by Giselle Fox
Max hung onto the edge of the pool and splashed happily.
“I was just finishing up inside,” Taylor said.
“I got him. Do what you were doing,” Lucinda smiled. She dipped her toe into Max’s pool. “He’s got the right idea.” She splashed water at Max gently. He giggled and splashed back.
Taylor ambled back through the yard with a smile on her face. She stopped at the cherry tomato plant by the fence. “Glad we took the trouble to bring this along,” she called to her mother. Having a garden wasn’t easy when you had to keep moving from place to place. But the plant had continued to bear the most succulent little tomatoes she’d ever tasted. She plucked a handful from the branches and brought them inside.
“I was thinking we’d take a walk up to the park at the top of the hill,” Taylor called to her mother a little while later.
“I’ll get started on dinner while you’re gone.”
“Don’t trouble yourself, mama. I can do it when I get back.”
Her mother looked at her and shook her head. “I’m fine,” she said. “Just feeling a little sad today, that’s all. Doesn’t mean I can’t cook.” She reached for one of Max’s hands and shook it. “Does it, little man? Besides, you need to grow up big and fierce.”
“Not too fierce,” Taylor said.
“He won’t ever,” Lucinda said as she smiled down at her grandson. “You can already tell he’s a good boy.”
Taylor bent down beside him. “You want to go see the bunnies, baby?”
“Bun!” Max squealed. The park up on the hill was filled with wild rabbits. Max loved sitting in the grass or chasing them as far as he could stumble. He went to his mother happily.
“Let’s get you dressed,” Taylor said.
“Seems a crime to put clothes on him today,” Lucinda said. She’d taken off her long-sleeved shirt and wore only a tank top. Her shorts were rolled up as high as they would go. Her arms and even parts of her thighs were covered in ink, symbols of her life as the wife of a gang leader. Taylor glanced over at the neighbor’s houses on either side of them but they all seemed quiet enough not to be worried.
“Nobody’s gonna see from over there,” her mother said. “I’ll hear them coming before they see me anyhow.”
It was too hot to expect her mother to cover up completely. Having neighbors that were well into their senior years made it less likely that they would recognize the crests on her arms.
When Taylor returned to tell her mother they were leaving, Lucinda eyed the little plastic bag in her hands.
“What’s all that?”
Taylor looked down at it. “Um, I was thinking of dropping this off at Jericho’s place,” she said, “since we’ll be up that way.”
Her mother focused on the bag again. “You got flowers in there?”
“Just a little bundle of sweet peas. They’re almost done now anyway.”
Lucinda eyed her daughter with an expression that didn’t need words. It had been impossible for Taylor to hide anything from her mother even before they’d spent so much time together. Being in the life and death situation they were in had only made them better at reading each other’s minds. “I thought she was nice and she seems to have some pull in this town so I thought -”
“You’d bring her flowers,” Lucinda finished. She sat back in her chair. “Well she liked you, that was crystal clear.”
“She was just being friendly.”
“Mmm hmm,” Mama said and closed her eyes again. “Enjoy the walk. I’ll have dinner ready by five.”
“Okay, we’ll be back before then anyhow.”
“Mmm hmm,” Mama said again.
Taylor made her way up the hill slowly with Max setting the pace. They stopped to wave at the neighbors on the street. They stopped to look at blades of grass and the little birds that played in a honeysuckle bush. They stopped a hundred times at least but Taylor didn’t care. Part of what she loved about being a mother was that time slowed down. Appreciating the little things like grass and birds made all the other chaos in her life seem less loud.
Walking along a sidewalk in a little town where no one knew her or her father - or even worse, her husband - was liberating. She was thankful that she’d never branded her body the way her mother had, that she didn’t have to worry about hiding her skin. It made slipping into a new identity that much easier. It had taken almost a year for her body to forget what her old skin even felt like.
“Up we go,” she said to Max as she held his little hand.
She thought of all three of them, how they’d all become different people with different names. They’d even changed the way they looked as best as they could. They’d lived on her mother’s stash and what Taylor had found in the safe the night she left. They’d taken cash jobs and bought and sold good deals for more than what they’d paid for them. They’d been surviving on wits and industry, keeping to themselves, never doing anything that would bring them attention. They never made any friends. Which was probably why Taylor had been craving adult company - company that wasn’t her mother’s. Even the short conversation she’d had with Jericho that afternoon had made her feel more like a human being than a prisoner on the run.
When they reached the park, they wandered slowly along the pathways that led toward the street where the big house stood. Taylor could see the top of its roof up ahead, standing tall in the afternoon sun. The property was huge - bigger than any home Taylor had ever visited. It overlooked the little town like it was keeping watch over everything.
The big wrought iron gates were open and Taylor and Max toddled slowly inside, down the broad stone pathway toward the big white and blue house. Up close, the house itself looked like it could use a coat of paint. The front door was open but Taylor couldn’t see anyone inside.
“Hello,” she called.
“Agh!” Max called with her.
She could hear something, a radio perhaps, coming from around back. They walked around to the side of the house, and Taylor could see the graying barn board sheds. One had its big doors spread wide. Inside, Taylor could see Jericho bent over the engine of an old green tractor. She was humming along to the radio and talking to the engine as she worked. The whole image made Taylor smile.
“Hello,” she called again.
Jericho looked up. “Oh, hey!” she said. She put down her tool and wiped her hands on a rag. She gave them both a warm smile.
“You changed,” Taylor said motioning to Jericho’s clothing. The transformation was remarkable, in fact. As professional as Jericho had looked in a skirt and heels, she now looked rugged and relaxed in ripped jeans and a t-shirt.
Jericho glanced down at her work boots and smiled. “Yeah, I did.”
“Need any help?” Taylor asked. She wasn’t really serious but since Jericho had offered before …
“No, that’s okay.” She bent down and gave Max’s hand a shake. “It’s nice to see you again, buddy.” Her eyes smiled up at Taylor. “What a nice surprise.”
Taylor felt a little shy about dropping in when they’d only just met that afternoon. She held out the bag of goodies in her hand. “I … we … brought you a few things.”
Jericho took the bag and peered inside. Her smile grew wide. “Is that what I think it is?”
“It is,” Taylor said happy that she seemed so pleased.
Jericho reached carefully into the bag. “And sweet peas!” She held the fragrant flowers up to her nose and inhaled. “I think that’s one of my favorite smells of summer.”
“Mine too,” Taylor said. “They grow at the side of the house. I’ve been picking them every day.”
“Mrs. Proctor always grew them,” Jericho said. She took a step closer. “Thank you. This is really thoughtful.”
“There’s a few cherry tomatoes wrapped up in there too.”
Jericho reached into the bag again and pulled the little bundle of tomatoes out. She popped one into her mouth. “Mmm, they are sweet!” She offered the bundle to Max. He grabbed one
in his little fist and stuffed it in his mouth, fingers and all.
“Chew it up good, baby,” Taylor said down to him. Max’s face was soon covered in tomato seeds.
Jericho stood up and nodded toward the old tractor. “You inspired me to give this thing a tune-up. The grass needs cutting.”
“We’ll get out of your way then,” Taylor said.
“No, stay, please. I was thinking maybe Max would like a tractor ride.”
“Well ... sure. I mean, if it’s no trouble,” Taylor stammered.
Jericho bent down in front of Max again. “Tell your mama it’s no trouble, little buddy. That tractor runs better when there are kids around.”
Taylor and Max stood back as Jericho fired up the old engine and pulled it out of the shed. Max tried desperately to wriggle free of his mother’s arms as they watched. When Jericho pulled up beside them, he was ready to explode with excitement.
“Come on up. There’s room for all of us,” Jericho said.
Taylor eyed the narrow bench but Jericho had already jumped down to give her a hand.
“Just scoot over a little and Max can sit on your lap,” Jericho said.
Max went to Jericho happily. He was so enamored with her that the second he was in her arms, he just stared at her and smiled.
“You sure are cute,” she said back to him.
“I bet he’s thinking the same thing,” Taylor chuckled. She eyed the bench again before pulling herself up. Jericho passed Max up onto her lap and then climbed on around the other side.
“My granddad put this bench on when we were kids. We never missed a ride.”
When Jericho sat back down, Taylor realized how close they all were. She looked down at their thighs pressed together, hers in her old green shorts and Jericho’s in her threadbare jeans. Max’s chunky little legs dangled in between. It would have made a cute picture but Taylor had forgotten her phone.
“Ready?” Jericho put the old beast into gear. They headed straight for the end of the walkway and skirted along the edge of the stone wall, bumping and bouncing along. Max held the steering wheel on the stretches with such a look of determination that made both women laugh.
“He thinks he’s driving,” Taylor said.
Jericho let go of the wheel for a few seconds and then smiled. “He is now.”
When the rounds were complete, Jericho pulled the tractor behind the house and cut the engine. She hopped down and reached her arms out to take Max again. Taylor passed him down. It had been a year since he’d gone to anyone but her or her mother, but he seemed as relaxed as ever with his new friend. Jericho slung him onto her hip and reached out her hand to help Taylor down. Taylor didn’t need the help but she took it anyway.
“Thanks. That was great fun.”
“Here,” Jericho said as she passed Max back. “I’ll go grab the hose.”
Taylor stood with Max in her arms. They both watched Jericho unwind the length of hose along the grass.
“Now for the fun part,” Jericho said. “You want to help me hose it off, buddy?” She led him toward the tractor and let him spray it with water as best as he could. Within seconds, they all got sprayed. Jericho took a direct hit that plastered her jeans to her thighs. Taylor managed to redirect the blast before he soaked her even more.
“I’m so sorry!” Taylor laughed.
Jericho laughed too. “It’s okay. I should have seen it coming.” She gave Taylor another smile. “Would you two like something to drink? I can make up some lemonade.”
Taylor smiled back at her. “You know, we should probably be heading back. Mama’s making dinner and it takes us awhile to get down the hill at his pace.”
Jericho looked a little disappointed beneath her smile. “Alright then.”
“But I’ll see you tomorrow, right?”
Jericho smiled again. “Right, tomorrow. That’s great.”
“Thanks for the ride,” Taylor said. She picked up Max. “Can you say ta to Jericho?”
“Ta ta,” Max said.
Jericho beamed. “Nice manners! You’re welcome, Max. Come back anytime.” She looked at Taylor. “Really, any time you want to bring him up to play. We scared all the rabbits away with the tractor but normally they’re out.”
“Thank you. Maybe we’ll do that sometime,” Taylor said.
Jericho ran her hand through her hair. Her eyes sparkled. “I’ll … walk you out to the gate.”
They walked on without saying much. Max began to fuss when he realized the fun was over.
“Where’s Grandma,” Taylor said since that sometimes helped distract him. Max pointed down the street and seemed ready to lead the charge. Taylor looked back at Jericho. “Thanks again. That was really fun.”
“Thank you! For the jam ... and the flowers. I’ll put them up in my bedroom.” Jericho stuffed her hands into her damp pockets and stood there outside the gate. Max stopped and waved at her every few feet. Each time he did, Jericho was there waving back.
CHAPTER SIX
It was mid-morning and the sun was already blazing hot. Taylor sat on the top step of the back porch while Max played with his stack of puzzle blocks beside her. She popped a slice of strawberry into his mouth and watched her mother pace the backyard with her phone in her hand.
She could tell the news wasn’t good - not that she’d expected it to be. Auntie Del, her mother’s sister, had been battling cancer for more than a year. Del had understood why they couldn’t be there for her. She’d told them herself to stay away. But none of that had made it any easier.
Taylor watched her mother walk slowly to the end of the yard. She didn’t need to see her face to know she was in tears. A few minutes later Lucinda wiped her eyes on her sleeve and turned around. Her dark eyes looked up at Taylor. They were sad and angry. It broke Taylor’s heart to see her that way. She picked up Max and walked down the steps.
She crossed the yard and put Max down on his blanket under the tree.
“I have to go,” her mother said.
Taylor reached for her hand. “I know you do. I wish I could go too.”
Trouble was, Auntie Del had been sick for long enough that Stinger knew about it. That made the hospital a dangerous place to be.
Lucinda dabbed at her eyes. “She’d love to see Max one more time.”
Taylor knew it too. In a perfect world, she would have made it happen in a heartbeat.
Lucinda sighed. “I’m not saying you should come, I’m just ... saying.”
Taylor put her arm around her mother and kissed her cheek. “I know, mama.”
Lucinda took a deep breath and let it out. “That bastard sure has made a royal mess of things.”
“He has,” Taylor said sadly. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s not your fault he’s such a fucker.”
Taylor shot her a look since Max was playing nearby. Then she laughed. There was nothing funny about it, of course, but what else could she do? Stinger was a fucker and he had all the power. There was no justice. There were no lawmen they could trust to help them. There was nobody but her and her mother against a gang of men that wanted them dead. It was either laugh or cry and Taylor was sick of crying. If it hadn’t been for her son, she would have walked into Stinger’s clubhouse and taken care of the problem herself. She wasn’t proud that her mind went places like that but watching her mother suffer for so long had taken her there.
Lucinda pulled a little bundle of tissue from the back pocket of her jeans and blew her nose. She blinked her sad eyes a few times and then her face settled back into its usual stony expression. It was the brand of tough that went deeper than skin. It went clear to her bones. But everyone had a breaking point, Taylor reckoned, and she could tell her mother was nearing hers.
“That settles it,” Lucinda said calmly. She stared out over the backyard like she was already somewhere else.
“I’ll take the bus to Des Moines, get off and wait for the connector to Kansas City. I’ll visit Del and say my goodbyes and then take th
e bus back to Des Moines. I’ll wait ‘til morning for the connection back. If anyone’s following me, I’ll know it by then.”
“What if they do find you?” Taylor asked.
Lucinda turned her head slowly. “What if? I just hope it’s Stinger. Lord knows I’ll shoot him myself.”
Taylor was used to her mother’s talk. “Then you’ll be the one to pay and where’s the right in that?”
“So? I’ll go to jail and spend the rest of my days with a pack of lesbians. At least you’ll get to live your life again.”
Taylor couldn’t tell if her mother was serious until she saw the corners of her mouth start to twitch. “Jeeesus,” Taylor sighed. They both began to laugh.
“Maybe your new friend up on the hill can give me a few pointers just so’s I’m prepared,” Lucinda snorted and then slapped her thigh.
Taylor swatted her mother’s arm. “Shit ass.”
Lucinda pulled her into a hug. “I’m only teasing. C’mere.”
Taylor wrapped her arms around her mother. She’d always seemed so fierce and yet she was much smaller and more wiry than she was. She tucked her chin into her shoulder. “I love you, mama.”
“I know you do, baby. I love you too.” Lucinda stroked her daughter’s hair and kissed her cheek. When she pulled away, Taylor could see that her eyes had grown damp again. They both regarded each other a moment, then took a deep breath. By then, Max had toddled over. He reached up his arms.
Lucinda looked down at him and smiled. Taylor saw the light in her eyes had returned.
“You want a family squish, little man?”
Taylor bent down and picked up her son. Lucinda wrapped her arms around them both and gave them a long squeeze. It was something Taylor’s parents had done with her when she was little and now Max loved it just the same.
“Alright,” Lucinda said. “I’m off. I’ll be back in awhile.”
***
Taylor quietly shut her son’s bedroom door behind her and went out to the backyard. She wandered down through the garden to Max’s play area under the tree. She moved his little toy trucks off the blanket then laid back and closed her eyes. The sun filtered through the tree and cast leaf shadows on her eyelids. The grass and blanket beneath her were soft - so soft she knew she just might fall asleep. Max was safe in his crib. The monitor was at her side. She took a deep breath and relaxed.