First Time (7 page)
“See you tomorrow,” Lynn calls out the window to Chad. We wave, they wave, as Lynn pulls away from the curb. I want to turn around and watch them walk back into the building, but I don’t.
Chapter Seventeen
When we pull up to my house, all the lights are blazing. Which is odd. It’s after eleven. Mom’s usually in bed by now. The good news is I won’t have to deal with Larry. His car’s not in the drive, so he must have gone home.
“Wonder what’s going on,” Lynn says as she puts the car in park and sets the emergency brake.
“I don’t know,” I say, but my stomach’s not feeling particularly settled. “Maybe you better not come in.”
“But I was going to sleep over.”
“I know,” I say. “But maybe you better not.”
Mom steps out onto the porch, her terrycloth robe tight around her to keep the late-night chill away. Her arms are crossed in front of her chest. This is not a good stance for her to be in. This is her you’re-in-big-trouble-young-lady stance.
“Yeah,” I say, my nerves rising to my throat. “I definitely think you should go home. She’s pissed.” I can’t see her foot, because it’s outside the pool of light she’s standing in, but I’d bet good money that it’s tapping.
“Okay,” Lynn says. “I wonder what she’s mad about.”
“I don’t know,” I say, but I do. That asshole, Larry, must have filled her ear with a bunch of lies. I can only hope that she’ll believe me when I tell her the truth.
I get out of the car. It’s like I’m watching someone else move my body.
I hear Lynn say, “Call me when it’s over. I’ll put my cell on vibrate so it won’t wake my mom.” I feel my head nod. I start walking toward the porch. I can see my mom’s eyes flashing fire from here. I keep walking. I hear Lynn’s car reverse, back up and then head down the drive. I reach the porch. I climb the stairs.
“You have a lot of explaining to do, young woman,” my mom says, her voice terse. “Inside. Right now.” She holds open the door and I walk inside. The door slams shut behind me. The sudden adjustment, from darkness to the glaring brightness of the kitchen lights hurts my eyes.
Mom stalks past me to the living room. I follow. This is the room she always has the serious family meetings in. It is where she told me my grandfather had died. The one in which Mom and Dad informed me they had decided to get a divorce.
“Sit down,” she says. I sit on the sofa. She doesn’t sit. She paces in front of the
night-filled picture window. She stops suddenly and turns to face me.
“I trusted you,” she says, and I can hear the anguish in her voice.
“I know, Mom,” I say. “I didn’t mean to. Honest!”
“Didn’t mean to? Ha!” She laughs, derisively. “What do you take me for? A fool?”
“Mom,
listen
. He came into my room.
Yes
, I invited him, but I thought it was you! I swear to God, Mom. I wasn’t coming on to him. I don’t even like him, for God’s sake! You have to believe me.”
And for the second time tonight, I find myself crying. Only this time, I’m crying hard. Choking on words and spit. “I never would want to hurt you, Mom.
Ever
. I don’t know how it happened...”
“Wait. What are you talking about?” Mom’s voice is sharp.
“Larry. That’s why I locked my room. Not ‘cause I was smoking p—”
“Back up! Back up!” My mom’s on the sofa now. I feel her hands on my shoulders,
shaking me slightly. “What are you talking about? Haley, honey, it’s okay. Whatever it is, you can tell me.” Her voice is softer now. I can see the edge of her chin as she bends a little, trying to look into my face.
“What...what were
you
talking about?” I’m suddenly so confused.
“I was talking about the condoms.”
“The what?”
“The condoms, honey. The ones Sondra saw you buying at Shoppers Drug Mart this afternoon. Now, don’t get me wrong. If you are having sex, I’m grateful that you are using condoms. It’s just that...”
She breaks off. I glance up at her face, and it’s like someone slugged me in the stomach. All of the sunshine from this afternoon has drained out and there is nothing left but this deep weary sadness.
“Now,” she says, taking my hands in her soft, cool ones, “it’s okay to tell me. It’s important, baby. I need to know.” Her gray-blue eyes catching and holding mine. “What happened with Larry?”
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