by Dara Girard
He looked bored. “Answer the question.”
“All right, the truth is I got a letter.”
“From who?”
“A friend of yours. He didn’t give me much information, he just said you needed me.”
His eyes widened. “And you believed that?”
Bertha took two nervous puffs, then said, “I wanted to.”
The truth of her words startled him. “So you came all this way because some guy said I needed you? Do you have the letter?”
She placed the cigarette between her lips and opened her bag. The cigarette bobbed up and down as she spoke. “Got it in here somewhere. Ah, here.” She handed him the letter.
Clay read through the letter, instantly recognizing the language. It spoke about his work as an investigator and how stressed he was. How helpful it would be for her to see him. He folded it back up, then said in a neutral tone, “And you came all this way to help me.”
“Some sons would be pleased.”
He absently tapped the letter against his knee. “Yeah, some.”
“I didn’t kill Doreen.”
Her name, so long unspoken, hit him like a blow—it twisted his insides, then miraculously subsided. He had wanted to blame her for not being a better mother, for not raising a daughter that thought more highly of herself, but the anger wasn’t there to fuel that blame. There was nothing to feed it anymore. “I know,” he said. He took the cigarette out of her mouth and stubbed it out. “No wonder you’re so skinny. Eat your hot dog.”
She took a bite, he nodded in approval, then they sat quietly and finished their meal.
***
Later that day, Clay stormed into the office and slammed the letter on Mack’s desk. “You’re either a meddling old woman or a raving lunatic.”
Mack gripped the arms of his chair, his eyes wide. He’d never seen Clay show such temper. “What did I do?”
“My mother appeared on Saturday. Do you know anything about that?”
Mack scratched his nose. “I could lie, but it seems you already know the answer to that.”
“Yes, I do know the answer.” Clay held up three fingers. “And I tried to come up with three different scenarios to explain your lack of judgment. One, that you’re suffering from an untreated form of syphilis and you’re going mad; two, that you naively thought I was a masochist in need of more pain; or three, you really wanted to discover how much physical torture you could endure.”
“How about number four? That I’m your friend.”
Clay stared. “You’re my what?”
“Friend. I wanted to help you out.”
“You’re my friend?” He said the words as though he’d never heard the term before.
“Hard to believe, I know.” Mack rested his glasses on the desk. “Look, buddy, I was worried about you. After Gabriella’s death you were burning out. I thought you needed a catalyst, and that talk we had about mothers got me thinking. Megan drafted the first letter—”
Clay’s eyes darkened. “You told your daughter about me?”
“As I’ve said, I consider you a friend. I know you don’t feel the same, that’s fine.” He sat back. “Aside from a friend, I thought I was in danger of losing a good partner and wanted to help. I shouldn’t have interfered, but when Megan mentioned contacting your mom, it sounded like a good idea. And if your mother hadn’t sounded so willing and eager, I would have forgotten the whole thing. She does love you.”
Mack considered him a friend? Clay sat at his desk, amazed. Not just a partner, but a friend.
“I’m sorry I stepped over the line.”
Clay stared at the black screen of his computer. “Fine. I won’t kill you this time.”
“Thanks for the reprieve.”
“But if you—”
“It won’t happen again.” He smoothed out an eyebrow. “How did things go?”
“As well as could be expected. You’ve never met my mother.”
“No. Only in e-mails.”
“I’ll have to introduce you. Should prove interesting.”
He swung back and forth in his chair. He’d gained a friendship just when he’d lost one. But he didn’t want to lose it. He picked up the phone and called Eric. When he answered, Clay said, “Hey, Eric, I’d like a word with you and Drake. Are you free to meet at Eugene’s Wednesday?”
“I’m free. I’m not sure I could get Drake to come.”
“I’m not in the position to ask any favors, but if you could try drinks are on me.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thanks.” He hung up, then stared at the phone. He wasn’t certain what he would say, but he felt he had to try something. He looked at Mack. “Are you free Wednesday?”
“If free drinks are included, sure.”
“They are.”
Mack grinned. “I’m already there.”
***
Wednesday night at Eugene’s was full of women who’d come for free drinks and the men who’d come to see them. But in the far corner of the bar, four men sat quietly with a bowl of pretzels and their drinks: Mack, Clay, Eric, and Carter. Drake had yet to show.
Finally Eric set down his drink and looked at Clay. He looked pale, but grim. “He said he’d come.”
“Could be stuck in traffic,” Carter said.
Clay glanced at the door. “Hmm.”
Mack grinned, trying to ease the tense atmosphere. “You’ve certainly got women trouble. Jackie and your mother.”
Clay nodded. “Thanks to you lot.”
“What’s your mother like?” Eric asked.
“I know I’m supposed to be kind.”
“Is she like Angela?” he asked, referring to Cassie’s acid-tongued mother.
“I’d say worse.”
“I don’t think worse is possible.”
Clay took a long swallow, then set his glass down. “It is.”
“She’s mellowed out, though,” Eric said, trying to be fair.
“Let me say this. My mum could walk into a bar and leave with a man within ten minutes.”
The men looked at him.
“Ten minutes?” Carter asked.
“You could set your watch. She’d love a place like this.”
“Do you have a picture of her?”
“No, but if you check the dictionary under the word—”
“Hey, hey, hey,” Carter said “You might not like her, but she’s still your mother. Have some respect.” He ordered another beer.
Eric glanced at his watch; Clay glanced at the door.
“Have you ever made love to an older woman?” Mack asked.
Carter shook his head.
“Define ‘older,’” Clay said.
“At least ten years.”
He shook his head.
Eric absently rubbed his chest. “I have.” He smiled in memory. “She was great.”
Mack nodded. “Me, too. Twenty years older and she knew everything.”
“I’m impressed,” Eric said.
Clay lifted his drink. “So am I. By the way, I’ve changed my mind.”
“About what?” Mack asked.
“You’re not meeting my mother.”
Mack laughed; it sounded forced.
“So why Jackie?” Carter asked.
When Clay didn’t readily reply, Mack spoke up. “He’s liked her since—”
Clay shot him a glance. “Mind you don’t choke on your beer.”
“I’m not drinking beer.”
He lifted his glass. “You will be.”
Mack grabbed some pretzels.
Clay tapped the side of his glass. “I just like her, that’s all.” He looked at Eric. “I’m good to her.”
Eric rubbed his chest, the corner of his mouth kicking up in a grin. “I know.”
Carter straightened. “Hey, I see Drake.”
Mack glanced at his watch. “About time.”
Clay sat back and took a deep breath as though preparing for battle.,
Drake approached the table, his eyes briefly meeting Clay’s before he signaled a waitress. He began to sit when his eyes focused on Eric. “Are you okay?”
Eric nodded. “I just need some air.” He stood, then grabbed his chest and collapsed.
Chapter Twenty-Three
The hospital waiting room held a quiet that made minutes feel like hours. Jackie shifted in her seat, wishing there was something she could do. Drake was withdrawn, Clay unreadable, Mack checked out an attractive female doctor, Carter tapped his foot, and Adriana looked near collapse. Cassie had stayed home with the kids. Though Drake had tried to reassure Adriana with what little he knew from what Eric had shared, she still looked anxious. They all were.
Desperate to offer comfort, but having no words to say, Jackie sat next to her and took her hand.
Adriana snatched it away. “Don’t touch me,” she said with such anger Jackie winced.
“Why not?”
“You lied to me. You knew something was wrong and pretended that everything was fine.” her eyes filled with tears. “Even when I asked you, you lied.”
“He wanted me to keep it a secret.”
“And that makes it all right?” She turned away. “I thought we were friends. I was wrong.”
“He’s my brother and—”
“And your loyalty may have cost him his life.”
Drake spoke up. “Don’t blame her.”
Adriana moved her gaze to him. “Of course not. The tribe leader will shoulder the blame. She won’t face anything as long as you’re here.”
“Be fair,” Clay said.
Adriana rolled her eyes. “Yes, come to her defense. I mustn’t blame Jackie. Poor little Jackie was only protecting her big brother. She shouldn’t be accountable for her actions. It doesn’t matter that she was supposed to be my friend. That’s not important.” She stood, wrapping arms around herself as though cold. “But you wouldn’t understand. She’s good with men. With men she can use that smile, those eyes, that cute, petite little figure and everything is forgiven.” She turned to Jackie. “But I can’t forgive you. I thought we were friends. I thought we had a bond like Cassie and I do. A bond where we make fun of each other, give advice, get annoyed, but we never lie to each other. Never about the important things.” She let her hands fall and stared at Jackie in a new way. “Perhaps that’s why you have no female friends. Maybe you don’t know how to be a friend.” She looked at Drake. “And you don’t know how to let anyone into the clan. You made those Sunday dinners a sham.” She threw up her hands. “None of it was real. We’re not a family. It’s the Hensons and the rest of us. Three against two.”
“Three against three,” Clay said.
“Three?” She sniffed. “I don’t think so, Mr. Neutral. You don’t count because you don’t want to. Not really. You haven’t invested in us. None of us know how long you will stay around. It’d be nice, but we all know Clay will do what he wants. A family? That’s funny. We’re—”
“Enough.” Clay’s tone was quiet but effective. “Nobody in this room is perfect. However, we don’t get together to pretend we are. We do so because we’re family and, strangely enough, enjoy each other’s company.” He glanced at Drake. “Nobody’s perfect. Yeah, I might leave. Drake’s protective of Eric and Jackie, Cassie will try to make everything all right, Eric will keep things to himself, and Jackie will get her way most times. But you’re part of this family, too. You’re the one no one wants to worry.”
He sat beside Adriana. “Tonight we need you to be strong. If you want us to share things with you, we need to know you’ll be able to handle it. Yes, we made a mistake by not saying anything. And if anything seriously happens in that operating room, I won’t forgive myself. But for all the mistakes we’ve made, it doesn’t measure up to the one Eric made by not going to the doctor when he should have.” His eyes pierced hers. “By not telling you.”
***
When they were finally allowed to see Eric, Adriana went alone. He looked worn, but he was alive and that was all that mattered. His chest was bandaged from where they had inserted and removed a tube that drained water from his lungs. His glasses were gone and that made him look much more vulnerable somehow.
“Hi,” she said.
“Hi.”
“I’m mad at you.”
He smiled weakly. “Still? Haven’t I been punished enough?”
She leaned against the bed rail and shook her head. “I’m serious, Eric.”
His smile faded. “I know.”
“I just told everyone off in the waiting room.”
“I thought I married a woman with better manners.”
“You didn’t.” She gently touched his forehead. His skin felt cool from the air-conditioning. “What am I going to do with you?”
“You can get me a new pair of lungs. If you can’t manage that, just get me out of here.”
She gripped the railing, unashamed of her tears. “I’d give you my heart if it made you well.” Her voice fell. “You scared me.”
“Love, I’m sorry. I didn’t want you to worry about me.”
“I’m worried now.”
He reached for her hand. “I’m sorry.”
“Are you sorry that you’re sick or sorry you lied?”
He shook his head, his voice firm. “I didn’t lie.”
“Silence can be a lie. Do you know why I married you?”
“I suspect you’re going to tell me.”
“I married you because I wanted you in my life. I wanted you in my daughter’s life.”
His eyes pleaded. “I don’t want Nina to see me.”
“Too bad.”
His tone hardened. “I don’t want her to see me like this.”
“So far you’ve done exactly what you’ve wanted and it hasn’t done this family any good. As a husband and father it can’t only be about what you want, but about what your family needs. And that means your wife needs to know when you’re sick, as does your daughter, because we love you.” She stopped and lifted a mischievous brow. “By the way, have you considered how much this emergency room visit will cost us?”
He looked startled, then fiercely swore. “I should have thought about that.”
“Think about it the next time you decide to forgo a visit to the doctor. You don’t need to pretend or protect me from the truth. I might be flighty sometimes, but I’m far from weak.”
“I’d never call you weak.” He smiled. “You look beautiful.”
“You can’t see anything, can you?”
“Hardly.”
“Where are your glasses?”
He nodded to the side table. “So considerate, how they put things out of reach.”
“They’re busy.” She put the glasses on his face. “There, that’s better.”
“Yes.” He searched her face. “So you’d give me your heart, huh?”
“Yes.”
“Well, you already have mine.”
***
Adriana walked past the waiting room, then stopped, turned around and entered. She stared at the small group. She sat down and crossed her legs. “I apologize for my display earlier,” she said primly. “However, to ensure that this never happens again, I want to offer you a warning.” She turned to Jackie. “To the one woman in this group, I promise if you lie to me again, your access to Eric will become greatly reduced and you won’t go out with Cassie or me again.” She looked at Mack and Clay. “To the two single men, Eric will no longer visit Eugene’s bar, and as the owner of a lingerie store where my clientele happen to be attractive eligible women, I will make sure when they hear your names they will shriek in terror.”
“You don’t even know me,” Mack protested.
“I know your name and your face. That’s enough.” She turned her attention to Drake and Carter. “To the two married men in the room, since I know your wives, I will conspire to make your lives miserable.” She stood and smoothed out her skirt. “That’s about it. Eric is waiting to see you now.” She left th
e room. They heard her high heels click down the hallway.
Clay looked at Carter. “Can she really do that? Make your life miserable, I mean? Are wives that powerful?”
Carter nodded. “Yes.”
“Sort of puts me off the idea of getting one.”
Mack raised a brow. “Never knew you had that idea. Why do you have that look on your face?”
Clay shook his head. “I just had a thought, but now it’s gone. I hate that.”
“Wives aren’t so bad,” Carter said. “It’s nice to come home to someone who loves you.”
“Get a dog,” Clay said.
“Hey, in some cases it’s the same thing,” Mack said. The men laughed; Jackie shook her head. “Come on, boys.”
They all entered the room. Drake was coldly polite to Clay in an effort not to do anything to upset his brother. They were all happy to see Eric up and alert.
Clay lifted the sheet. “Nice legs.”
Eric frowned. “The attached foot can kick your ass.”
“Not right now.”
The men ribbed each other—trying not to make Eric laugh too much—Jackie watched in the distance, unable to join in. She couldn’t forget that they were in a hospital as she glanced at the white tile floor, faded peach curtains, and Eric lying in a steel bed with tubes attached to him.
“Where’s the brat?” Eric asked.
Jackie stepped forward. “I’m here.”
“Aren’t you going to say anything?”
She didn’t know what to say. That she loved him? That she wished he were well? That the phone call saying he was in the hospital had terrified her? That she wished she hadn’t kept his secret? He had teased her and indulged her. Told her tales of faraway places—castles, kings, and spiders who caused mischief as they sat alone in whatever shelter Drake could find, trying to keep the hunger at bay with wordplay.
She looked at Drake, who’d given up so much for them. Her anger becoming an understanding that a part of her would always appreciate and feel guilty for his sacrifice. But she now saw more than her two big brothers. She saw men, husbands, and fathers. Their circle had expanded and their roles had changed. Adriana was right—they weren’t the three Hensons against the world anymore. They didn’t need to be. The thought lifted her heart.