“Dude, your husband’s a dick. I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be a bitch, but seriously.” Sara glanced at me with the squinty eyes she wore when she was frustrated while she pressed the soil down on the plant she just repotted.
“I know,” I admitted and handed her the next batch of flowers that she was inserting into a bigger pot.
“I mean, I don’t know if I buy your theory either, but he had no right to call you stupid for worrying.” She looked past me as she spoke and trained her eyes on Mama, who was sitting in a lounge chair on the back porch, far enough away so she was unable to hear our conversation, staring into space.
“Maybe I’m wrong and it’s just some weird coincidence, but I can’t shake the feeling.” I tried to downplay my worry, but the truth was, I didn’t have a doubt in my mind—the man who tortured us as children was behind the current turmoil in our town.
“Vicci, at the facility, said he woke up five years ago, but he wasn’t exactly in tip-top shape, so he was moved to a different rehab center. She didn’t have more information she could give me. She was worried about telling me anything, scared she would get in trouble because of privacy laws or some shit. But I mean, he was comatose for all those years, I’m sure he’s not exactly in killing-spree shape. And his brain was all fucked up, that’s what the doctors told Mama, remember? I really think this is just a coincidence.”
Her words were meant to comfort me, but that wasn’t happening. I knew better. I knew his evil knew no bounds. And I was convinced he was after me. Tears filled my eyes, and I tilted my head back to keep them at bay. Sara didn’t know the truth, she didn’t know that he would punish me and get revenge for what we did. Part of me wanted to blurt out what I’d hidden for so long, but it was a secret I’d kept for years, and I didn’t know how to share it now.
“Sis…don’t.” She dropped the gardening shovel and walked over to me to place her arms over my shoulders and rest her head against mine.
“I’m fine,” I lied, pushing away the tears and the fear.
“Seriously, he can’t hurt us anymore. Fuck that motherfucker. He won’t come close to us. I’ve got a bullet with his name on it if he tries to touch Mama or us.” She meant every word that spilled past her lips.
“We’re not kids anymore, and he can’t bully us. He was a fucking coward who preyed on a woman who loved him, although I can’t fucking understand why.” She looked out into the backyard. “And children who were unable to defend themselves. It’s different now.”
“You’re right.” I nodded, trying my best to force her confidence to rub off on me.
“Hell yeah, I’m right. Those murders are just some fucked-up coincidence. I promise.”
“Let’s change the subject. I don’t want to think about him anymore.” I turned my back to Sara and grabbed the watering container, but still shook my head. He had been on my mind since last night, and I was sick of giving him space in my thoughts. I needed his face erased from my mind—at least temporarily.
“Okay, then. Since your husband is an asshole and you’re staying the night, I have an idea.” She wiggled her eyebrows, and I knew it couldn’t be good, but I couldn’t help but smile at her anyway.
“I don’t like that look. It worries me, actually,” I admitted with a giggle.
“Just say yes.” She smirked as I firmly pressed the soil in place.
“Um…yeah, it doesn’t work that way. It didn’t work when we were kids, and it’s not going to work now. I need details.” I lifted my hand from the pot and flung a little wet dirt in her direction.
“Fucking gross.” She pulled it from her hair with a shudder before wiping it on her jeans. “Anyway, I’ll make a quick dinner, and then we’ll get Mama settled. Jake will be here, so she’ll be okay for a couple of hours,” she insisted without any agreement on my end. Then she began to put her gardening tools away, refusing to make eye contact with me. She thought she was slick. She wasn’t.
“Yeah, being sneaky won’t work. Maybe if you just tell me what you have up your sleeve, I might actually agree to it.”
“Jake! Babe! Wanna help with dinner?” she yelled over my plea, ignoring me completely as she opened the patio door.
“I’ll go get Mama.” I shook my head when Jake met her at the sliding glass door, rubbing his stomach as if he were starving.
“You do that, sister.” She chuckled and wiggled her eyebrows once again.
“Oh, I know that look. My wife is up to something.” Jake grabbed her around the waist and nipped her neck with his teeth, causing her to jump and let out a high-pitched squeak.
I shook my head at their affection and walked over to the door close to where Mama was sitting. “Mama,” I spoke softly behind her, careful not to startle her.
She looked over her shoulder and gave me a tiny smile then reached her hand out to me. I took it and allowed her to pull me close. She pointed at the ground with her free hand to three ladybugs crawling along the short blades of grass. A quick memory came to mind of when I was a small child before things took such a horrid turn. I remembered sitting in a backyard with Mama and Sara catching ladybugs and putting them in a jar.
I glanced at Mama as she watched the little red insects with fascination and wondered if she was thinking of the same memory. Although, we used to catch ladybugs often, so it could have been any number of memories she’d chosen to recall. I always thought they were so pretty. I would keep them in a jar and place them next to my bed until I felt guilty for capturing them and let them go. I never wanted to hurt them, I just wanted to have them close.
Mama smiled at me and gave my hand a squeeze. I allowed myself to believe that we were reflecting on the same memory. Maybe it wasn’t the truth, maybe Mama didn’t have that many good memories. But I refused to believe that she didn’t remember that we had good times…before him.
“Are you ready to go in the house?” I rubbed her hand and waited for her silent answer. She stood slowly and looped her arm through mine. We made our way inside with her frail physique leaning against me lightly as we walked.
A short time later, I helped Mama take her place at the kitchen table as Sara brought a plate and sat it in front of her.
“Here you go, ma’am.” Sara gave her a kiss on the head before going back to the counter to grab her own plate.
I watched as Mama gripped her fork, the utensil shaking against her fingers as she tried to cut her noodles.
“Let me help you.” I rushed to her side and gently took the fork before cutting the pasta into small bites, making it easier for her handle.
She simply nodded and stared in the opposite direction as I completed the simple task.
“It’s okay, Mama. Don’t worry.” I tried to reassure her that it wasn’t any trouble, but I could tell by her facial expression that she was bothered by it.
I knew she had an appointment with the doctor at the end of the week, and I wanted to make sure Sara discussed it with him during their visit.
As if she could read my mind, Sara leaned next to me and whispered, “I’ll talk to him on Friday.”
“Mom, I’m in the mood to watch some Little House on the Prairie after dinner. How does that sound?” Jake suggested with a grin before shoving a large scoop of spaghetti into his mouth.
That was her favorite show, and she still watched the reruns, no matter how many times she’d seen them. Jake always watched with her, and I wondered if it was for him or for Mama. Either way, they both seemed to enjoy it.
Mama gave him a nod and continued with her dinner, the troublesome look she wore just moments ago had washed away, and I was thankful for it.
But I also knew this was part of Sara’s plan. She was definitely determined if she dragged her husband into her scheme. I knew I didn’t stand a chance and decided to just go with it. It was easier than battling my sister. She was too damn stubborn for me to stand a chance.