Paul put a couple of books in the duffle bag next to the tin of oatmeal cookies Marigold sent over. Celia folded and placed his mom’s clean nightgown on top of it. He had found it in the dryer the day after she left, and it was her favorite one. He wanted her to have it with her.
“I brought a few things for her, just little things for when she needs something to get through the day.” Celia shrugged. “I don’t know if she likes the same things I do, but I figured it would at least be a distraction.”
She handed him a paper sack, and he opened it up and peered inside. There was a magazine, a romance novel, a couple chocolate bars and some red licorice, a lavender scented hand lotion, and a bright red lipstick. Paul pulled out the lipstick and grinned.
“Never underestimate the power of red lipstick,” she said.
He gently set the sack into the suitcase, and then stepped around it to Celia. He put his hands around her waist, and pulled her body flush against him. “She’s going to love it.”
Celia rested her head on his chest and wrapped her arms around his back, sighing softly. “Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?”
After a few weeks of simmering thoughts, Paul had finally confided in Malcolm all the things that were going on with his mom. Malcolm, with Paul’s permission, told his parents. Lyle had wasted no time scheduling Rebecca a six-week stint in a treatment facility in Indianapolis. Directly upon completion of the program, Marigold booked them both slots at a week-long women’s retreat in the Smoky Mountains. She said she was long overdue for some mountain solace with a friend.
The Dearings had not let Paul speak so much as one word about the cost of any of it, nor about the cost of the mortgage or any other expenses. He was keeping track, and intended to pay them back one day. And though they offered to let him stay with them, he had declined. He wanted to be in his home.
“I want you to come, but I think this first visit ought to be just me. I don’t know what she might be going through, and I don’t even know how she’ll feel about seeing me so soon.” She had been at the facility for a week now, and was allowed visitors. Paul was eager to see her, and nervous that she might not feel the same about seeing him.
“I have news,” Celia murmured into his shirt.
He zipped the duffle bag shut, lifted it with one hand, and held onto her as they walked to the living room. He dropped the bag by the couch, and pulled her down onto it beside him. “Tell me.”
“Mom filed for divorce.” She released a huge breath, and relaxed into his side as the tension drained out of her. “I wasn’t sure she was going to go through with it.”
Paul nodded and tried not to let his relief show. Celia had confided her worry that her mom would think his time in jail would lead to sobriety, which could lead to forgiveness. He was glad that didn’t seem to be the case.
They were still waiting for Mr. Young’s pre-trial conference. He was being held in the local jail in Bakerstown until then. Apparently her mom had been to see him once, and he told her he was going to plead guilty. The whole thing would take a long time to resolve, but the likely outcome would be a felony conviction and some time in prison.
Paul picked up her hand and kissed the back of it. “How’s Abe feeling about the divorce?”
“He’s confused and grieving. We both are. Marigold said it will take a while for our hearts to catch up to our brains. And the money thing is still stressing him out, and when he heard about the divorce, that was the thing he couldn’t let go of.”
“Has your mom heard back about her interview at the college?” Mrs. Young had learned that if she got a job at the community college, she could take one class per semester for free. Everyone had their fingers crossed.
“Not yet.”
Paul shifted in his seat so he could see Celia’s face clearly. “It’s going to work out.”
She nodded. “I think you’re right.” Then she gave him a sneaky look. “Will you be home early enough tonight that we can do the same thing we did last night?”
Because he had an entire house to himself for the time being, because her mom now took sleeping pills to help with her anxiety, and because she no longer had to worry about Abe, last night she had climbed out her window and into his.
It had been a cold night, and he hauled her in quickly. “You don’t have to use the window, you know,” he said.
“I know. Just let me do it.”
He climbed into bed and lifted the blanket so she could slip in beside him. “You must be freezing.” Their legs slid together, winding into a knot. Their bellies touched, and their hands wandered. After plenty of time spent warming up, Paul had slept the best sleep of his life.
He chuckled into her hair. “You can do that again. I wish you’d do it every night, but please do not get caught. I want to stay on your mom’s good side.”
“I’ll try my best, though I don’t think anything could tarnish your reputation with her.”
“I don’t know, that might do it.” He stood and grabbed the bag. “I better get moving. But when I do get back tonight, before you come climbing into my window, I want to take you to dinner.”