like a falling tower in the corner.

  “What are all those boxes?”

  “I… uh… I was just clearing out some things. Going to send some things to the thrift store,” Donna quickly said, glancing over at Evelyn, not sure if her sister was ready to tell their mother the news about Darren.

  “I see. Well, they really clutter up your kitchen.” She smoothed an imaginary wrinkle from her pristinely pressed slacks with her tanned hands that sported an impeccable manicure.