Blood Sisters

by Melody Carlson

  “Are you talking about the lake off of Rattlesnake Road? Wasn’t it called Parker Lake?”

  “That’s the one. Just as the timber industry started falling apart, Burt Morrison came in here with money from who knows where and bought up the whole darned thing, part and parcel, and immediately turned it into a private lake. No more public access. This made a lot of locals pretty mad. Then Morrison began selling off lots along the water. Well, some of us thought we’d get a piece of that beautiful lakefront property, but our money wasn’t good enough for Burt Morrison. Only racists need apply. We figured it all out pretty quick.”

  “So, are there really a lot of them?”

  “Not as many as there were in the eighties, but we still have the diehards.”

  “And is Hal Emery among those?”

  Martha rolled her eyes. “One of Burt’s best buddies.”

  “It’s all starting to make more sense. But I still have so many questions.”

  “Join the club.” She smiled. “Well, not the KKK Club.”

  Judith glanced around the old-fashioned kitchen. “What do you think has become of Aunt Lenore?”

  ”I have no idea. I just hope she’s all right.” Martha glanced at Judith’s bags still lying on the floor. “Are you going to be staying here?”

  “For now. Aunt Lenore wasn’t communicating very clearly, but she told me where the key was hidden and told me to go home and stay. I asked if she meant for me to stay at her house, and she said yes. So here I am. At least this way I can keep an eye on things for her and water her garden. I just wish I knew where she is and if she’s okay.”

  “Do you suppose she might still be at Crest View, but they’ve been told to say she’s not?”

  “You mean by the Morrisons?”

  “Who else?”

  “I suppose that’s possible. After all I’ve heard today, it sounds likely. I actually considered sneaking in there to see if I could find her.”

  Martha shook her finger at her. “You be careful, Judith. This might all sound like a fascinating suspense story to you, but these dangers are real. Morrison and his buddies honestly believe they rule this town. And I suppose in many ways they do.” Her voice grew sad. “Although it’s sure not much to rule anymore. Things have gone steadily downhill.”

  “That’s reassuring in itself.”

  “How’s that?”

  “Well, what if things had improved? What if the town was thriving amid all this hatred and bigotry? Wouldn’t that be awful?”

  Martha nodded. “Yes, you’re right.” Then she reached for her cane and began to stand. “I’m sorry I misjudged you earlier, my dear. I can see I had you pegged all wrong.”

  “Under the circumstances it was easy to do.”

  “Now, I think I’ll go put together a little welcome basket for Eli Paxton.”

  “Oh, that would be so nice. Unfortunately, he’s already been greeted by another kind of welcoming committee.”

  “Was it pretty bad?”

  “He didn’t say much, but I could tell he was hurt by it.”

  Martha reached over and grabbed Judith’s hand. “I feel so frightened for Eli.”

  “I know what you mean, but he knows what he’s stepped into.”

  “He will be in very real danger.”

  Judith didn’t want to think about that. “He says he wants to see things change around here. It’s as if he’s on a mission or something.”

  “Mission impossible, I’m afraid.” Martha made her way to the door. “Let me know if you learn anything about Miss Barker. I’d like to visit her if it’s at all possible.”

  “Yes, I’ll keep trying.” Judith glanced at her watch, realizing that it was already close to six and she had agreed to meet Adam back at the Pine Lodge Resort. She told Martha goodbye and then quickly dialed his number, hoping she might catch him before he left.

  “Hello?”

  “Adam? I’m so glad you haven’t left yet.”

  “Is this Judith?”

  “Yes.”

  “Have you got a cell phone I can call you on?”

  “Yeah, sure, but why?”

  “Never mind, just give me the number.”

  She gave him the number, hung up Aunt Lenore’s phone, then turned on her cell phone and waited, hoping the battery wasn’t dead.

  “Hi,” he said. “Sorry about that, I’ll explain later. Looks like you were calling from Lenore Barker’s place. Is she back home yet?”

  Once again he caught her off guard. “Caller ID, right? But how did you know Miss Barker is gone?” Still unsure if she could trust him, she was careful not to call her Aunt Lenore.

  “As I said before, it’s my job to know stuff. But if Miss Barker’s still gone, then what are you doing at her place?”

  “She invited me to stay here.”

  “When did you see her?”

  ”A few days ago. Hey, are we playing the question for a question game? Because I think you owe me about five by now.”

  He laughed. “Sorry about that. And you can ask me as many as you like.”

  “Really?”

  “Sure, why not. I didn’t say I’d answer them.”

  “Well, I was calling to suggest that perhaps we could meet in town instead of over in Jasper since—”

  “Nah, we can’t meet in town, Judith.”

  “Well, I suppose you want me to drive back over to Jasper then...” The idea of getting in her car and going didn’t sound appealing.

  “No, I have another idea. Why don’t you just come over to my place.”

  “Your place?” What was this all about? “I don’t even know where you live.”

  “Go out onto the back porch.”

  “What?”

  “Come on, just do it.”

  So she went out on the back porch and stood there. feeling a little silly. “Okay, I’m out here.”

  “Now look out toward the back fence.”

  She looked out over Aunt Lenore’s garden to see hands waving over the back fence. “Is that you?” she asked.

  “Yep.”

  “You mean you live on the other side of the fence?”

  “That’s right. Now if you walk back to where that big lilac bush is, over in the corner, you’ll see the secret pass-through.”

  Smiling, she walked around the garden and over to the lilac bush, and there she noticed a couple loose boards pushed aside to reveal an opening of about a foot, just wide enough for a child or small adult to slip through.

  “Come on over.” he called from the other side of the fence.

  She pushed back some lilac branches and eased herself through the opening, her cell phone still next to her ear.

  “You can hang up now,” he said with a big grin as she emerged on the other side.

  She looked around his yard. “This is pretty back here,” she commented as she turned off her phone and admired the cool shady place. “This cedar tree is gigantic.”

  He looked up at the green canopy overhead. “Yeah, I kinda like it. It’s what sold me on this place.”

  “Do you own it?”

  “Nah, just renting.” He nodded over to where a picnic table was situated next to a barbecue. “Want to join me for dinner? I could throw some steaks on.”

  Suddenly she felt uncomfortable, as if this relationship could be heading to places she had no intentions of going. “Oh, I don’t know...”

  “Hey, Dad!” A teenage boy stuck his head out the back door and saw them. “Oh, sorry, I didn’t know you had company.”

  “Come on out here, Josh.” Adam motioned him over.

  “What’s up?” The tall, gangly youth walked across the yard.

  “Someone I’d like you to meet. Judith, this is my son Josh.” He pointed over the back fence. “Judith lives over there.”

  She stuck out her hand. “Nice to meet you, Josh.”

  “Yeah, you too. But I thought an old lady lived over there,” said Josh.

  Judith smiled. “Miss Barker does live ther
e. I’m just her houseguest right now. Taking care of things until she can come home.”

  “Is she sick?”

  “Something like that.” Judith peered over to Adam, wondering if she’d get a chance to ask him some questions about Aunt Lenore.

  “I invited Judith to join us for dinner,” said Adam.

  “I thought you were going out tonight.”

  “I decided to stay home. You up for a grilled steak?”

  Josh smacked his lips. “Sounds good to me.”

  Adam looked back to Judith now. “So, will you join us?”

  She smiled. “Sure, why not? How about if I bring a salad? I noticed some things are ready to be picked out in Aunt Lenore’s garden.”

  “Aunt Lenore?” Adam repeated.

  “Is that old lady your aunt?” asked Josh.

  “Sort of,” said Judith. “What time shall I come over then?”

  “Give us about thirty minutes,” said Adam. “If we don’t have it together by then, we’ll just put you to work.”

  “Sounds fine.”

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  DEAR GOD, ARE YOU even listening to me? Do you know that I’m thinking about running away today, or someday real soon? I seen this show on Miss Molly’s TV about a girl not much bigger than me that runned away to find her dad. She even had to pretend like she was a boy and hop a train and everything. But I think I could act like a boy and do all that stuff if it would help me find my mama. I think I look like a boy anyway since Carmen cut my hair all off short and nappy. But if I runned away, I’m just not sure which way I would go to find my mama. I did find this cool backpack “neath the stairs that I can use to put my stuff in. I showed it to Miss Molly just in case it was stealing for me to take it.. But she wrinkled up her nose and said, “Someone just left that there for trash, Pearl. Now if you be a smart girl you won’t even touch it, “cause God only knows where it’s been.” But I don’t care. I scrubbed and cleaned it all up in the bathtub and, excepting for one strap that’s broke, I think it’s cool. I hid it “neath my bed, and when I’m ready to run away from here I’ll put all my stuff in it and I’ll put that one strap over my shoulder and I’ll just go.

  Dear God, I’m trying real hard to remember my mama “cause it’s been such a long, long time since I seen her. But maybe you could help me out a little. Do you know where she is? Can you tell me? Sometimes just when I’m waking up after a good dream I can remember playing with my mama in this place where there was lots of green grass, just like a great, big tickly rug “neath my bare feet. And there was lots of pretty things a growing there—bushes and flowers and trees and such—not like nothing around here, “cepting the park, and I only been there once when I sneaked off with Sharista, then got beat real bad when I come home. But 1 think that pretty place is where I lived with my mama one time. Unless it’s just heaven, and I’m just a dreaming about heaven. “Cause Miss Molly says heaven’s real pretty like that. But I think I’m just remembering what used to be my home. I just don’t know why it ain’t my home no more. What went wrong? Did my mama quit wanting me around? I can’t remember my daddy at all, God. Did I have me a daddy? I heard Carmen telling Larry I ain’t got no daddy when he said they should go give me back to my daddy since they ain’t heard nothing from my mama in ages. And then Larry said if they don’t hear nothing from my mama by next week, he’s gonna throw me and Carmen both outta his apartment for good. So Carmen’s been real mad at me all week. I’m just trying to stay outta her way. But I don’t know how to make my mama come back. You know I would, God, if I could. Couldn’t you just help me out a little bit here?

  Miss Molly keeps telling me to keep saying my prayers. And sometimes it feels like all I do is pray and pray all day long. But nothing’s getting any better. I told Miss Molly I’m pretty sure that Carmen and Larry both hate me, and she says if them two don’t start treating me better, she’s gonna call the authorities. I don’t know what the authorities is, but the way she says them words scares me inside. I don’t want no authorities coming in here and making more trouble. Seems to me I’ve got trouble enough as it is. So now I don’t tell Miss Molly no more about what Carmen and Larry do. I just keep it to myself. And I just keep trying to tiptoe around here, pretending I’m invisible and hoping I don’t make no one too mad at me. And I’m afraid to go visit Miss Molly these days “cause I’m worried she might call them authorities to come make trouble.

  Dear God, I’m trying real hard to believe in you the way Miss Molly say I should. But I don’t never hear you talking to me none. I talk and talk and talk to you. And I guess the truth be it does make me feel better, some. But, even if you be listening, God, and I’m not entirely sure you is, it just don’t seem like you’ll ever answer my -prayers. Won’t you please do something, God? Won’t you please help me find my mama and get me outta here? Won’t you, please, remember me, your little Pearl? Amen!

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  FOR SOME REASON JUDITH had assumed that Adam Ford, like her, was single and alone in the world. She had no idea why. Perhaps it was his abrupt mannerisms or his independent spirit, but seeing him just now with a teenage son was a sharp contrast to her prior image of him. And since there was indeed a son, it now seemed quite likely there might also be a wife. But why she even wasted time thinking about these insignificant things bothered her a bit. She just shook her head and continued to tear pieces from the fresh, leafy heads of red and green lettuces, then carefully, still mindful of her stitched up hand, she sliced tomatoes and cucumber and green onions—all just picked from Aunt Lenore’s garden. Then, after mixing some oil and vinegar dressing, she went to freshen up.

  Feeling like an intruder in Aunt Lenore’s little bathroom, she was careful not to move anything out of place. But even as she used the little rose-shaped soap and dried her hands on the tiny linen finger towel, she found her eyes searching the quaint old bathroom, looking for that missing box. Of course, she suspected the box would be too large to be in this compact space, but just the same she opened the cupboard door and discreetly poked around the old linens and ancient boxes of soaps and toiletries—the kinds of things appreciative students give their teachers over the years. Judith, herself, had a few of these tokens at home. She smiled. Although her students could never afford much, when they gave a gift, it always seemed to come from the heart.

  Her half hour passed, she picked up her salad and dressing and crossed back over to the lilac bush, glancing over her shoulder just in case Martha might be looking and wondering what her new neighbor was up to. With no sign of anyone looking her way, Judith pushed back the loose boards and slipped through the fence to the other side.

  “Hello there.” she called out to Josh so as not to take him by surprise. “I hope it’s okay if I use the secret passageway again. It’s so much handier.”

  “Yeah, that’s fine. Dad just made a quick run to the store. I’m supposed to be watching the steaks, but I’m not real good at this. You wanna come take a look?”

  She went over to the barbecue and peered over his shoulder. “Actually, I’m kind of a novice myself. My late husband used to be pretty territorial about this sort of thing, but those look just fine to me. Maybe you could turn the gas down a little though, just to keep them from getting charred.”

  “Okay, thanks. So did your husband die?”

  “Yes, a couple of years ago.” She glanced over to the partially set picnic table. “Can I lend a hand here?”

  “Yeah, sure.”

  She set down her salad and began to arrange the plates and silverware, noticing that there were place settings for four. But who was the fourth person? Of course, she remembered, there must be a Mrs. Ford. She glanced back toward the house. Perhaps she was in there, right now, preparing something for their dinner. She wondered what Adam’s wife would be like. Maybe like Josh, fair and blue-eyed, tall and thin. Probably pretty. She studied Josh from a side angle as he focused his attention on the grill. Although different than Adam, she could see traits of his fath
er in him. And he was a good-looking young man. She wondered how old he might be. Looked to be late teens perhaps, but it was hard to say at this age.

  Then, without warning, thoughts of her own dear Jonathan assailed her. Perhaps the two boys would’ve been about the same age. Jonathan would’ve turned eighteen last January, and he would’ve graduated from high school this spring. It was something she hadn’t even allowed herself to think about at the end of the school year—had, in truth, almost totally blocked it out. In fact, the pain was so real that she’d completely ignored a graduation announcement from one good friend’s daughter. She found herself staring at Josh with wonder. “How old are you, Josh?” she asked, hoping her voice sounded normal, nonchalant, just making idle conversation to pass the time.

  “I’ll be eighteen next month.” He turned and grinned. “Just graduated, and now I get to do whatever I want.”

  She swallowed hard. He was the same age as Jonathan. She managed to force a smile. “And what would that be?”

  “I don’t really know. I just know I’m not ready to go on to college yet. And that’s really ticking my dad off. I mean, he just doesn’t get it.” He flipped a steak over.

  She nodded, hoping her eyes didn’t appear overly bright. “So what do you want to do then?”

  “Mostly, I’d just like to take a break and figure stuff out. You know, work and save up some money, then maybe travel a little, go surfing in Hawaii. I’m not real sure yet.”

  “I think that sounds like a good plan.”

  “You do?”

  “Yeah, I think too many kids just automatically head off to college without knowing exactly what they’re going for. What’s wrong with taking some time to think about what you want out of life? I mean, really, what’s the big hurry?”