9. Ansley Silent Treatment #2
“Well, I figure it like this. How much do we ever know about the people we’re going into business with?
Anyone can put on a good show for a few hours at an office.
We have no idea what these people are like behind the scenes.
I see knowing John’s true colors as a benefit, a bonus.
I can predict what he’s going to do because I really know who he is. ”
“But you know his true colors are I’ll screw you over the minute I get the chance. That seems kind of crazy.”
“I know how to protect myself, Ans. This isn’t my first rodeo.”
I just shook my head.
As we pulled into downtown Peachtree Bluff, I smiled at the lights in the windows, at the friends dining together inside the restaurants, the tourists sipping wine at the bars.
It was such a storybook town. It gave me the loveliest little pitter pat in my heart.
You are home. You are home, it seemed to say.
And I guessed Jack had a point. At least John wasn’t a stranger.
“But how can you leave this, Jack? How can you live anywhere that isn’t Peachtree Bluff?”
“Don’t think of it as a move, Ansley. Think of it as a partial relocation, dual citizenship.”
He pulled into the driveway and popped the hatch of the SUV.
Jack unloaded my suitcase, and I started rolling it toward the pitch-black house.
Had I not left a single light on? Had Sloane and the boys not been here the whole time we had been gone?
And how could I not worry? I knew I was being selfish.
I was very clear on that. Not getting what you want all the time was part of marriage.
Jack had to do stuff for me constantly that wasn’t convenient or fun.
But he knew more than anyone that Peachtree was like the blood that ran through my veins.
I needed to be here with my family. I needed to be a part of this place that had always been there for me, that had brought me back to life when my world had crumbled all around me.
I opened the front door and stepped over the threshold, a cold chill running down my spine. I was fumbling for the light switch when a lamp popped on and a voice said, “Why, hello, Ansley.”
I screamed bloody murder, Jack sprinted inside, and, as my eyes adjusted to the light, I said, “Caroline? What is wrong with you? You nearly gave me a heart attack.”
She laughed, and Emerson, who was sitting in the club chair beside her, joined her. “Sorry. That would have been bad.”
“Where in the world have you been?” Caroline asked.
I was still catching my breath, so it didn’t occur to me that I really didn’t need to answer to my child. But, even still, I went first. “Jack and I were in Chicago.”
“Why?” Emerson asked.
Jack—that very smart man—tried to make himself as small as possible, grabbing his suitcases and sneaking up the stairs.
I finally had the wherewithal to let go of my suitcase and walk in to sit down on the sofa across from them. “Why are you grilling me?”
“We just think it’s weird that you went away without telling us,” Emerson said. “And your phone was off.”
She was right. It was weird. I knew, deep down, I hadn’t told them because I also knew, deep down, something was brewing with Jack. I just didn’t know the brewing was so literal. “You’ve just been so busy that I didn’t want to worry you with our travel plans. It wasn’t a big deal.”
“I’m so offended.” She didn’t look offended. Not at all, in fact. “Well, anyway, we’re here because Sloane thought she was having a miscarriage—”
“What?” I gasped. “Oh, that’s just awful! I knew I shouldn’t have left!”
“Well, she’s fine,” Caroline said. “And it’s obvious that you need to pass off some of your motherhood duties since you can’t even bother to tell your daughters where you are. I took care of Sloane. Like I always do.”
She was in kind of a weird mood. I thought she was joking, but I wasn’t sure. Either way, I felt defensive. “Yes, I know. I’m such a bad mother. Planning Emerson’s wedding while half the family is living under my roof, trying to get Sloane’s house done.”
“Well, I’m sorry we’re such a burden,” Sloane said from behind me. “But it’s not like we have anywhere else to go.”
Great. I turned to hug her. “Honey, I’m so relieved you’re okay. And that was taken out of context.”
“Whatever,” she said. “How was New York?”
“Chicago,” Caroline chimed in from the corner. “She was in Chicago.”
“Why?” Sloane asked.
Before I could answer, the door flung open. I was about to say “Vivi!” when I saw her stricken, wet face. “It’s over!” Vivi sobbed. “I am never speaking to Tyler again!”
She flew up the stairs, leaving us all watching behind her.
“Well, at least you don’t have to worry about the sex thing,” Emerson said. “Or the fish thing.”
“What?” I asked, partially horrified, partially interested.
Tyler appeared in the doorway, looking sheepish. Sloane and I looked at each other and then Caroline and Emerson, and we formed a silent plan. Emerson and Caroline would take Vivi. Sloane and I would be left down here to figure out the Tyler thing.
“What did you do to my daughter?” Caroline asked, arms crossed.
Poor Tyler, still in his grass-stained uniform, and smelling, well, athletic, put his hands up in the air. “Nothing. Seriously. Well, I mean, something. But it wasn’t a big deal. I swear.” He was so flustered.
Caroline and Emerson started up the stairs.
“Well, are you coming in?” Sloane asked.
“I don’t… I mean…” He paused and took a breath. “I guess not. But could you please tell Vivi that I’m sorry and I love her, and it meant nothing.”
That didn’t sound great. Sloane nodded, her serious aunt face pinned on. I tried to offer Tyler a smile, but he looked so distraught I wasn’t sure it helped. Poor thing.
As he turned to walk away, I looked back to see Jack standing at the top of the stairs, looking like a child whose Christmas candy had been stolen. And I realized that Tyler wasn’t the only male in this house made distraught tonight by a member of the Murphy clan.