Mother (31 page)

He handed a key to Claire. “I’ll get a couple more of these made. Meanwhile you two can move in whenever you want. We’ll work out shifting the utilities over and all that fun stuff next week.”

Claire hugged him again then Jason shook his hand. “Need any help?”

“None at all. I’ll see you bright and early, Jason.”

“Yes, sir!”

Jason and Claire exited their new house and had just pulled out of the driveway when Paul came out and put the cooler and trash bag in his truck. He waved and grinned as he climbed in.
 

Claire tried to remember all the turns they took as they left the pristine little neighborhood and thought Mother would never find her way there.
 

 
Once on the main highway heading back to the cul-de-sac, she spoke. “I can’t believe this is happening.”

“Me neither. Paul’s not only my boss, he’s our fairy godfather.”

She laughed. “He is. I love him … but I wonder what Mother had on him that made him offer you the job in the first place.”

“So do I, schweetheart,” he said in his best Bogey. “So do I.”

As they got out of the Prius, the back porch light shot on. They paused as Prissy appeared in her kitchen doorway. “Kids,” she said.

Claire and Jason exchanged glances. “Yes?” said Claire.

“Could you come in here a moment? I’d like to speak with you.” Something about her tone made Jason nervous. He stifled a groan and they headed into Prissy’s kitchen.

She stood at the sink, rinsing dishes that didn’t need to be washed.

“Yes, Mother?”

“Sit down, sit down.” Prissy gestured at the kitchen table.

Claire and Jason sat, looking at each other. Prissy didn’t stop washing, but spoke over her shoulder. “It was inevitable, of course, that living together, we would need to set up some ground rules.” She sighed.
 

“What are you talking about, Mother?” Claire’s eyes narrowed.

“Well,” said Prissy, “I’ve been meaning to discuss something with you for a while now, but I’ve just been so busy with all these projects that I haven’t had a chance.”

Jason wondered what projects she was referring to. Aside from the bake sale, which was a done deal, and worrying about what everyone else was doing, he hadn’t seen any of these projects she always spoke about. One thing was certain; she hadn’t taken on cleaning out the rooms upstairs. He tried not to smile.

“Get to the point, Mother.” Claire’s tone was cold but Prissy’s stare was even icier as she turned to face them.

“Very well.” She dried her hands on a dishtowel. “It’s come to my attention that the two of you have been letting yourselves into my home without my knowledge, and going into the rooms upstairs, which, I might add, are private, and not to be rummaged through. The items in those rooms belong to me and-” She stared hard at Claire. “Don’t even try to deny it, young lady. I’ve known about this for some time.”

“I don’t think she was going to deny it, Prissy,” said Jason. “I believe we owe you an apology. We went in there looking-”

Claire cut him off. “I was looking for Mr. Anton, and-”

Prissy crossed her arms. “I told you that
I
would locate him for you and I did, so you had no reason to-”

Claire stood and Jason hoped like hell there wouldn’t be another scene. “I figured you’d never get around to it. You never get around to anything.”

Prissy sighed. “Well, I found the teddy bear, now, didn’t I?”

Claire couldn’t argue that.

They stared at each other, neither backing down. Jason could practically smell the fury mounting in the room.
 

“It won’t happen again, Mother. Now, if you’ll excuse us, Jason and I need to get to bed.”

Prissy stomped her foot. “That’s it!” she said. “I am putting my foot down!” Another hard stomp.

Jason was on his feet, staring as Prissy’s face, formerly a mask of contained tolerance, now distorted into the frenzied face of a madwoman.

Claire stepped back. “Are you serious, Mother?”

“I didn’t say anything the first time this happened,” Prissy’s voice rose an octave, “or the second - but the third is where I draw the line. You will
not
come into my house unannounced, and you will
not
lock me out of my own gosh darned bull honking home!” A vein throbbed above her eyebrow.

“Lock you out of your own home?” asked Claire, her voice deadly calm. “What in the unholy
fuck
are you talking about now, Mother?”

Prissy gasped and clutched her disgusting hair necklace. “Don’t you
dare
use that word with me, young lady!” Her eyes were wild, her mouth pulled down in a ghastly grimace that showed her age. “Don’t think for one moment I don’t know you’ve changed the locks on my apartment door!” She stomped her foot again. “And you owe the swear jar!”

“Of course you knew that, Mother.” Claire stepped close to Prissy and held up a hand to stop Jason from interfering. “You must have figured it out after going through our garbage and trying to put all those expired cans of soups and vegetables back in our cupboards.”

Prissy stared at her.

“That’s right, Mother. While we’re on the topic of privacy and ground rules, we’d appreciate you not letting yourself into
our
rooms, as well.”

“This is
my
house!”
 

“True. But that gives you no right-”

“I am
trying
to help you, young lady!”

“Well, we don’t need any more of
your
help.”

Prissy gasped. “I never-”

Jason put his hand on Claire’s waist and tried urging her to the door, but she stood rooted.

“You don’t need my help?” Prissy exclaimed. “You need to
open
your eyes, young lady!” She brought her hands to the sides of her face and splayed her fingers on the word
“open,”
to demonstrate. “
Open
your eyes!” she shrilled. “
Open
your eyes!”

“Okay, that’s enough.” Claire looked at Jason. “I’m ready to go.”

He guided her out the kitchen door, but Prissy was close behind them, still not finished shrieking and stamping her feet.

“If you don’t need
my
help, then would you mind telling me why you’re here? And another thing,” she went on, following them outside. “I will not have you disturbing your father without my knowledge.”

Jason and Claire kept walking. He’d wanted to say something, but the truth was, he was stunned. He’d never seen a grown woman throw a tantrum.

“You have both been nothing but ungrateful since the day I let you-”

Claire stopped at the foot of the apartment stairs. “Well, you don’t need to worry about it anymore, Mother, because we won’t be here much longer.”

Prissy stopped cold. “You have nowhere to go. Don’t give me your empty threats. ”

“It’s not a threat, Mother, it’s a promise.” Claire squeezed Jason’s hand. “Isn’t that right, Jase?”
 

“Yes,” he said. “That’s right.”

Claire turned and he followed her up the stairs, leaving Prissy staring after them, mouth open and eyes wide.

Desperately Seeking Dominance

“How’s your sundae?” Jason smiled, his blue eyes crinkling in that way Claire loved.

“Everything I dreamed it would be.” She glanced up at the stained glass lamp above their table at the Daffodil Grill. It was a replica of the Tiffany wisteria lamps she loved. Claire hadn’t wanted to let Mother’s tantrum ruin the good mood, and after the coast was clear, she’d suggested they go, pleading a need for ice cream. “When I said I was craving a sundae, I didn’t expect you to go all out. I would have been happy with Dairy Queen.”

“Not for my girl. Tonight, we celebrate.” He eyed the remains of her dessert as she spooned up a melting mix of pistachio, chocolate mint, and peanut butter ice cream. “That’s quite a flavor bomb you’ve got there.”

“I wish I’d gotten some banana and marshmallow, too.”

“We can do that.”

“No, I’m stuffed. I’m just being a pig.” She put her spoon down. “I’m really sorry about tonight. I didn’t mean to get in a fight with my mother.”

Jason reached across the table and took her hand. “You weren’t the one who lost her cool.” He chuckled. “I’ll bet Hank and Crystal next door sure got an earful of Prissy tonight.”

“No kidding. It’s so embarrassing.”
 

“No, sweetheart, your mother only embarrassed herself. And the Lowells are good guys. I think they’re probably the only people on this block besides Babs who don’t see gossip as a way of life.”

Claire nodded. “True. But I still wish she hadn’t gone ballistic. If Phyllis Stine was outside, she no doubt got an earful too.” She couldn’t help smiling at the thought.

“Who cares?” He squeezed her hand. “We’re moving! This week!”
 

Claire squeezed back. “We are! I’ll start packing tomorrow and we can even take a few boxes over tomorrow night.”

“Remember, the doctor told you to take it easy, so don’t do too much. Pack some clothes. Let me do all the heavy lifting.”

“There’s not much to lift, so I bet we can be sleeping there in two nights and be completely out of Mother’s lair by the weekend! We’ll even put her old locks back on.” She grinned.

“I love seeing you so happy. You’re glowing like a Chinese lantern.” He paused. “I want to ask you a question - and it’s serious, so don’t laugh.”

“What is it?”

“Do you think she’d care if we take the recliner?”

“Seriously?”

“That’s what I said.”

“Don’t take it. She’ll see that as a debt to her. She may even use it as an excuse to come over and nose around.”

“You really think so?”

“I know so. Trust me on this. We’ll buy you a new one. We aren’t taking anything but what we brought with us. Not one fork, not one hanger. Not one can of fourteen-year-old peas.” She grinned.

“Oh, heck, let’s just splurge and buy new ones!”

“You’re on. Now take me home, Magic Man, and show me what you can do with those magic hands.”

His eyes twinkled and he waggled an eyebrow, then put money on the table. “You got it, schweetheart.” They went into the chilly night.

“I’m going to save for a second car,” Claire said, buckling her seat belt. “I had another inquiry about my services in my email today. Pretty soon, I’ll be able to afford
something
drivable.”

Jason pulled onto the dark, quiet street. “Now that we’re living near my work, I could give you the Prius and buy a bicycle. You could just take me when it rains. You’ll need the car more than I do when the baby comes.”

Claire nodded. Snapdragon was sleepy at ten o’clock on a Sunday night, and after they turned off Main Street they saw virtually no traffic.
Which is kind of nice
, Claire thought. She liked it here, except for her mother’s presence.
It wouldn’t be a bad place to live if I can Mother-proof the house.
She almost said as much to Jason, but figured he was sick of the subject. “Jason, that’s so kind about the car. I
will
take you up on it, so I hope you’re serious.”

“Absolutely. And when I do need a ride home, Paul lives less than a mile away - I probably wouldn’t even have to get you to pick me up.”

“Aw, I never mind picking
you
up.” She placed a hand on his knee and squeezed. “Jason?”

“Hmm?”

“Can we afford to buy some curtains and dishes and things for the new house?”

“Yes, just as long as you don’t want to buy at Crate & Barrel.”

She laughed. “Target will do nicely. Can we go this week? I can’t wait to get out of there.”

“Absolutely. After we take the boxes over we’ll do a little shopping tomorrow night.”

“Great.” She hesitated. “Jase, seriously, it’s important we do this quickly because I don’t think Mother has really even begun to explode yet. She’s liable to become impossible and it makes me a little nervous.”

“Well, at least she doesn’t have a key.” He pulled onto Morning Glory Circle. “Are you sure you’re not being a little paranoid?”

“I don’t think I am. Mother loves a good scene and she’ll find a way to make one. You can bank on it.”

“Well, in all fairness, we
were
snooping through her house.” He pulled into the driveway. “You can’t blame her for being upset.”
 

“True.” She could see Mother’s point. Still, she wanted to get out of Dodge, and fast.

As they made their way toward the apartment, they heard Mother’s voice from the potting shed. Claire took Jason’s hand as she brought a finger to her lips.
 

He shook his head. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

But Claire pulled him closer and they crouched near the window. Jason sighed and Claire strained to hear.

“I handled it all wrong, Angelheart.” Mother’s voice was stuffy as if she’d been crying. “I wish I could take it back.”

Claire felt a stab of guilt.

“They’re just children, after all.”

The guilt dissolved.

“I think she just misses you terribly, Timmy.” A pause. “We all do.”

Jason squeezed Claire’s hand and nodded toward the apartment. He wanted to leave. But Claire wasn’t done listening.
 

“I’ll apologize to them, of course,” said Mother. “I only hope they’ll accept. I certainly can’t blame them if they don’t.” She sniffed. “I just keep failing.” Her words came out in a high mewl. She was weeping. “All I want is to be a good mother.”

Claire was struck. She’d never heard her mother weep like this before. She looked at Jason, but his eyes were far away, disinterested.

Mother sobbed - great, heartfelt-sounding sobs.
She must know we’re listening.
Mother had missed her calling as an actress. Claire looked at Jason. He wasn’t amused.

“Come on,” he whispered, tugging her hand. “That’s enough.”
 

“You’re not
actually
buying any of this, are you?”
 

The look in his eyes said it all.
 

“Boy, she’s got you fooled, doesn’t she?”

He glared at her and she realized that not only was he buying it, but he thought Claire was being an utter bitch. He stared at her a moment, incredulous, then straightened and headed to the apartment, shoulders stiff.