“Tandi, when Dad comes home, you better not make him worse off than he is by bringing up this crap.”
“I better not?”
“I mean it.”
“What are you gonna do to me, Glynn? Put me in a headlock like you did when we were kids whenever I didn’t do what you wanted me to? Or, are you gonna tell Daddy on me? Oooo. I’m so afraid.”
“Tandi, what’s wrong with you?”
“You really wanna know? It’s you. It’s Daddy. It’s Jared. And . . . and . . . forget it.” She almost said Brent because he was proving to be no different. Plus, Glynn didn’t need to know Brent was back in her life. He would spit bullets. He never liked Brent, said he was a loser. The fact was, Glynn was the loser. In high school, he had lost the two hundred meter race to Brent, a freshman, more than once. He’d hated Brent ever since.
“Well, sis, it seems to me, you’re blaming every man in your life for your troubles.”
“That’s because you’re all bleeding me dry.”
“Stop being so melodramatic. Everyone isn’t beating up on poor Tandi.”
“You know, Glynn, you have never stood by me unconditionally. You’ve never—”
“That’s bull. Who do you think got Dad to let you go away on that ski trip to Aspen with your friends even after you stole my keys and backed my car into the side of the house? Dad wanted to kill you for that. Remember?”
“Okay, okay. That one time you—”
“More than that one time. How about the time you got sick in school from smoking and drinking that cheap liquor? Who took care of you?”
“I said okay. Maybe you were there for me a few times.”
“Wow, a whole big two times, huh, Tandi? I guess it would hurt you to admit that I’ve always been there for you. Maybe if you let go of some of your anger at Dad, then you might see that I’ve been a good brother to you.”
Tandi had to wonder if Glynn was right. Could her anger at Sporty have clouded her perception of Glynn? Growing up, he really hadn’t been a bad brother.
“But, Glynn, you’ve never taken me seriously about my real concerns about Dad or anything that really bothered me.”
“Tandi, you’re talking like you’re the only one who has problems. Have you ever asked me about my life? I’m not tiptoeing through any goddamn tulips on easy street.”
Okay, so he had her again. No, she hadn’t asked Glynn about his life because he seemed to always have it together. “Glynn, I’ve never seen you harried or indecisive or financially in need. Your house is always in order, and you always look so put together. I never thought for a minute you had problems.”
“How wrong you are, sis. If you ever gave me the time of day, you might know what my life is really like.”
“That’s not fair, Glynn. After you married Leah, it was you who didn’t have time for me. Leah and Leah’s family became your family.”
“That’s not completely true. Yes, Leah’s family is my family, but so are you and Jared and MJ. The question is, why haven’t we found time to be a family?”
“According to you, you’re always busy. You—”
“Tandi! We’re going in circles. We’re back to blaming each other.”
“That’s easiest, isn’t it? Look, Glynn, I need a break. I need to get away from my life.”
Glynn threw up his hands. “Fine. Do that. Run away. Then you’ll be exactly like our mother.”
“I didn’t say a damn thing about running away!”
“Oh, my mistake. I wasn’t sure what I heard, Tandi. I just wanted to make sure you weren’t talking about running off and leaving your son behind.”
Tandi thrust her fists on her hips. “How dare you say that! I’m nothing like our mother. I would never leave my son!”
“See that you don’t.”
“Glynn!” Tandi’s arms slammed to her sides.
“Calm down. I didn’t say you’d do what she did.”
“Well, I don’t even want you to insinuate it.” Tandi went to the front window and looked out. It had rained earlier as it had done on and off all week, and now the grass in the front yard looked greener, taller, but the warmth of spring was still weeks away. Shaking out her arms as if to release the pressure, Tandi then rolled her head from side to side, stretching out the tightness in her neck.
“Glynn, have we ever seen eye to eye on anything when it came to talking about our parents?”
“Yes. We both agree that we wish our mother hadn’t left us.”
He was right about that. How different would their life have been?
“What’s going on in your life, Tandi, now that you’ve left Jared? Are you seeing someone?”
“Why?”
“Just asking. Although, in my opinion, I think you should work things out with Jared. He’s a good man. I always liked him.”
“Then you get with him.”
“Don’t get cute. Are you seeing someone? Who is he?”
“None of your business.”
“That’s all right, little sis. I’ll meet the new man in your life sooner or later, just don’t walk in the door with Brent Rodgers.”
Tandi’s eyes almost popped out of her head. “What?”
“I know you didn’t forget that bum. You were stupid over him. The guy was a total dog.”
“He was not!” She couldn’t believe Glynn pulled Brent’s name out of thin air like that. “What about the tramps you went out with who Daddy had no problem with.”
“They weren’t his daughters.”
“It makes a difference? You were his son, Glynn. But never mind that. You told Daddy on me when I tried to climb out of my bedroom window to go meet up with Brent.”
“That’s because you almost broke your neck trying to lower yourself with an electrical extension cord tied around the leg of your bed. It wasn’t long enough or strong enough. If I hadn’t been out back emptying the garbage, you would have fallen and broken your stupid neck.”
“I could have made it.”
“That’s not the way it looked to me.”
“Well, Glynn, thanks to you, I couldn’t go out for a month, and I had to stay in my room without a television the whole time.”
“You’re still mad about that?”
“What do you think?”
“C’mon, Tandi.” Glynn stood. “I probably saved you from being raped that night. Brent had a bad rep.”
“Says you.”
“All the guys knew about Brent—old bang ’em and hurt ’em Brent. The girls who had some sense stayed away from him. You, you were a kid. You were so naive.”
There was that word again. Did everyone in the world think she was naive? What Glynn said about Brent, she knew nothing about. In high school, he never forced himself on her.
“In case you hadn’t noticed, Glynn, I’m far from naive now. I can take care of myself.”
“Well, just in case you can’t, sis, I’m always here for you. Now, can we still agree that you’ll stay here until Dad gets a little better and the home health aide settles in?”
“I’ve been thinking,” she said casually. “Iona Lewis has been visiting Daddy almost every day. Why don’t we talk to her about moving in?”
“Hell, no! Dad would have another stroke.”
“I don’t see why. He’s been going with her for years. He hasn’t stopped her from visiting.”
“But he doesn’t want her to move in, and in fact, he doesn’t wanna see her anymore. He told me he knows she only wants to marry him for his pension.”
“So,” she said, knowing Glynn wouldn’t want Iona Lewis getting her hands on Sporty’s house or bank accounts. “The woman deserves something for going with a scorpion all these years. She should move in.”
“No, Tandi. Dad is our responsibility. One of us has to be here.”
“That one being me, of course.”
“Do I have to tell you again that I can’t.”
“Then understand this, Glynn. I’m staying because my apartment hasn’t come
through yet. I’m also staying out of the goodness of my heart and because you won’t. But I’m warning you, I have no patience for that old man anymore. He better not pluck my last nerve.”
“Man, Tandi, I don’t know why you hate him so.”
“Man, Glynn, I don’t know why you love him so.”
Checkmate. They stood looking at each other, neither willing to explain as their reasons would never sway the other.
“Okay, sis, I have to get going. Give your brother some love.”
That mushy feeling Tandi got every time she hugged Michael Jared and thought about how much she loved him, she got when Glynn kissed her on the cheek and wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tightly. She kissed and hugged him just as tightly. When they pulled apart, both their eyes glistened.
“Love you, sis.” Glynn headed for the door. “Okay. The hospital bed should be here in a week. I’ll come over to help get Dad’s bedroom ready.”
Tandi retrieved the dust rag from atop the television. “I can’t wait.”
“Oh, by the way. Dad will be coming home in a hospital wheelchair. I ordered one of those motorized chairs. He’ll be able to operate it with a switch on the armrest with his good hand.”
A weak feeling crept up Tandi’s legs to her knees. She sat down on the sofa.
“I also ordered everything else the doctor suggested: the bedpan, the walker—”
“Just make sure the health aide is here the day he comes home.” Tandi cringed at the thought of having to empty Sporty’s bedpan.
“She’ll be here.”
“And make sure there’s a health aide scheduled for the evening hours.”
“There will be,” Glynn said, opening the door. “Tandi, I want you to take care of yourself.”
“I’m fine, Glynn.”
“No, you’re not. I’ve never seen you so on edge.”
“I said, I’m fine.”
“Okay,” Glynn said, not convinced. “Anyway, I’m gonna help you with Dad, don’t worry, but if it’s your breakup with Jared that’s still upsetting you, you have got to get yourself straight with him, one way or the other. Do you want me to talk to him?”
“Hell no. Glynn, I don’t want you to go anywhere near Jared. I don’t even want you talking to him.”
“Wait a minute, Tandi. I’m not gonna stop talking to the man—I’m not a kid taking sides. I won’t talk to Jared about you, because whatever’s going on, that’s between you and him, but I’m not gonna stop talking to Jared, man to man. Like I said before, I like him. He’s all right with me. Look, I’ll call you tomorrow.”
Tandi hated to admit it, but Glynn was right. Just as it was for Michael Jared, she had no right to sever the relationship that Glynn and Jared had. This wasn’t his battle. Tandi slumped back against the sofa cushion. She really was exhausted. She couldn’t remember the last time she had spoken this long with Glynn. Maybe she needed to do that more often. Besides Michael Jared, Glynn was her only family. As far as she was concerned, Sporty was a question mark.
Glynn stepped out onto the stoop and almost bumped into Evonne.
“Hi, Glynn. Remember me?”
Tandi snapped to attention.
“Sure, Evonne. It’s been a long time, but I’d never forget you. You’re looking good.”
“So are you.”
“Tandi’s inside.”
Tandi made a mad dash for the door to try and lock it before Evonne could step inside. She didn’t make it. Evonne was already inside. She was dressed in a blood-red blazer and a short black skirt, looking every bit the viper she was.
32
“Tandi, I have to explain what happened.”
“You can’t. What you did is inexplicable.”
“I know, and I’m sorry.” Evonne pushed the door closed, the lock clicked when it caught.
“You weren’t acting like you were so sorry the morning I caught you in bed with Jared. In fact, you had a disgustingly smug look on your face, like you had gotten over on me.”
“That wasn’t smugness, that was shock, and I wasn’t trying to get anything over on you.”
“Not from my vantage point, Evonne. You seemed to be quite satisfied with what you had done.”
“Well, I wasn’t. I couldn’t believe what Jared and I had done.”
“Yeah, right.”
“Tandi, I know you hate me, but we’ve been through so much together. I would never, purposely, do anything to hurt you. I was drunk. That night was a mistake.” Evonne pressed her fingers to her forehead. She closed her eyes as tears squeezed between her lashes.
Tandi back-flipped her hand. “Cut the drama. I’m not buying it.”
Evonne’s tears dried up. “Tandi, I truly hate what happened, but I was trying to be a friend.”
“Gosh, Evonne, I don’t know if I can stand having a friend like you. Why don’t you get the hell outta here before I lose my snootiness and kick your ass.” Tandi fixed as threatening a glare as she could muster on Evonne. She really did want to kick Evonne’s ass, but she just couldn’t see herself clawing and shrieking like some mud wrestler over a man who’d cheated on her a second time and in her own bed no less. Tandi went to the door. She yanked it open.
The tears that filled Evonne’s eyes this time were real. “Ah, c’mon, Tandi. You know I wouldn’t, purposely, do anything to hurt you. You—”
“Just leave, Evonne! I don’t ever wanna see you again.”
Evonne turned away from the door. She wiped her eyes. “You didn’t say that last year when you neglected to draw up and have your client sign that Property Condition Disclosure Statement before he left town . . .”
Tandi’s grip on the doorknob tightened. “Digging deep, aren’t you?”
“. . . If I recall, you were soo happy to see me after you called me, all hysterical, because the buyer had signed the contract of sale, and sin of sins, the lawyer realized there was no Property Condition Disclosure Statement in the folder. That’s a legal, binding document, but you know that, don’t you, Tandi? The whole deal could have fallen through and worst of all, that lawyer could have reported you and your agency to the Department of State’s Division of Licensing Services. You were clearly in violation of Article 462, sweetie, which every seasoned broker and salesperson in the State of New York knows like the back of their hand. You and your agency could have lost your license if it wasn’t for me.”
“Couldn’t wait to remind me of that, huh?”
“Actually, I’m reminding you of how good a friend I’ve been. I put my own career on the line by drawing up that bogus disclosure statement and forging that man’s signature, and getting it to you before that meeting ended. I did that for you, Tandi, and that’s been our little secret. I bet your precious Jared doesn’t even know about it. You wouldn’t want him or anyone to know you did anything illegal, would you?”
Tandi closed the door. She had been desperate that day. She had forgotten the disclosure statement and with her client, the seller, being out of town, and herself being stuck in the meeting with the buyers and their lawyer, she had no way of getting a statement drawn up. She had excused herself from the meeting under the pretense that she was calling her office to have the document, which she said she had on file, brought over. Instead she had called Evonne on her cell phone and asked her what to do. It had been Evonne’s idea to draw up the disclosure statement as well as to sign it. Tandi knew it was wrong, but there was too much at stake, and no one was ever the wiser. Looking back on it now, she was ashamed of what she had done, but what choice did she have?
Evonne unbuttoned her blazer. “After all I did for you, you can’t give me five minutes to explain what happened between me and Jared?”
Folding her arms, Tandi leaned back against the door. “That’s just it, Evonne, what you did for me was business. What you did with Jared was personal.”
“Perhaps, but what happened with Jared wasn’t planned. When Jared called and asked me to come over, I went because he said he needed someone to
talk to.”
“And I’m supposed to believe it was you he needed, right?”
“He said he needed to talk to someone who could give him insight into what you were feeling. Tandi, I swear, I tried to get him to understand why you left, and I was trying get him to see what he had to do to get you back.”
“So you climbed in bed with him to show him what to do?”
“Damn, Tandi, it wasn’t like that. We talked for a long time. It was late, and I guess Jared didn’t want to be in the house alone. He suggested we go out to some bar he knew.”
“Jared doesn’t go to bars.”
“He wanted to go that night. I went along just in case he drank too much. And, Tandi, if you’re honest with yourself, no matter how angry you were with Jared, you would not have wanted him to drive drunk.”
“Now that’s interesting. I would not have wanted you sleeping with him either, but that didn’t stop you but a second.” Tandi stepped away from the door. “Evonne, let me tell you why what you’re saying doesn’t make sense. In all the years I’ve been with Jared, I have never seen him drunk. He’s a social drinker. He doesn’t drink to get drunk.”
“He did that night. I was there. If I hadn’t been there, no telling what could’ve happened to him.”
At that, Tandi couldn’t help chuckling cynically. “If he were as drunk as you say, he might’ve slept in his car or in the gutter, but he didn’t have to, did he? Not when my best friend, Evonne, was there to watch over him.”
Evonne sucked her teeth.
“You’re such a kind, considerate friend, Evonne.”
“That’s exactly right, Tandi. I proved that to you a year ago, and I proved it with Jared.”
“Oh my God. You actually believe that?”
“It’s the truth. Where I went wrong was, I started to drink, too, and maybe I drank a little too much.”
Distant Lover Page 18