I was wrong. You let me walk into this. You
even showed me the pictures. You wanted this to happen. I think the walk home
will do you good… it’ll give you a chance to think about what a cow you really
are.”
As I left, I could see her still standing
there in the driveway with her hands on her hips, watching as I sped away. I
knew she couldn’t care less about my words, they would fall off her like the
proverbial water off a duck’s back. She’d be more concerned about missing the
next juicy instalment of my life falling apart.
I pressed my foot down hard on the
accelerator, taking the corners at speeds I had never driven in my life,
uncaring whether I lived or died in an accident. But someone somewhere must
have been looking out for me. The roads were quiet, and despite my recklessness
I found myself pulling into the driveway at home in half the time it had taken
to do the same journey earlier. I ignored the little parking space in front of
the cottage and screeched to a halt in front of the mansion.
For the second time that day I was out the
car and marching up the steps to the house before my courage could fail me. Mama
opened the door, and for a second we just looked at one another. “Oh, baby,”
she said, and I fell into her arms. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered into my hair
as I sobbed in a way I hadn’t since I was a small child. “I wanted to tell you
myself. I tried so many times.”
“Gaynor,” a voice came from behind her.
“Who is it? Who’s making all that noise?”
“Just Delilah. I’ll see her back to the
cottage. I’m sorry for the disturbance,” she said as she tried to back me away
from him.
“Why is she here?” he asked, refusing to be
put off, his tone demanding attention. My mother seemed momentarily lost for
words.
“She’s had some bad news,” she finally
managed to say.
“Don’t lie to me, Gaynor. You know I can always
tell when you’re lying. Let me see the girl. You’ve been hiding her from me for
long enough. If she knows the truth now I want to see her.” I cowered against
my mother, wishing I had waited for her at home instead of confronting her
here, unwilling to expose myself to him. “Now, Gaynor,” he commanded her this
time, and she immediately obeyed, pulling away. A small part of me died inside
when I realised just how deep a hold he must have on her to make her respond
like that… to make her hand me over to him. Reluctantly I took a small step
away from my mother, lifted my head with what I hoped resembled defiance, and
stared straight at him.
He’d aged since the last time our paths had
crossed. It must have been at least three years. His tall frame was slightly
stooped now, his shoulders more rounded than I remembered, but his gaze was as
piercing as ever. He stared at me for a moment. “Stunning,” he finally said. “I
can see why the boy wants her. I’m almost tempted to trade you in, Gaynor, and
have her myself.” Mama flushed, looking mortified as Mr Somerville laughed. My
own increased colour was a result of the anger I felt.
“I’m no one’s,” I told him in no uncertain
terms. “Not yours, and certainly not his.” Mr Somerville just laughed again. It
was a more sinister sound this time, and for a moment I felt afraid of him.
“Get back to the cottage now, Delilah,”
Mama interrupted. “Move the car from the front of the house. I’ll be over shortly.”
She sounded coolly efficient, not at all her normal warm self. I hesitated,
unwilling to leave her here with him. “Now, Delilah,” she said again. I moved,
relieved when I stepped out of the house and into the fresh air. Somehow I
started the car and drove it back to its place in front of the cottage. Then I
went inside and sat in a chair to wait for her.
*
She arrived home about half an hour later. When
she walked through the door, for the first time in my life, I didn’t know what
to say to her. I’d thought of so many questions while I’d waited, but the
Fuyumi Ono
Tailley (MC 6)
Robert Graysmith
Rich Restucci
Chris Fox
James Sallis
John Harris
Robin Jones Gunn
Linda Lael Miller
Nancy Springer