by Lynne Norris
“Oh yes I did.”
“Well, we’ve all made some bonehead moves in our lives.”
“I don’t know about you, but this certainly ranks at the top of my list.” Emma hugged herself. “I was hoping that at this point in my life I would be past making those kinds of mistakes. Apparently I’m not.” She felt like Alice in Wonderland falling down the rabbit hole, except every time she thought she was close to hitting the bottom she just kept falling farther.
Lindsey threw her head back and laughed. “Don’t you know perfection is over rated? I guess it could always be worse. They could have stripped the copper pipes out of the house. That happened to one of my friends’ summerhouse last year. They tore every scrap of copper out from the basement all the way up to the second floor bathrooms. Everywhere the pipes ran was gutted down to the studs.”
Emma’s mouth dropped open. “That’s awful.”
“Marley was so distraught they had the insurance cover the repairs and then sold the house.”
“I still can’t believe I forgot to pay the insurance. What an idiot I am.” Emma ran cold water into the glass pot and poured it into the coffee maker.
Lindsey moved closed and clasped her sister’s shoulder. “It’s done. Don’t beat yourself up over it.”
“Easier said than done with the mess I have to clean up.” Emma squeezed her sister’s hand grateful for the support. “Mom called me. She’s coming up next week. She’s going to have a fit when she sees these damn holes.”
Lindsey’s expression changed to one of amusement. “You might want to put more water in that and make it three mugs.”
Emma eyed her suspiciously. “What are you talking about?”
“Mom’s on her way here right now.”
“This isn’t a visit. It’s an ambush!” Emma cried. She felt a tightening in her chest that came whenever her sister and mother were together in the same room with her. “Tell her she can’t come. I...I have the flu or something else that’s contagious.”
“It’s too late,” Lindsey said.
“Oh my God! She’s going to freak out.”
“So what?”
“How much time do we have before she descends on us?”
“Thirty minutes tops.”
Emma shoulders dropped in defeat. “I can’t believe you two schemed this up. Seriously? This is not fair.”
“You make it sound nefarious. When you didn’t call me back I got worried and called Mom. I suggested coming out for a visit and she invited herself along. What was I supposed to say?”
Emma filled the carafe with water and poured more into the coffee maker. “I can’t believe I’m making coffee. I need a shot of Tequila to get through this.”
“I could get you some.”
Emma screwed up her nose in distaste. “The last time I did shots of Tequila I ended up in the shower with my clothes on. Don’t ask,” she added catching the questioning look from Lindsey.
“I won’t then.”
“How did you manage to escape without the boys?”
“Brent is working from home this week. I told him I was going to come visit you for a day or two.”
“Ah, so he’s got the kids then. That’s a change.”
“Yeah, we’ll see how he does picking them up from school and managing homework. I precooked all the dinners and froze them so all he has to do is heat them in the oven.”
“Wow, I wish someone would make my dinners for me. You make it so easy for him.” Emma had a sudden flash of insight. “Maybe that’s our problem. We make things too easy for whoever we’re with because we’re afraid they’ll leave us. What do you think?”
“If that’s the case, I’ve made things too easy for Brent all these years.”
Something in Lindsey’s expression made Emma stop and look more closely at her. “Is everything all right? What’s going on that you’re not telling me?
“Brent and I got into this huge fight about me going away and him having to take care of the kids.”
“I don’t understand. What’s the big deal? You take care of the boys all the time.”
“The only other time I’ve been away since the boys were born was to come to Dad’s funeral. Do you know how many business trips Brent’s been on and I’ve had the kids alone?”
“He goes away at least twice a month.” Emma recalled from prior discussions with Lindsey.
“Yeah, and it’s not like it’s for a night or two. He’s gone for a week at a time at least.”
“So what’s his problem?”
“He thinks I shouldn’t be going anywhere unless I bring the kids with me. They’re my job, as he put it.”
“You’re kidding me,” Emma said. “Does he realize what year this is?”
“I told him it would be a good chance for him to spend time to bond with his sons.”
“What did he say?”
“Nothing. He went back into his office and slammed the door. He pops out of the office for meals and crawls back in until the kids go to bed. He’s always on that computer.”
Emma jumped at the ferocity of Lindsey’s tone. “Linds, I had no idea things were like that.”
“Brent feels he’s fulfilled his parenting duties by showing up for meals and asking a few questions about the boys’ day.” With tears in her eyes, Lindsey balled her hand into a fist and banged it against her thigh. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to dump my problems on you.”
“Have you said anything to him, I mean, before you had this fight?”
“I’ve tried. Brent just doesn’t get it. Somehow, I’m supposed to be able to do it all—work, make all the meals, take care of the kids and keep a clean house. Frankly, I feel like a single parent. What the hell do I need him around for?”
“You don’t mean that,” Emma said.
“I’m not so sure I don’t anymore,” Lindsey said. “This isn’t supposed to be about me.”
“It’s okay. Listening to you takes my mind off my own problems for awhile,” Emma admitted.
“Glad to be of assistance,” Lindsey said ruefully.
“How are Austin and Miles?” Emma asked.
“Miles loves fifth grade. Austin, not so much. He just doesn’t get the social aspect of school.”
“Is he still getting therapy?” Austin was diagnosed with autism when he was three years old.
“Yeah, we finally got the school to agree to continue the services. They gave us such a hassle this year,” Lindsey said.
“I’ve heard special services are one of the first things the districts try and cut from the budgets,” Emma said.
“You’ve heard right. Ever since the government said the schools had to use the least restrictive environment to teach in, it opened up a myriad of ways to water down what services the schools provide. I know parents who’ve become special education consultants because of their experience getting services for their child.”
“You’d be great at doing that. With as much as you’ve done to advocate for Austin you’d be a pro at it.”
“Thanks. If I were my own boss it would be a different story.”
“Have you talked to anyone else about you and Brent?”
Lindsey appeared uncomfortable at this question. “What do you mean?”
“A counselor?” Emma prompted.
“I actually started talking to someone two months ago. I couldn’t take it anymore.”
“Take what?”
“Brent. He’s indifferent. Sometimes I think he just doesn’t care about me or the boys anymore.”
“I’m glad to hear you’re talking to someone. Do you think it’s helping you?” Emma asked.
“It’s given me more clarity. I know I have to talk to Brent and tell him how I honestly feel.”
“Have you asked him to go with you?” Emma pulled out a kitchen chair and motioned to Lindsey to sit.
“I mentioned that I was going to talk to someone, but I didn’t ask him to go yet.”
“Why not?”
“I
chickened out. I feel like I’m admitting defeat by going to talk to someone,” Lindsey said.
“I’d say just the opposite. Admitting that you need help and actually doing something about it is nothing but courageous in my book. You have to talk to him. If Brent knew how you really felt I’m sure he would go.”
Lindsey clasped Emma’s arm and said, “I can’t believe we waited so long to get together. Enough talk about my problems. I can’t believe you got laid off.”
“Neither can I.”
“How are you doing?” Lindsey asked.
Emma leaned her hip against the counter. “It depends on the day.”
“Really?”
“Mostly I’m just numb. I keep thinking I’m going to wake up from this nightmare, but I’m not because this is my life now.”
“I’m so pissed at Kate for leaving you,” Lindsey said. “What the hell happened? I thought you two were solid.”
“I guess I was deluding myself thinking that we were. I was working ridiculous hours and she was bartending at night. How could I possibly think that everything was okay between us?”
“That doesn’t make it okay for her to just walk away. She could have at least talked to you.”
“Maybe she tried and I wasn’t listening,” Emma said quietly and tears blurred her vision.
“Do you think that’s what really happened or are you just taking all the responsibility on your shoulders? Because I know you and that’s what you do when someone hurts you,” Lindsey asked softly.
Emma folded her arms and regarded her sister. “I don’t know. I keep going over everything that happened.”
“Mom’s worried sick about you.”
“Well tell her there’s nothing to worry about. I’ll be fine.”
“You can tell her yourself when she gets here.”
“Fabulous.”
Lindsey picked up the saltshaker sitting on the table and examined it before she spoke again. “But you’re living out here alone in Dad’s lake house of all places. You know what she said to me?”
“I can only imagine.” Emma wiped the counter where she had dripped water.
“‘There’s nothing there. She needs to be somewhere she can get a real job,’” Lindsey said pitching her voice higher to mimic their mother’s.
“Sounds just like something Mom would say,” Emma said. “She could simply call herself.”
“You know how she is. She wanted me to try and convince you to come to Boston.”
“Glad to hear that part of her hasn’t changed. Yes, she does like to direct everyone’s lives from the sidelines.”
“You could stay with us if you wanted to check Boston out before making a decision to move there,” Lindsey offered.
“I am not going to Boston. I left the city to get away from all the noise and chaos for a while. I can stay right here and fill out job applications online.”
“That’s what I told her.”
“Besides, I wanted some time to myself. What’s wrong with that?” Emma removed the pot from the hot plate and poured two cups of coffee. She handed one to Lindsey.
“Nothing’s wrong with it.”
“But...” Emma prodded.
“But nothing. How long are you planning on staying here?”
“I have no idea. I’ve got time to make a decision and figure out what I’m going to do.”
“There’s nothing to do out here.”
“Now you sound like Mom. Who says I need anything to do?
I’ve spent fifteen years of my life working sixty to seventy hours a week. I got my ass kicked to the curb. If I want to do nothing for a couple of months who cares? It’s my life,” Emma said.
“This isn’t like you, Emma. You’re always so intense and driven. This self-imposed solitude must be driving you insane.”
“Actually, it’s not. Do you know I sat outside the other morning and watched the sunrise for the first time in years?”
“That’s great, but how many sunrises do you need to see?”
“As many as I choose to.”
“What’s going on with you?” Lindsey asked.
“Nothing. I’m just enjoying what it feels like not to be tied to an office for fifteen hours a day. I spent so much of my time chasing paper profits I barely had time to have a life outside of work.”
“I thought you loved your work.”
“Maybe I loved it because at the time the life it allowed me to live was important to me. I didn’t realize how much I was sacrificing to do the work that I did. And for what? To get my ass kicked to the curb because management got greedy and wanted even more profits.” Emma heard her voice getting louder and saw the wide-eyed look in her sister’s eyes. “I’m sorry. I just get so angry when I think about how degrading the whole ordeal was.”
“Don’t apologize.” Lindsey’s eyes twinkled and she asked mischievously, “So where did you take riding lessons? I didn’t know there were any stables around here.”
“I didn’t go to a stable,” Emma said and immediately wished she hadn’t shared the information.
“Really? Where did you go?” Lindsey asked.
“A friend.”
Exasperation colored Lindsey’s voice. “What is this on a need to know basis only? Does this friend have a name?”
“Do you remember the Moretti’s?” Emma watched as Lindsey furrowed her brow sorting through the list of their high school friends.
“Oh, I remember that hot, hunk of a man—what was his name? Michael. Those blue eyes and that gorgeous mane of jet black hair. I bet he’s probably bald now.”
“Lindsey you’re awful. I haven’t seen him. So I don’t know.” Emma poured herself more coffee trying desperately to stifle a grin as Lindsey came to the only logical conclusion.
“But that’s not...oh my God.” Lindsey set her cup down and bounced to her feet. “What is his sister’s name?”
“Grace,” Emma supplied.
“When did this happen?” Lindsey grabbed Emma’s arm and shook her.
“Stop it. Nothing has happened.”
“But something could happen.”
“There’s nothing to tell,” Emma insisted.
“The hell there isn’t. You have this dreamy look in your eyes.”
“I do not. Maybe it’s...it’s the light coming in the window,” Emma stammered.
“I want details.”
“We talked a couple of times, that’s all.”
Lindsey eyed her dubiously. “You went to her farm and she took you horseback riding. Sweetheart that’s a date in my book.”
“It was not a date!” Emma said immediately and frowned, uncertain now whether it was or not. Was it a date? “Grace just showed me around. It was something interesting to do to pass the time.”
Lindsey asked, “Is she still as hot as she was in high school?”
Blushing furiously now, Emma said, “Jesus, Lindsey, that was a long time ago. We’ve all put on a few pounds since then.”
“I wasn’t blind. The guys were always sniffing around trying to figure out if she was available. There were a few girls who would have given anything to crawl into her pants.”
“All right now that’s just crude,” Emma said.
“Maybe, but it’s true. Tell me you didn’t notice her.”
“We didn’t run in the same circles.”
“That’s not what I asked,” Lindsey pressed.
“She was a jock and I was a nerd.”
“You were not a nerd.”
“I was a nerd,” Emma replied.
“Well, maybe a little, but I bet you still noticed her.” Lindsey looked up as gravel crunched outside and a car pulled in behind Emma’s. “Looks like Mom’s here.”
Emma’s stomach churned as she watched through the front window as their mother got out of the car and walked toward the house.
“Are you going to let her in or should I?” Lindsey asked.
Emma hesitated, then marched over and opened the door just as her mom was
about to press the doorbell. “Hi, Mom.” A conflict of emotions roiled in her gut and she caught her mother’s appraising glance as her eyes swept up and down and then glued to the wall behind Emma.
“What happened here?” Lillian asked, brushing past Emma into the cottage.
“I’m fine. Thanks for asking, Mom.” Emma shut the door and leaned against it as her mother swept into the room.
“Look at the holes in these walls.” Lillian strode into the kitchen and set her bag down on the table. “Now you find out being a landlord isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”
Emma watched as her mother reached a hand out to open a cabinet door and at the last second restrained the impulse. “I can’t believe you kept this place and even worse you’re living here. It’s a dump. It always was.”
“Mom! Don’t say that,” Lindsey exclaimed and stepped toward Emma.
“Your father had this silly, nostalgic love affair with this cottage. It was and is a money pit. Something was always breaking and whatever it was you could count on it being expensive.”
“I have fond memories of the summers we spent here,” Emma said feeling like she’d been sucker punched.
“You’re going to be uncomfortable here in the winter. It’s drafty and...”
“There’s coffee. Do you want some?” Lindsey asked darting across the kitchen. She retrieved a mug and poured the brew into it. “Here.” She handed it to Lillian and said, “I like the cottage. After the repairs are made it will be as good as new. When it’s fixed, I’d love to bring the boys here, Emma. They would love exploring it.”
Emma walked to the kitchen window. She glanced towards the lake and a smile broke over her face. “Remember the winter we were here on school break?”
“Yes! It was so cold the lake froze thick enough for us to be able to skate on it,” Lindsey said. “Wasn’t there a blizzard and we missed an entire week of school?”
“We went sledding down the hill onto the lake.”
“I haven’t thought of that in years. That was some of the best sledding I’ve ever done in my life.”
Lillian heaped two scoops of sugar into the coffee and clanked the spoon against the edges as she stirred it. “You should get this place fixed and sell it as fast as you can. Then you can cut your losses and move on.”
“Mom, I know you hate this place because it reminds you of Dad, but I happen to like it. I’m not selling it. Besides this is where I’m living.”