New Life

by Bonnie Dee

  It was ridiculous, carrying on a conversation through the intercom. “Why don’t I buzz you up?”

  “That might be good,” Mrs. Stevens said coolly.

  I pressed the button to open the outer door, then hurried to the bathroom to check my appearance. My shirt and jeans were dirty from when I’d landed on the ground, and I had nothing to change into. I ran a comb through my hair, untangling it, but there wasn’t anything I could do about how long and shaggy it was. I practiced a smile in the mirror, hoping it wouldn’t appear as fake to Anna’s parents as it did to me.

  There was a knock on the door. On my way to open it, I texted Anna. Your parents are here. Surprise!

  Chapter Fifteen

  Who shows up at someone’s house, unannounced, days earlier than they’re supposed to arrive? Who doesn’t call or text to let a person know their plans have changed? My mother didn’t have a spontaneous bone in her body, so this sudden arrival was bizarre. The moment I received Jason’s text, I called her, but her phone went straight to voice mail. I sent a text: You’re here? What’s with the change in plans?

  Neither of my parents is technologically ignorant. There was no reason for this lack of communication unless my mom or dad wanted it that way. They’d intended to “surprise” me, and somehow I didn’t believe it was in the spirit of fun. Now poor Jason was stuck entertaining them until I could finish a few things at work and get home.

  I returned his text. On my way ASAP. Offer them refreshments, please.

  I grabbed files from my desk and loaded my briefcase. I’d just wrapped a scarf around my neck and was heading out when I ran into Cindy.

  “Going to court?” she asked.

  I shook my head. “Home. Parent emergency. They’ve arrived a couple of days early.”

  Cindy winced. “Eesh. I’m so sorry. Good luck with that. You know it’s not going to be good news.”

  “Huh?” I hurried toward the exit with Cindy tagging alongside me.

  “Sounds like somebody’s got a divorce announcement to make and couldn’t wait any longer to break it to you.”

  I didn’t even have a response for that. Cindy was apparently reliving some personal experience. My parents might be many things, but divorced was never going to be one of them. They were an unshakable unit. But it was weird and totally unlike my well-organized and punctual parents to simply show up unannounced, and not even at my office, where they might reasonably expect to find me on a weekday, but at my home. Did they expect to catch me there, maybe sitting around the apartment shooting up heroin in the middle of the day?

  I said good-bye to Cindy, dashed out the door, and drove home well over the speed limit. I entered my apartment in time to hear Dad quizzing Jason about work. “So you own a janitorial service?”

  “No. I…work for one.” Jason’s halting speech, which I’d grown accustomed to over the past weeks, sounded more pronounced as I heard him with my parents’ ears.

  From the foyer, I studied the trio sitting in my living room before announcing my presence. My mom and dad sat in the two armchairs. Dad wore his golfing uniform of a polo shirt and slacks. He looked like he should be on the links. Newly retired, that was where he spent most of his days now. My mom was as stylish as always, every hair of her short hair perfectly groomed and her makeup impeccable. One eyebrow tilted up as she regarded Jason, who sat across from them on the couch. His clothes looked as if he’d been rolling on the ground. His hair was long and shaggy, and several days’ worth of scruff shadowed his jaw. Everything about him from his appearance to his job proclaimed “underachiever”—the biggest taboo possible in my parents’ book.

  I’d thought about introducing Jason to my parents, but not so soon, not on this visit. We were in a relationship of some sort, but we hadn’t defined it yet, and I wasn’t ready to present him to my parents. With him looking so disreputable and my parents staring at him like that, I hesitated to march in and claim him as a guy I was dating. Couldn’t he be merely the pet sitter today? But no. It would be unforgivable to treat him like hired help, ignoring whatever was growing between us.

  I drew a breath and walked into the living room. “Hi, Mom. Dad. I’m so surprised to see you. I thought you were arriving tomorrow.”

  My parents rose to greet me. The familiar scent of my mother’s perfume and the strength of my dad’s hug overshadowed my annoyance at their presence. For a moment, I was purely glad to see them. But when I stepped back and the questioning began, my gladness curled up like a dying leaf.

  “How are you, sweetheart? Everything good at work? I haven’t heard from you recently.” Mom’s smile was overly bright.

  I fell into old habits and responded too sharply. “I have a phone. You could’ve called any time. It might have been nice to know you were coming a day early.”

  “That’s my fault,” Dad said. “We were going to stop and see the Lowells on our drive down from Michigan, but that fell through. I thought, why stop at a hotel, why not drive on through?”

  “I’m glad to see you both, but I would have appreciated a text or phone message.”

  Mom rolled her eyes. “Your father swore he packed the recharger, but he didn’t. My phone is dead, and he left his at home along with the recharger.”

  “Oh.” As if there weren’t still payphones left in the world. But I dropped the topic. Baby’s whining and scratching at her crate door in the other room was reaching meltdown proportions.

  “I’ll, uh, let Baby out if you want.” Jason raised questioning eyebrows, and I knew he was asking me about more than the dog. How did I want to play this? Were we a couple or not?

  I needed a moment to consider. “That’s all right. I’ll get her.”

  I hurried to the laundry room and let Baby out of her cage. She greeted me by jumping on my leg and licking my hands. “Don’t you dare slobber on my mother or get so excited you pee,” I warned as I scratched her head.

  Baby raced into the living room to see the strangers in our house, and, of course, she did both of those things—licked my mom and trickled a little in her great excitement.

  “You always wanted a puppy,” Mom commented as she brushed a dirt streak from her cream-colored slacks. That was when I noticed there were smudges all over the carpet. What in the hell had Baby and Jason been up to today?

  I grabbed the pup’s collar and pulled her away from Dad’s shoes. “Sorry. She’s not always this wired. She’s not used to guests.”

  I glanced at Jason. Putting off introductions any longer would be weird. He was the elephant in the room, the big question that required an answer.

  I sat on the couch beside Jason. “You’ve already met Jason, but I should introduce you formally. These are my parents, Jackie and Stan Stevens. Mom and Dad, my…friend, Jason Reitmiller.” I hadn’t exactly introduced him as my boyfriend, but it was implied by the pause.

  My parents’ gazes went from Jason to me and then to the dog as if saying I thought he was the pet sitter, then back to Jason and to me again. My mother recovered first.

  “Nice to meet you, Jason.” She smiled with less than one hundred percent sincerity before turning her attention to me. “It seems you’re settling in nicely down here in Columbus. A new friend and a pet. I’m happy you aren’t working too hard and are taking time for yourself.”

  “Can’t live for the firm,” Dad added. “I spent way too many years of my life doing that.”

  I remembered. Dad had not been much of a presence in my childhood. His work hours were outrageous. Mom had been almost as busy.

  So far this wasn’t going too badly, but what next? It was early to suggest going for dinner, but not too soon for drinks. That’s what we needed, something to lubricate our way through the awkwardness. Before I could make the offer, Jason spoke up.

  “I, uh, think I’ll head home now to get cleaned up.” He indicated his shirt. “Had a little problem at the duck pond today. Sorry about any mess. I bathed Baby and cleaned the floor as best I could, but the carpet may need
a shampooing.”

  That explained some things.

  “How about if you meet us later for dinner?” I tried to smile at Jason but couldn’t seem to manage it under my parents’ scrutiny. Part of me was praying he’d say no and we could avoid more awkwardness.

  He glanced at my parents and back at me. “Sure. Text me later.” Jason bent to ruffle Baby’s fur, and she pranced alongside him to the front door.

  After he left, my mother turned to me. “There’s no polite way to ask this. Is there something wrong with your friend?”

  “Jackie.” My dad’s warning tone was completely ignored.

  “How did you two meet?” Mom continued.

  “Want a drink?” I asked. “I sure could use one. It’s been a long day.”

  “Scotch if you’ve got it.” My dad kicked off his loafers and made himself comfortable in the armchair.

  Mom followed me to the kitchen and leaned against the counter, arms folded, watching while I got liquor from a cupboard. “Seriously, Anna. Tell me about this friend. Who is he? You never said a word about dating someone.”

  “That’s because it’s a new thing. But Jason and I are seeing each other. I had to invite him to dinner.”

  She cocked her head and studied me. “Were you going to keep our visit a secret if we hadn’t run into him? Is it because you’re ashamed of him? A janitor! Sweetheart, how did this happen?”

  I slammed a pair of glasses on the counter. “Stop it, Mom. I knew you’d react like this. Is it any wonder I want to keep my private life private? But I was going to have you meet Jason—over dinner, not by surprising him here in my apartment.”

  “What’s wrong with him? Other than being a janitor.”

  “I can’t believe you said that! You’re such a snob.”

  “I’m a realist. You’re an educated woman with a career. What could you possibly find to talk about with some blue-collar guy? Is it about the sex?”

  “Mom!”

  “Because I could understand that. Forbidden fruit can be very attractive. In college, I used to date this African American boy, and that was before interracial couples were common.”

  “Oh my God.” I poured a shot of the Scotch I’d bought for my father’s visit and tossed it back.

  Mom took the bottle from me and poured a glass for herself. “So, tell me about this Jason.”

  “We met at work. He cleans the building. We hit it off, and since then we’ve been seeing each other. I don’t know how serious it is yet.”

  “Serious enough that he hangs out in your apartment pet-sitting while you’re at work. Does he live with you?” She sipped her scotch.

  “No. He just stays over sometimes.”

  “What’s with the scar and limp and the way he talks?”

  “Jason got into a car accident a few years ago and went through extensive rehab. He couldn’t return to college because of a brain injury that caused memory issues, and that’s why he can’t handle more than a menial job.”

  “So sad to see potential wasted. You know, the nurturing instinct can be a strong aphrodisiac. Maybe you crave someone who needs you but doesn’t challenge you intellectually. Because your career is so demanding, you want something simple at the end of the day.”

  I poured another drink for myself and one for my dad. “You really are unbelievable. Is there anything you think that you don’t say?”

  “Hey, is that drink coming any time soon?” Dad called from the living room.

  “I’m simply trying to understand, Anna. Try to see this from my perspective. It seems you’re lowering your standards and making a ridiculous choice. No wonder I’m worried.”

  I snatched the drinks off the counter. “Please don’t be worried, and please don’t make Jason uncomfortable at dinner tonight.”

  “I’ll be perfectly charming. This discussion is just between you and me. Mothers and daughters should be able to talk about these things.”

  “They should,” I said dryly as I carried my dad’s drink to the living room.

  It was going to be a long weekend.

  Chapter Sixteen

  This is the part of the story where you’ll expect to hear how I went to the restaurant and made a complete fool of myself in front of Anna’s parents. Likely that’s what would have happened—if I’d gone. Instead, I took the coward’s way out and texted Anna. Sorry. Can’t make tonite. Something came up. I’d invent an excuse later. Maybe someone called in sick and I had to go into work. Floors wouldn’t polish themselves.

  After spending an hour with her parents that afternoon, making small talk and feeling the judgment in their eyes, I wasn’t up to an evening with them too. Besides, I had a strong suspicion Anna hadn’t really wanted to ask me to dinner but felt she had to. This would save her more embarrassment. I wasn’t officially her boyfriend and I think she would’ve been happy not to have to introduce me at all. That’s what I told myself as I turned off my phone so I wouldn’t have to see her response to my text or deal with any calls.

  Now I had a night off and nowhere to go. Funny, how quickly I’d gotten used to having a destination to go to, a person—and a dog who were happy to see me. I missed them already. I didn’t like the out-of-control feeling of my happiness depending on someone else. Sooner or later, Anna would stop slumming and start dumping. Maybe sooner was better.

  I considered calling Rob to ask him to hang out. Over the past few weeks, we’d become sort of friends, going out after group for coffee. But the idea of a night of Rob’s relentless negativity sounded about as fun as a dose of E. coli. Just then my gaze caught on the paper with Lisa Brightman’s phone number still on my dresser where I’d tossed it weeks before.

  Lisa Brightman, a blast from my murky past. I wondered if she’d be willing to meet or if it was too short notice. She must have plans, exams to study for, a party to go to. She was still in college, living that kind of life.

  I picked up the piece of paper. It wouldn’t hurt to call and at least talk to her. Maybe that would shake loose more memories, shed light on what dick move I’d played on Chrissy that I couldn’t remember.

  I turned my phone back on, ignoring messages from Anna, and dialed the number. After three rings, a voice answered. “Hello?”

  “Uh… Hi, Lisa. It’s Jason. Reitmiller. I saw your number and remembered I was going to call you.”

  “Oh!” Surprise colored the exclamation. “Jason. It’s good to hear from you. What’s going on?”

  “Not much. It’s my night off, and I thought maybe we could go out for dinner or drinks and catch up. I’d like to find out what everybody from high school’s doing.”

  “Everybody like Chrissy?” she teased.

  “Chrissy, Joe, all of them.” Actually I couldn’t remember any other names, although familiar faces flashed through my mind. “And I’d like to hear all about what you’re up to.”

  Silence followed. “Sure. Why not? I’ve got a paper I should work on, but my brain’s fried. A break would do me good. Where do you want to meet?”

  I gave her the name of the bar around the corner, walking distance for me.

  A little over an hour later, Lisa entered Benny’s. I waved to draw her attention to the corner table where I was sitting.

  Lisa was short and curvy, with dark brown hair and brown eyes. Cute in a girl-next-door kind of way. She was sort of overdressed for a neighborhood bar like Benny’s, like maybe she considered this more of a date than a meeting of old friends.

  She sat across from me, smiling. “How’s everything going, Jason?”

  “Fine. How about you?”

  “Busy.”

  We were already scraping the bottom of the conversation barrel. I beckoned the waitress and ordered another beer for me and a seven-seven for Lisa. I asked Lisa about the paper she was working on and listened to her explain the juxtaposition of light and shadow in some literary work, which I forgot the name of the moment she said it.

  When the drinks arrived, Lisa held up her glass. “Rememb
er when we got drunk on seven-sevens at the Kinneys’ wedding reception? We had Joe’s older cousin go to the bar for us over and over until they cut him off.”

  I nodded, although her recollection didn’t ring a bell. There were other stories from the past I was more interested in. “Lisa, I wanted to ask you about Chrissy.”

  “Yeah? I didn’t really think you just wanted to go out with me.” The disappointment in her voice was unmistakable, and I suddenly remembered that Lisa used to have a crush on me in high school. I’d known but ignored it. She was Chrissy’s best friend, and Joe was mine.

  “I did want to see you, for old time’s sake, but I was also hoping you could help fill in some blanks.”

  She sipped her drink. “What do you want to know?”

  “What happened between me and Chrissy? Did I cheat on her or something?”

  “Or something.” Lisa stared at her drink. “I feel like I’m breaking a confidence telling you this, even though it’s your secret too.”

  I waited.

  “Chrissy got pregnant senior year. You gave her money for an abortion, but no support. You left her to deal with it on her own. I think you were already planning to break up before you both left for college, but it was the way you did it. Really harsh.”

  “Oh.” Shit. I’d essentially handed my girlfriend a whisk broom and dustpan and said, Clean up the mess. The more I pieced together about the old me, the less I wanted to know.

  “Did she want to have the abortion?” I asked.

  “Yeah. I mean, no, not really. Nobody wants to have an abortion. But she knew it was the best choice for her. For both of you. She wasn’t going to skip college to become a mom or try to juggle a baby and continue school. She knew you wouldn’t be any help.” Lisa set down her almost empty glass and looked me in the eye. “I used to have a serious crush on you back then, you know? But after I saw how bad you hurt Chrissy, that kind of knocked it right out of me.”

  I stared at the tabletop, feeling I’d been flayed raw. Jesus, I wished I’d left the holes in my memory alone.