running behind schedule. Probably not the worst thing to show up fashionably late. She opened the door for him to leave, and for a brief second, he stopped and gazed into her eyes. She tried not to think of that kiss they once shared while out hiking. Of how she had both admired and felt ambivalent about the kind of boy she was falling for. A quiet boy who preferred to be alone in the woods rather than out with his friends, drinking and acting like a fool. She had thought at the time that she wanted more out of life. A life acting in New York and someday married to a man of wit, sophistication, and charm. Instead, that man had turned out to be Willy Loman from Death of a Salesman.
He scampered down the stairs, tipping his cap to Esther as she passed. A look of concern came over her mother-in-law’s face as she approached the door. As a former elementary school teacher, Esther Eaves was one of the most upstanding people she knew. That she was also a busybody and inveterate gossip hadn’t made Isla think any less of her.
“Why was that police officer here?” Esther asked as she stepped inside the house.
“You didn’t hear the news, Ma? They found a body today in George’s old boat shed.” Isla shut the door.
“Oh my goodness. Was it Katie’s friend?”
“They haven’t made an official ID yet, but they think it’s that boy who disappeared in March.”
“What in the world is going on in this town?” Judging from her coiffed gray hair, Isla could tell that she’d sat for a considerable amount of time under the dryer this morning. “So where is everyone?”
“Katie’s in her room. Seems the light is giving her headaches. And my father is in his room, too. He’ll come out if he needs anything.”
“The other day he thought I was his mother.”
“He does that on occasion with me, too. One night he thought I was his wife.”
“Poor fella.” She brought her wrinkled hands together, as if to pray. “Sometimes I get jealous of how George died, quickly and without pain. Other times, I’m mad as hell that he left me without even a good-bye or letting me tell the old jerk how much I loved him.”
“Well, Ma, I, for one, am sure glad you’re still here.” She hugged the squat woman. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“I’m so sorry, Isla. George and I tried to raise Ray the right way and to be a good man. I don’t know where we went wrong.”
“It’s not your fault. Ray needs to take responsibility for his own actions. You did all you could for him.”
“He makes me so sad.” She wiped at her tears with a tissue. “Maybe we spoiled him because he was such a wild boy growing up.”
“Look at you, Ma. Your hair looks wonderful today,” Isla said, changing the subject. “Helen really outdid herself.”
“You think?”
“I know it.”
“I’ve been going to Helen for forty years now. I hope you’re not upset with me.”
“Of course I’m not upset with you. Helen’s an awesome hairstylist. Besides, I don’t have one of those industrial hair dryers like she has.” She lifted her hands and gently pressed them around her mother-in-law’s coif, noticing the slightest trace of purple in the coloring. Isla had always thought her mother-in-law could have been the fourth roommate on The Golden Girls.
“I’m running late, Ma. I really have to run.”
“Where you girls going tonight?”
“Not sure.” Isla didn’t want to tell her the truth, knowing that as a former second-grade teacher, Esther would most likely be voting for Prop 6.
“Well, you deserve a night out. Have fun, honey.”
“I will, Ma.”
She opened the door to leave. The last thing she saw was her mother-in-law sitting on the couch with her romance paperback, the red string flowing along the spine, and Lawrence Welk on PBS saying, “And-a-one-anna-a-two-anna . . .”
KATIE
I NEED TO KNOW WHO I AM. I DON’T MEAN BECAUSE OF THE HEAD INJURY that’s affecting my memory. I mean in a more general sense. Am I a townie girl? Or a rich wannabe? Am I meant to stay here forever, like my mother? Or am I destined to live elsewhere and build a new identity for myself? Marry Drew? Or to take a chance and look for someone who will try to know who I am and how to complete me?
The light doesn’t bother my eyes. I just told my mother that so I could escape