Chapter 49 Annabelle
Annabelle
It was after ten by the time Annabelle got home, and all she wanted to do was go to sleep.
Their flight from Los Angeles was supposed to have left at eight a.m. but was delayed for four hours due to some mechanical issue.
When she got home, James was watching a documentary in their bedroom, and the girls were in their own rooms. He looked up as she came in.
“You must be exhausted,” he said, then got up and gave her a kiss. “Missed you.”
“It’s good to be home,” she answered. “I’m going to go say hi to the girls.”
She went to Olivia’s room first, but when she opened the door, she saw that she was asleep, a book open on her chest. Annabelle smiled.
She closed the book and pulled the covers up to her daughter’s chin, then kissed her forehead and turned off the light.
She rapped lightly on Scarlett’s door and opened it after Scarlett’s “Come in.”
Scarlett’s phone was in her hand. She put it facedown on the bed and looked up at Annabelle.
“Hi. How was your trip?”
“Good. How was skiing? I’m happy to see you home and in one piece.”
Scarlett rolled her eyes. “I told you I’d be fine. It was awesome. They said we could go again soon.”
Annabelle nodded. “I’m sorry I was heavy-handed about it. I’ve been a little stressed lately, and I shouldn’t have put that on you.”
Scarlett smiled at her. “It’s okay. All’s well that ends well.”
Annabelle laughed. “Quoting Shakespeare now.”
“Hey, listen. Did Dad tell you about next weekend? Newport?”
“No, we haven’t caught up yet. I came right up to see you girls.”
“Well, I volunteered to work on a charity project with Avery, so I’m not gonna go. I’ll spend the night at Avery’s.”
“Oh. Well, we can postpone—”
Scarlett shook her head. “No, you’ve been looking forward to it. I’ll be fine. Besides, Olivia’s excited to go, and she’s bringing Sophie. I’ll go next time.”
Annabelle felt backed into a corner, but she didn’t have a logical argument for her daughter, so she simply nodded. “All right. As long as Avery’s parents are okay with having you another weekend.” She paused. “Such an imposition.” She grinned.
“Yeah. I’m the worst!”
“All right. I’d better go and see what Dad’s up to. Love you.” She kissed Scarlett on the cheek and left.
As Annabelle approached the bedroom she heard James’s voice. She didn’t know why, but something made her hang back and listen, her back to the wall next to the bedroom door.
“This is all your fault,” James hissed, sounding angry. Who was he talking to? A few seconds later he spoke again. “You’d better figure something out and fast! And don’t call me when I’m home.”
She walked in. “Hey, were you on the phone?” She made her voice breezy.
He looked up, startled, then smiled. “Hi, babe.” He waved a hand. “A patient with a question. So tell me about your trip.” He clicked the remote and turned the television off.
She was sure he would never speak to a patient that way. “You sounded angry, James. What’s going on?”
He stood up and pulled her to him. “It’s nothing. Boundary issues, that’s all. Welcome home. Come sit.”
Annabelle looked at him a moment longer. Whatever it was, clearly, he wasn’t going to tell her. “Let me go wash up first.”
James was reading when she came out, and she took a seat on the love seat in their room.
He put his book down and gave her his attention.
“I don’t like it when you’re gone over the weekend.
Seems like you’re working more now that you turned down the promotion than you were before. Maybe you should take some time off.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I don’t like you jetting off with some man. I looked him up. He looks like a player.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean? And I wasn’t jetting off with some man. It’s work. What’s up with you? You’re not normally the jealous type.” Annabelle had to fight to keep her tone even.
His voice rose. “Things are falling apart here. The girls need you. I can’t do everything around here.”
“I don’t even know what to say to that. What happened to ‘you’ll support me whatever’?”
“You’re gone too much. It’s like you don’t even care about the family anymore.” James stood up and began to pace, his breath coming in short spurts. “I’ve been patient and supportive. But I’m at my wit’s end! Take a damn break! It won’t kill you.”
Annabelle’s mouth dropped open. What was going on? He’d never spoken to her like this before. “James, calm down. It was one weekend! You’re gone a hell of a lot more than I am.”
Like a switch, he deflated. “I’m sorry. The truth is, I need you. You’ve been distant lately. I guess I’m feeling a little insecure.”
“Well, it’s not attractive.” She knew her words would wound him, but she didn’t care. “If I’ve been distant, maybe it’s because you did an end run around me with Scarlett. We’re supposed to be on the same team.” Why was she using sports metaphors now? Riggs must be rubbing off on her.
He clenched his jaw. “Not this again. You can’t blame me for that. You were being unreasonable. All I’m asking is for you to take some time off. Let someone else follow this guy around the country.”
The heat rose to her face. “Enough, James. I’m not taking time off right now. I’m beat. I’m going to sleep.” She wanted to end the conversation before it got heated again. His extreme mood swing made her think again of that horrible dream, and there was a part of her that was nervous.
Suddenly he was the old James again, conciliatory, protective. “I’m sorry, babe. I just worry about you. How’s your anxiety?”
Annabelle tensed. “Just because I was worried about Scarlett’s trip doesn’t mean I’m anxious.
Some people worry a bit more than others.
It’s not abnormal. Stop treating me like I’m one of your patients.
” She got into bed and turned on her side away from him.
Then she sat up again. “Scarlett told me she’s not joining us next weekend.
That’s a shame. I was looking forward to some family time. ”
“I was, too, but she’s getting older, and we can’t expect her to spend all her weekends with us. Besides, it’s for school, and that’s important.”
“Let’s do Port Jeff instead. That way it can be a day trip. To be honest, the last thing I want to do right now is spend another night away from home.”
“That sounds fine,” he said as he slid in next to her and turned off the lamp. He moved toward her and began to stroke her arm. He must be kidding.
She pushed him away. “I’m exhausted, James.”
“Got it,” he said, moving over to his side of the bed.
She closed her eyes and drifted off.
I’m on a roller coaster and it’s going around in circles, faster and faster.
I’m laughing, and my hair is flying in the wind.
I turn to my left to see who’s on the ride with me, but I’m alone.
The car goes up the track and I stifle a scream.
It’s almost vertical, and I worry that the car will roll backward.
“Let me out!” I shout, but no one can hear me.
The car rises almost to the top, then I feel it slipping back and I scream, but everyone else is laughing.
Just when I think it’s not going to make it, I reach the top, and then I’m in a tunnel.
It’s not a roller coaster any longer, but a haunted house.
“Isn’t this fun?” Randy asks.
Randy! How is he here? He smiles at me and my heart melts, but then I remember what he did.
“What are you doing here?” I demand. The car whips around, and I gasp as something reaches out and grabs my hair.
I turn to see what it is but nothing’s there.
When I turn back around to talk to Randy, he’s gone, and James is there in his place.
“I don’t like this ride. I want to get off,” I tell him.
He smiles at me, but it’s not a real smile. His eyes are cold. “You can’t get off. You’re stuck. You have to see it through.”
“What do you mean?” I yell, but we’re suddenly plunged into darkness.
A screen emerges in front of me and a movie starts to play.
It’s Olivia and Scarlett as little girls.
Home movies of all of us. First, we’re at the zoo.
Then at the pool. Then the beach. I hear the sound of film playing, and then it sounds like a broken cassette and the video dissolves.
Scarlett’s face appears, and she’s looking at the camera. Her face is splattered with blood.
“Why didn’t you save me? Now it’s too late.” She begins to cry, then turns around and walks down a long road until she disappears.
“What movie is this?” I ask James. But he’s gone now. My mother sits in his place. She stares straight ahead, saying nothing.
“Mom. Mom, what is happening?”
She turns to me. “He’s lying. It’s all his fault. You can’t trust him.”
“Who is lying?” I’m yelling now, but it’s as if she can’t hear me. “Mom, Mom!” The ride goes dark again, and I feel myself fade into nothing. I jump out of the car and run, trying to escape from the ride. I feel like I can’t breathe. Finally, I burst through the door and into the blessed light.
Annabelle gasped and sat up. She glanced at the window; still dark.
Slipping from the bed, she grabbed her robe and went downstairs.
Parker followed behind her. Three a.m. The witching hour, she thought.
Why was she dreaming about her mother so much lately?
And Randy! She had done her best over the years to erase him from her memories, but obviously that was never going to happen.
She thought back to all those years ago when she believed that her future was planned out.
She had such hope for them. They were soulmates who would spend the rest of their lives together.
But it didn’t work out that way. The family that she thought she’d have with him wasn’t meant to be.
That was when she’d learned that fate was a cruel mistress, waiting until happiness was within your reach to snatch it all away.
She grabbed a fleece blanket and curled up on the sofa.
Parker jumped up and settled on her legs.
“My good boy. Thanks for keeping me company,” she said, reaching out to pet his head.
Grabbing the remote, she turned the television on low and stopped at an old episode of Frasier.
She did her best to concentrate and put the disturbing dreams out of her thoughts.
After a while, she felt sleepy and closed her eyes.
The last image in her mind before she finally fell back asleep was of her mother making a slicing motion across her throat.