It’s official. Jaeger can’t control the effect he has on women. My own mother just checked him out. He’s a weakness to the female sex. I should know.
“Mom, Jaeger’s my boyfriend.”
Despite her obvious admiration, Mom’s mouth puckers and twists. She nods.
I hate that look. It’s the one that says you’ve got some explaining to do. I’m a grown woman. Whom I choose to love is my business. “What’s up, Mom? Everything okay?”
She slowly drags her suspicious gaze from Jaeger. “I’m here to talk to Tyler. Do you know where he is?”
So this isn’t about me? It’s about Tyler?
Now he’s done it. Mom showed up, so whatever Tyler did, it must be bad.
Come to think of it, I haven’t kept close tabs on Tyler and he is acting strange. He comes home reeking of beer and cigarettes, and I haven’t figured out why the sudden desire to spend the summer in Tahoe. Getting dumped, fired, and falling in love distracted me. So I’ve been a shitty friend and sister. Excellent.
Before I tell my mom I have no idea where Tyler is, he walks in the door and freezes with his hand on the knob. “Hey,” he says nervously.
What is going on? I mean, Mom can still put the fear of God into us, though she’s tiny and we tower over her, but Tyler looks more nervous than I’ve ever seen him.
“Your work called,” Mom says. “You’ve missed the pre-semester meetings and they haven’t been able to reach you.”
Tyler breaks eye contact and bends down, rustling around in his overnight bag. “I’ve got it, Mom. Don’t worry about it.”
“Really? Because it doesn’t seem like you’ve got it, son.”
Jaeger grabs my wrist and sinks onto the couch, pulling me with him. He’s watching my mom and brother with rapt interest. This is the first bit of drama that doesn’t involve us. He’s probably as giddy as I am.
“What’s going on, Tyler?” Mom asks. “Don’t lie—you’re no good at it.”
Tyler straightens and plucks the shoulder of his T-shirt. It’s one of his nervous tics. “I’m not going back. I’m staying here.”
My mom sits on the edge of the recliner. “What does that mean? Your employers thought you were missing, Tyler. This isn’t how you give notice you’re leaving a position. The college administration told me they were about to notify the police. Imagine their relief when they reached me.”
“I should have called.” He knuckles his forehead and sighs.
“Why are you leaving your job? I thought you loved Boulder and your career.”
Tyler crosses to the kitchen and pulls a beer from the fridge. Now that I think about it, he’s kept the fridge stocked with a steady stream of Sierras. He’s been drinking too much.
“I don’t. Not anymore,” he says.
“Uh-hmm. And how will you support yourself? You planning to sleep on people’s couches for the rest of your life?” Mom is pulling out the sarcasm, which means she’s about to go ballistic.
“I’ve been living like a student. I’ve got money saved to last a few years.”
Well, shit, he should be paying me and Gen rent!
Tyler finished his undergrad in three years and a master’s shortly after that. He really did get our father’s brains. Mom and I could never figure out why he didn’t go for his Ph.D.
“Tyler, that money is better put toward a down payment on a house, not—” She waves her hand aimlessly. “—freeloading off your sister and drinking all day.”
Tyler frowns and Jaeger and I glance at each other. This is serious stuff going down. I had no idea my brother was so screwed up. Diabolically, it makes me feel better.
“Drop it, Mom. I’ll let you know when I have things figured out.”
Mom cocks her head. Tyler never talks disrespectfully to our mother—not since he smart-mouthed her at age twelve and had his video games taken away.
She looks at me. “Do you know what’s going on?”
My eyes go wide and I shake my head.
“I’m still in the room,” Tyler says, angrily. “If I wanted you two to know my business, I’d tell you.”
He can get away with being an ass to me, but not our mom. “Tyler!”
He storms out the front door. I jump to the window and catch him tossing the now empty beer bottle in the trash can as he stomps across the driveway to his car. I bang on the glass. “Hey! That goes in recycling!”
Tyler tears down the street.
“Well,” Mom says. “Guess we know your brother is in trouble.” She stands and pats her back pocket, pulling out keys. “He won’t talk to me. You’ll have to help him.”
Wait … what? “You’re leaving?”
She grabs her purse and looks around the room, her gaze snagging on the enormous tent out back. “Not much I can do. He doesn’t want his mother involved in whatever is bothering him. Call me if you need to talk. And don’t let your brother drink and drive!”
I spring up. “Mom! What the hell? You can’t leave this on me.”
“It’s not really on you. It’s on him. This is his life to screw up. I’m just saying, be there if he needs to talk.”
She glances at Jaeger. “And this—” Mom points to the tent and the two of us. “Don’t think I don’t know what’s going on.” My face burns. “I expect a visit from the two of you in the next couple of weeks so I can get reacquainted with your boyfriend, Cali.”
She squeezes the living hell out of me and smacks a kiss on my lips. “Adios, children!” she says with a wave.
What kind of parenting is this?
This is what you call the hands-off approach.
Growing up, Mom rode Tyler and me when she needed to, but she let us fight our own battles. It might explain why Tyler and I are so independent. We’re capable of lifting ourselves out of the dung when things go wrong, but I get the feeling that whatever is bothering Tyler is big. I just hope it doesn’t hold him down forever.
Chapter Thirty
My CAD class delves deeper into the structure of 3D design today and my analytical mind does a happy dance over the layering. It’s finally getting fun. I’m confident about the progress I’ve made and am hopeful that by the middle of fall I’ll have early mastery of AutoCAD for work. A raise would go a long way toward solving my transportation problems.
Leo, however, seems to be struggling. “Damn, that class is killing me,” he says as we walk through the parking lot to his car. “You don’t find it difficult?”
I’m not going to list the classes I found difficult. Some of the higher math and economics courses I took for a challenge in college, the pre-law courses on constitutional and business law for sure—but CAD? No, CAD is not one of them. “It’s okay. I’m happy to help if you get stuck.”
“Thanks. I’ll probably take you up on that …” Leo’s voice dies at the end of the sentence.
I follow his gaze. A pale, slender guy with chunky black hair stands by Leo’s car, his hip propped against the door.
Leo frowns as we approach. “Brad? What are you doing here?”
“Needed a ride home. You mind?” Brad’s gaze slides to me, his lips quirking at the corners.
Leo darts an unsteady glance my way. I shrug and Leo unlocks the doors, letting us in.
“Cool,” Brad says. “Let’s grab a bite first, though.”
The café is on the other side of campus. Leo drives over and parks in the lot nearby.
I skipped dinner, so this gives me a chance to eat and maybe pick something up for the morning. Jaeger leaves early tomorrow and Leo agreed to give me a ride to work, which is pretty big of him. He works at a restaurant in the mornings and says giving me a ride is no big deal, but I feel I owe him. He’s really helped me get around town these last few weeks. I hope he does take me up on the offer to help with school. It would be one way for me to pay him back.
Gen’s still working nights at the casino, and I don’t trust her behind a wheel at seven a.m. under normal conditions, let alone after only a couple hours of
sleep. Tyler hasn’t returned since my mom’s surprise visit, but we’ve texted. I know he’s alive and staying with a friend for a few nights. I’m worried about him. He’s going through something and I wish he’d just confide in me.
I have not mentioned my carpool arrangements for tomorrow to Jaeger. He’ll be gone by the time I leave, and I think he assumes Gen’s taking me to work. I didn’t correct him. I’m worried he’ll bring up the car thing and it still embarrasses me. I’d just as soon not discuss the fact I can’t afford one, and bumming a ride from Leo is preferable to taking the bus.
Brad holds the cooler door open for me inside the café. “What can I get you, Cali?”
He’s about average height and fairly decent looking, if it weren’t for the pockmarks in the hollows of his cheeks.
It’s late and it’s been a long day. I decide extravagance is in order. “Chocolate milk, please.”
“You got it.” He grabs the milk, along with a sandwich, bottled water, and a soft drink he hands to Leo. He walks to the counter and pays for our drinks before I can say anything.
Okay—that was nice. He didn’t have to do that. I offer him money for the chocolate milk, but he shakes his head.
I grab a muffin and a can of soup and set them on the counter to pay. By the time I return home around ten, Jaeger’s passed out in his clothes on top of the air mattress, his breathing steady and deep. He managed to remove his shoes, so I don’t bother waking him. I wash up, pull on night clothes, and crawl under the covers beside him.
When I wake, Jaeger is gone.
I’m bummed.
The legalities of getting Kate out of his house and keeping up with his workload are taking up all his time. I pull out my phone and text him.
Cali: Missed you this morning.
He responds almost immediately.
Jaeger: I snuggled you when I woke, but you were passed out. Crushed my ego to have my kisses swatted away like a fly. I expect recompense this evening and ego-stroking … other stroking acceptable as payment as well :)
Cali: Stroking to commence this evening. Don’t pass out this time before I get home!
An hour later, I’m showered and eating the last bite of my muffin when Leo’s car pulls into the driveway. Brad is in the passenger seat. Did he say he was coming too?
I lock the front door and walk over. Leo holds his hand up in a brief wave, his middle finger tapping a nervous beat against the steering wheel. Brad tracks my progress to the car.
“Morning.” I close the door and buckle my seatbelt.
Brad reaches back, holding a Starbucks cup. “Mocha. I noticed you like chocolate last night.”
Not as much as lattes in the morning, but I don’t kick chocolate out of bed. Ever. “Thanks,” I say. “What do I owe you?”
“On me,” Brad says.
I glance at Leo, who’s watching the exchange through the rearview mirror. He looks away nervously and reverses down the drive. “Brad, you sure you don’t want me to take you straight there?”
“No, I’m good.” Brad taps a happy tune on the window with his finger. “It’s right by her work. I can walk from there.”
So Leo’s giving Brad a ride, as well. I’ve got to at least offer Leo gas money the next time we’re alone.
Savoring the chocolatey goodness of my mocha, I glance out the window at the businesses on Stateline Boulevard, taking one sip for every name or title we pass with chalet in it. By the time Leo drops me off in the parking lot, I’ve polished off my mocha and have an extra bounce in my step from the sugar/caffeine combo.
A warm sensation runs through me as I enter the front doors. Leftover euphoria from my delightful mocha?
I’m happy. I mean, really happy. It’s my job, or Jaeger, I don’t know which, but I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy in my life. The world is a wonderful place.
I greet our receptionist, my smile freezing on my face … something isn’t right. My steps falter after I pass her desk, a mind-numbing pain shooting through my skull. I pause at the entrance to my office, a spasm of cramps bisecting my midsection, nausea rocking me. I pinch my lips together and grip the door frame, taking deep breaths. Sweat breaks out on my forehead.
Turning slowly, I look around. Going to be sick. Bathroom … Black dots wink in my vision. Can’t think …
The scent of vomit singes my nose.
I’m choking and gagging. Choking on my vomit.
Frantic voices clamor above me.
I open my eyes, then shut them. I don’t know where I am. Why am I on the ground?
“What has she eaten? Does she take prescription or illegal drugs?” a deep voice asks.
“Is this her purse?”
“Percocet.”
“Percocet? What’s—” This from a high-pitched voice.
Someone wipes my mouth. A mask goes over my nose and chin. Strong hands lift me.
I open my eyes again, and this time, an image comes into focus—Lewis watching me from the front door, a look of shock on his face.
Men with medical patches hover over me. Paramedics. They push me on some moving device. I’m bumping over the threshold and out the glass doors … I’m at work.
My chest rattles with each breath, my heart swooshing slowly in my ears. My head is too heavy. I close my eyes and rest.
Moments later, I hear, “Calista? Calista, can you open your eyes?”
The voice is male, but not one I recognize. I open my eyes and the vision in front of me isn’t blurry. I move to sit up.
“Please lie still while I ask you a few questions.” A doctor in a white lab coat leans over me and flashes a light in my eyes. “They’re no longer pinpoint,” he dictates to someone over his shoulder, returning his attention to me. “Calista,” he says loudly, as if I’m hearing impaired. I want to tell him he doesn’t need to shout, but my mouth is dry and my chest hurts. I still can’t breathe well, and there are popping sounds coming from my lungs. “I’m Dr. Gregger. I’ve just given you narcan to counteract the opiates in your system. The paramedics said they found Percocet in your purse when they searched for prescription and allergy information. Have you ever used Percocet before?”
I shake my head.
“Were you given a prescription by a physician?”
Another negative head shake. I’ve never heard of Percocet.
A round of phlegmy, body-rattling coughs steals my breath. I’m gasping. The doctor rattles off orders to someone in the room.
“Calista,” he says, “the paramedics believe you aspirated when you passed out. We’re going to do a chest X-ray.”
What seems like only minutes later, I’m being admitted into the ICU. My chest X-ray showed pneumonia.
I must have dozed. The next time I open my eyes, there’s a warm pressure on my hand. Jaeger’s beside me, his large fingers wrapped firmly around mine, his head bowed as if he’s praying. My mom’s at the end of the bed, her hand gripping my foot.
“Mom? Why are you holding my foot?” My mouth is sluggish. I sound like a lush.
Mom blinks as if startled. She’s been staring silently at me for the past minute. “Calista.” She rises and crosses to my side. She kisses my forehead and runs a cool hand down the side of my face, which feels hot in comparison. “You’ve been in and out with a fever. I wasn’t sure if you were really awake this time.”
Jaeger watches my face now, his breathing shaky, as if some deep emotion has taken hold.
“What happened?” I swallow, a slightly inflamed sensation in my throat.
Mom glances at Jaeger, then back to me. “You passed out. Your co-workers called nine-one-one, but you got sick and breathed it in.”
I glance at Jaeger. I might be embarrassed by some of this if I didn’t feel like such a train wreck.
“They’ve put you on powerful antibiotics, but your lungs …” Mom’s lips pinch, and then she bites the top one. “You need rest, honey.” She pats my hand. “Lots of rest for your body to heal.”
“But, Mom, wh
y was I sick?” I think back to this morning. “I ate a muffin and had a mocha. I felt fine until I walked into work. Then … I don’t remember.”
“They discovered—” Her voice catches. “—Oxycodone in your system—Percocet. They found more pills in your purse.”
I process her words. “What’s Percocet? I didn’t have anything in my purse.”
She lets out a choked, quaking breath. “Cali, why are you taking drugs? All the stories I told you about the casinos, how drugs and alcohol ruin lives—” She shakes her head. Tears streak her cheeks. “I just never thought you’d do it. Never thought you’d get caught up in that mess.” Her voice cracks the way it does when she’s emotional or has just woken up.
God, I hate that croaky voice. It means my mom’s seriously upset or seriously tired. Neither makes me feel good.
“Mom, I don’t do drugs.” Okay, that’s a lie. “I smoked pot a couple of times in college,” I correct. “That’s it. I don’t know why they found that stuff in my purse, but it’s not mine.”
“Honey, the doctors ran blood tests. You had remnants of the drug in your system. And that wasn’t the only one. They found ecstasy as well.”
“What?” I try to sit up, but think better of it when my arms collapse.
“I don’t understand. Were you experimenting?”
“Mom, no—” The strangeness of this morning fills my head. I was happy because of Jaeger and our little text exchange, and then really happy after I drank that mocha.
The one Brad gave me.
Why was Brad there, again? He’s a strange guy. And he gave me the drink. Leo said his roommate was into stuff—
“Mom, it wasn’t me. Look, this morning I got a ride from Leo.”
“Yesterday morning.”
“Yesterday …?”
“You were admitted yesterday. You’ve been in the ICU for twenty-four hours.”
I lost an entire day? God, this is crazy. “Mom, check with Leo. Maybe he knows something. His roommate Brad was there and he wasn’t supposed to be. He gave me the mocha. I—I think there might have been something in it. Leo’s expression this morning—yesterday morning—and what Leo said about Kate—”
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