by D J Monroe
“It’s gonna us a little while to sort out everything we’ve learned,” Creed said. “I’ll add what he told us to our timeline and see if that helps.”
“Good idea,” Nate said and then came to an abrupt halt. “Uh oh.”
Nate recognized Walter’s car parked at a weird angle behind his own. But it wasn’t Walter pacing up and down the driveway.
It was Judy and she did not look happy.
Twenty-Eight: More Family Drama
“She looks like she’s mighty upset about something,” Creed said.
“Great,” Nate said, his body growing tense. “This is all we need right now.”
The closer he got to the house, the more he could feel his aunt’s anger and frustration. He was also very aware of Creed right at his shoulder and found that comforting. Before he could get much further than the edge of the yard, Judy came running toward him, tears streaming down her face.
“Aunt Judy, what’s wrong,” Nate said realizing this was much worse than he suspected. He reached out to steady her. “Uncle Charles?”
“Walter,” she sobbed. “Walter.”
“What about Walter?” Nate asked, totally confused.
“He’s so distraught,” she continued, struggling to get herself together. “He’s-he says you’re going to throw his father’s things away.”
Nate shook his head. Where did he get that idea? “No. That’s not true.”
“How could you do that to the poor boy. His father is dying, a horrible, horrible death. He barely has any time left at all and you’re going to destroy his things before he’s even in the ground.” Judy was nearly screaming now, her fists clenched at her sides. “Without even giving Walter a chance-“
Nate thought it looked like she wanted to pound them into his face. “No,” Nate managed to say, reaching out to her again. He caught both of her hands in his, struggling to make her calm down and listen.
She jerked out of his grasp. “Don’t you dare touch me,” she snarled. “You don’t know anything. You don’t know anything about our family.
“This is my family, too,” Nate reminded her, keeping his voice steady.
“Not by blood,” she snapped. “Your dad caused all kinds of trouble for Charles when they were growing up. Him and his stupid sister-” Judy stopped abruptly and clapped both hands over her mouth.
That was the last straw. Nate took a step back, was struggling to keep his temper under control. He clamped his lips together, felt his jaw grow taut. His heart that had once ached for his aunt who was losing her brother to a deadly cancer, now grew cold and hard.
This conversation was over.
“I’m sorry,” Judy whispered, her eyes wide. Now, she was reaching out toward Nate.
He took another step backward, bumped into Creed who put a hand on the small of his back. Finally, he felt as if he could speak clearly. “For the record, I left a message on Walter’s phone that I would pack up his dad’s things and place them in the garage. He could pick them up whenever he chose.” Nate chose each word carefully, being sure to keep his voice low and steady. “Please tell Walter that now he’ll need to call and make an appointment to pick up the items. If they’re not picked up in a timely manner, they will be destroyed.”
“You don’t mean that, Nate,” Judy said, a complete turn-around from just moments before.
“I do,” Nate said.
“I’ll call your father,” Judy said, her voice beginning to grow shrill again.
“This is private property. You’re trespassing and I’m asking you to leave. Please do that before I call the police.”
Judy opened her mouth as if to say something else but she didn’t move.
Nate pulled his phone out of the holster on his belt and swiped the screen upward. All bets were off now. She was adding nothing to the situation except anger and bitterness. He tapped the screen.
“Nate, I am so sorry,” Judy was backing away now. “You know I didn’t mean what I said. I was just upset.”
Nate hesitated, finger poised over the screen. He did not look at his aunt. He didn’t take a breath until she retreated to her car. Only then did he look up, watching her carefully.
Backing out onto the street, Judy paused and leaned out of the window. “I’ll bet you’re performing satanic rituals in there just like your crazy grandmother did. Always trying to get her precious Tammy back. Like she didn’t have another daughter. Me,” she spat out the hate fueled words. “You should be ashamed.” She stopped and glared at each of them in turn. “Both of you.”
Neither of them moved until the brake lights of her car disappeared around the corner.
“She used to be one of my favorite relatives,” Nate said quietly.
“I’m sorry,” Creed whispered, sliding his hand up Nate’s broad back and squeezing his shoulder.
“I’ve heard of this kind of greediness happening in families but I never dreamed it would happen in ours,” Nate said.
Creed’s hand remained on his shoulder, a reminder to Nate that he was there, standing solidly with him.
“My grandpa would be so ashamed.”
“Let’s go inside and get something to eat,” Creed said.
Nate led the way up the walk. He was torn between wanting to share his painful feelings with Creed and wanting to be alone. He chose alone and stepped into the bathroom.
While he stood there staring at himself in the mirror, suddenly so tired he could hardly stand. He braced both hands against the sink and listened to Creed moving around in the kitchen. He imagined him preparing a salad, probably making them sandwiches to go along with it. The thought of food made Nate sick right at that moment.
He couldn’t believe how what he had always thought was a close knit family, had broken apart-over-over stuff. He’d never known his aunt to have a selfish or angry word for anyone. Yes, his two cousins were a few years older than him and Walter had always been somewhat of a bully. But it had never gone any further than kid stuff.
Nate splashed cold water ono his face, suddenly more tired than he had ever been in his life. This wasn’t what he’d signed up for. Dealing with his father was bad enough but now the rest of his family had turned on him as well. He could still see his aunt’s face, hear the venom in her voice.
Judy was her daughter, too, Tammy’s half-sister. Had there been animosity between the two girls. Could Judy have been the cause of Tammy’s disappearance? She was only about ten when it happened so that was out of the question.
Wasn’t it?
Nate shook his head. No. From what he’d been told, his grandmother had never been the same after losing Tammy. Was probably unable to give Judy the attention she needed. That had to be the root of all of this hatred.
Finally, he realized Creed was probably waiting for him to come out, sit down and eat. He already knew Creed well enough that he would try to take Nate’s mind off what had just happened in the yard. He’d want to talk about Tammy’s disappearance and what they’d learned that day. But Nate just couldn’t concentrate on that right now. He couldn’t face any more of this family drama.
He also could not hide away in the bathroom forever. Quietly, he turned the doorknob to open the door. It was stuck again. He checked to see if he’d somehow locked it with the little button on the old fashioned, glass knob. He jiggled the knob, tried to turn it again. Confused, he stepped back, looked around the edges of the door and then tried the knob again.
This time it opened easily.
Nate stepped out into the hall with the intent of going to the room where they slept.
“Nate,” Creed said from the kitchen doorway. He was holding Tammy’s camera in one hand.
In any other situation, hearing Creed say his name like that, soft and caring with just a hint of something that sounded like urgency, would have ended in a long, lingering kiss and a night of slow love making. Possibly a night like neither of them had ever experienced before. As many times as Nate had thought about it, almost wished to wake up with
Creed in his bed, Nate knew he couldn’t give Creed the attention he deserved-not right now.
Creed hesitated, almost as if afraid to continue. Then he held up the camera. “She’s showing us something else.”
Nate held up both hands, shook his head and backed away from Creed. “Sorry, man. I just can’t deal with any more of this right now.”
Creed looked a little surprised but nodded. “I understand.” Then, as if hiding the camera behind him would make Nate feel better he gave him a little smile and said, “I made salad.”
“I’m not hungry anymore, either,” Nate said. “I think I’ll go lie down for a while.”
“Okay,” Creed said. “Is there anything I can do?”
Nate shook his head and turned away from Creed. “I don’t think there is anyone who can fix this situation and that includes us. I’m sorry. I know how much you’re depending on this job even if it’s only temporary. But I think I’m going to just give up on this whole project and let Dad find someone else.”
***
Creed’s heart plummeted at those last words. While he had worked cutting up vegetables for the salads, his thoughts had turned to what he’d just witnessed between Joyce and Nate There was something else at work here, he just knew it. Something besides jealousy and family drama even though that’s what it appeared to be.
And what had Judy said. Something about her mother-Nate’s grandmother- being crazy? Something about psychic stuff? Could that be what Creed had been experiencing since he’d entered this house? He relaxed and closed his eyes. Yes, whatever he’d been feeling before—ghost? Spirit? It was really upset now, hovering near the back door one minute and then shooting down the hall and up the stairs the next.
While he stood at the table listening for Nate to come out of the bathroom, he picked up the camera. What he saw there confused him and excited him at the same time. He was looking into the lens of the a camera. This camera? He couldn’t tell but there was something—a reflection in the lens. He could see a body lying on what looked like carpet. Tammy’s body?
He held his breath and looked closer. Someone was bending over her, a man but it was too blurry for him to be able to say definitely who it was. The man stuffed something in his pocket and sort of pushed Tammy with the toe of his shoe. When there was no reaction, he reached down and shook her shoulder. Again, as far as Creed could tell, there was no response.
His only thought was that he had to tell Nate and the sound of the bathroom door had pulled him out into the hall. But Nate wasn’t interested. In fact, Nate was telling him that their time together was over.
All Creed could do was stand there staring at Nate’s broad back as he walked away. His thoughts whirled in his head. Where would he go now? Julia’s home? No, she already had too much on her plate. She didn’t need a deadbeat brother living in her attic. The only thing he had to contribute to the household was helping her take care of their mother on a more regular basis.
But what hurt most was that Nate was just giving up. He’d thought Nate was stronger than that. He had sensed that Nate wanted to prove something to his father. More importantly, he was beginning to think that he and Nate had a future together, even if it was only friendship. He needed Nate in his life, needed his smile, his intelligence. He needed Nate to keep both of his feet on the ground.
“Now what?” he said to his reflection in the window over the kitchen sink. He could probably talk to Nate’s father himself, see if he could continue the cleanup. Maybe Nate would put in a good word for him. But it wouldn’t be the same without Nate and as far as the mystery of Tammy’s disappearance was concerned, he really needed Nate for that to continue as well.
He finally cleaned up all of the food, put it away, fixed himself a bowl of cereal and sat there in the kitchen eating as evening settled in and then finally darkness. He didn’t even have the energy to pick up the camera.
***
Nate sank to his knees on the air mattress and crawled toward the pillow. He turned to lay on his back and put both hands behind his head. His thoughts went to what he’d just said to Creed. He tried to block out the look of disappointment on Creed’s face. How he hated that but there was no choice. He’d see the same look of disappointment, disapproval on his father’s face when he told him that he was bailing on the project. Nothing new. His father was always disappointed or disapproved of something he did.
The thought of talking to his father, tied his stomach in knots just like it always did. He decided to do it by phone, once he was back in Charlotte. At least that way, he wouldn’t see the look in his old man’s eyes and there would be less room for argument. He’d just tell him he was going to have to bail on the project. Maybe he’d lie and say he’d found another job.
No. That wouldn’t do. He’d just have to explain to his dad that this job needed someone impartial, someone who didn’t care what happened to any of the items or this house or the family. He was sure he had not told Walter that he was going to throw his dad’s things away. Why would Walter think that?
And why would his aunt Judy make a statement like his dad and-” Nate cut off the thoughts and turned on his side. Had there really been animosity between the siblings brewing all of these years. They weren’t blood relatives but they’d all grown up together.
Grown up in this house together with a mother who, admittedly was a little strange but by all accounts had been a good mother to all four of the children. He didn’t believe for a minute that she’d been practicing-what-voodoo, calling on spirits?
In his gut he knew that every rumor, every accusation, all of the hurt and anger stemmed from Tammy’s disappearance. Her loss had done more damage to the family than was showing on the surface. That was understandable. And it was still at work separating them. But he would have thought that by now, the three remaining siblings could come together, help each other heal.
But, there was his dad, pragmatic, stubborn, refusing to give an inch. His Uncle Charles, older, just as set in his ways and stubborn as his dad. And Judy running back and forth between the two but, in the end, siding with her brother, Charles.
And, what had she said? Charles was dying a horrible death. He knew the man was on his death bed.
Nate must have dozed because when he woke up, it was dark. He was aware of someone moving around in the room, a shadow, a rustle of sound. And then he remembered Creed. Creed who had stood right there beside him that afternoon with his hand on his back, not giving an inch. Creed who was only trying to help in any way he could. Yes, he was letting Creed down, too.
“Creed,” Nate said softly.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you,” Creed said, his voice barely above a whisper.
“It’s okay,” Nate said. He heard Creed moving around right beside him, arranging the blankets and his sleeping bag. “I’m sorry about this afternoon.”
“Don’t be sorry,” Creed said.
Nate could see Creed’s silhouette, darker than the room, sitting on the floor next to him. “What will you do?” Nate asked.
“I don’t know,” Creed said, growing still. “Will you go back to Charlotte?”
“Probably,” Nate answered. “There’s nothing for me here.”
Creed sighed and lay down. “Do you think your father would let me finish the job by myself?”
“He might. It’s a pretty big job,” Nate said. He thought again about how his dad was going to be disappointed in his only son, his only child, yet again.
“I really hate to see you go,” Creed said, after a small silence. His voice was still low and quiet, not a hint of disappointment. “We never found out what happened to your Aunt Tammy.”
“You have all the pieces,” Nate said, curling up on his side, one arm under his head. “I’ll bet you can put some things together.”
“The problem is, I don’t want to solve it without-without you,” Creed said. He seemed to stumble on his words. “I don’t know if I can.”
“Sure you can,” Nate said. “You�
��ve got the camera to help you.”
“What about us?” Creed asked after another hesitation.
“We shared a few kisses, that’s all,” Nate said, his heart breaking in two. “Just kisses.”
Twenty-Nine: All Alone
Creed slept fitfully and woke up knowing that he’d dreamed about something. It was all mixed up with angry faces and angry words and Tammy frantically trying to intervene. He sat up in the tangled blankets and looked around.
Something was wrong. The house felt silent, empty. The presence, spirit, energy, whatever he’d been feeling since he’d arrived, was silenced. He closed his eyes and sat still for a moment trying to get a sense of what was missing.
Nothing. He had nothing.
Opening his eyes, he looked around the room. His gaze landed on the empty mattress on the floor beside him. Nate must already be up and about. Creed padded into the kitchen, fully expecting to see Nate sitting there, sipping coffee. But the coffee pot was cold and empty and so was the room. He started the coffee and then went to look for Nate.
Again, he fully expected to find Nate on the porch where he seemed to enjoy sitting in the early mornings. But the rockers were empty so Creed followed the narrow walkway around to the back of the house. Nate was nowhere to be seen.
Back inside, Creed called out to Nate, his voice sounding loud in the quiet morning of the house. When he got no response, he trotted up the stairs, all the way to the attic room. No one there. Back down on the second floor, he began to panic. He checked each of the bedrooms and that bathroom as well. Nate was not in the house.
By the time he reached the first floor again, his gut was in knots telling him that Nate was gone. Surely, his brain reasoned, Nate wouldn’t have just left in the middle of the night, without saying a word or giving Creed a chance to talk to him one more time.
To say good-bye.
Creed returned to where they’d been sleeping and saw that Nate’s duffle bag was gone. Back out on the porch, he finally made himself look. Nate’s car was gone.