Part 33 (1/2)
”Like what?”
”A piece of paper.”
”Oh, Christ, Dad. What on Earth are you talking about?”
”Never mind. Sorry to have disturbed you, Paul.”
John heard the sarcasm slip into his voice. He didn't intend it, but Paul's moodiness had started to irritate him.
”Door, Dad.”
Biting his tongue, John banged the door shut behind him.
2.
Paul glared at the ceiling. Why had Miranda left home? He couldn't believe she'd do a thing like that? She'd always lived harmoniously with her parents. And if she had left, why hadn't she told Paul she was going? He'd gone head over heels for Miranda; now she'd simply upped and left. And if Miranda were a runaway, as her mother had implied, would the police be involved? Miranda was almost seventeen. It wasn't as if she was a child. She'd be able to find a job and a place of her own to live.
But, and he found the truth as hard to swallow as a rock, she'd abandoned him; dropped him like a s.h.i.+tty bit of rag. When it came down to it he didn't know what hurt most: Miranda vanis.h.i.+ng or the rejection. Gritting his teeth, he rolled over and pushed his face against the pillow. He'd never experienced anything like this before. This was sheer f.u.c.king agony. He'd fallen in love for the first time and lost the girl all in the s.p.a.ce of a week. Christ, this was torture. But the worst thing was he knew he couldn't do a d.a.m.n thing about it.
3.
The sun burned ferociously. Sam slunk off into the shade in the orchard. All John could see of him was a dog-shaped shadow glued to a pink tongue. The mill pond mirrored the sky. b.u.t.terflies streamed across the meadow; psychedelic splashes of color on the wing.
John still drew a blank on the fourth letter. He was certain one had arrived. He was equally certain a member of his family had moved it. But where?
By three thirty Elizabeth was home. She changed into a swimming costume. At first she wanted to paddle in the lake. John told her that was a definite No-No. The sides of the lake were steep; in no time at all she'd be in too deep. Elizabeth compromised, playing with the garden hose, watering the trees, then herself, then the dog.
Paul stayed in his room. John found the silence ominous. Any moment he expected to hear the crash of furniture against the walls.
The lock on the brief case wouldn't budge. Like its big brother mechanism up at the sluice gate, what should be moving parts stolidly refused to move. Whatever secrets the case contained weren't going to be revealed yet.
A little after five Val turned the car into the driveway.
He greeted her with a kiss. ”Had a good day?”
She unb.u.t.toned the top of her blouse. ”A hot one. I'm going to peel these clothes off and have a cold shower.”
”Want any company?”
”A cold shower. Where I cool down and become calm and composed. Not all fired up and raunchy.” She laughed. ”And congratulations on the new book deal. You deserve it.” For a while they talked about the book, and whether it would be tempting fate too much by booking an overseas trip on the strength of the advance. Then as they walked to the house John told her about Paul.
”I haven't seen him lose it like that before,” John said. ”I thought he was going to kick the kitchen to pieces.”
”He's growing up, John. He's having to learn how to handle new experiences.”
”But he's seventeen. I'd have thought he'd be growing out of adolescence.”
”John, not everyone keeps such a tight grip on their emotions as you, you know?”
John shot her a double take. ”Are you saying I'm repressed or something?”
”No, just controlleda goodness it's hot.” Pulling a c.o.ke from the refrigerator, she rolled it against her forehead. Perspiration rolled down her throat, to moisten the neck of her blouse. ”Maybe I should shave off all my hair,” she breathed.
”Maybe you should.”
”John?” She looked stung by his response. ”What's wrong?”
”Sorry. I didn't mean that.” He smiled, shrugging. ”Just one of those days, I suppose.”
”One of those days? You are joking?” Her eyes widened in surprise. ”Your agent closes your biggest book deal so far, and you say you've had a lousy day?”
”Well, maybe not lousy per se.” He forced a smile. ”But eventfula certainly eventful.”
”We're going to celebrate.”
”Of course we are.”
”How about a trip to London. Bright lights, big restaurants?”
”Now you talk my language.”
”All right. When?
”How about next weekend?”
”A bad time of the month.”
”Oh.”
”And we do want to celebrate every way we can, don't we?”
”Absolutely.”
She kissed him. He tasted salt on her skin from the perspiration. ”And I'm glad the book deal worked out, John.” She kissed him again. ”You know something?”
”What?”
”I think all our good luck's come at once.”