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“She’s in New York on business, and is due home later this evening.” Sadness bit at him as he further informed his sister of Elizabeth’s career goal to someday manage the New York office, and how he feared she would someday meet that goal and leave them. Yet he wanted her to succeed as she wished.
Angelina and her family left, and he and the kids continued on with their typical Saturday evening routine. After tucking the kids in for the night, he cracked open a beer, and flipped on the TV. Every so often, he’d glance out the window, toward Elizabeth’s home, hoping to see she’d returned. Nope, and she still hadn’t even called him. Because he’d already left her a voicemail, he fought the urge to dial her number again. He didn’t want to appear to be hounding her. Eventually, he fell asleep in his recliner and woke up about 1:00 a.m. He peered out the window toward Elizabeth’s house. It was dark. Why wouldn’t it be at this time of the morning? He padded off to bed.
Several hours later, he heard Molly and Max stirring about in the kitchen. He rolled out of bed and headed in that direction. When he entered the kitchen he found Max standing on a chair, which he had pulled over tight against the counter. He stared into the toaster.
“What are you doing, Max?”
“Making us breakfast. We’re having toast. You want some?”
Joe smiled and ruffled the top of his son’s head. “Sure.”
He leaned toward his daughter, who sat at the table waiting patiently for her breakfast, and gave her a peck on the top of her little head. “Morning, sweetie.”
“Morning, Daddy.”
Later, after breakfast and cartoon watching was complete, Joe bundled the kids up so they could go outside. As he and the kids played in the freshly fallen snow, he would glance over at Elizabeth’s house now and then to see if there was any activity. There was none; no lights, no car in the driveway-nothing.
It was nearly lunchtime when he noticed Jody pull into Elizabeth’s driveway. She waved at him and the kids as she walked toward the front door, and entered the house, but he wasn’t able to catch a glimpse of Elizabeth.
Hmm, so she is home. Why didn’t she call?
He relived his last conversation with her, which was about the boss’ creepy nephew. Panic and jealousy set in. Had something happened between them?
A few minutes later, Jody exited the house and walked toward him. “How’s it going?” she asked.
“Good, and you?”
“I’m good. Doing far better than Elizabeth,” she replied as she glanced back in the directions she’d come.
Worry coursed through his veins. “What’s wrong with her?”
“She’s sick. She looks like death warmed over. Must be the flu or something. She doesn’t know for sure. Well, I gotta go. See ya.” Jody gave a wave to the kids and took off.
A sense of relief settled in his mind. That explains it. She’s sick...but she still could have called.
He went into the house and dialed Elizabeth’s number. After four rings, her voicemail picked up.
“Hi, it’s Joe. Jody told me you weren’t feeling well. Let me know if you need anything.” He hung up, wondering why she hadn’t answered. Surely, she was awake, her friend just left.
––––––––
The second Jody left, Elizabeth returned to her living room window and watched Joe and the kids play in the yard. Guilt washed through her like a tidal wave for lying to her friend about being sick, but she just couldn’t face her, or the truth right now; she couldn’t face anyone. She just wanted to be alone...yet she didn’t want to be alone.
She stepped over to the answering machine and replayed Joe’s message for the third time, desperate to talk with him, but unable to bring herself to do so. Once he saw her, he would know something terrible had happened to her in New York.
As she stared out the window, she placed her hand over her aching heart. Her eyelids were so heavy. She rubbed her weary eyes. Darkness clouded her mind. Sleep. She just wanted to sleep, and forget about her problems.
She dragged her weary self to the bedroom, hardly able to lift her feet high enough to take the steps, but she somehow managed.
The second she climbed into bed, she heard a vehicle engine crank over. She nearly expended her last bit of energy as she rolled out of bed and reached the window just in time to see Joe pulling out of his driveway. Knowing darn well he wasn’t home to answer his phone, she took the opportunity to return his call, leaving him a voicemail.
“Hi Joe. It’s Elizabeth. Sorry I didn’t call sooner, but I’m not feeling well. Don’t really need anything, but thanks.”
She’d hoped the knot of guilt squeezing her chest would disappear when she called him back, but it didn’t. Lying was not her strong suit.
She padded off to the bathroom, got a drink of water, and took some more pain reliever before pausing in front of the mirror. Without conscious thought, she pulled the neckline of her pajama top down and ran her fingertips over the darkening bruise at the base of her neck. She sighed, her sore neck was the least of her worries. Lifting her gaze in the mirror, her accusatory look felt like a punch to the stomach. I know, how could I have been so stupid?
* * * *
