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“Thank you for letting me know.” I head to the car to grab my grocery bags and pray I can make it through a frozen chicken nugget dinner without burning the house down. I’ve got to find a way to turn our situation around. This feels like I’m living on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Maybe I need to call Dr. Miller’s office and see if I can move up that appointment before things get any worse. Because I’m already overwhelmed. I’d like to wave the white flag of surrender before they feel hopeless.
It’s after nine, and I head to the front door to make sure I remembered to lock it before heading to bed, when I see headlights pointing toward the front of the house. That’s odd. The couple that live in that house where it’s parked aren’t home. I know this because she shared they were moving out of state and had decided to rent the home versus selling when I saw them at the mailbox the other day. So why would a car be parked there? I know they haven’t listed it yet. I’ve been snooping online, curious to see just how much she’s asking for. Not that I’m planning on going anywhere.
Moving away from the narrow glass windows on either side of my front door, I watch as the car turns its lights off. It doesn’t move. But I believe the engine is still running, as I can see exhaust fumes dancing against the dark from the back of the car.
I return to the kitchen, looking for a pad of paper and a pen. Maybe if the car moves this direction, I’ll be able to get a look at the license plate number. But as I return to the front door, I notice it’s gone. That’s odd. Should I call the police if it comes back?
Go to bed, Jillian. This crap with Luca is making you paranoid.
Verifying all of the doors are locked, I head upstairs to check on the kids before getting another terrible night’s sleep with the wild man. It’s times like this I wish I’d invested in a king size bed. But since I’ve spent ninety five percent of my nights in it alone, why would that have made any sense?
“Let’s go, let’s go.”
Caleb and Myla race out of the front door as the bus pulls up at the stop. These restless nights have proven to make it much more difficult to get up and out the door each morning. This isn’t the first time since Caleb began sleeping in my bed that they’ve almost missed the bus.
I guess that’s one good thing about school being out in a few weeks. Won’t have to contend with the early mornings unless it’s to get them ready for a sitter when I work the day shift. Sitter. Yeah, I’ve got to get really serious about that now.
I start to head back in the house with Truitt when Mom’s car pulls into the drive. She exits wearing a stylish track suit and heads in my direction. “Hi, Jilly bean.”
“Hi, Mom. I didn’t expect you this morning.”
“I decided I need to get more active. I’m going to visit the YMCA and see about signing us up for a family membership. They’ve got a summer camp for the kids and classes for seniors.”
“Oh, that’s a great idea.”
Mom reaches for Truitt. “I’m going to take him with me. I’ve been missing the little turtle.”
My head snaps in her direction. I can’t believe she called him that.
“Have you heard anything from?—”
“No.” I blurt. “And why would I?”
“Jilly. I think there are a lot of unanswered questions there. Aren’t you the least bit curious?”
“No.” I cross my arms over my chest, agitated by this conversation. “He had every opportunity to tell me what he was involved in. He decided instead to speak in circles. Only saying his life was dangerous. Maybe any other woman with a lick of sense would’ve walked away then. But if he cared as much about me as he seemed to, he should’ve been honest with us.”
“Okay, okay. You’re probably right. There was just something about that young man. It doesn’t add up to me.”
Trust me. I’ve tried to figure it out as well. I even went so far as to look him up on the internet to see if I could figure out the status of his arrest. But there’s virtually nothing there beyond the initial breaking news videos. But I know that was him in Belle Café. I’m sure of it.
“Well, I need to get past him.” He’s obviously moved on from us. “There’s nothing healthy about staying fixated on a man with a criminal record who’s connected to the mob.” In a million years, I never would’ve predicted those words coming out of my mouth.
“What do you say, Tru? Ready to check out the gym with Gammy?”
He smiles, kicking his legs. Maybe some toddler swim lessons will get his legs strong enough to want to walk.
“I’ll see you guys in a little while.” I stand and watch them as they get situated in the car and drive off. Hearing a commotionnext door, I spin to find Cliff trying to get the dogs to follow him down the drive.
Watching them makes me curious about last night and the car parked across street. Even from that distance, I know if they were out, they’d likely be barking up a storm. This makes me relax a bit about needing to contact the police. Heck, I probably have one of the safest houses in town.
“Hi, Jillian. How’s it going?” He whistles and the dogs both sit back on their haunches.
“Okay. How are you?”
He shakes his head. “I’m a bit out of sorts. I just got a call from my stepdad. My mother has to have some surgery.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. I hope she’ll be okay.”
