Wiping a tear off her cheek, Kelly shook her head. “She blames me for Augie leaving. She said I was a martyr in front of the children.”
Steve leaned forward, focusing more attention on Beaver, who was in heaven with the attention. Weighing his words carefully, it was not a stance Kelly was used to him being in.
“This is my fault, too,” he said.
“Stevie…” Lee interrupted.
He took her hand in his. “It is,” he said. “I wasn’t involved in my family’s life, and now this is the consequence. The problems were coming to a head. They must feel like they’re free to do what they want…”
“Now that you’re doing what you want,” Kelly added, trying not to sound accusatory. “You made it clear you wasted your life without Lee, and they’re making sure they don’t waste theirs.”
“That terrible,” Lee said, guilt and shame flooding her, too.
“I never said that,” Steve said, but he had, in so many words.
“Will you excuse me for a minute?” Kelly said, standing. “I need a breath of fresh air.”
“We’ll leave,” Steve said.
“You don’t have to. Truly. I just need to clear my head,” Kelly replied, going to the closet for her coat. “I knew we would have to go through something somewhere down the line, and it appears that something is here.”
Visions of her troubled children - Augie, Ken, and Lisa - swarmed through her mind in a repeated jumble. It was comparable to a nightmare from which she couldn’t awaken; the alienation of her children, especially her firstborn son. Sandy blamed her how much longer before the others came to their senses and blamed her for their problems, too? The work she put into protecting them from Steve obviously had been ineffective. It was too late. The damage had been done.
Closing her eyes, she breathed in the cold night air - in, out, in, out.
“Kelly?”
It was Titan.
“I’m coming,” she said, weary. “I wish we could wrap this up.”
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m constantly saying I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault,” she replied. “This is a mess of my own making and I don’t mean Lee and Steve sitting in the living room.”
“Why are you blaming yourself for what Steve did?” Titan asked.
“I let him get away with it,” she said. “Oh God, I’m reaping the rewards now.”
Her pride gone, she started to cry. Titan looked over his shoulder to see if anyone was looking out the window and then, not caring if they were, gathered her in his arms and held her until she calmed down.
“Look, try not to judge yourself too harshly after you’ve been jumped in the park.”
The truism made Kelly giggle. “My face hurts when I laugh so stop it, please.”
“It’s the truth,” he said.
“We’d better get back inside. Your mother is probably watching us.”
“Your husband is standing right behind her if she is,” he said.
“Keep your distance, Titan,” she said. “You’re going to get us into trouble.”
“We’re consenting adults,” he said.
“Who haven’t done anything wrong,” she said. “But hold hands.”
“And kiss,” Titan said, squeezing her hand before he let go.
Back inside, Lee and Steve were waiting.
“Kelly Boyd, come sit,” Lee said, patting the spot next to her. “You upset because your family is sad.”
“I’m sorry,” Kelly said, sitting down. “Everything is falling apart, as I said. I’m worried about my children. But now I’m frightened someone is trying to kill me.”
“Isn’t Ken staying here, too?” Steve asked. “Between Ken and Titan, you should be safe.”
“Where is Ken?” Lee asked.
“I’ll text him now,” Kelly answered, typing Where are you?
Within seconds, she got the return text that he’d stay at Alice’s to give them privacy.
Ken, come home, please. Daddy is here.
“Oops, summoned by Mom. Dad’s there for some reason,” Ken said, standing up.
“Take meatloaf to her,” Alice said. “Take it to all of them. I should have taken her dinner in the first place.”
“We’re used to her taking care of us, and when she needs us, we’re not even thinking about her,” Reggie said. “I feel horrible now.”
“She’s fine,” Ken said, following Alice into the kitchen. “She’s got Titan there.”
“I wonder if that’s why she wants you to come home,” Alice said. “So Dad won’t think she’s there alone with him.”
Chapter 23
Saturday morning, winter again retreated, and autumn was back, the temperature had risen enough that steam was coming off the little snow left, quickly melting it.
Lying in bed, Kelly listened to the sounds of the house. The furnace clicked off, and she could hear water dripping outside. Every bone in her body ached as she carefully sat up, pulling the curtains aside to look out. The surreal memory of what had happened in the park came back to her in the middle of the night, prompting her to repeatedly review the steps that led to her first awareness later in the hospital, Lee’s gentle touch washing her face. However, no matter how many times she went over the afternoon in her mind, she couldn’t remember more than the voice saying hit her harder.
A wave of sadness enveloped her. Not being in any condition to run that morning, and the opportunity to meet Karen for breakfast probably off the table after their argument. Longing for her old life, the routine, the happiness she found in her family rolled over her, renewing the determination to make things right.
“Plan the meal for tonight,” she said out loud. The kitchen was full of food from their trip to Eastern Market, so she didn’t even have to shop. The old joy of preparing a meal for her family returned, even with the knowledge that Lee and Steve would be at the table.
Getting out of bed, she went into her bathroom, hoping she’d have time alone that morning, the silence and solitude of Saturday coffee looked forward to. She might even find the courage to call Karen a little later and ask her to breakfast. It was dangerous to allow even a few hours of angst to separate her from her twin.
Titan’s sleeping in gave Kelly the space she needed. Gazing out the window with her first cup of coffee, the barren trees and spent gardens echoed the emptiness that lurked close by, ready to engulf her. The balancing act of giving Steve and Lee space in her life without demeaning her self-esteem would take a lot of effort, but effort she hoped would be beneficial. Although they were never friends, Steve was still important to her. It would be worth the work.
After her first cup of coffee, she sent Karen a text. If you’re free and you don’t mind being seen with my bashed-in face, meet me at the diner at nine. Karen agreed, and for two hours, they had a heartrending talk packed with apologies and promises to do better, Kelly’s peace resumed. After that, it was easier to prepare for the day, staying positive.
At four, the family began to arrive. Karen and Anne showed up first, Karen hugging Kelly, feeling loved after their breakfast date. Kelly knew Anne’s presence at family council might change the dynamic, but it would probably be for the better; a new face might make people behave.
“Come in,” she said, holding the door open.
“Yikes, you weren’t kidding when you said she got kicked in the face,” Anne said.
“Don’t make me laugh, please,” Kelly said. “My mouth is even stiffer today. Second day onset, I think.”
“Why didn’t you cancel?” Karen asked. “Or at least ask for some help.”
“Ken and Titan helped. I need this,” Kelly said. “Probably not family council, but having everyone here for a meal will be good like it always is.”
“Thanks for including me,” Anne said. “I like Karen, and I want to know her family.”
“That’s so nice!” Kelly said, pleased that the words seemed to make Karen happy. “You might change your mind after today.�
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“Hopefully, Lee will behave,” Karen said. “She’s the second wife.”
Kelly burst out laughing. “Ouch! That’s not even funny. No polygamy here. But she’s definitely the favorite wife, and her behavior improves with each gathering.”
A steady stream of family arrived, Sandy coming alone, her mother babysitting.
“I was hoping to see the children, although with my face in this condition, maybe not,” Kelly said, not hiding her disappointment.
“With what I have to say, I thought it was better to leave the kids at my mother’s house. I’ll bring them tomorrow, or you can come by my house if you’re up to it,” Sandy replied, then took a good look at Kelly’s face. “Wow, I’m really sorry about this. The cops did pick Dave up, by the way. They can’t prove the rock with his fingerprints was the rock that hit you until the DNA from the blood comes back.”
“Is he in jail?” Kelly asked, trembling.
“No, they had to let him go. There’s no proof,” she said, a touch of defensiveness in her voice.
Kelly turned back to the kitchen, frightened that Dave Marks might show up on her doorstep.
“Kelly, if it was Dave, I don’t think he’d try again. It would look a little obvious,” Sandy said, following her.
“Unless he’s successful. Unless this time he kills me,” Kelly replied, uncovering a cheese platter. “Set this out on the coffee table and tell people to eat up, please.”
Sandy let her have the last word. Within a half an hour, the children - including Augie, who didn’t bring Kate, thank God - and Lee and Steve were milling around the living room, eating fruit and cheese.
“Let’s get started,” Kelly called out. “Please come into the dining room and have a seat.”
She’d added the leaves to the table and it stretched out to seat twenty comfortably. Steve sat off to the side with Lee; Ken sat at the head when Augie told him he didn’t want to be the center of attention, although it appeared that would be out of his control.
Kelly tried not to watch what happened between Augie and Sandy, but it was difficult not to see if there was any interaction between them. When Augie put his hand on Sandy’s back as they walked to the dining room together, chatting, pleasant, the sense of Steve’s betrayal hit Kelly again. Why was this happening to her family? No matter how hard she tried to protect the children, it was inevitable that they’d suffer in some small way.
They’d wait to eat until after the meeting. She carried a large pitcher of ice water with lemons sliced in it to the table, hoping it would replace the usual jug of wine.
“Attention,” she called out, her children giggling. “What are the rules, Lisa?”
“One person speaks at a time. No name-calling. If it isn’t nice, don’t say it. Count to ten before you speak. If you have anything personal to say, say it to the person in private. This isn’t the time for airing grievances.”
“Keep your voice down,” Ken added. “Not you, Lisa.”
“Sandy called family council today,” Kelly said. “We know what she’s going to say, but it will be good to hear it from her mouth instead of the phone tree.”
“Yeah, the phone tree is becoming a problem for me,” Ken said. “Who’s calling Terry to tell her family issues? As you can see, she’s not here.”
“I called her because she’s my friend. Liz and Terry are like sisters to me,” Sandy said. “My concern with what’s happened between Augie and me is that I’ll lose that friendship, and I’ll die if that’s the case. It’s bad enough that my husband is leaving.”
“You’re always welcome here,” Kelly said. “Do you object to that, Augie?”
Uncomfortable being drawn in to the dialogue, Augie’s objections were huge. “I won’t come if it’s a problem for Sandy.”
The dull roar rose up, the siblings not happy Augie would miss family gatherings, yet guilty over the issue with Sandy.
“Your being here isn’t a problem for me,” Sandy said.
“I won’t always be alone,” he replied. “Can you tolerate that?”
“I guess we’ll just have to wait and see,” she said.
For all the smugness, Kelly noticed Sandy had gone pale. “Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner,” Kelly said.
“And Tet, don’t forget,” Lee said.
“And Tet,” Kelly replied. “Three holidays to be together and test if we can handle it. Lee is here with us because Daddy loves her. I want you kids to spend special times with him, but I don’t want to be left out. So they’ll always be invited to gatherings here.”
“I think that sucks,” Sandy said.
Stunned, they turned to her, only a true outsider would have the nerve to challenge Kelly like that at her own table.
“You nasty,” Lee growled. “Disrespect Kelly Boyd. It not surprising Augie Boyd walk out on you.”
“Lee,” Steve said, shaking his head.
“I’m sorry, but no one else say it,” Lee said, becoming the voice of truth for the family.
“Sandy, watch it,” Augie said, watching the red flush of her anger at Lee. “Another FC rule, no tit for tat.”
“Sandy, why does it suck?” Kelly asked. “How will you celebrate holidays at your house? Make your kids choose between parents? Make them eat two big dinners every holiday? Expect Augie to spend the holidays with you and not his girlfriend? Whether it’s right or wrong, I don’t think he’ll go along with that.”
Everyone looked at Augie when his name was mentioned, and he cringed.
“I’m just taking it day by day,” he said, leery about offering anything concrete.
“Sounds like AA,” Ken said.
“If we can’t work it out, we’ll get lawyers involved,” Sandy said.
“Why do that?” Liz asked, her anger unmistakable. “Work it out between you and Augie. It will be worth it, Sandy. You’ll see your children interact with Augie’s girlfriend. You’ll get to know who they’re with. We can still spend the holidays together. I don’t want to forfeit your friendship because of a custody issue.”
“You make it sound so easy,” Sandy said. “You have no idea.”
“Oh, is that right?” Kelly said. “I think I do. Look around the table. If memory serves, for the last twenty years, Steve has taken his plate of food to the basement to eat in front of the TV. When did you ever see him sitting here with all of us?”
“I guess we have Lee to thank for that,” Ken said, winking at Kelly.
“I guess we do,” Kelly said, sighing. “Thank you, Lee.”
Having the common sense not to respond sarcastically for a change, Lee nodded at Kelly.
“Before things get too heavy, we have an announcement to make!” Maxine said, everyone turning to her eagerly.
“Hurry up,” Karen said. “You’re making me crazy.”
“Alice and I are going to start our family with Reggie’s help!”
“Oh, Lord Jesus,” Ben said, sitting back in his chair with a plop. “Can we have a normal conversation in this house that doesn’t involve weirdness?”
“What’s weird?” Alice asked. “This way, I’ll be the baby’s aunt. It will make a difference if anything happens to Maxine before the adoption is finalized.”
“What adoption?” Karen asked.
“I’ll have to adopt the baby,” Alice replied. “It’ll be Reggie and Maxine’s kid. Reggie will have to relinquish his rights unless our state gets real modern and allows three legal parents. He and Belinda want to be involved in the child’s upbringing, and that’s important to us.”
“I thought you two just started dating,” Steve asked Reggie.
“Not just,” Reggie said. “She’s been on my radar for a couple of years. We’re just getting serious now. As a matter of fact…”
Digging into his shirt pocket, Reggie pulled out a small ring box and then slid off his chair onto one knee in front of Belinda. “Will you marry me?”
“Of course,” she said, beaming.
“Is the ring for her nose?” Lee whispered.
Cheers and clapping erupted. Finally, Reggie seemed to be on the path to getting a life. A wife, a baby with Maxine and Alice, the possibilities seemed endless.
“I feel like I’m the only loser in the group,” Lisa said, bowing her head and giving into a torrent of weeping.
Lee sprang up, reaching her before Ben and Kelly could move.
“You not a loser!” she cried. “I hate that word. You a late bloomer, that’s all. Stevie says you get a medal for teaching. That wonderful, Kelly Boyd’s daughter. You not a loser.”
“Absolutely, Lisa, you not, you’re not a loser,” Ben said, hugging his twin.
Making over Lisa took the edge off everyone else’s news, to Kelly’s relief. Observing, Kelly watched Belinda’s responses to what was happening around the table.
“What do you think?” she whispered, noting that Belinda seemed moved by the love everyone was giving Lisa.
“Intense!” Belinda said. “Not what I’m used to at all. My family barely speaks to each other.”
Kelly and Reggie looked at each other with raised eyebrows and began to laugh.
Chapter 24
Overnight, two feet of snow had fallen. Crazed for the possible demise of her plans for Thanksgiving due to the impassable roads, Lee texted everyone starting at eight that morning to make sure they were digging themselves out.
“Honey, it’s a little early for my family,” Steve said, sitting at the table, reading the paper.
“They answer already,” she said. “Lisa walk over now. Maxine drop Alice off on her way to work, and Ken come at ten.”
“What are you going to have them do? It sounds like they’d just get in each other’s way.”
“No, you negative,” Lee hissed. “Lisa and Alice help me bake, and Ken do the turkey fryer outside. Then you don’t have to do it.”
In the next building, a vacancy had opened up right before Thanksgiving, and Titan took it, to Kelly’s relief.
“Living under the same roof might make this too convenient,” she said, pointing between them. “We’re both lonely, so it’s natural we’d gravitate to each other.”
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