Chapter Nineteen

The Mix-up

 

 

“Alex, I don’t want to vacation at the beach house this year. I want to take Pearl and go to Hawaii. Renee just got back from there and she was telling us at work how beautiful it was there. They have waterfalls and Pearl would love the leis they give you everywhere you go.” She hugged the back of him as he tied his tie in the mirror.

“And they have that snorkel thing you’d love. You go in this little personal submarine and can see all the exotic fish. Now come on, you know what pictures you could get and show off at your golf matches?”

“Claire, you don’t take show-and-tell at golf matches.”

“Yeah, well then why does Harvey Picarello bring pictures of his safari hunts?”

“Because that’s manly, I guess. Pretty fish aren’t exactly something you show off.”

Claire was laying it on thick, using the beautiful waterfalls and snorkeling expeditions as reasons to not go to the beach house. She hadn’t been back there since Colin and she got trapped there, four years ago last fall. She’d managed to come up with an excuse every summer not to go with his dad and mom, but she feared her reasons were going to fall short this year.

“Honey, you know Dad is looking forward to this. Mom wants to spend time with Pearl other than once a month at Sunday dinner. She’s at the age now that Mom wants to show her how to make brownies and fly a kite.”

“Fly a kite?”

He kissed her forehead and walked over to get his shoes from the closet. “I don’t know. Whatever. She just wants to spend time with her this summer. It won’t kill you to go and spend some time with them, will it? You and Mom get along. Just do this for me?”

He gave her those eyes. Those eyes that told her whatever he was asking for was small in comparison to anything she wanted and didn’t get from him already. He’d already given her his undying devotion, which incidentally she in no way, shape, or form deserved. And he never once questioned her about any time she’d have to excuse herself from him after they made love. She always felt so guilty lying in his arms and thinking of only Colin.

“Okay, we’ll go then.”

He smiled with relief.

She’d agreed to do something that would prove to test her whole being—and his.

 

∞ ∞ ∞

 

“Alexander, whose car is that?” Evie asked her husband, pointing to the black BMW parked in the driveway at the beach house.

“I’m not sure, dear. But we’ll find out in a second.”

He got out of the SUV and walked around to the back of the home. Alex helped Claire and Pearl out of the back and opened the hatch to get their bags. Claire took Pearl’s hand and walked her to the backyard.

The day was perfect. The sun glistened on the water and a gentle breeze blew. The water pushed against the sand in a melodic fashion, leaving a lip of foam behind as it carried back out to the ocean. Light shone off the top of the boathouse, having caught the reflection of the bright sun.

Alex carried the bags inside and heard talking in the living room. He walked to see who it was.

“I just can’t believe this is happening. I called your mother and told her I was coming this week.”

Mallory stood, wiping her eyes and shifting from foot to foot while she talked to Alex’s dad.

“I’m sorry. She never told any of us that you were coming, or we’d have not come. I promise you, Mr. Prescott.”

“Ah, that’s all right, Mallory. It is what it is.” He swatted his hand. “And call me Alexander, will you? I’m your uncle, for goodness’ sakes, not some total stranger. Although with our dysfunctional family tree, I’m sure it feels like it.”

“Okay,” she said, barely able to muster a grin. Something was obviously troubling her.

“Where are your folks? Are they here yet?”

“No, it’s just me and Colin. They stayed home. Dad’s not feeling well. That’s probably why Mom forgot about you coming. Dad’s been in and out of doctor appointments for a month now. Mom’s really stressed out.”

“That’s all right. And I’m sorry to hear about him.” He rubbed the back of his neck, shaking his head back and forth. “We’ll have to figure something out. This is something we’ve been planning for some time. We’ve finally talked the kids into coming this summer.”

Mallory picked up a glass and plate from the coffee table and stacked them in her arm. “You can stay. I’ll take my kids and stay in the guesthouse. There’s enough room for everyone else to stay in the main house.”

Alex’s stomach became pinched. He did not want to share a house with Colin and his wife. For no amount of money. He’d rather get a room at the Hyatt. It wasn’t the plan, but this certainly wasn’t the plan.

“Dad, we can go and get a room at Mission Point. It’ll be fine. You and Mom can stay here.”

His mother walked in behind him, carrying her overnight case over her shoulder. She took the sunglasses off her eyes and set them onto her head. “What’s going on? Who’s here? Alexander?”

“Mallory, dear,” he answered. “She’s come up this week to stay. She says Colin is here, too, with his family.”

Mallory backed up from the doorway leading to the kitchen. “Hi, Mrs. Prescott. Colin’s at the market now. He’s got all the kids. He’ll be back in a bit.”

“Hello, dear.” She shook her head. “I don’t understand. I called Melanie and told her. What in the world happened in between then and now? Did she forget?” Evie looked outdone, placing her case on the ground and sighing very loudly.

“I told Mr., I mean Alexander, you all are perfectly welcome to stay. Mom and Dad stayed in North Carolina. It’s just me and my two children. Colin brought Emily and Maribel, but I’ll stay in the guesthouse.”

Evie glanced at her husband. He didn’t say a peep. “Well, I guess that’ll be fine. Are you sure you don’t mind? I know it’s in the middle of the woods. Which is why I don’t particularly care for it. It gives no real waterfront view and it smells musty in there.”

“Not at all. I can see the water from the top floor. And anyway, I won’t be in the house as much as I’ll be outside with the kids, probably.” She looked at Alex. “Where’s Claire, Alex?”

“She’s outside with Pearl. I think she might’ve taken her to see the beach.”

“I’ve got to go and see her.” Mallory brushed past him on her way outside.

When he heard the door shut, he walked over to his mother. “Listen, Mom, I’m not going to stay a minute in this house with Colin, let alone a week. I won’t do it.”

“Oh, Alex, he’s never done anything to you. Besides, I’m here to spend time with my granddaughter. I don’t care what he chooses to do with his time here. And you heard Mallory. It’s not like everyone is going to be spending their time indoors. There’s the beach, downtown—we can charter a boat. Please do this for me. I’ve waited a long time to have this trip with Pearl. She’s growing up so fast and it feels like I’ve missed most of it.”

He hated when she looked so desperate. She was such a good mother. He knew how hard it must’ve been when his sister died shortly after birth. Having Pearl, he wondered how a parent could ever get over something like that. He couldn’t begrudge his mother this time with her.

“Okay, Mom. But, if that guy starts to grate on my nerves just once…”

Evie pinched her son’s cheeks. “You’ll smile and think to yourself, ‘I’m doing this for my mother.’” She smiled and gave him an endearing look.

“Sure, Mom. Anything for you.”

 

∞ ∞ ∞

 

Claire shielded her eyes from the sun and squinted to see who was running toward her. It was Mallory. Oh my gosh, what was Mallory doing here? She last talked to her three weeks ago on the phone. She was preparing for their vacation to Florida. Jason’s parents were hosting them for a two-week stay at their home. She’d been excited to get away and have one-on-one time with her husband. His parents never got to spend time with their grandchildren and Mallory and Jason could take advantage of the free babysitting and go out a few nights on their own.

“Claire,” she yelled out to her.

“Mallory? What are you doing here?”

Mallory jumped off the last step to the beach and waited for Claire to come closer. Pearl was throwing pebbles in the water, watching them skate across the surface.

“Claire, thank God you’re here. I can’t believe how fate works.”

Claire looked at Mallory. Her hair was a wreck, long strings of it getting caught in her eyes as the other clump of it tried its best to stay harnessed in the ponytail holder. Her eyes had dark circles under them and her smeared eyeliner looked as if she were ready for a football match.

“Jason’s cheating on me, Claire.” She grabbed her friend’s shoulder and pulled her close. She began sobbing on her shoulder.

Claire held on to her and turned her head to check on Pearl. She looked back at the two and picked up another handful of pebbles.

“Calm down. What do you mean? Why aren’t you in Florida? You said you were going to his parents’ house.”

Mallory hiccupped small spurts of air in between blowing her nose in a tissue she had wadded in her hand. “He canceled. Said he had a work deadline, or something like that.”

Claire pulled her back to her shoulder and began stroking her hair. “That doesn’t sound so farfetched. What makes you think he’s lying?”

Mallory lifted her head. “Because I talked to one of his associates when I visited him last week and casually mentioned how it sucked we were unable to go to Florida because of work.” She blew her nose before continuing. “He looked at me with this stupid I-don’t-have-a-clue-what-you’re-talking-about look, then tried to cover, saying maybe Jason was working on a new contract or something.”

“And you don’t believe him? Mallory, this doesn’t make sense.”

Mallory’s countenance changed from mush to determination. Her sniffles gave way to a venomous, stoic look. “Of course I don’t believe him. Men cover for men.”

“So he’s here with you now? Don’t tell me you’re here alone?”

“No, I hijacked Colin and Emily’s vacation. The kids were too excited about going somewhere and there was no way I could sit in my room and bawl my eyes out any longer. And I wasn’t about to go to Florida and explain something I didn’t understand myself to his parents. They would’ve known something was wrong.”

Claire lost sight and sound of everything else Mallory had to say after hearing Colin was there. Was she kidding? Was this some kind of perverse joke? He couldn’t be there, especially not with Emily. Especially not with Alex. She couldn’t do this. Not now, not ever.

“Claire, are you all right? You look like you’re about to lose your lunch.” Mallory touched her arm.

Claire gave her a deranged look: wide, staring eyes, looking off into the universe in search of other life-forms. “Yes, why? I’m fine.”

“Um, you looked like you checked out there for a moment. I said I came with Colin because I couldn’t face Jason’s parents. My kids were so excited about Florida—to keep them trapped in New York would have been grounds for mutiny. I had to go somewhere with them. Emily thought it would be a good idea to have someone along to play with Mirabel.”

“So Colin is here with Emily and his daughter?” Claire seemed to be stuck with that needle on the record.

“Yes. Are you sure you’re okay? They’re at the store getting things to prepare for dinner. They’ll be back shortly. I needed some time to myself.”

Her body felt as though it had floated away. Out with the tide. All that was left were her eyeballs, staring at the diamonds sparkling on the water’s surface. She didn’t see how it was humanly possible to withstand a week under the same roof as Colin. No, there was simply no way. To walk past the floor where they made love that night. To possibly be forced to sleep in the same bed as Alex, as she did with Colin all those years ago. To look at the walls she stared at while she laid in the crux of Colin’s arm.

A light bulb went off in her head. Slowly her body floated back into connection with her eyeballs. Alex wouldn’t approve of it. He hated Colin, especially knowing how much he hurt Claire. Especially since they both knew Pearl was his. What if someone saw a resemblance? Luckily she got most of Claire’s genes, although there were times Pearl’s mannerisms were the spitting image of her father. Yes! She found the loophole to leave. She’d go and tell Alex and they’d be gone before the dust settled.

“Mallory, I’ve got to go up and check on Alex and his family. But trust me, I do want to talk to you more about Jason and your suspicions. And for the record, I can’t see him having an affair. He adores you too much.”

Mallory fumbled in her other pocket for a tissue to catch her runny nose. “Okay, I’ll be up in a second. I’m going to collect myself. Alex’s dad thinks I’m some kind of psychotic psychopath.”

Claire called to Pearl before heading for the house. When she reached the top of the knoll, she saw another car in the driveway. Three little children were running toward her and Pearl. The one little girl she could’ve picked out of any lineup as Colin’s. She had her daddy’s piercing blue eyes. Their arms were flailing and they were all throwing off their shoes in mid-air, yelling rotten egg to the last one who touched the water. Pearl’s eyes lit with excitement. Her smile stretched wide and she began clasping her hands together as if she’d just been picked the winner to something.

“Mom, can I go please? Can I? I want to play with Carson and Bailey.”

Pearl was familiar with Mallory’s children. They made sure to check in with each other every couple of months and let the children play in Central Park. They’d talk endlessly about Mallory’s position as head of the PTA and how all the crazy moms wanted this and that and tons of things the school was never going to approve, like bring a celebrity to school day. One of the mothers was the cousin to a friend who worked in a store that Katie Holmes shopped in.

And of course, Claire would tell Mallory all about the new things she was getting to do at work. They had started sending Claire on lecture tours to explain a new procedure in early detection of gene splicing. Mallory seemed to be completely engrossed in the field of genetics and all it could explain about why things happened later in life to a person.

“Okay, but take off your shoes. I don’t want them to get wet and nasty.”

Claire took a deep breath before opening the back screen door of the house. She tried not to think about the last time she’d grabbed the door handle and how when she went inside it was to make love to Colin on the floor of the living room. A part of her wanted to see the house burn so maybe she could escape her dogmatic memories. Smoke and ashes might be a viable solution. Much better than broken dishes.

She stepped through the kitchen to look for Alex. Colin came from the pantry holding a grocery bag that he’d just emptied the contents on the shelves. Her heart screeched to a halt. A loud EKG beep flatlined in her ears. An invisible sucker punch took her breath away. She never thought she’d have to see him again, especially after he’d come to New York to plead with her to leave Alex. She’d even perversely thought about the day Mallory might die—this being the last reason she’d ever see him. She settled on sending flowers and attending the gravesite in her private time. Nope, this moment was never planned.

“Claire.”

He stood holding the bag. It hung in the air like the tension that was clearly standing in the way of either one of them being able to say a word.

“Colin, I—”

“Oh, Claire, where’s Pearl? I have something in my case I wanted to give her.” Evie walked in on the unwanted reunion.

Claire unstuck her eyes from Colin and turned to her mother-in-law and answered robotically. “Pearl is on the beach with the other children.”

Evie looked back and forth from her to Colin. “All right then. I’ll wait and give it to her later.”

Claire turned to Evie. “Where’s Alex?”

“He’s carrying the bags upstairs to your room.”

Her room? No. No, that wouldn’t be right. She needed to leave right now. No, no, no. Without saying a word, mostly because she didn’t have one, she walked in the direction of the stairs and left Colin holding the empty grocery bag. She passed Emily on the way up. She smiled at Claire. Hmmm, she probably was in the dark about this whole crisis, as was Evie and everyone else who wasn’t Alex, herself, and Colin.

She walked into the room where she heard the most noise coming from. It was the one she’d stayed in that summer she fell in love with Colin for the first time—his room.

“Alex, what are you doing?”

He looked up from closing the dresser drawer. This was not good. She could tell by his crooked jaw and flared nostrils.

“I’m unpacking, Claire.” He threw the suitcase onto the floor in the corner. The mirror shook.

“I see that. Stop it, now. We’re not staying here. Not if everyone else is. There’s simply not enough room.”

“Claire, my mom all but begged on her hands and knees for us to stay. Mallory told her she’d go to the guesthouse and stay. You know Mom is looking forward to this time with Pearl. And if I can bite the bullet and paint a freaking smile on my face around that smug S.O.B. downstairs, then the least you can do is join me in sacrificing a week out of our summer to help Mom.”

“I thought we were staying two weeks.”

“Well, not if work needs me or you to return to New York. I’m a good son, but I’m no saint.”

It was something small, but it still meant she’d have to stay at least five or so nights under the same roof as Colin. She had no idea how not to get caught up in the feelings they still shared for each other. Four years was four years, but she saw that even six years meant nothing to either of them before.