Ellen walked to the vanity, pulling her hair back into a ponytail. She faced him.
“We’ve already discussed this, remember? I told you my son is coming, and my sister will be spending the night. I hardly think it appropriate for you to sleep here. Unfortunately, things are going to change, Mason, and we’re not going to be alone very often.”
Ellen sat at the edge of the bed.
“Now that I live three hours away from my family, I won’t have a babysitter. Hopefully I’ll meet someone soon that I can trust to babysit JD.”
Why does her sudden prudishness surprise me? Mason wondered. It shouldn’t. Her mother instinct had obviously kicked in. However appropriate, he didn’t like it. That’s why he never dated women with children. Kids interfered with sex!
“I know you told me when your son got here you didn’t want me to sleep over, but I thought you’d change your mind.”
Mason sat up and began to rub Ellen’s shoulders. He spoke into her ear.
“I thought after having me between the sheets, it would convince you to let me stay. Besides, I don’t want to sleep alone. John Thomas will miss his Lady Jane,” he sulked.
Ellen turned around and smiled.
“Lady Jane will miss her John Thomas as well.”
“I’ve got an idea. When JD falls asleep, call me and I’ll pick you up. You can sleep at my house and be back before he misses you.”
Mason smiled seductively, thinking his flawless plan would make Ellen see the error of her ways.
“No!”
“Why not?” Mason asked, bewildered by Ellen’s staunchness.
“Because it’s not the kind of example I want to set for my son, autism or not. And it certainly isn’t fair to expect my sister to watch JD so I can sneak off for a midnight tryst.”
Mason forced a smile, trying to hide his annoyance.
“In what century exactly, were you raised, Ellen?”
Mason took her hands
“It’s not a big deal anymore, darlin’ for a single mom to have her boyfriend spend the night. I don’t think JD will be scarred for life.”
Ellen sighed and then pulled her hands away.
“I don’t want to leave him. This is the longest JD and I have ever been apart. You and I are going to have to suck it up and sleep alone.”
Ellen stood.
“And you’ve got to go soon. I’d rather you not be here when JD arrives. I’ve got to have a chance to tell him about us before he meets you.”
Mason’s eyes narrowed.
Ellen could see that she’d offended him. Perhaps she should have said something sooner, but she hadn’t wanted to spoil their brief time alone. The newness of their relationship made it fragile and Mason hadn’t seemed too keen on meeting JD, so she had postponed this revelation until the very end.
“Now you don’t want me here even in the day?” Mason’s voice rose as he spoke.
“I didn’t say that. I want you to be here. Come an hour or so after JD arrives. Around five-thirty and have dinner with us? That will give me plenty of time to show JD the house and prep him before he meets you. He’s less likely to get upset.”
“And what about me? What if these plans of yours upset me?”
Mason whipped back the covers and then jumped out of the bed.
“It’s bullshit that you have to prep your ten-year-old son before he sees me!”
Mason snatched his jeans off the floor.
“What am I, some kind of freak? I’m not going to take an ax after the kid, Ellen.”
“It’s not your appearance I’m worried about, Mason. It’s JD! This isn’t about you.” Angered and panicked by Mason’s reaction, Ellen tried to explain. “Once you’ve been around JD you’ll understand. Don’t be angry, Mason.”
“I’m not angry!” he snapped.
Grabbing his shirt, he dressed quickly. Sitting at the foot of the bed, he pulled on his boots and finally looked at Ellen. His volatile blue eyes, clenched jaw, and dark scowl intensified her apprehension. Ellen couldn’t understand why he was acting so childish.
“I’ll go home! I wouldn’t want to be in the way or mess with your kid’s head!”
Mason stood.
“You know, Ellen, if you don’t want me here, say so. I’ll stay away!”
His threatening ultimatum made it clear he wasn’t only referring to this afternoon. Ellen swallowed. Mason had promised he’d try, but like the few before him, he was ready to bolt.
“Don’t be like this, Mason.”
She went to him. “I didn’t say you were in the way… I--”
“I know what you said!”
He grabbed his jacket. Muttering to himself he stormed from the room. “I should have stayed with Desi.”
Ellen listened to his boots thud down the hallway and down the stairs, and then to the front door slamming. A Harley revved then faded away. She stood alone in the crushing silence. Numbed by anger and sadness, it took a moment for her to move. Walking like an old woman, she went to the bathroom and turned on the shower. She didn’t know what she was more upset about: Mason’s reaction or the fact that her son had autism. She got into the shower; warm water pelted her back and then the tears came.
***
Ellen and her sister Samantha sat at the patio table in the backyard. JD stared at puffs of smoke escaping from the grill cover. 6:30 and Mason hadn’t shown or called. Worried and disappointed, Ellen stared at the lone lilac bush.
When Samantha and JD had arrived, it had taken JD a good hour before he would even enter the house. Once inside, he went from room to room picking out all the familiar objects. Pleased JD hadn’t tried to run away, Ellen told him about Mason. Typical of her son, JD showed no emotion. His reaction to his castle room was equally dispassionate. He named the characters on the wall then sat on the floor and began to look at his books on castles and knights. Ellen took the impassive behavior as a good sign. Her son’s contentment with his new surroundings made Mason’s absence more profound.
“You think he’s ever going to get over his fascination with smoke?” Samantha asked.
Ellen didn’t reply.
Samantha slammed her hand down on the table. “Why don’t you call him? You look so damned depressed. I feel like going home right now.”
“I’m sorry.”
Ellen forced her attention on Samantha sitting across from her. Auburn hair pulled back in a ponytail, her mouth a severe line, eyes squinted, Samantha’s irritation was evident. Ellen sighed. “I don’t want to pressure him into coming. Besides, he’s probably with his ex.”
“What makes you think that?” Samantha asked.
Samantha leaned forward. Her eyebrows knit into that look Ellen had seen before. Even though Ellen was the older of the two, Sam was the warrior princess, especially when it came to guys who messed with her big sister’s heart strings. Sam took another sip through the umbrella straw JD insisted she have in her glass.
“Her name came up when he walked out this morning. I think he said it in anger, but he’s not here.”
Ellen shrugged.
“How long has she been his ex?”
Ellen rubbed the bridge of her nose to squelch tears. “Six days.”
“Six days! You slept with a guy on the rebound?” Incredulous, Samantha scolded, “I can’t believe you of all people would do something that stupid! Not my ‘play it safe’ sister. You don’t do shit like this!”
“Will you please lower your voice? JD will freak out. You know how frightened he gets when people argue. And yes, you’re right! I’m a dumbass for getting involved. Mason’s ex is drop dead gorgeous. You should see her body.”
Ellen held her head in her palm. “What if I do call him and Desi answers?”
Ellen bit her thumb nail. “It was foolish to think he could handle this. He’s never been married and has no kids. To expect him to understand a child with autism is insane.”
Hands on knees, Ellen rolled her head back.
Samantha studied
the sorry look on her sister’s face. If she had been Ellen, she probably would’ve done something equally as stupid. Actually, it surprised her Ellen took so long to succumb to her female urges. Nevertheless, the idea of Ellen going for a biker didn’t fit the picture of her older sister, but her undeniable expression and pitiful condition could only mean one thing. “Ellen, you’ve fallen in love, haven’t you?”
Sucking in her bottom lip, Ellen nodded.
Samantha got up and walked over to Ellen. She gave her a big hug, and then stood with her hands on her hips. “I have a great idea! Let’s make the most decadent…calorie-ridden…chocolate dessert ever and then we’ll eat it all in Mason’s honor.”
Ellen frowned. “That’s only going to make us fat, not happy.”
“We’ll be happy while we’re eating it and tomorrow we can take JD swimming and burn it all off.” Samantha’s contagious smile made Ellen acquiesce.
“I’ll go and see what I’ve got in the cupboard,” Ellen said, as she rose. She started for the house, but then turned to her sister.
“Hey…I’ve got it! How about a pan of double fudge brownies?”
Ellen rubbed her hands together like she’d just pulled off the world’s biggest heist.
“Double fudge brownies it is. Go and see if we need to run to the grocery store and I’ll watch JD.”
“Okay!” Ellen smiled. With a lighter heart, she went into the house. Opening the cupboard, she scanned for the necessary ingredients. She froze when she heard the conspicuous roar of several Harleys coming up the road. Closing her eyes, she waited. The sound died in her driveway. Ellen swallowed hard; her knees weakened.
The back door slammed and JD ran into the kitchen crying, “Mommy, where are you?”
His terror-filled eyes jumpstarted Ellen’s mother mode, and she hugged him tight.
“It’s okay; I’m here JD,” she soothed.
“There are strangers in our midst!”
Ellen smiled, kissing the top of his head. “Remember JD I told you about Mason? It’s probably him and some of his other friends. They aren’t going to harm us.”
“No! We can’t go out there, Mommy.”
JD twirled his hands.
Ellen squatted to eye-level, even though JD looked away.
“JD honey, I know how hard it is for you to meet new people, but now that we have a new house we’re going to have some new friends too. And that’s kinda cool.”
Ellen brushed JD’s bangs back.
“Remember when I took you to swimming lessons and you met Trevor? He was a stranger at the time, but as we got to know him he stopped being a stranger and became our friend.”
Ellen smiled.
“The people outside are strangers to you now, but pretty soon they’ll be your friends, just like Trevor. And guess what else, JD? Mason and his friends kinda look like knights.”
JD briefly met Ellen’s gaze.
Ellen took the small gesture as a good sign and continued. “They have long hair and beards like the knights in your books, but instead of riding horses, they ride motorcycles. Shall we go outside and see?”
“No! Don’t leave me, Mommy!” He clutched the front of her blouse.
Ellen took JD’s hand and led him over to the kitchen table. She sat down and pulled JD close. She glanced up at the clock, reining in her impatience. She rubbed JD’s back.
“JD, you know Aunt Sam and I would never let anyone hurt you, right?”
JD nodded.
“Well, Aunt Sam’s out there by herself and it would be rude for me not to go greet our guests. I told them what an awesome kid you are, JD, so I’m sure they’d like to meet you. But I tell you what, if you come outside and think it’s too scary, we’ll come back in. What do you say, bambino? ”
“Okay,” JD sniffled.
Ellen gave him a hug and then stood.
“All right, let’s go meet our new friends.”
Ellen started for the door. JD grabbed the back of her blouse and stretched it over his head, as he huddled into her back to hide himself.
Ellen sighed. She thought she had gotten past feeling embarrassed when her son acted out his peculiarities in public, but now she felt terribly self-conscious. She was also irritated that Mason had obviously ignored her when she had explained how difficult it was for JD to meet new people. Forcing a smile, Ellen went outside to welcome her guests. She didn’t miss the startled look in everyone’s eyes as JD tunneled against her.
Samantha was standing in the driveway near Spider and Dee Dee who stood by their motorcycle. Mason and Mad Dog straddled their bikes, helmets in hand, looking like Hollywood celebrities. The evening sun cast a bronze glow over their tanned skin. Muscled biceps flared beneath black T-shirts and denim cuts. The highlights in their dark hair caught the purple-pink hues of dusk. She stopped to catch her breath. JD stumbled into her back.
“This is a wonderful surprise,” Ellen said as she walked over to Samantha.
Coming to her sister’s rescue, Samantha coaxed JD out from behind Ellen and held on to his shoulders. “These are your mom’s friends, JD. Remember what we told you to do when you meet someone new?”
JD looked at the ground and didn’t respond.
Ellen cast a weak smile at her guests and took JD’s hand, leading him over to Mason’s Sportster. “JD, this is Mason Hackett. He’s the man I told you about earlier.”
She looked at Mason. His bewildered expression and shocked eyes made sweat break out along the back of her neck. Ellen whispered in the boy’s ear. “What are you supposed to do, JD?”
“Hello, Mason Hackett. I am JD Abrams,” JD said too loudly and then looked down.
Mason swallowed hard. Tall, the boy looked much older than ten. His round, heavy-lashed eyes resembled Ellen’s. “Nice to meet you, bud.”
Mason kicked down the stand, slid his leg over the seat, and then held out his hand.
JD didn’t move.
“Shake his hand.” Ellen prodded.
Uneasy, Mason stepped back. “It’s okay, Ellen.”
He hung his helmet on the sissy bar and fumbled with a strap on his saddle bag. He knew she was waiting for him to kiss her or at least greet her in some way, but he couldn’t. Stymied by JD’s weird behavior, he wanted to flee—take back his promise to try and call off the whole affair, but something stopped him.
Mad Dog broke the tension; grabbing Ellen in a bear hug, he lifted her off the ground. “How the hell you doin’, Ellen?”
Mad Dog smiled, twirling her around. “I’ve missed you, baby.”
Ellen giggled. “I’m fine, now put me down before you throw out your back.”
He released her and then squatted to eye level with JD. “I’d be afraid to shake his hand, too, if I were you, JD. He’s a pretty ugly dude, isn’t he? But he has a damn cool motorcycle.”
JD shook his head in agreement, eyes on the bike.
“He might take you for a ride later.”
Mason resisted the urge to kick Mad Dog’s ass. No way did he want to ride this strange kid.
“We have to get him a helmet before I can ride him,” Mason hedged, but seeing Ellen’s look of disgust, he added, “But if you really want to go, I could take you around the block.”
“No!” JD cried, suddenly alarmed.
“Okay, buddy, no big deal,” Mad Dog said and smiled at Ellen. “I tried.”
Mad Dog kissed her on the cheek.
“JD, this is Mike O’Donnell. He’s the man who fixed my car. His nickname is Mad Dog. And this is Dee Dee and her husband Spider.
“Mommy, they have skeletons on their clothes. I have a four-foot tall skeleton in my TV room,” JD announced proudly. “I got him for Christmas last year.”
Ellen smiled. “Are you hungry? We were grilling hot dogs and hamburgers.”
“Don’t you bother with us,” Dee chimed in. “We had dinner. We went on a run to Crivitz today and stopped at a tavern on the way back. Rambo said he had to be here at five-thirty, but obviously we d
idn’t make it. I hope we aren’t barging in.”
Ellen glanced over at Mason. He smiled sheepishly.
“No. I’m glad you all came. You met my sister?”
“Yes, I introduced myself.”
“Well, then let’s go sit in the backyard.”
The group followed.
Everyone gathered on the patio except Mason, who stood near the garage with his arms folded across his chest. He watched JD get the hose and take it over to the birdbath in the center of the yard.
“What was going on in Crivitz?” Samantha asked.
“They’re having a Blue Grass Festival. We usually go every year and camp, but this year it was so close to the weekend of the Sons of Thunder rally we just went up for the day,” Dee Dee said as she pulled a pack of cigarettes from her jacket and lit one. Taking a long drag, she exhaled the smoke in a slow puff of air. JD ran up to her, hose in hand, with water running over the flagstone.
“Don’t you spray anyone with that, JD!” Ellen warned.
JD dropped the hose and stared as Dee took another drag. “You’re a smoker!”
Fascinated, he watched her exhale.
“I’m a smoker, but don’t you ever smoke. It’s a bad habit,” Dee Dee warned, scooting her chair back.
Ellen got up and pulled JD away. “Don’t stand so close.”
She flashed Dee an apologetic smile.
“Why? Is it rude?” JD asked.
Mason didn’t doubt the sincerity of the boy’s question. The kid’s ten and he doesn’t understand personal space? Mason sighed.
“Yes. It’s rude to stand so close to someone like that,” Ellen admonished.
“It’s all right. He wasn’t hurting nothing. I didn’t want to burn him or blow smoke in his face,” Dee Dee said, looking flustered.
JD picked up the hose and then went back to the birdbath.
“He’s fascinated with smoke or anything that floats in the air,” Ellen said as she took her seat. Her bottom lip trembled like she might cry. Mason felt a twinge of guilt but stood against the garage, determined to stay put.
“Maybe I shouldn’t smoke around him.”
Ellen shook her head, casting her eyes on Mason. Her look unmistakable, it asked him what was wrong. He lowered his gaze.
The Word of a Liar Page 16