Need You Now

by Beth Wiseman

  “We’re out of beer.” Cindy sat up tall and winked at him, which caused his pulse to pick up, especially when she slid their books aside and moved closer. He’d never kissed her, but the playful way she leaned toward him made him think it must be on her mind too. She touched his cheek and pushed back a strand of his hair, sending shivers up and down his spine. “Hey,” she said, grinning. “Do your parents have any booze downstairs you can get your hands on?”

  Chad pulled his eyes from hers and rubbed his forehead. “No. They don’t really drink. A glass of wine every now and then, maybe.”

  “Wine will do.” Cindy leaned even closer.

  “I—I think I better go look for Grace.”

  Cindy pulled away with a slight frown, but then she smiled. “That’s cool.” She stood and picked up her backpack. “Can you just drop me at my house before you go look for her?”

  “But I thought—” Chad stopped when Cindy raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, no problem. I’ll take you home first.”

  “Great.” She walked to him and kissed his cheek. “You’re a doll.”

  Chad was sure he’d remember her soft lips forever. But why was his stomach churning? He recognized the feeling. Guilt.

  Grace picked up the pace as she walked home. She should have left study hall way before now. It was getting late. Mom was going to be worried. She didn’t like to cause problems for anyone, especially not Mom. Darlene Henderson was the best mother in the world, and Chad and Ansley had given her enough problems. Grace prided herself on the fact that she never stirred up trouble. She wanted to be “the good child,” so she handled her own problems, never dumped her worries on her parents, and made good grades. And staying at study hall today seemed like a good way to make sure she kept doing those things. It also was part of her new plan to improve herself. She held her head high, walked a bit faster, and silently said a prayer for God to give her strength.

  She jumped when a car honked from behind her. Stepping farther into the grass, she made room, but the old Dodge pickup slowed to a stop. Grace peered through the open passenger window of the rusted brown truck. Skylar Brown?

  “Need a ride?” Skylar lowered black sunglasses onto her nose, and Grace grimaced at the amount of black eye makeup Skylar was wearing.

  Grace was certain that she and Skylar had never spoken to each other. “Uh, no. That’s okay. I don’t have far to walk.” She forced a smile. “Thanks, though.”

  “Whatever.” Skylar ground the gears as she jerkily headed down the winding gravel road.

  Grace started walking again. Skylar’s ride must’ve belonged to her great-grandfather. The engine was loud, and smoke bellowed from a pipe in the rear. But at least it was a ride. More than what Grace had. Hopefully that would change when she turned sixteen soon.

  Then there was a loud pop . . . and a lot of smoke.

  A minute or two later, Grace had caught up to the truck. Skylar stood beside it, staring at it. Then she kicked it. “Well, guess I’m the one who needs a ride now.”

  “How far away do you live?”

  “Far enough that I’m not looking forward to walking.”

  Grace reached into her backpack and felt around. “Do you need to use my cell phone?” Mom insisted that they all have cell phones now that it was only ten dollars per person on the family plan. Grace pulled out the phone and held it toward Skylar.

  “Uh, I have a cell phone,” Skylar said, rolling her eyes. “It doesn’t work here. I don’t know of any cell phones that work along this stretch of the road. But go ahead and check yours.”

  Grace looked down at the display. “You’re right. No service.” She stuffed the phone in her backpack and set it down. “You can walk to my house with me and use our home phone. My house isn’t too much farther.”

  “Or I can start walking toward my own house. Eventually I’ll get service and can call”—Skylar paused—“someone.”

  Grace held her hand to her forehead to block the setting sun. “What about the truck?”

  Skylar gave the truck another swift kick, her long black hair falling forward. She flipped it over her shoulder. “I guess it’ll have to sit here for now.”

  “Want me to help you push it off the road in case you don’t get back before dark?”

  Skylar sighed, one hand on her hip. “If you don’t mind, that would be great. Let me go put it in neutral and release the brake.”

  Together they pushed the truck to the side of the road, flattening a group of bluebonnets. Grace was surprised that they didn’t have more trouble moving the truck, considering Skylar wasn’t much bigger than Grace.

  “There’s my brother.” Grace pointed at Chad’s rust-free Chevy pickup coming toward them. “I’m late. He’s probably looking for me.”

  “You’re bleeding.”

  Before Grace looked at Skylar, her eyes darted down to her arm. “Oh, it’s no big deal.”

  Skylar walked closer, and she surprised Grace when she touched her arm. Grace flinched and pulled away. “How long have you been cutting?” Skylar asked.

  “What?” Grace felt like her heart would pound out of her chest.

  “You heard me. How long have you been a cutter?”

  Grace picked up her backpack and swung it over her shoulder just as Chad eased up beside them. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Grace snapped.

  “Sure you do.” Skylar blinked a few times as she took a deep breath. “Let me know if you want to talk.”

  Grace watched Skylar shuffle down the road in her black army boots, but felt compelled to yell after her, “Don’t you need a ride?”

  “No.” Skylar didn’t turn around.

  Good. Grace was quite sure of one thing. She had no intention of talking with Skylar Brown about anything.

  She crawled in the front seat with Chad, her bottom lip trembling as Chad yelled at her about being late and not calling. And something about Cindy having to leave early.

  Grace hated to be late. Or to be yelled at. But she just sat there and listened without responding, gritting her teeth so hard her jaw hurt. Her head felt like a pinball machine, the balls bouncing around, slamming against the side of her brain. And her heart was pounding so hard, she was starting to feel sick to her stomach. Shut up, Chad! Just shut up!

  She closed her eyes to tune him out, which was nearly impossible, but when she finally did, she envisioned the way Skylar had looked at her earlier—with pity in her eyes. The last thing Grace needed was for a girl like Skylar to feel sorry for her.

  There is nothing wrong with me, Goth Girl.

  Chapter Five

  Darlene eased her chair away from the sewing machine in the corner of her bedroom. She’d taken her time altering Layla’s dress, being precise and extra cautious every time she touched it. Standing, she held it high above her head so the bottom wouldn’t drag on the floor. “Well, what do you think?”

  Brad took off his glasses and placed them on top of the book he was reading before he shifted his weight in the bed. “Looks the same to me.” He grinned, having seen the dress several times already.

  Darlene lowered the gown. “Oh, ha ha.” She carefully slipped it onto a hanger, hooked it on the closet door, and moseyed to her side of the bed. “I never should have agreed to alter that dress.” She climbed into bed, fluffed her pillows, and fell back against them.

  “You’ve been sewing since I met you, and the dress looks fine.” Brad opened his arm wide, and Darlene snuggled closer. She’d already told him all about her day, heard about his, cooked dinner, cleaned up the kitchen, washed a load of clothes, and made sure all was well with the kids. She just wanted to close her eyes.

  “I’m so tired.”

  “Welcome to my world,” Brad said, yawning. “Are you sure you want to do this? Work full-time? I really feel like I have a partnership coming soon.”

  Darlene kept her eyes closed as she spoke. She wasn’t about to tell him that she was missing her children. Brad knew her well enough to know it was true an
yway, and she didn’t want to fuel his thoughts. This was something she needed to try. A small shot at some independence outside of wife and mother. “It’s not about the money.” Although the extra money would be nice. “I enjoyed today. It’s just going to take me some time to get used to being gone during the day.”

  “I told you. Make the kids help out more.” He kissed her on the cheek. “They’re lucky to have you at that school.”

  “Thank you.”

  He pulled her closer. “Hey, now that tax season is over, let’s get away for a few days. I think the kids would be okay by themselves now, don’t you? They’re old enough.”

  Darlene’s stomach churned at the thought. She wasn’t sure she’d have a good time, knowing her children were unattended.

  “I can already feel you tensing up.” Brad sighed. “Maybe you’re right. They’re good kids, but . . .”

  Darlene was pretty sure Brad was recalling the events back in Houston with Chad, and Darlene shivered just thinking about them.

  It was a long haul for Brad’s parents to come in from Florida, and her father-in-law hadn’t been in the best of health lately. Since Brad was an only child, Darlene’s brother, Dale, was the only sibling between them, and Darlene was pretty sure that having Dale come stay would be just like adding another kid to the mix. She loved her brother, but even at thirty-six, he still played hard.

  “Yeah . . . ,” she finally said, “and I just started a new job. I can’t take time off yet.” She nestled into the crook of his arm. “We’ll figure out something.”

  They’d said that for a long time, and they never did figure anything out. She thought about their trip to the Riverwalk, probably four years ago. How great it would be to do that again.

  “I guess I’ll stop by Layla’s on the way home tomorrow and give her the dress.” Darlene closed her eyes again, yawning. “I don’t know what to think about that woman.”

  Brad was reading again, and Darlene could tell she better say her prayers before she fell asleep in the middle of them.

  “Who do you love?” she asked her husband before she began to thank God for His many blessings.

  “You, baby.”

  The next morning, she hardly budged when the alarm went off until Brad got up, came around the bed, and nudged her. “Work today, baby.”

  “Oh yeah.” She stepped out of the bed, and with her eyes barely open, she grabbed her robe. “I’ll go start breakfast.”

  “Dar . . .” Brad gently grabbed her arm. “Let the kids fend for themselves. There’s cereal, muffins, and other stuff they can eat. They don’t have to have something cooked.”

  She yawned. “I guess not.”

  Forty-five minutes later, she was dressed and downstairs. Chad asked if they’d ever have eggs for breakfast again, and Ansley said she hoped not.

  “What’s the point of just saving those eggs in the refrigerator?” Chad chuckled. “Unless we’re going to save them to egg someone’s house.”

  “Uh—no,” Darlene said as she moved toward the coffee. “That’s not happening.”

  “This is weird, you working, Mom. I mean, seriously.” Chad talked with his mouth full. “What if one of your poor children needs something during the day?”

  Darlene turned around and grinned at Chad’s exaggerated frown. “Well, I guess my poor little darlings will just have to figure it out.”

  “I’ll cook eggs one morning,” Grace said as she buttered a muffin.

  Ansley’s eyes widened, but she didn’t say anything.

  Chad pointed to Grace. “I knew you’d come through for us, Grace.”

  Darlene pulled her purse onto her shoulder, feeling a bit naked without any jewelry. It had taken effort, but she’d gotten her wedding ring off last night by rubbing lotion on her finger and pulling until she’d thought she might cry. “Lock everything up. And remember to clean up after yourselves, and clothes go—”

  “We know, Mom,” they all chimed in together.

  Darlene picked up her cup of coffee. “Then I’ll see you all tonight. Love you!”

  Darlene mostly listened the first hour of group session that morning. She sat in the circle, facing Rachel, the teacher Darlene’s age with multiple degrees who also led the group. The two younger teachers—Christie and Beverly—chimed in occasionally, as did Myrna. All seven students had come to school that day—Myrna’s granddaughter, Theresa, was the youngest at seven, and Mindy was the oldest at fifteen.

  Each child had special needs, and Darlene was impressed that the teachers were able to maintain order. And they did it with kindness and compassion. Darlene liked all of the teachers, but into the second hour, she grew particularly fond of Beverly, one of the recent college graduates. A heavyset woman, Beverly had one of those mouths that always seemed to be set in a smile, and three of the children had fought for the chairs on either side of her. Beverly spoke with a slight lisp and often held her hands in a prayer position as she spoke. Not that she was praying—or maybe she was—but her voice was soft, and her comments seemed mature beyond her age. She didn’t talk a lot, but when she did, she held the children’s attention.

  “Mindy, that’s a beautiful yellow dress you have on today.” Beverly nodded toward the fifteen-year-old to her left. “That color makes me feel cheerful and happy. What does it remind you of?”

  Darlene listened as the other children responded with words like bananas and sunshine. Ten-year-old Tina said yellow reminded her of a driving car.

  “They used to live in New York, and her father drove a taxi,” Myrna whispered to Darlene.

  It was all interesting, but Darlene wasn’t feeling like she had much to contribute. She’d noticed that Mindy had begun to twirl her hair between her fingers so hard that it hurt Darlene to watch. Instinctively, Darlene’s eyes darted around the room until she saw a small stuffed animal in a nearby crate filled with other toys. She waited until Rachel led everyone in a clapping game that was meant to improve hand and eye coordination. Then she slipped away.

  She returned with a furry orange cat, and she put it in Mindy’s lap. “I think he needs someone to pet him,” she whispered to Mindy, now wondering if she should have just stayed in her seat. But right away, Mindy pulled her hand from around the crumpled mass of her knotted hair and began to stroke the stuffed animal. Darlene remembered when Ansley used to twirl her hair, though not as hard as Mindy. It was something she’d done until she was about nine. Darlene had learned to distract her with something else.

  During the last hour of the session, Darlene interacted more with the children and joined in on the discussion. Cara didn’t have much to add, but Darlene had caught Cara staring at her a lot. She wondered what was going through the girl’s mind, and she was anxious for the one-on-one session with Cara after lunch.

  The teachers left for lunch in two shifts, and Darlene took the early shift with Rachel and Beverly.

  “That was a great idea to occupy Mindy’s mind with a stuffed animal. She didn’t twist her hair the rest of the session,” Rachel said as she took a bite of her sandwich in the break room.

  “My daughter used to do that,” Darlene said and felt a flush in her cheeks. She wasn’t used to talking about her family with people she didn’t know very well. But she missed having other women to talk to. As she ate, she listened to Rachel and Beverly chat and soon realized she didn’t have much in common with these women—except their jobs at the school. Rachel was divorced and seemed to have a huge chip on her shoulder about men. Beverly, while sweet as she could be, was at least fifteen years Darlene’s junior and newly dating a doctor in town. Christie, who was with the children, along with Myrna and Lindsey, was also young. And of course, Myrna had decades on all of them. But they were lovely women.

  Darlene wondered if she’d ever find another friend like Gina, and she was curious about how Gina was doing in her new single life. She made a mental note to give her a call.

  After her lunch break, Darlene went to the smaller classroom set up for Cara�
��s one-on-one sessions. Myrna was already inside, sitting with Cara.

  “All ready?” Myrna stood up. Cara was working a crossword puzzle. “I’m right in the next room if you need me. Just follow the schedule from yesterday. Consistency is essential.” Myrna looked at Cara. “Cara, remember Ms. Darlene?”

  Cara didn’t look up, but she nodded. Darlene took a deep breath as Myrna smiled, then left them alone together.

  Darlene sat down beside Cara and watched her working the crossword puzzle. It wasn’t an easy puzzle, and Darlene was surprised how many clues Cara had figured out. She waited, not wanting to interrupt and unsure exactly how to proceed. She glanced at the pile of notes she’d taken yesterday, then at the stack of books and papers between her and Cara. Just as she put a hand on the stack, Cara put her pencil down.

  “Are you ready to work on some math problems?” Darlene fumbled through the pile until she found the workbook. She opened it to the page Myrna had marked, beginning where they’d left off the day before. She eased it toward Cara, who didn’t look up. Darlene picked up the pencil and offered it to Cara. “Ready?”

  Cara didn’t move for a few moments, but eventually she took the pencil, did three of the six problems, and put the pencil back down. Darlene checked her answers. All correct. She asked her if she could finish the rest, but Cara shook her head.

  The rest of the afternoon was uneventful as they worked their way through the pile. It was interesting that Cara would do some of the work, then would lift her chin and look around the room, as if she was trying to find someone or something. It always took a few minutes to get Cara’s attention back on the work. During the communication segment of the class, Cara wouldn’t say a word. She mostly just stared at Darlene, and although it was somewhat unsettling, by the end of the hour Darlene had gotten used to it.