Second Season

by Ali Vali

  “So it’s true?”

  “Technically that’s your second question, so let me finish answering the first one before we move on to your version of the truth.” Tully helped Bailey off the sofa and led her into the kitchen. “When we met and started dating, I’d never considered having children. Later, I went along with the idea because she wanted kids so much.”

  “So it’s true?”

  Tully tugged on a strand of Bailey’s hair and smiled, trying to keep her quiet until she was done. “I remember when I saw your mom’s first ultrasound, then heard your heart beating. I fell in love with you right then. Once you were born I stayed up countless nights, without any sleep.”

  “I had a lot of colic?”

  “That’s four questions now, but that’s not why I lost sleep. I’d just go into your room and watch you. You had this thick head of hair, and I knew right then that you were the best thing I’d ever done.”

  Bailey watched Tully as she spoke, especially the way her eyes were glued to the backyard as if she was trying to capture those memories.

  “I never regretted having you or your brother in my life. You’ve always been my motivation to do good in the world so you’d be proud of me.” She shrugged and didn’t say anything else.

  “Why haven’t you ever told me that story?”

  “I have, about a million times. Only then you enjoyed hearing stories from me, and the sight of me didn’t repulse you like it does now.” Tully’s features relaxed. “Maybe you’re right, Bailey Bean. We should talk more often. I don’t want other people to tell you how I feel or don’t feel about you. If you want to know, just ask—deal or no deal.”

  “You don’t repulse me, you know.” Bailey put her hands on the counter between them in an effort to stay calm, but she couldn’t help shifting from foot to foot.

  “It’s okay to tell the truth, I’m not going to get angry. I haven’t up to now, have I?” Tully reached across the space between them and put her hands over Bailey’s. “I’m not very good at communicating my feelings, but that’s not your fault. I just want to know why you’re mad at me.”

  “You’re never around anymore.”

  “I’m home every night, but you’re right, I guess. I’m home, but I’m not really here.”

  “Why is that?” Bailey turned her hands so that their palms slid together in a more affectionate way. She had her mother talking and wanted to keep it that way.

  “Because I came home to a family that didn’t need me anymore, and I couldn’t find a way to accept that reality. You always ate out with your mom somewhere, then came home and couldn’t have cared less about talking to me.” Seeming tired, Tully sat down and sighed. “I’m sorry. That sounds rather childish, doesn’t it?”

  “No, it sounds like you’re talking straight. I know you talk to Ralph sometimes, but I felt the same way you did. You never seem interested in what I’m doing or what’s going on in my life. I stopped talking to you because I thought you didn’t care about me.”

  “Can I ask my question now?” The nod Tully received was so hesitant that she led Bailey around the kitchen counter and into the den. On the sofa she hugged her and just held her, expecting Bailey to withdraw quickly. The real surprise was that she didn’t. “Why do you look so unhappy when I drop you off at school, Bailey Bean?”

  “I’m not…” Bailey buried her face in Tully’s shoulder in an obvious effort to keep from answering.

  “It’s all right. If it’s too hard, don’t answer. But tell me if you want me to do something to make it better.”

  “I don’t have any friends. This girl has made fun of me from day one, and she’s real popular so it stuck and everyone thinks I’m a total loser.” The words came out in a rush, muffled since her face was still pressed to Tully’s shoulder.

  “There are plenty of good schools in this city, so if you want to transfer somewhere else we can start looking. I meant what I said about high school and being miserable. You should look back at this time with fond memories, not a sigh of relief that it’s over.”

  “If I leave now that girl wins, doesn’t she?”

  “It isn’t a contest, honey, but whatever you decide, you let me know.”

  “Aren’t you supposed to make the decisions?” Bailey asked, sounding a lot better. It was the first time in forever that she had teased Tully.

  “Tell your grandmother that when we visit her. I’m not young anymore, but she still feels it’s her duty to tell me what to do. From now on I’m going to make an effort not to do that to you. That is, unless you want to run off and become a juvenile delinquent set on drugs and mayhem. Then I might be making plenty of decisions for you, starting with locking you in your closet until you come to your senses.” She hugged Bailey closer, wanting to cry with joy because her daughter didn’t hate her. “Give me time to think of a good solution that doesn’t involve physical violence. Or I could come home early today and we can talk about it some more.”

  Bailey hesitated, then said, “Or you could take us to work with you today to help us get over the trauma of our parents splitting up.”

  “You know I haven’t had time to think about that.” I suppose I should feel bad about the fact that so many years of a commitment are over. “You won’t be bored to death at the office?”

  “I’ll spend the day researching a paper due at the end of the month, and you can take us to lunch.”

  “Just for today. Then we go back to a somewhat normal schedule.”

  “Sure we will,” Bailey said, sounding like Tully was spinning fiction.

  Chapter Five

  Libby was surprised when Tully came in with her two kids. Tully had often spoken of her family, and it was nice to put faces to the stories.

  “Hey, Libby.” Tully returned her greeting. “We thought we’d come by and let you help us with breakfast.”

  “Yeah, Mom couldn’t boil water if her life depended on it,” Ralph said.

  “This would be my comedian.” Tully put her hand on Ralph’s head. “Libby, meet my son Ralph, and this is the family beauty, my daughter Bailey. Guys, this is Libby.”

  “Nice to meet you.” Libby started on Tully’s coffee while smiling at the good-looking group. “Your mom talks about you all the time, so I’m glad she finally saw fit to bring you in.”

  “She talks about us all the time?” Bailey asked.

  “It’s all good, so don’t worry. You have a very proud parent. I wouldn’t sweat being embarrassed. Well, unless praise embarrasses you.” She handed Tully the cup and wiped her hands on her apron. “What can I get you two?”

  Ralph waited while his sister made up her mind and ordered a latte and a blueberry scone, then he said, “Hot chocolate and a scone too, please.”

  He’d woken up that morning feeling as if his life had changed, but not because of anything he’d done. He lay in bed angry that everything would be so different but no one had bothered to ask for his input. His comfort had come from his sister, who had shocked him by taking Tully’s side on an issue for once when she came in to get him up for the day.

  Libby interrupted his thoughts. “Go sit, and I’ll bring all this out to you.”

  They picked a table next to the window, and since the morning rush was over, they had a bit of privacy. Tully put her cup down and turned her attention to Bailey and Ralph. “Guys, I think we need to discuss what happens now.”

  “We get to stay with you, right?” Ralph asked in a panic. He had felt sick the day before when Jessica dropped them off, basically telling them she didn’t want them.

  “Of course you get to stay with me, until your late thirties if I have any say in that decision, so don’t worry about it. I’m talking about the fact that your mother isn’t going to be staying with us, so we need to make sure we know what we’re all doing so we stay on track.”

  “What do you mean?” Bailey asked.

  “I mean your brother has practice on some days, you have stuff you do after school, we have to eat something
, and we have a house to keep up. That’s just for starters.”

  Ralph struggled not to cry. “Mama isn’t coming back, is she?”

  “Buddy, I’m going to do my best so that whatever the future brings, you and your sister will be happy. But no, your mom isn’t coming back, at least to me. I’m sure she’ll continue to be as big a part of your life as she’s always been. What happened yesterday has everything to do with me and nothing to do with you.”

  She exhaled deeply, trying to curb the urge to light a cigarette. “I’ll let your mom tell you about her new life and how it’ll change your future, because that’s not my story to tell. But for now we, the three of us,” she circled her finger, “are going to do our best to get by.”

  “I just don’t understand why she did this,” Ralph said.

  “Certain relationships are forever, Ralph. Like mine with you and your sister. What you mean to me will never change. Unfortunately, you can’t say the same about the person you choose to marry. Sometimes those relationships don’t work out, and no matter how much you try, you can’t go back.”

  Ralph looked at Tully with eyes the same gray color and the same intensity as her own. “But if you really talked to her, I bet we could go back to being a family.”

  Bailey slapped Ralph’s leg. “Mom, maybe you should go help Libby bring our stuff over.”

  “It’s okay. He has a right to his opinion.”

  “And she might not be able to carry all that stuff, so go on.” Bailey pointed to the counter.

  “Do I look feeble?” Libby asked when Tully arrived at the counter and picked up a plate.

  “You’re more than capable, but my kids wanted a moment alone so they can talk about me,” Tully said, her eyes never leaving the table. Bailey and Ralph had their heads together, and Bailey was doing all the talking.

  “You okay?”

  “My life is pathetic and I’m an idiot, but other than that I’m just great.”

  Like she often did, Libby put her hand on Tully’s forearm and pulled a little on the jacket sleeve to get her attention. “I’m a great listener, you know.”

  “I know, but I have to wrap my brain around a few things before I’m ready to sit and talk.” Tully helped put the cups and plates on the tray, then stood at the counter until it was safe to go back. “How was school last night?”

  “Professor Lange was impressed with my newfound knowledge of certain concepts, so thanks. I owe you yet again.”

  “You don’t owe me anything. Just knowing that pompous ass gets his comeuppance every so often is payment enough.”

  Libby’s eyes strayed to the table where Ralph was now seriously shaking his head at whatever Bailey was telling him. “Will you at least remember that I’m here for you? After all the free tutoring sessions, I’d feel like I’m giving you something in return.”

  “How about you start by taking this over there before the drinks get cold, and I’ll take this call.” She picked up the tray and handed it to Libby, then pulled out her cell phone.

  “Ralph, if you ever repeat anything I’m about to tell you, I’ll kill you in your sleep,” Bailey said as soon as Tully started walking away. “I know you ace every test you take, but you’re the biggest idiot sometimes.”

  “Just because I want them back together I’m an idiot?”

  “Bro, I realize you got mad yesterday and blamed Mom for Mama leaving, but did you ask yourself why the queen of control had a black eye and a huge cut on her cheek?” She tugged him closer, not wanting anyone to overhear them. “You know how fanatical Mom is about not losing it. It makes her good at work and the best one to come to your room when you’ve done something wrong. Counselor Tully will talk you to death, then forget to ground you.”

  “When did you become Mom’s biggest fan?”

  “I feel sorry for her. She didn’t exactly say it, but I think she came home and caught Mama in bed with someone else, which is so wrong on so many levels. I mean, step out if you want, but don’t do it at home.”

  Bailey was still talking, but Ralph started shaking his head as if the last thing that had come out of her mouth wasn’t true and couldn’t be. “Shut up.”

  “Why?”

  “Take it back. They’re having problems, but Mama isn’t like that.” He balled his hands under the table, but since Bailey had her head down she saw the angry gesture.

  “Did I say she was?”

  “You just said she was screwing someone who wasn’t Mom.”

  Bailey took his fist and did her best to coax the fingers loose. “They aren’t getting back together, Ralph, and whatever you tell yourself so you can be okay with that is tight with me. And I’m sure it’s going to be cool with Mom. Just don’t keep telling her to go try to make things right with Mama.”

  Ralph screwed up his face and looked like he was going to say something loud, so Bailey shook her head to shut him up. It wasn’t easy to say the words, but she had figured a few things out. “For once the work freak wasn’t at fault.”

  “She was really with someone else when Mom came home?”

  “I think so, but I don’t know for sure.”

  Ralph gave her a pleading look. “Why didn’t Mom tell me that yesterday when I yelled at her?”

  “Dude, she’d run her tongue through the shredder before she’d try to turn us against Mama. As mad as I’ve been at her lately, I have to give her snaps for that.”

  “I feel horrible I screamed at her.” He finally turned his attention to Tully, who was near the entrance talking on her cell phone and pacing, which was normal when she was engaged in a conversation she didn’t want to be a part of.

  “You’re the golden child, Ralph. I wouldn’t worry about it.”

  “You left yesterday, remember that?” Tully said.

  “I want to see the kids before you poison them against me.”

  “You fuck someone where Bailey and Ralph could’ve walked in on you, and you accuse me of poisoning them against you? Have you started smoking crack on your lunch hour?”

  Jessica ran her hand through her hair as she looked out the window of Kara’s small apartment. The night before had been a nightmare of Kara screaming at her and taking painkillers, and it had left her head hurting. “I know you, Tully. When you’re angry you’ll take out your revenge in the courtroom, and I know you’re mad at me. Since this won’t end up in court, you have to take it out somewhere.”

  “Jessica, you don’t know me at all. I want you to go back to your maiden name so that my family name doesn’t get dragged down whatever road you’ve decided to take. I want you to reassure our kids that their mother hasn’t gone completely insane, and I want you to leave me the hell alone. You make more than enough money to take care of yourself so forget about alimony, and I want the kids to stay with me.”

  “No fucking way.”

  “Agree, Jessica, or I’ll take you to court, and when I’m done Jack the Ripper wouldn’t trust you with his children.”

  “You’re not a divorce attorney.”

  Tully’s laugh made Jessica cringe. “Of course I’m not, but who do you think the best lawyer in the city will pick as a client when it comes to severing this relationship, you or me?”

  “It depends on whether you’ve screwed over their family to make a buck, darling.”

  “Pick them up from school if you want, but have them home by seven or I’ll come find you.”

  “That’s all you have to say, Tully?”

  “Not by a long shot. Months from now when your ass is puckering from the knowledge of what’s coming, just remember one thing.”

  Jessica laughed and slapped her hand down on her lap to keep from yelling, “finally.” This was the crude Tully who had spent summers working on her father’s boat. The Tully who didn’t know anything about picking a suit or using the correct fork at a formal dinner. The Tully who would be so easy to beat, because when confronted, she always returned to the old standards. She had been expecting this reaction from the moment Tully�
�s fist connected with her new lover’s jaw. It had taken a day, but here it was. “What’s that, darling?” she said sarcastically.

  “We could have done this the easy way or the hard way. You chose the hard way, and that road is paved with every misery I can think to pull out of my nice leather bag.”

  “Thanks for everything, Libby,” Bailey said. They’d had a great conversation while Tully was on the phone. The day was already educational in that she never would’ve guessed her mom had such a cool friend.

  “Hopefully your mom will bring you in before school more often. I promise the extra shots will be on me, and they’re guaranteed to keep you awake for the rest of the day.” Over Tully’s objections Libby had made her another latte to go and packed them all an extra muffin.

  “Remember what I told you about being a good listener,” she told Tully.

  “Thanks for the offer, and remember to review chapter three for your quiz tonight. It’s boring as hell, which is why the professor loves to take a majority of the questions out of there. See you tomorrow.”

  Tully and her children rode up to her office exchanging small talk. In the waiting room, they passed a young couple that exemplified sadness, their shoulders slumped in defeat, each face a mask of grief.

  When she walked through the office door, the woman immediately looked up and Tully noticed the glimmer of hope that crossed her dull brown eyes. The gaze told her that the woman believed that maybe she could tell her story to someone who would not only listen, but give her what she was looking for—justice.

  “Come on, guys, let’s get you settled,” Tully said, ushering Bailey and Ralph into the office.

  Roxanne was waiting in the corridor with three files in her hand. “Good morning, handsome family.” She bent slightly to exchange hugs with the kids, who kept up a running dialogue as she showed them into Tully’s office. “Tully, your nine o’clock is early, so if you want to brief yourself I’ll get them some coffee.”

  “Give me about two minutes, then send them in. This time I want to hear from them before I read the file. Even if they don’t have a case, I think it’ll help them to tell their story.”