23. Chapter 23
Chapter 23
Cameron
A soft knock at my office door breaks through my concentration. “Knock, knock.”
Looking up from my laptop, I see my mother standing in the doorway, her expression one that I'm very familiar with, mom isn't happy. “Hi mom. Come on in.”
Keeping her eyes on me, she crosses to one of the chairs opposite my desk, her movements deliberate, controlled. Her mouth stern and set. Eyebrows furrowed together. This is the look that struck fear in the hearts of three boys. It's this look that always made my brothers and me confess to every childhood and teenage misdeed. This expression is always immediately followed by a motherly chat. The kind where you're reminded exactly what your full name is as you sit quietly saying a lot of yes ma'ams. I wait silently, having learned long ago that when mom has this expression, it's better to let her start the conversation.
“Cameron,” she begins, her voice deceptively calm.
“Yes, ma'am.”
“Don't be a smarty,” she fires me a warning glare. “Today, I attended the annual New Year's Day prayer with my church lady's group. Where, to my surprise, I had the most interesting conversation with Mrs. Gentry. She announced,” mom tilts her head to the side maintaining eye contact with me, “to the entire group that you barged into the ladies' bathroom during last night's party. She said you kept spouting off something about needing a lavender dress. That you couldn't find your lavender dress. And that she had to enlist Michael to help you.” She pauses, uncrossing and recrossing her legs. She steeples her fingers together, a sign that she's trying to control her anger. “Mrs. Gentry, bless her little gray wig, is now totally convinced that because of the stresses you've been under, that you've now chosen instead of seeking help, to become a cross-dresser. She has asked the ladies to pray for you.”
Mom fusses with a button on her shirt, taking a deep breath. “I, of course, told everyone you were not a cross-dresser. That it must have been something of grave importance for you to have barged in on Mrs. Gentry in the ladies' bathroom during one of the biggest events in Whispering Pines. That you were just doing your job.” Another measured breath. “It's fine, all fine. Luckily, everyone knows Mrs. Gentry is a few hymn books short of a choir. However, Cameron, my son, would you care to enlighten me as to what exactly happened? How much are your brothers in on this? And where does the lavender dress come in?”
I have to bite my lip before speaking to stop myself from laughing. I hold it to a short chuckle. “First, my brothers are always to blame, but sadly, in this case, they weren't involved. Second, that's not at all how it happened. Third, I'm not cross-dressing.” Mom's expression doesn't waver. “I didn't barge into the bathroom. I asked Mrs. Gentry if anyone was in there–twice. Actually, three times,” I hesitate, not sure how to explain without reopening wounds that have barely healed. “When Mrs. Gentry continued to ramble on without directly answering my question, I then went into the bathroom looking for a certain lady who was wearing said lavender dress.”
“And why was it so important for you to find this lady in the lavender dress that you had to barge in? Couldn't you wait for her to exit the bathroom herself?”
Before I can answer, movement in the hallway catches my eye. Joe, the bartender from last night's party, passes by my door.
“Joe!” I call out, perhaps too loudly. His head appears in the doorway with a wary expression.
“Hey Cameron. What's up?”
“Perfect timing. Come in for a second so I can ask you something.” I grab my phone, fingers trembling slightly as I scroll through photos I took of the security camera footage.
“Everything alright?” Joe glances nervously between mom and me.
“Everything's fine. This is my mom, Evelyn Whitaker. Mom, this is Joe, our head bartender. Okay, quick question.” I hold out my phone, the screen displaying a photo of Melanie last night. “Is this the lady from last night?”
Joe takes my phone, squinting at the image. His face falls as recognition hits. “Ah man, I told you once she saw you, I wouldn't stand a chance. I was hoping she'd come to order another drink.” He side-glances awkwardly at mom. “Oh well, you win some, you lose some. So, ah, did you two go out after the party, then?”
“No. Would you mind telling my mom where you saw this lady?”
Confusion crosses his face as he looks between us. “She was at the New Year's party last night. More specifically, she ordered a very odd drink from me.”
“Could you tell us the drink and what the lady was wearing?”
“You know damn well what she was wearing. This dress, which I now know is the color lavender.” Joe peers at mom like she will explain what's going on, but she doesn't know either.
Placing my palm facing my mother, I ask again, “and her order?”
“A chocolate stout with two oranges and two cherries.”
My mom gasps. I take my phone back, “thanks Joe. I appreciate your help.”
“I don't understand. Do you know this girl?” Joe asks.
Looking down at the photo, I answer quietly, “I used to, Joe. I used to.” Joe gives a sympathetic smile and leaves. The silence in his wake feels oppressive.
“Cameron?” Mom leans forward, hand outstretched.
Standing, I hand her my phone as I take the seat next to her. Reaching, I lean across to turn my monitor so she can see it too. There on the screen, captured in four different security camera shots throughout the Inn, is the blonde-haired Melanie.
Mom's sharp intake of breath breaks the silence. Her hand flies to her mouth as she stares at the footage, eyes wide with shock. She reminds me of the look on Chief Brody's face when he sees that massive shark emerge from the depths. I love that movie.
“Cameron,” her voice barely above a whisper, “do you think that's her?”
“Yes.”
“I don't understand.” Mom looks up from the phone. “Why didn't you tell us you talked to her?” Mom pauses, her eyes examining my face. “You didn't.”
The hurt in mom's voice is raw with emotion. She'd always loved Melanie. She was so excited to add another daughter to the family. Mom loves her daughters-in-law and treats them like we're the sons-in-law and they're her biological kids. It's mentioned a lot at family get-togethers. With Melanie, she and mom bonded instantly. I think it's because Melanie's own mother was so ill and mine is caring. Like a mama chicken, she scooted Melanie under her wing, keeping her warm and loved. I have no doubt that when Melanie left; it broke mom's heart almost as much as it did mine. And after last night, that's something I'll never forgive her for.
“Watch.” I'd gone back and pieced all the footage into one loop knowing I was going to have to show this to the family.
Once the video stops, I turn to face mom. She reaches out to touch the screen, another soft gasp escaping her. “Even with everything that's happened. All the hurt, the unanswered questions, the emptiness. Even with all of that, I still miss her.” She wipes at the corner of her eye. “I don't understand why she didn't talk to you. Cameron, what are you going to do?”
“What do you mean, what am I going to do? I'm not going to do anything. Melanie was here, with the perfect opportunity to talk to me. And she didn't. We thought she was dead. DEAD! My heart was ripped from my body and trampled on by her.” I point at the computer screen. “No, no, I'm not going to do anything. Our family suffered through all that pain and hurt. The number of nights I lay awake terrified for what my mind was telling me she was having to endure. And here she is fine. More than fine!” I shake my head. “Mom, you know the endless comments from the concerned people.” I make air quotes around the words. “Hell, she was on the other side of a door from me and she never said a word! No, she left me. She made that choice. And now I have to make mine. I don't want to see her. Ever again.”
Mom sighs and wipes away her tears. “But you love her.”
I retreat behind my desk, not wanting to have this conversation again. We've been through it too many times over the past month.
“Correction, I loved her. We've had this conversation before, mom. This has all been too much.”
“I know, dear, but that was before we knew she was here in Whispering Pines. Maybe she needs us to make the first move. We should tell people to watch for her.”
“Us? Come on mom. Did she sit around thinking we were dead? No. Did she come up with every excuse in the world trying to figure out what happened? No. Did she write a note saying she didn't ever love me? Yes. So, explain to me why should we make the first move? We didn't do anything wrong. She did! She left us! She couldn't even face us; she couldn't look me in the face and say she wanted out. NO, she dramatically set up a situation and ran away. And then she turned up here, at my work, and didn't say a damn thing? No way in fucking hell I'm making the first move.”
“Language,” mom warns, giving me her signature raised-eyebrow look.
I don't say anything for a moment. I'm mad and I have every right to be. But I don't want to get into it with her. “Sorry.” Being the mother of three sons who could out-curse a crew of sailors hadn't been easy on mom. But we learned from the best, our dad, the captain of our crew. We'd all been forced to learn to watch our language around her. I unconsciously rub the back of my head where her whack usually landed.
“I'll let it go because I know how emotionally upset you are.”
Shaking my head, I take a deep breath and blow it out. I close my eyes and speak. “Mom, I just can't. I just can't. I'll drive myself crazy looking for her, trying to get answers I know I can't get. Please understand, I just can't.”
“I understand, dear. Cameron, now that I know what I know, I'm going to look for her. I want answers for what my family's been through.”
“Sure mom, if it makes you feel better.”
She stands, gathering her purse before coming around to kiss the top of my head. “I'm sorry for all the pain you've endured, son. I wish I could take it from you. Your father and I both do. But now, it's time for mama bear to take over.”
I stand to hug her, always surprised by how small she feels in my arms. I tower over her. We all do, but the way she runs our family, you'd think she was a giant. And truthfully, she is - just not in height.
“Don't forget dinner Saturday night. Your brothers will be there.”
“I won't forget. I'm going back to swimming, I'll come over after that.” I give her what I hope is a reassuring smile. She can look all she wants, but she won't find Melanie. I'll let her try for now, then have a talk with her about letting go, for her own good. But I would be lying if I didn't admit that I kind of hope she does find Melanie. Mom's been on the front lines when it came to finding Melanie. But now that she knows the truth and her family's suffered for no reason, Mom is a force to be reckoned with.