Through the Storm (Bellingwood Book 8)

by Diane Greenwood Muir

"Do you want to know where we went?" Andrew asked, leaning forward to get Polly's attention.

  "It's killing me not to ask, but I think your mom should be the first to hear about your adventure."

  "I wasn't scared or anything. I knew right away who he was, but he wouldn't let me put Obiwan inside the house. He told me we didn't have time."

  Henry took Polly's hand again. "I was there within a few minutes after you left. Obiwan was sitting at the back door waiting for me."

  "I told him to stay. Then I told ..." Andrew didn't know what to say. "Dad, I guess, that it was wrong to not let me put him inside. He said Obiwan was just a dog." The boy sat back in his seat and looked out the window, then put his hand on Obiwan's back. "He's one of my friends. That made me mad."

  "Everything worked out," Polly said. "Obiwan is fine and you're back where you belong."

  "Polly says I don't have to go to school tomorrow because of what happened to you and because my mom went to the hospital. Do you think you can get out of school too?" Rebecca asked.

  "Can I?" Andrew asked. "Do you think Mom will let me stay home for one day? That would be so cool."

  "Let's wait and see," Polly responded. "And Rebecca, if Sylvie says Andrew is going to school, you should go too. Friends stick together. We'll see your mom at the hospital after school."

  "I'm going to beg her, Rebecca."

  Henry grinned at Polly, then said, "You two know the homework stays the same."

  "And we have band tomorrow," Rebecca said. "That's always fun."

  "I'm still going to beg her. We never get to take a day off," Andrew announced.

  Henry pulled into the driveway. Polly hadn't seen the place since his uncle's death. The yard was cleared of junk and grass was starting to grow again. New siding completely changed the look of the house.

  "Wow," she said.

  "He's doing a nice job. Dad and Aunt Betty are thrilled. They've cleared all of Grandma's little stuff out, but haven't dealt with all of the furniture."

  The front door opened and Sylvie came barreling out, off the porch, and to the truck. Andrew hadn't gotten his seatbelt off when she threw open the door and grabbed him, pulling him out of the truck.

  "Mom! I'm caught," he said.

  "Too bad," she said, sobbing into his shoulder. "I'll buy you a new jacket."

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Polly wandered through the rooms of her empty apartment, making sure windows were closed and finally went into the bedroom. Henry was already in bed, reading.

  "I should be ecstatic we're finally alone," she said.

  "But everything feels upside down, doesn't it?" he responded.

  "Yeah. Upside down. At least Andrew is home and safe."

  Henry drew back the comforter on her side of the bed and she slipped in beside him.

  He kissed the top of her head after she snuggled under his arm and laid her head on his chest. "It's been a long day. I'm glad this one is over," he said.

  "Me too. That was a lot of chaos for one twelve hour period. I'm sorry I fell apart on you."

  "It was nice to know you need me." He put the book on the bedside table and wrapped his arms around her. "You manage your life pretty well."

  "It's funny. The only reason I do is that I know you've got my back. All the time." Her muscles relaxed as he rubbed her back. "Sylvie is terrified of coming in to work tomorrow."

  "You know she's going to have to face this guy sooner or later. If it were you, what would you want to do?"

  Polly looked up and grinned, "Make you do it."

  "That's funny. Not even I believe that. You confront things and people all the time, just so it doesn't haunt your dreams."

  "I suppose. He made me nervous today. He's a scary man."

  "At least none of you will be alone here tomorrow if he shows up again."

  "Yeah." Polly shut her eyes. She was much more comfortable with bad things happening to her rather than Sylvie. This was just not the time for that poor woman to have to deal with one more problem. Sylvie had practically carried Andrew inside and refused to let him out of her sight. Polly wasn't sure that the poor boy would be allowed to sleep tonight without his mother in the room.

  Anthony Donovan had picked his son up at Sycamore House and driven straight to Boone. He'd not threatened or harmed Andrew in any way, just asked questions about his life and school, his friends and his brother and mother. He asked where they were staying; knowing they weren't in the apartment. But Andrew had kept his wits and knew that this man scared his mother. If she didn't want him to know where they were living, he wasn't about to tell him.

  Andrew had been quite proud of himself ... for playing dumb. Since Anthony had never really known his son, Andrew figured he could get away with acting like a much younger child. He told the man that he didn't know how to get where they were going and said they were staying with a friend, never identifying Eliseo.

  Polly couldn't have been more proud of the boy. Sylvie just clung to him, alternating between sobbing and sniffling.

  When Sheriff Merritt arrived, he asked specific questions about Anthony and the little trip they'd taken. Andrew pointed out that he knew who Anthony was when he got in the car and that he'd done so, with assurances he'd be returned to Sycamore House. It hadn't felt like a kidnapping, but Aaron nodded at Sylvie. If need be, they'd make those charges stick.

  Lydia had bustled around the house, raiding Eliseo's kitchen. While Andrew told his story and Sylvie held onto her son, she prepared a feast, serving mashed potatoes and gravy, roasted vegetables and oven-baked chicken. Polly didn't know how the woman pulled off the things she did, feeding nine people with as much ease as Polly served two or three.

  Jason and Eliseo left in the middle of the Sheriff's interview to bring the animals in and close up the barn, returning in time for dinner. Jason was sullen throughout the evening and Polly knew Sylvie was at a loss as to how to deal with the kid.

  Now that Polly had met his father, she realized how much Jason looked like him. His hair was dark and thick. One of these days poor Sylvie was going to have to discuss the unibrow that was going to always be a problem. He had the same square jaw and thin lips; his hands were going to be big and strong. While she'd thought that his shoulders were filling out because of the hard work he was doing with Eliseo, she realized that some of that girth was genetic. Jason's torso was thick and tall; his height not just from his legs. He could be a football player or maybe a wrestler. Once he gained some self-confidence, girls would always be attracted to his dark features.

  Andrew had the same lips and his eyes were similar to his father's, but the rest of his features came from Sylvie. There might be a chance that his body's build would be similar to Anthony's, but he had long, slender fingers like his mother and his legs were long and lean. He would soon catch up to his brother's height and his sandy brown hair showed no sign of darkening.

  After dinner, Polly insisted on cleaning the kitchen. Lydia tried to help, but Polly pushed the older woman back into the living room, telling her that old ladies needed to rest after a long day's work. Lydia had swatted Polly's behind, but grinned and tossed the towel at her.

  Eliseo came out to help and Polly tried to send him away too, but he'd insisted.

  "How is it, having all of this drama in your home?" Polly asked.

  "I feel so badly for Sylvie," he responded. "She works hard to make a good life for herself and her boys and doesn't deserve any of this."

  "I still wish we knew why Anthony was in town."

  "Maybe it's as simple as seeing his boys. You never know."

  Polly dropped a handful of silverware in the dish strainer and looked up at him. "Do you really believe that?"

  Eliseo's eyes grew dark and menacing. "I hope so, because if he tries to hurt Sylvie or those boys, his life won't be worth much."

  "You really like her, don't you?" Polly asked, trying to lighten the mood.

  "She's a wonderful woman. No man deserves someone like that if he can't f
ind a way to tell her every single day how terrific she is."

  "There aren't a lot of men out there who know how to do that."

  "No ma'am, there aren't. But that's what she deserves. I'm proud of her. She took a dream and made it come true." He pushed the silverware drawer shut with extra force and chuckled. "Sorry. I will stop anyone from taking that away from her."

  "Have you told her how much you care for her, Eliseo?" Polly asked quietly, turning to look him in the eyes.

  Shock passed across his face quickly and then he gave her a slight smile, his eyes twinkling. "You don't miss much, do you?"

  "Does she know?"

  "No she doesn't, and you aren't going to say anything."

  "I won't, but you should."

  "She's not ready, especially not right now. Her oldest boy is giving her fits, her youngest nearly scared her to insanity and she has an ex-husband who has a hold over her psyche like nothing I've ever seen. Sylvie doesn't frighten easily and that man takes away all of her confidence."

  "I met him today, Eliseo and he scared me witless. There is something about him that is terrifying. Rachel felt it too. I don't think it's just because we know what he did to her, it's his presence."

  "A truly strong man doesn't frighten or intimidate people to get his way. Look at the Sheriff. He carries a gun, but you don't see him lose control or get mean. People in this county think the world of him and that's how he gets things done around here."

  "That kind of describes you."

  "I just take care of the animals. But, you're right. Of course, they will respond to intimidation and fear, but it won't ever be a healthy response and before you know it, you have animals that won't do anything that's asked of them."

  "That's how you're dealing with Jason."

  Eliseo shook his head. "That boy is going to take some work. If all of this hadn't happened with Andrew today, I would certainly have asked permission to paddle his behind."

  Polly chuckled. "Oh, that would have been so humiliating for him. And it probably would have worked."

  "Well, I haven't completely taken it off the table."

  "Has he told you or Sylvie yet what caused the fight?"

  "He won't talk about it. Says it's better that we don't know. But again, there wasn't enough time to really get into it with him, what with Andrew being taken. Once Sylvie heard that, she forgot everything else."

  "Has he said anything about Anthony?"

  "No. Last night he was pretty shook up. I asked him tonight if that was why he'd gotten into a fight at school and he said it wasn't. I don't know whether to believe him or not, but it can't have helped."

  "As long as I've known him," Polly said, "he's worried about protecting his mother. Now that he's face to face with the reality of his father in town, it's probably scaring him."

  "I want to tell him that we will protect him and his mother, but that's not what he wants to hear. He wants to feel confident that he can do that and that there is nothing Anthony can do to harm her."

  "I can't imagine feeling so helpless." She thought about it and then said, "Well, yes I can, but I lived through it and he will too. He just doesn't know that yet."

  "I guess it's hard to be a kid and not have the capacity to look back over years of living and know that things will work out. For him, right now is the worst thing he's ever faced and he has no idea that the sun will rise tomorrow and life will continue to move on until trouble passes."

  Polly wiped the last counter down and tossed the wet dishcloth to Eliseo. "Don't wait too long to tell Sylvie how you feel. She needs to know that a good man can love her, not just that horrible monster who is frightening her family."

  "That's easier said than done," Eliseo responded.

  "Say it and do it," Polly said. "You're worth it and so is she."

  She had walked out of the kitchen before he could protest anymore and cornered Aaron as he was trying to leave. "Do you know anything more about that body we found at the Willard farm on Saturday?"

  "I know that Mrs. Willard has a new respect for you. She talked about hiring you out to all of the farmers in the area, checking their barns for bodies."

  "She did not. You stop that," Polly said, swatting his arm. "Seriously. Have you found out anything yet?"

  "We're pretty sure he was killed the same night as Henry's Uncle Loren, which is why Mrs. Willard didn't hear it happen. She was in her basement and said she had the radio on. Then she fell asleep. Her husband made her fix up a room for one of their farmhands years ago and then it was their storm shelter. It's tucked way into the dirt, so she wouldn't have heard the shot. And she hasn't been in that barn since old Daryl died. Her boy wants to pull it down, says it's a danger. That's why she's getting rid of the cars."

  "I can't believe she didn't notice the smell or think anything was strange out there. Animals didn't bother it. Nothing," Polly said. "Do you know who it was yet?"

  "No. We're looking through missing persons. It's no one from around here, unless there's a wife out there who finally killed her husband and just hasn't told anyone he's gone missing."

  "Has that ever happened?" Polly asked, aghast.

  "Not here. Well, not that I know of," he chuckled. "But it would be a good story. Can't you just imagine some poor woman finally getting fed up with her jerk of a husband, decking him with a cast iron pan, dragging him to the basement and burying him?"

  "You're horrible!" she said.

  "I am. All in a day's work." Aaron turned to where his wife was sitting on the sofa with Sylvie and Andrew. "Come on Lydia, it's time to let these people finish their day. You need to take me home and tuck me in."

  Lydia smiled seductively at him and walked over to take his arm. She whispered to Polly, "You know what 'tuck me in' means, don't you?"

  "Get out of here, both of you," Polly said. "I'm never going to be able to un-hear what you just said."

  Aaron shook his head and drew his wife to the front door. "If you need me for anything else, Sylvie, do not hesitate to call. No matter what time, day or night. Promise?"

  Sylvie touched Andrew's shoulder, then joined them at the front door. "I promise. Thank you for everything."

  Lydia hugged her and said, "Call me even if all you need to do is cry or talk. You're going to be fine and this will end."

  "I know," Sylvie said. "I just wish it were finished now instead of beginning, though."

  "We should probably go too," Polly said. "What are you planning to do with Andrew and school tomorrow? Rebecca's plans are going to be based on yours."

  Sylvie looked back at the two kids on the sofa. "I think he can have the day off and it sounds like Rebecca could use some downtime, too. What if she stayed out here with us tonight? She'll be perfectly safe and both of them will be good for each other. Friends and distractions always help when things feel like they're falling apart."

  "Why not?" Polly asked.

  "She's tall enough to fit into a pair of my sweats and a t-shirt tonight and we'll have her back to Sycamore House in the morning."

  Rebecca and Andrew jumped at the opportunity to spend the night at Eliseo's. Jason made a point of dramatically rolling his eyes at their glee, but settled back and watched as they took paper and colored pencils out and began drawing at the coffee table.

  "We'll take good care of her," Eliseo said, joining Sylvie at the front door. He and Henry shook hands and Polly reached out to hug Sylvie to her.

  "It really is going to be fine," Polly said.

  "I know."

  Henry stepped out onto the porch. "You've done good work out here, Eliseo. It's going to be nice to see this place transformed into your home. It spent too many years as a dump. I thought the memories would make it difficult for me to see it change, but this is really good. I hope you enjoy it for a long time."

  Polly didn't say anything as she watched Eliseo touch Sylvie's back. "It has good bones. It will make a good home."

  Henry was on his way to the truck with Obiwan when Jason slipped pa
st his mom. "I need to ask Polly something, okay, mom?"

  "Sure, honey," Sylvie said, giving Polly a questioning look. But she stepped back inside as he closed the door on her.

  "What's up, Jason?" Polly asked, waving at Henry to wait.

  "Can we talk tomorrow?" he asked.

  "Sure, what about?"

  "I just need to talk to you."

  "Something you can't tell your mom or Eliseo?"

  He took a deep, long breath and his face crumpled. "Don't tell her I want to talk to you."

  "She's going to know. You're out here right now."

  Jason dropped his head. "You're the only person who gets it."

  "Of course we can talk tomorrow," Polly said, reaching out to touch him. "I didn't mean to imply otherwise. Is it about what's going on at school?"

  "Yeah." He didn't lift his head. "I screwed up. I know that, but I want someone to know why I did it."

  "Tell me what you want to do. Your mom will be around at Sycamore House, the kids will be upstairs and Eliseo will be down at the barn."

  "Maybe we could go to lunch?" he asked, bringing his head up to look at her.

  "Jason, that sounds wonderful. I don't think you and I have ever done that together."

  "Thanks, Polly. I know I'm in trouble and I'm going to deal with that. I just need you to know."

  "We'll talk tomorrow."

  His face lit up with a smile. "Thank you! I don't want you to be angry at me."

  "It's going to work out, Jason. Just wait and see."

  He turned around and ran back inside, standing at the door to watch as she got in Henry's truck, then shut the door.

  "What was that about?" Henry asked.

  "He wants to tell me why he got in the fight at school. This is going to make Sylvie crazy."

  They had barely gotten onto the main road into town when Polly's phone buzzed with a text.

  "Is everything okay with Jason?" Sylvie asked.

  "Do I tell her?" Polly asked Henry.

  "Yes. She's his mom. She needs to know something."

  "He wants to tell me something. Can we talk about this in the morning?"

  "I'm glad he has you. I love you, Polly. Don't worry. I just wanted to make sure he was okay. If he's not, will you help him talk to me?"