Forever (32 page)

“I’ll call you. Thanks, Dave, for helping me get my head on straight.”

“No problem.” He picked up his bag, slung the strap over his shoulder, and grabbed Tom in a bear hug. “I love you, T. J.”

Tom’s only response was a murmured, “Yeah.” They walked together to the end of the porch. As Tom watched Dave head toward the car his throat tightened. Dave’s comment about their mother hiding her feelings echoed in his head. He cleared his throat and called after his brother, “I love you too, man. Have a safe trip.”

Without turning back, Dave gave him a thumbs up.

Tom lit a cigarette and watched Eric’s car until it disappeared around the first turn. As he stood there, the rain stopped, and the sun broke through. Because he couldn’t face the sudden silence of the cabin, he walked down to their bench at the edge of the lake to sit in the sun and have a smoke.

Julie had texted again. She’d arrived at LAX hours before her flight took off and would have a layover in St. Louis. She must be exhausted, and she would be too keyed up to nap on the plane. At best, she wouldn’t arrive at the cabin until six o’clock. Her plan was for him to wait here. She would take a taxi from the airport to the house, pick up her car, and drive out to the lake. He’d offered to meet her flight, but she said she wanted to see Lindsay at the house anyway.

He wished he could skip over the rest of the day. The conversation with Julie this evening would be gut wrenching. Emotional. And he feared, in the end, Julie would decide she didn’t love him after all.

He stubbed out his cigarette and started to stand. He froze halfway. A thought had crossed his mind so clear, so brilliant it was almost visible—
Annie’s truly out of my life
. He felt one second of relief before he was hit with another flash of clarity. He pictured Julie’s face as she’d looked at those photos. The so-called evidence had disappeared, but he hadn’t denied to her the truth of what she’d first seen.

With a groan, he dropped back onto the bench. He would have to watch Julie’s face as he confessed it, explained it—if he
could
explain how he’d come to be dry-humping Annie on the car in—

Flash
.

It had been dark in the back lot that night. One of the security lights was burned out, and he’d been grateful for that small degree of privacy. How had Eddie managed to get photos of them? He damned sure hadn’t been standing beside them with a camera.

Flash
.

He recalled the court papers in Annie’s hands the day she gave them to him. Though she said they showed an inventory of Jacob’s belongings, no such inventory was recorded on those pages. He’d seen that himself. But like what Julie had seen in the photos, could what Annie have read been only what she
perceived
to be there? Julie had been . . . what? Hypnotized? Did Eddie use the power of suggestion to make her see what he wanted her to see? It all fit until he remembered a key factor—Annie didn’t know Eddie, so he had no power of influence over her.

Jeezus, what’s going on here
?

Tom paced the lake shore until the rain returned, and then he went inside to pace through the cabin. He was frustrated by the feeling that although he had the blueprints in his hands, he couldn’t visualize the finished house. Something was short-circuiting all the connections.

* * *

Because her heart started hammering at the first ring of the phone, Annie knew whose voice she would hear before she answered.

“Annie,” Tom said. “Please. Listen to me carefully.”

If she closed her eyes she could almost pretend he was there, whispering into her ear. “Hello, Tom.”

“There’s a lot of weird stuff going on. I don’t understand it, or who’s doing it to who. Part of it, the part I did to you, I want to apologize for.”

In her mind, Annie felt that familiar little nudge and welcomed it. “I love you,” she mouthed.

“I’m still trying to figure out how this got so out of control. I let myself get carried away with that reincarnation business, I guess, and I led you to believe there could be . . . something between us.” He paused, but when Annie said nothing he went on. “I don’t expect you to forgive me. There’s no way you could, but I’m sorry for what I’ve put you through. You don’t des—”

“Where are you?”

“What? I’m at the cabin . . . at the lake, but that’s not important. Are you listening to what I’m saying?”

“Yes. Go ahead.”

“I wasn’t thinking about what was best for you. I . . . I’m not sure what I
was
thinking half the time. But I know, now, that I’ve hurt you . . . emotionally. I’m ashamed of that. And I need to make sure you understand that we can never see each other again.”

“Did you drive your truck to the lake?”

“Yes, but—Annie you’re not listening. I need to ask you something important. Have you ever met a guy named Eddie Bond?”

“Sure. Your friend.”

“My—oh, God. No, Annie, he’s not my friend. He’s not anyone’s friend. He’s danger—”

“Don’t worry. I’m here for you, Tom.”

“What are you talking about?
Goddammit
. Listen to me! Whatever Eddie told you is a lie. Stay away from him. Do you understand?”

“Oh, yes, I understand everything.”

Annie hung up the phone.

Kate exploded. “I don’t even need to guess what he said; I heard him yelling. He tells you it’s over because he loves his wife, then he fucks you, then doesn’t call you for days, and now he’s discovered he really loves his goddam wife after all and never wants to see you again.”

“Oh. It’s nothing like that,” Annie said. “He called to tell me he’s at the lake. But he’s confused.” She reached for her purse. “I know he loves me; he knows it too. I need to go to him.”

“You’re going out to the lake? Now?”

“Of course.” She flashed Kate a smile.

“Sissy, you’re . . . you’re lying to yourself. I think Tom’s just told you it’s over. Again. And if he decides he’s made a—”

“Mistake? Of course, he’s made a mistake. He’s confused right now. I told you that.”

“What the hell? You’re smarter than this. Can’t you see—”

Annie walked out the front door.

Kate ran after her. “You can’t go to him, Annie. You
can’t
.”

“Don’t be silly. Tom needs me.”

“Then give me the keys. Let me drive. You’re in shock or something.”

Annie laughed. “I’m not. Really. Everything’s going to be okay.” She climbed into the car.

While Annie started the engine, Kate ran around to the passenger side and jumped in. “I’m going with you. I think it’s a mistake for you to just show up at the lake. I don’t think Tom’s going to be happy to see you. You’ll need me.”

Annie was touched by Kate’s concern, but she wouldn’t need her for moral support. Kate didn’t know Tom like she did. At one time, Kate believed the two of them belonged together, but now she was acting like it was perfectly all right for them to be apart. That was crazy. She and Tom
did
belong together, they
had
to be, and if he’d lost sight of that temporarily, it was up to her to set things straight. He was confused. He was scared to make the break from his wife. This was all just a ridiculous misunderstanding. As soon as she held him in her arms again, he’d realize that.

She backed the car out of the driveway. They drove in silence, but Annie was aware Kate kept an eye on her. She wasn’t crying, she wasn’t even angry, and still Kate seemed to think she was irrational or something. Smiling, she reached out to pat Kate’s hand.

“Quit worrying, Kate. Everything’s going to be fine this time.”

“This time?”

Annie only smiled broader in reply and drove on. She was in a hurry to get there, but she drove only slightly above the speed limit. If she went any faster, Kate would think she was not in control and take the wheel from her. But she
was
in control. She was more in control now, than she’d ever been in her life.

They were halfway to the lake when Kate spoke. “Did Tom say it was over between you?”

Damn her!
Why did she keep harping on that? “No.”

Something in the dim recesses of Annie’s mind nagged her. Tom had said—
no. He didn’t say anything. Nothing at all like that.

Kate screamed and grabbed at the wheel. “You almost ran us off the road. Let me drive.”

Annie ignored Kate and kept her eyes fixed on the road ahead. Tom had said—
No.
He’d said, “We can never see each other again.”
Noooo.
Yes. Yes he had. He’d said exactly that. Her vision was blurred by tears, but she kept her foot on the gas.

“
Goddammit
.” Kate leaned toward Annie, screaming in her ear. “Slow down. Annie, stop this car!”

The tires squealed as Annie rounded a curve in the road. She was going to see Tom. She was go—

“Annie! Give him up.
Please
, Sissy. Can’t you see what this is doing to you? Let. Tom. Go.”

Annie felt something—some
thing
—inside her give way, and she began to shiver violently. She took her foot off the gas and, with Kate’s help, guided the car to the shoulder of the road. Annie killed the engine just seconds before a wave of nausea hit her. She opened her door and vomited on the ground beside the car.

“You’re in shock.” Kate handed her a fast food napkin from the center console. “Wipe your mouth and change seats with me. I’ll drive us home.”

Annie gave in without protest. There was nothing to protest, nothing to say, nothing to do, just everything to feel. Yet, all she felt was emptiness. And a craving for sleep.

“It’ll be all right, Sissy. You’ll get through this. You’ve survived worse.”

Annie wanted to ask her what could be worse than losing a chance for real love, but she didn’t have enough energy. She closed her eyes, and as she drifted in and out of sleep, dream images of Maggie and Jacob and Tom and blood mingled with half-glimpsed images of cornfields and road signs. She was vaguely aware of Kate talking to her from time to time, and thought she might have replied. When the increase of traffic sounds alerted her that they were back on Rockville Road and close to home, she struggled to wake herself fully. By the time Kate pulled the car into their driveway, she’d only half succeeded.

Kate led her inside and tucked her into bed. “I hate to leave you like this, Sissy, but I have to go by the beauty supply and then drop off some things at the salon. I won’t be gone long.” She turned to leave but then looked back at Annie and winked. “I’ll bring back a big carton of Rocky Road. How’s that?”

Annie smiled. “Health food.”

“Yeah.” Kate smiled back. “Emotional health food.”

* * *

For the second time that day, Tom awoke to a ringing phone.

“Dad. I just got home and—”

“Was Uncle Dave’s flight delayed because of the storm?”

“No, it left on time. I called to tell you something important. I listened to the answering machine messages. Mom’s doctor left one yesterday afternoon. Her
doctor
, not just someone in his office. He wanted Mom to call him ‘as soon as possible’ he said. He sounded serious, Dad.”

“Well . . .” He paused trying to remember if Julie had mentioned a doctor’s appointment. Had she been sick? He was ashamed to admit he had no idea. “I don’t think it’s anything to worry about. Pretty sure she went in for her annual physical, and he was letting her know everything’s fine.”

“You think so? I wish we could talk to Mom, what time did you say her plane lands?”

“Uh,”—Tom glanced at the bedside clock, shocked to see it was almost three o’clock—“her plane is supposed to land a little after five. You can tell her about the call when you see her.” He yawned. “Bye, baby girl.”

Almost
three
. But of course, it had to be that late if Lindsay had seen the flight off and then driven back home. The problem was he couldn’t remember lying down for a nap. He remembered sitting on the sofa trying to decide if Annie had taken his phone call seriously or not. She’d seemed so vague it was like they were having two different conversations. And then he’d returned to . . . to trying to figure out . . . something.
Damn
. Was it something about Eddie?

“And now it’s three o’clock and I still haven’t . . . there’s something I need to . . . Eddie is . . .”

* * *

Annie had napped and then woke, but Kate still hadn’t returned, so when she heard a sound at the door she rushed to it expecting to greet her sister. Instead, she found Eddie, smiling coldly at her. Behind him, her face bruised and swollen, her eyes empty, stood a middle-aged woman.

“Invite me in, my dear,” he said to Annie. Then, not waiting, Eddie grabbed the woman by the arm and pushed their way into the living room.

He gave the woman a shove toward the sofa. “Sit, you stupid bitch.”

Standing by the open door, Annie spoke, her voice muted in fear. “What do you want?”

“First, I want you to get the hell away from that door. Shut it. Lock it. You’re not going anywhere.”

The familiarity of such a threat woke Annie’s conditioned response to make things easier on herself by doing what she was told. She shut and locked the door.

Eddie carefully arranged the creases of his slacks as he took a seat across the room. He rested his elbows on the arms of the chair, pressed his steepled fingers lightly under his chin and looked around the room once before coming back to Annie. His cold, steady gaze molested her. A whimper shook loose from somewhere deep inside her. The corners of his lips curved up at the tiny sound, and it chilled her to see that this time the smile lit his eyes. She began to tremble.

“M-m-my si-sister sh-sh-should b-be b-back any m-minute.” She glanced toward the door.

He giggled. “Your sister is lying in a ditch.”

“K-k-kate?”

“Yes, K-k-kate,” he said. “Lying in a ditch naked, raped, sodomized, and mutilated—the deluxe package.”

She tried to shake his words out of her head but succeeded only in turning her whimpers into a sob.

“She tasted so much sweeter at fourteen.”

Annie’s brow creased.

“Oh, that’s right . . . she never told you. I was her first.” Eddie’s mouth and eyes rounded in amazement. “I was her first
and
her last. Isn’t that just perfect?” He cackled with delight.