JanesPrize by Margrett Dawson Page A

had done.
“Where?”
    “Where what?”
    “Where shall we meet? Full o’ Beans?”
    “Right. At nine.”
    “You got it.” She wagged a finger at
Pierce. “I don’t know what you’re up to mister but if anything happens to her
I’ll come for you.” She straightened and took her car keys from her pocket.
    “Don’t be silly. Nothing’s going to happen
to me.” Jane put her car in gear once again.
    “Better not. ‘Night.”
    Annice clicked the remote on her key and
the lights of her car came on with a gentle beep.
    Pierce stirred. “How—”
    “Don’t ask. All will become clear.” She was
even catching Pierce’s speech patterns. With a last cheerful wave to Annice she
pulled out in the direction of Pierce’s motel.
    Outside the door to his room, she sat with
both hands on the wheel. The door was bright green with a long scratch under
the handle.
    “Do you have your key?”
    Pierce nodded. “Will you come in?” He
placed one hand on her shoulder and kneaded the tight muscles near her neck.
    She had been asking herself the same question
for the last ten minutes and hadn’t gotten an answer. His hand on her was warm
and firm, doing wonderful things to her aching back. Her whole body was tight
as a drum. She needed a massage all over, not just her neck. The temptation to
say yes was almost overwhelming.
    She opened her mouth. “No, not tonight,”
she heard herself say. Her subconscious had taken over and she knew it was the
right decision.
    She turned to face him, the gearshift
forming a barrier between them. His hand slid down to her arm.
    “I would like to come in with you. I can’t
tell you how much I want it. But I’m not going to do it.”
    “But—”
    She placed one finger on his mouth. “That
policeman was a lesson. You can’t be here without a past, without documents to
prove it, and a birth certificate from over a hundred years ago won’t cut it. I
need to think about it. I need to let my mom know I’m okay, prepare her about
moving out and a thousand other things.” She kissed his cheek. “You were right
about telling her. If I survive I’ll be back tomorrow morning, nice and early.”
    He took hold of her face and kissed her on
the lips, long and hard. She felt her resolve melting like snow in April. With
the last remnants of her good sense, she pulled away.
    “Sleep well.”
     
    “Did you have a nice evening, dear?” Her
mother was settled in the big armchair watching the late news but she clicked
the remote to mute the sound and looked up with a bright smile.
    “Yes, thank you.”
    “I’ll make some coffee.” She pushed on the
arms of her chair to rise but Jane stopped her with a hand on her arm.
    “I have to talk to you, Mom.”
    “What about, dear? You’re not sick, are
you? You’re looking a bit pale.”
    “No, I’m not sick, just tired.”
    She sank onto the ottoman next to the
armchair while on the TV a building blew up in absolute silence and people ran
for cover. She pulled her gaze away and took her mother’s hand.
    “You know I’ve appreciated you letting me
live here,” she began. “And you know I’ve been saving for an apartment of my
own.”
    Her mother nodded.
    “Well, I think I have enough put by and I’m
going to start looking for a place.”
    “My dear, that’s wonderful news.”
    Jane stared at her. “It is?”
    “Of course. It’s time you were on your own,
without worrying about me, and time I had some freedom too.”
    “Really?” It had never occurred to Jane
that she could be a nuisance to her mother. She’d only thought about her
mother’s presence cramping her own style.
    “Why yes. I’d like to take a vacation on
one of those singles cruises, you know. And sometimes I’d just like not to have
to cook or think about whether or not you’ll be home.”
    “But you always say you worry about me.”
Jane thought of the evidence of tears when she’d come back from the Newland
house.
    “I know, and I’ve been thinking about