Cross Your Mind (An Emerson Novel Book 3)

by K L Finalley

  The penthouse was no longer a haven from her rapidly rising career at the Tampa Sun Tribune newspaper; nor was it the rest stop between the venues that lay at her feet. It had become a home for a family. While it had the square footage to accommodate, Mallory, Zoe, Mallory's eight-year old daughter, and Jacqueline, her prized penthouse no longer provided the joy it once had. It hadn’t changed; she had.

  Standing in the kitchen, she had put away the clean fry pans. She'd wiped the countertops, but there were no plates or glasses to put away. They had been discarded. It was a change - one she hadn't quite adjusted to yet. In the last few weeks, Mallory and Jacqueline had begun the process to consolidate households. Mallory had a house she rented in Clearwater with a lifetime's worth of possessions and Jacqueline had the penthouse that was full of her prized collection. In preparation for selling the penthouse and buying a home together, they had spent time sorting, combining, and discarding years' worth of towels, plates, bowls, spice racks, and blankets. To her, the process had felt never-ending. The house in Clearwater was full of things that needed to be boxed, so that they could be brought to the penthouse for reviewing and sorting. The penthouse was filled with boxes of things to review and sort. All of it was too much and, this morning, Jacqueline was ready to just walk away from all of it.

  "Honey, are you almost ready to go?" she asked from the kitchen.

  Peering out of the master bedroom, Mallory appeared in her green and yellow striped bikini top and khaki shorts that covered her bottoms, "Almost. I just need to finish packing my bag."

  "Didn't I say last night that I'm not sure the water'll be warm enough yet for you guys to get in? It's not even March."

  Pulling a Tampa Bay Rays t-shirt over her head, "I know, but I wanna be prepared just in case," Mallory answered.

  From around the corner, Zoe appeared. In her orange ombre one piece bathing suit with no shorts or t-shirt on, she continued the barrage, "Jax, I thought you said we could ride in the boat." Zoe Russell was eight years old. With long, blonde ringlets and a twinkle in her eye, she was both a ball of curiosity with boundless questions that exhausted Jacqueline and a sweetness that melted her.

  Rubbing her face, Jacqueline fought the two-pronged battle. "If the boat's there and if there's gas in it, we'll take it out on the lake."

  "Yeah!" Zoe clapped.

  "Zoe, go put some clothes on over that swimsuit and get something to change into," Mallory barked as she exited the master bedroom with her duffel bag. "Baby, I put some clothes in there for you, too."

  "Uh, thanks, honey," Jacqueline plopped down on the couch and switched on the television.

  "When are we leaving?" Mallory asked.

  "Huh?"

  "Jax, before you get too comfortable, when are we leaving?" Mallory restated.

  "I'm ready whenever you are."

  "I'm gonna go check Zoe's bag, then we're going to head out. Go, finish getting ready."

  With silent frustration, Jacqueline turned off the television, walked around the various boxes that littered the floor, and headed to her bedroom. As she opened the door, the sunlight blinded her. While it was not yet overhead, it aimed into the room. Jacqueline glanced around at how the bedroom had been appropriated. Mallory had claimed the right side of the room, the side closest to the bathroom, the window, and the walk-in closet. What remained was Jacqueline's; she had the left side of the room, which contained the door. She chuckled and thought of how things had changed, then she collected her keys and shoes. "Okay, you two. Let's head out."

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  As they rambled off Interstate 75 South, the cabin of the Laredo lulled to a volume that made conversation easier.

  "Jax, did we bring food?"

  "Are you hungry, Zoe? We just ate a little while ago.” Looking at the watch, she said, “We've only been gone about a half hour."

  "I know, but what if we get hungry?"

  With a mother's impatience, Mallory responded, "Then, we'll eat, Zoe."

  "Okay," Zoe said and folded her arms. She'd grown almost an inch since her birthday in November. They had taken her and her best friend, Abbie, to Disney to celebrate. Zoe had been overjoyed to stay onsite at one of the hotels, to visit all the parks, and to play with her friend. Jacqueline and Mallory had purchased annual passes and promised to take the girls back for Spring Break, but, that promise was made back in November. So much had changed since then; it felt like a lifetime ago. "Jax, are we close?"

  Jacqueline laughed. "Do you remember when we left and I said it'd take about two hours to get there? And, I made you set the timer on your tablet."

  "Yes," Zoe was vexed and they were only thirty minutes from the condo.

  "Zoe, how was school yesterday?" Jacqueline tried to redirect her.

  "Fine," Zoe was resolute in her frustration. Before Jacqueline could ask another question, she asked, "When we move, will I have to go to a different school?"

  Mallory unbundled her red hair that had been held up on the top of her head with a pencil. She placed a flowery, magnetic bookmark in her book and answered her daughter. "Zoe, we have been over this. Yes, you'll have to change schools. Jax and I have asked you if you wanted to finish the year where you are and move to the new school next year or if you just want to move to the new school when we move to the new house."

  "Hmm," Zoe crossed her long legs and tapped her finger against her lip as though the answer was of national importance. Then, she remarked as she had every time the question was posed, "I think I want to be the new girl at the new school, not when there's a buncha new kids at the start of the year."

  Mallory was exasperated. "Fine. You picked. I don't want to talk about it, again," she made a chopping move in the air and resumed reading her book.

  "Why can't I help pick out the house?"

  The book was closed as hard as she could close a paperback book. Mallory took a deep breath. "Zoe, there's a bunch of reasons you aren't getting to help pick out a new house. And, we've been over all of them a million times."

  "But, Moooommmmm."

  "Come on, Zoe," Jacqueline tried to help. "You know the answer to this. What if you like a house and we can't get it, then you'll be mad. We don't want to parade you around to houses and get your hopes up and then not get the house and you be upset. It'll be hard enough on us, but it'd be worse for you to be disappointed, too."

  "But, I'm really good at picking out houses," she insisted.

  "Oh, you are? Since when?" Jacqueline played along.

  "I've been watching that channel with home stuff on it," Zoe explained as Mallory chuckled. "Don't laugh, Mom. I watch them do repairs and sell the houses. And..and I watch people go buy houses in other countries."

  "You know, you're just eight, right?" Jacqueline teased.

  "I really wanna go," Zoe began to whine and bounce up and down in the seat.

  Motherly sternness reappeared, Mallory howled, "Zoe Rhiannon!"

  Appealing to the cooler head, Zoe pleaded her case, "But, Jax, you and Mom don't know what I want in a house."

  "Okay, we're sitting here. Tell us."

  "Stairs."

  "Stairs?" Jacqueline repeated.

  "When I was little, Mom always read me this story about a family of mice who lived in this big 'ole house. The house had stairs. Mom, do you remember it?"

  "Yeah, I do," Mallory put her head back against the seat. Her eyes were closed. "It was this little story of a family of mice preparing for winter. I can't believe you remember that."

  "You used to tell me we'd get a house with stairs, but we never did."

  Jacqueline repeated, "Stairs. Okay. A house with stairs. We can do that."

  Frenzied, Zoe blurted, "Do you mean it?"

  "Sure, that'd be nice. Honey, do you have any problems with that?"

  Mallory reached out and held Jacqueline's hand. "No, that would be wonderful."

  "We better make a list. Zoe, make our list on your tablet. Do you remember how to do that?"

  "Yep. I got
an app for that."

  "Good, little one. Okay, honey, you're next. What do you want?" Jacqueline said smiling at her.

  "My own office."

  "Zoe, did you get that? Office for Mom."

  "Okay. What do you want, Jax?"

  "Lemme think." Jacqueline grimaced her face and looked out the window. Then, she announced, " I need a garage."

  "Okay. I got it. Is it my turn again?"

  "Yes, it's your turn."

  "I want people to come over."

  "What?" Jacqueline asked. "What are you talking about? Abbie comes over."

  "Not Abbie. People."

  "What people?" Mallory asked as she rubbed her face.

  "People. Friends. People come over to Ms. Paige and Mr. Brett's house and we play outside or in Kelsey's room. I want people to come over to our house. Mom said the other house was too small. And, the condo can't hold a lot of people and there's nowhere to play. I want people to come over." Zoe spoke plainly. She had stated a simple fact. She wanted to entertain at home. She wanted friends and family to be welcome.

  Jacqueline sat quietly. Her brown eyes filled with tears that she wouldn't dare let fall. She hadn't ever let people come over, but, in turn, she hadn't ever had anyone ask her to have people over either. She looked over at Mallory who smiled an uncertain smile. "Well, did you write that down?"

  "Yes. How do you spell Jacuzzi?" Zoe asked.

  Jacqueline and Mallory laughed.

  Zoe was quiet for a while. Jacqueline had hoped that she had dozed off. Mallory was balled up in her seat with her book as they headed east. As they crossed over Lake Manatee, Zoe refreshed, "Jax, are we gonna get our own boat?"

  "That's the plan," Jacqueline responded.

  "When?"

  "Do you want an exact date?"

  Giggling, Zoe shook her head. "Are we gonna get a big boat or a small boat?"

  "Medium size boat, but after we find a house. Is that okay?"

  "Do you think it'll take a long time to find a house?"

  "Well, that Jacuzzi's gonna make is hard," Jacqueline teased.

  Mallory straightened up. "Zoe, we aren't getting a Jacuzzi. And, don't say, But Mom." Zoe folded her arms. Mallory turned to Jacqueline. "Did you get any emails or phone calls this morning? "

  "I really didn't get a chance to check, but I'm sure things'll be over this week." Jacqueline thought for a second, then she said, "Well, things'll probably just really begin."

  "What do you want to do first?"

  "We're in this one together. What do you want to do first?"

  Mallory bit her lip. With a crinkled brow, she said, "I want to find a place to live. Our place."

  "Then, that's the plan. We have an appointment with Vicki next week to start looking, right?"

  "Right. Are you nervous?"

  Jacqueline never thought there was anything to be nervous about until people asked if she was nervous. "No, are you?"

  "A little."

  "About getting a house together?"

  "No, not about the house. About finding one. I don't know. I know it's silly. What if we don't like anything?"

  "We could build. Vicki's taking us to a new construction site, too, but I'm sure we'll find something. I don't know about the Jacuzzi, but we'll find something." Mallory didn't laugh at Jacqueline's attempt at a joke. "What's wrong?"

  "Are you sure you should spend all of this money on us, and not you?"

  "There's no me without you," Jacqueline winked her eye at Mallory. In the backseat, Zoe had drifted off to sleep.

  "We have so much to do."

  "Not really," Jacqueline blew her off.

  "Oh. Okay. We only have to settle on the sale of one house. Buy a new house. Move out of one house. Sell another house. Move into another house. Redecorate. Sell our stuff."

  Waving her finger, Jacqueline reminded her, "Don't forget that you promised that I could make upgrades if we got an existing house."

  "You wouldn't let me forget." Mallory stared out the window. "It's so nice out here. How often did you come here as a kid?"

  "All the time. We used to come for all kinds of occasions. Holidays. Birthdays. Hell, they still come."

  "Why don't we come?" Mallory asked as she gazed out her window at the lakefront lots, children playing, and people boating.

  "I did from time to time, but it really wasn't that great growing up. I never really fit in. I mean, they're my family, but we're not a lot alike. I feel alone even when I'm with them. You know?"

  "No, not really. Whadaya mean?"

  "We're family, right? Like, that's my Mom and that's my Mom's sister and her husband. And, those are my cousins and my stepdad and my sisters. I mean, I was with them day to day. I saw my Dad a lot, but not every day like them, but I never felt like I was a part of them. I don't know. Even though, I only saw my Dad occasionally. When I was with him, that's when I felt like I fit in. Does that make sense?"

  "I guess. How long was it just you and your mother before she met your stepdad?"

  "Just a couple of years, but I was young."

  Mallory paused. "So, why'd you leave your piano out here?"

  "Oh, my Mom has an organ back home. She wouldn't let me have the piano there, so I had to leave it at the lakehouse."

  "Why didn't you ever take it to the penthouse?"

  "I don't know. I was thinking about that the other day. I always had the violin in my room, so it was natural to pack it up and take it with me wherever I went, but I never went back for that piano. Then, as we have been gathering things for the new place, I thought about it and here we are. The funny thing is, I'm still not sure I'm gonna take it to the new house. We're driving all the way out here to see if I want it."

  "It was a gift from your grandmother? Your father's mother, right?"

  "Yes."

  "And, you're her only grandchild?"

  "As far as we know," Jacqueline joked.

  With a faraway sound in her voice, Mallory said, "She took care of you while your parents were touring." For a second, she stopped talking and just looked outside the window at the greenery they passed. Over springs of water and reeds of grass, the Jeep trekked and Mallory stared. Then, she replied as if a question was asked, "We should take it home with us. It doesn't belong with them."

  Jacqueline smiled. She wanted to say That's my girl, but instead, she nodded and pointed to a sleeping Zoe. "If we plan to have a piano, we have to add it to Zoe's list."

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  As they exited State Road 70, onto a side road, Jacqueline reached down and engaged the four-wheel drive. At first, Mallory was uncertain why she had done it, then she felt the bobble of the sand road. Jacqueline checked on Zoe who slept while being tossed left and right. She thought of waking her but decided if she could sleep through it, then there would be no point to disrupting her. Noticing Mallory reach for the roll bar, Jacqueline said, "It won't be long."

  "I'm okay. I'm not as delicate as you think. Don't forget. I'm from Plant City," Mallory said.

  "How could I forget?" Jacqueline teased.

  In a small, sleepy voice, they heard, "Is that the lake?"

  Pointing through the trees, Jacqueline held her brown arm out the window and pointed to a clear lake to the right, "That's Placcid Lake over there. Out your mom's window is Mirror Lake."

  "You didn't tell me there was two lakes, Jax."

  "Well, we almost never went in Mirror Lake. Our lakehouse is on Placcid."

  "What's there?"

  "At the lake?"

  "No, at the lakehouse? When you were little what'd you do at the lakehouse?"

  Withdrawing a bit, Jacqueline spoke softly, "Well, I stayed to myself. But, my sisters and my cousins did a lotta stuff. There's a boat and jet skis. And a ping-pong table. There's a ton of board games and cards. There's bikes and a volleyball net. There's all kinds of stuff."

  Zoe was excited. "It's sounds great. Is it ours, too?"

  "What'd you mean?"

  "Can we come when we want?
"

  "I guess we could if we wanted to. Why don't we wait and see if you have fun?"

  "Oh, I know I will," Zoe was sitting up behind Mallory. Her face was plastered to the side of the plastic Jeep window.

  Jacqueline was rounding the curve that allowed the lakehouse to come into view. From that vantage point, an onlooker could see the house in the distance before she arrived. Her finger was in the air with the intention to point out the house. It was dangling in front of Mallory's face, but no words were spoken. It hung there. Her mouth was open.

  Seeing the outstretched brown index finger in her peripheral vision, Mallory wanted to shoo it away. Then, she looked in the direction it pointed as if she was meant to see something, but she wasn't certain what she was to see. As the moment grew more and more awkward, Mallory tried to determine what could be wrong without alarming Zoe. She leaned toward Jacqueline and whispered, "Did you make a wrong turn?" Jacqueline shook her head, indicating that she had not. "Well, what's wrong?"

  "There's cars."

  "Oh, do they rent it out in the offseason for extra money?" Jacqueline shook her head. "Do you think they sold it and didn't tell you? Maybe, you should call your mother."

  "It's their cars." Jacqueline said in disbelief. Her stomach hurt. She slowed their pace. She'd stopped listening to Mallory who was still speaking. She thought about turning around. She looked into the passenger's mirror and back at the driver's mirror. She was on the trail to the lakehouse. Usually, people would drive all the way to the end of the trail into the driveway turnaround and head back to the street. In truth, it wasn't a real road. It was a path that her stepfather had driven on for so many years that it had been created.

  She came to a complete stop. There was no one in her rearview mirror and no one coming from the lakehouse down the path. Mallory was still speaking, but Jacqueline was planning her seven, possibly eight-point turn. Her eyes were squinted. She turned her torso and placed her right hand on the back of the passenger's seat to begin the return to the condo when her near black eyes met Zoe's clear, blue ones.