by Amy Reece
“Rather ironic, don’t you think, Mom? See you later.” I gave her a hug and kissed her on the cheek. “Get some rest, okay?”
***
“What was that about with your mom?” Jack asked. “What am I missing?”
So I filled him in on the big news. “And if you say, ‘way to go, Brian’, I will have to hurt you.”
He laughed. “Okay, I’ll save the high-fives for when I see him in person. Are you all right with this? With your mom getting married? With her having a baby?”
“Yeah, I am. I’m really happy for her and Brian. I’m going to be a big sister, Jack!”
“You’re going to be great big sister. Now, where should we go to celebrate us being us again? You look amazing, so let’s not let that go to waste.”
After some discussion, we finally decided to go to the Cooperage, a fairly expensive steakhouse with an enormous chuckwagon salad bar. I’m not even kidding about the name. I didn’t want him to spend so much on me, but he argued our getting back together was a worthy occasion. He also said they had a band playing on Friday nights and he wanted an excuse to dance with me and show me off. “Come on, querida. My cousin, Kenny, is the bass player and he’s been bugging me to go hear him. You know I’m going to win, so let’s save time. Give in now.” He said this last part while kissing my neck and jaw, which, as always, rendered me nearly incoherent.
“You don’t play fair,” I sighed. “Fine. We can go.”
***
Tara was beside herself when I texted her late Friday night to tell her Jack and I were back together.
Tara: OMG! Want 2 hear all about it! Coming over 2morrow.
Me: OK. Can’t wait to tell you. So happy!
Tara: So happy 4 U!
***
“Oh, God, Ally! That’s so romantic! I wish I had that kind of romance in my life.” She was sprawled across my bed early Saturday morning. She had actually shown up before I was even awake, my late night with Jack having caused me to sleep in later than usual.
After a month-long separation, we couldn’t stand to say goodnight and stayed at Village Inn, a 24-hour coffee shop, until close to 3 a.m. We talked and drank decaf, holding hands the entire time. He told me he was trying to find a way to build some sort of relationship with his dad, mostly for Megan’s sake. He said the main reason he had told me he needed time apart was because he was feeling so much hate in his heart toward his father he couldn’t reconcile the love he was feeling toward me. He had felt like he was being torn apart from the inside. He had actually started counseling in the last few weeks and felt like it was helping. His counselor was helping him understand and accept that he, himself, bore some of the responsibility for the damaged relationship; he couldn’t chalk it all up to fate or bad luck. He planned to keep seeing his counselor for the foreseeable future, which I thought was a great idea. He promised to talk to me from now on about what he was feeling and not pull away.
“From what I’ve seen,” I said to Tara, “you’ve got some romance going on. What is up with you and Mat, anyway?”
“I’m not really sure, actually. We’ve gone out a couple times, but after coming on so strong, he’s really taking it slow. He hasn’t even tried to kiss me! I don’t know, maybe he’s not as impressed as he thought he would be.” She tried for a nonchalant tone that didn’t fool me in the slightest.
“I’m positive that’s not what the problem is, Tara. The guy has been crazy about you for months. Could it have anything to do with the fact that he’s 20 and you’re only 17?” I rooted through my drawers for something to wear, finally settling on my favorite jeans and a t-shirt.
“Maybe. Manny and Trina sure raised those boys with a strong sense of right and wrong, huh? Is that the best you can do?” she gestured to my clothing choice.
I shrugged and motioned for her to take over. “Well, they got Jack kind of late, but yeah. I agree with you. Jack has such iron control,” I mused.
“Ooh, this sounds interesting. Do tell,” she pounced while handing me a denim skirt and chiffon blouse. I laughed. “Oh, no you don’t! We are not going down that path again. Suffice it to say my V-card is a bit more tattered than in the past, yet still intact.”
“Hot,” she said.
“Yeah, it was.” We both laughed. “So, what do you think about a double date sometime soon?”
“Yes! I was so bummed that right as I started dating Mat, you broke up with his best friend. Do you realize how cool it is that we’re dating cousins/best friends? God, we could be related someday, Ally.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” I warned.
“Oh, please. You and Jack are totally destined for wedded bliss.” She rolled her eyes.
“Oh, are you getting visions of the future now?” I asked, archly.
“I don’t need no stinkin’ crystal ball to tell me you and Jack are the real thing, sweetie.”
“Yeah, well the last month gave me some serious doubts about that.”
“Hey.” She came around the bed to hug me. “You’ve had a really tough time, but it all worked out. Jack’s had some major suckage in his life in the last few years. He’s so lucky to have found you, and if he doesn’t appreciate it from now on, I will have some interesting words for him.”
I laughed ruefully and hugged her back. “Thanks, Tara. I need a fan in my life.”
“Well, I’m your biggest. Don’t forget it.”
***
Rémy was also happy for me when he heard Jack and I were back together, although he couldn’t resist teasing me. “Ah, ma belle, and right as I was about to make my move. How shall I go on? All my hopes are dead!” he said this as he kissed both my cheeks Monday morning at school.
“Oh, whatever, you big tease.” I hugged him in return. “Thanks,” I whispered as I kissed his cheek.
“Yeah, Rémy, thanks,” Jack said, a bit grudgingly, while offering his hand. “Wow, that bruise looks like it hurts.” He gestured to where I had punched him.
Rémy shook Jack’s hand, smirked, and said, “It was worth it.” They stared at each other for a moment, obviously exchanging some mysterious bro-code, then both slowly smiled and nodded.
***
Brian returned from California and arranged to meet me after school. “Congratulations, Dad,” I said and hugged him in greeting. “You did good. Mom is about ready to burst from all the happiness.”
He laughed. “Thanks, Ally. I really do owe you one. Hey, I’m sorry about, you know—”
“Knocking up my mom?”
“No, I’m not sorry about that,” he said. “But it’s a bit awkward talking about it with your future stepdaughter. I hope it doesn’t embarrass you.”
“Nah. I’m a big girl. And I’m ridiculously excited about having a sister or brother. Are you ready for all these wedding plans Mom and Grams are getting into?”
He blew out a breath. “I don’t know. I’m hoping I can simply write the checks and show up when and where they tell me.”
I laughed. “That’s probably a good plan. Let them have their way.”
“Well, your mom has never had a wedding, and this will be her only one if I have anything to say about it. I want to her have her dream wedding,” he said quietly.
“You’re a nice guy, Brian Keller.” I punched him lightly on the arm.
“Even though I knocked up your mom?” he asked wryly.
“Hey, you have great taste. So, tell me how things went with the ex-Mrs. Moore in California.”
“It was pretty much a wasted trip. She didn’t have anything useful to add, but I still get the feeling she’s holding back for some reason. I did get contact information for her two daughters and will be trying to get in touch with them this week.”
“So, what’s our next step?”
“I want to talk to Scott Alder again,” he stated.
“Why? The guy is innocent.” I couldn’t tell Brian how I knew this, but I needed to make him understand this was a dead end. Mom and Grams wanted to wait to tell Brian abo
ut our ‘family gift.’ They didn’t think it would be a deal-breaker, but wanted to save the drama for later.
“Ally, I hate to tell you this, but in cases like this, nine times out of ten it is the husband or boyfriend that did it. They’re the ones with the motive.” He got out the file on Scott and opened it.
“Not this time. He loved her. Her disappearance destroyed him, Brian.”
“Maybe the guilt destroyed him, Ally. I have to follow up on this.”
“Fine, but I want to go with you.” I was adamant. I hoped to be able to ask questions that would show Brian that Scott had nothing to do with Ashley’s disappearance.
“Fine. Let’s go. He’s expecting us in about 20 minutes.”
***
This time we questioned Scott in his home. His wife, Anna, served us coffee and then sat beside Scott, scooting her chair possessively closer.
“I really don’t know what else I can tell you, Detective Keller. I told you everything I remember the last time you were here.”
“I need to go over it again, Mr. Alder. Why don’t you start at the beginning and tell us about your relationship with Ashley.” Brian took out his notebook.
Scott sighed and began. “Ashley and I met at the beginning of our sophomore year when she moved here to Albuquerque. She was so beautiful.” He stared down at the table, lost in his memories. Anna reached her hand over and placed it on top of his. He looked up and gave her a weak smile. “I was just a little punk-ass kid, but we became friends. I finally worked up the nerve to ask her out at the beginning of our junior year. I was shocked when she said yes. We were inseparable after that. And then she got pregnant.” He looked up at Anna and mouthed ‘sorry.’ Anna put her other hand on top of Scott’s and shook her head. “I wanted to get married right away. I was going to drop out and get a job, but she was adamant we both finish high school. She was never ashamed. I remember telling her parents. We stood before them, holding hands, and she said, ‘Mom, Dad, we’re going to have a baby. We love each other and we’re getting married right after graduation. Please try to be happy for us.’ Well, after a while they were. They were going to help us out so we could both go to college, at least part-time. We had it all planned out.”
“Tell me about that last day, the day Ashley disappeared,” Brian said when Scott paused.
Scott put his head in his hands, running them through his hair. “After school, I walked her to her locker and kissed her goodbye. She was going to walk home, like usual, because I had basketball practice. That was the last time I saw her. When I went by her house later to pick her up, she wasn’t there. Her mom had thought she was with me.”
“When did her mother call the police?”
“I think it was pretty soon after I got there, maybe within a half-hour or so.”
“And did you actually see her leave school that afternoon?” Brian followed up.
He shook his head. “No. I left her at her locker.”
I nudged Brian under the table and raised my eyebrows, silently asking if I could ask a question. Brian looked at me for a moment before nodding. “Scott, what about any ex-boyfriends of Ashley’s? Who did she date before you?”
“She went out a few times with a guy named Barry during her sophomore year. I don’t remember his last name. I hated that guy.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Because he was going out with the girl I wanted,” Scott said as if I should understand something so obvious.
“Well, how did he treat her?” I pushed. Brian gave me an exasperated look.
“I don’t know. He kind of showed her off, I guess. I thought it was messed up and I knew he wasn’t good enough for her.”
“How did they break up? Who did the dumping?” I pushed.
“She did. They didn’t go out very long. She got tired of it and broke it off.”
“How did Barry respond?” I leaned forward, looking at Brian to make sure he was getting this down in his notebook. He rolled his eyes and started writing.
“I don’t know. I wasn’t there. He had moved on to another girl by the next day, though.”
“So, he wasn’t jealous or anything?”
“It didn’t seem like it,” Scott replied.
“Okay,” Brian took over. “Mr. Alder, the problem is we only have your word for it Ashley left school by herself that day. Nobody saw her leave school. Nobody saw her walking home. Nobody saw her arrive home.”
Scott looked up, straight into Brian’s eyes. “I did not kill Ashley. I loved her. I was going to marry her,” he said fiercely.
“Don’t leave town, Mr. Alder. We’ll see ourselves out,” Brian said as we rose to leave.
***
As we drove away, I turned to Brian. “Listen. He didn’t do it. I know that for a fact. You are barking up the wrong tree. The real killer is still out there.”
“Ally, I know you like him, but he’s our best suspect. He’s the only one with any kind of motive.”
“What’s his motive? He was in love with Ashley!” I argued.
“It’s a heck of a way to get out of becoming a teen father,” Brian responded.
“He had no reason to want to get out of it! He was excited about the baby! He was still going to be able to go to college! Brian, there is no way he wanted to get rid of Ashley! Why can’t you see that?” I was exasperated.
“Ally, I’m sorry.” He shook his head. “We’re going to have to agree to disagree about this. Scott Alder continues to be our leading suspect.”
“Well, I guess I’m going to have to prove you wrong.” I crossed my arms and narrowed my eyes at him.
“I guess so. God, you’re a lot like your mom, you know that? But remember: you are absolutely NOT to question anyone without me, got that?”
“Yes, sir, Detective Keller, sir.” I saluted him.
“Smart ass,” he muttered.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“Only darkness, and darkness is cold. And maybe it’s better than the burning of the light.”
–Madeleine L’Engle
Tara wasted no time in planning a double date. So, Friday night Jack and I dutifully met her and Mat at the movie theater. After a fun, but ultimately forgettable film—at least there was less teen drama to put up with during this movie—we congregated at BJ’s Brew Pub for a late dinner. Unfortunate name aside, they served great veggie burgers, onion rings, and house-brewed cream soda, which we enjoyed while teasing Tara and Mat about how long it took her to finally agree to go out with him.
“I think she wanted to make me completely insane. That’s why it took her so long to say yes,” said Mat, putting his arm around Tara and pulling her close to kiss her hair. As far as I knew, he hadn’t yet tried to kiss her for real yet, and I knew this was frustrating Tara no end.
“Yeah, well maybe your insanity is what scared me off for so long.” Tara pushed him away playfully.
“You have no real idea of the depth of his madness,” Jack said, trying to sound serious. Mat threw an onion ring at him, which Jack caught and ate.
“No, the truth is you were discriminating against me because I’m not one of those college boys you usually date. You weren’t ready for what a real working man can bring you.” Mat had finished his EMT training in December and was now working full-time as a paramedic attached to a fire station. He had started a few weeks ago.
“Oh, and what exactly can you bring me?” Tara looked at him, disbelieving.
“I’ll tell you later, corazon. Better yet, I’ll show you.”
“Promises, promises,” she taunted. “You’re all talk, Jimenez.”
Mat got a slightly dangerous look in his eyes and leaned in to whisper something in Tara’s ear. Or maybe he was nibbling her earlobe, because she closed her eyes and bit her lip.
“Um, we’re still here, you two,” I said disgustedly. “Get a room.”
“Oh, now don’t be like that, Ally. Just because Jack doesn’t have my moves doesn’t mean you have to hate on me and my girl,” an
swered Mat with a very self-satisfied grin.
“Whatever,” said Jack as he leaned over and began to kiss me along my jaw and neck. I had my own moment of eyes closing and lip biting.
“Looks like Jack does okay in the ‘moves’ department,” Tara said wryly. “I certainly haven’t heard any complaints from Ally.
“Yeah, I taught my little cousin everything I know,” bragged Mat.
Jack pulled away and I could tell he was about to engage negatively with Mat, so to distract him I grabbed his jacket and pulled him back in for a real kiss. It was lovely and slow and left no room for thinking about anything else.
“Now who needs to get a room?” muttered Mat as we broke apart.
***
I texted Tara later that night.
Me: Call me if you’re home. I want to hear about it.
I had barely hit send when she called. “You little hypocrite,” she said in greeting. “I’m supposed to kiss and tell, but you can be stingy and keep all the good, juicy details about you and Jack to yourself?”
“Yes. I don’t see why you have a problem with that. Now spill!” I ordered.
She laughed. “Fine, but I expect some quid pro quo.”
“Okay, smarty pants. I’ll see what I can do. Now, did he finally kiss you or what?”
“Yes, he finally did.”
“That’s it? Seriously? When? Where? How was it?” I screeched.
“What do I get in return?” she taunted.
“Oh my God, Tara! I’m going to reach through this cellphone and strangle you!” There was only expectant silence from her end. “Fine. I will tell you exactly how Jack kissed me goodbye tonight. Deal?”
“Deal. Okay, my first kiss with Mat. Here we go: he pulled up in front of my house, turned off the engine, and turned to face me. He said, ‘Tara Scott, I joke around a lot, but I need to be serious for a minute. I’m nuts about you. I’m probably too old for you, but I don’t care. I want you to be my girlfriend. I want to be your boyfriend. And I really, really need to kiss you right now.’ I stared at him for a second, then I nodded. He took my face in his hands and laid his lips against mine, so gently. Oh, God, Ally! It was amazing. It was the best kiss I’ve ever had.”