The View from Alameda Island - Robyn Carr Page 0,52
Lauren went to the sofa and sat beside her daughter.
“Lacey, I love you. I have always loved you so much. I did everything I could to make your life good. But there are some things you understand, whether you’ll admit them or not. You know there have been endless arguments, temper tantrums from your father that made us all want to run and hide. You know that as often as he was nice, he was mean. He was demanding, he was bitter and angry. He’s been sued by employees twice! You know I haven’t slept in the same room with him for years. And now you know—he kicked me in the face! If you think I’m going to cower and give him another chance, you have lost your mind. And if you’re going to find a way to excuse him, that’s going to be your problem.”
“If he’s so terrible, why didn’t you divorce him a long time ago?”
“Twenty reasons but mostly to protect my daughters, to ensure your safety and private education. He’s a mean man. But you’re an adult now. You can take an objective look. You can look back at our family life and decide for yourself. If you want to blame me for this,” she said, pointing at her face, “you’ll have to live with that. It would make me sad, but I am done explaining myself. That any woman would have to explain something like this...” She shook her head. “I am done.”
“I just wonder if you really tried,” she said.
“No matter what your father says, you do not do this to a person you care about,” Lauren said.
“I don’t know what to do,” Lacey said. “I don’t know what to think...”
“Maybe it’ll come to you,” Lauren said. “I thought, after our many long talks, after the discussions we had, you would know exactly what is okay and what is not okay. But take your time, Lacey.”
The doorbell chimed and Lauren noticed that Lacey still held the cell phone in her grip. Lauren reached for it and clicked on the icon that would show her who was at the door. “Oh dear God,” she said, heading for the door. “Father Tim! Um... Please, come in.”
“I had some time and happened to be in this part of town,” he said. He had a package. “Is ice cream the medicine of the day?”
Lacey was standing. “Is this the boyfriend?” she asked icily.
“Not hardly. I’m a Catholic priest. We’re not allowed to have girlfriends,” Tim said. And he smiled. “If you’re busy...”
“It’s all right. Lacey was getting ready to leave. Lacey, meet Father Tim from Divine Redeemer. I called him. He’s a counselor as well as a priest.”
“You don’t go to that church, do you?” Lacey asked.
“I’ve been known to stop in,” Lauren said. “I asked the Father to call me when he had time for a chat.”
“I had a couple of appointments cancel and although you were willing to come to Divine Redeemer, I didn’t think you’d feel like going out yet. But I can come back another time. I’m a little impulsive. I should have called to say I was coming.”
“I’ll just leave you two,” Lacey said. “Mom, I’ll talk to you later.”
“Yes, please,” Lauren said. She reached for her daughter and they hugged very carefully. Lauren patted her daughter’s pretty brown hair. “I love you.”
When Lacey had gone, Lauren turned away from the door and looked at the priest standing in her living room.
“I’m so sorry,” Tim said. “That was awkward.”
“A bit, but when you said you could see me at my house, that came as such a relief. I don’t want to wander around the church office looking like a prize fighter. The loser, at that,” she added. “Can I take that?” she asked, reaching for the grocery bag in his hands.
“Sure, yes. Put it in the freezer. It’ll come in handy as something to eat or press on your lip.” She took it to the kitchen and turning back, she invited him to have a seat. “After you,” Father Tim said.
She sat in the corner of her sofa and he took the chair diagonally from her. “You didn’t even wince,” Lauren said.
“I actually did get training,” he said. “I’m a licensed counselor. But listen, if you’re not feeling up to a chat today, I’m very flexible. And I can find things to do and come back at a better time.”
“I’d like you to stay,” she said. “It might not really qualify as a session.