Riverbend (27 page)

“Don't say a thing about my family.” With each word he slammed Graham harder into the wall. “You have no idea what you're talking about.”

“Drake, please, stop,” sobbed Annie, pulling on his arm, all the moments of her past with Marco playing before her eyes. “Please, stop. Please.”

As if her words brought him back to reality, he turned to look at her. His face softened. He let go of Graham, pulling Annie to him. “Don't cry. I'm sorry I scared you.”

Bella went to Graham, touching his shoulders and chest. “Are you all right?”

“Your brother's a lunatic.”

“I told you not to come here.”

Drake let go of Annie and glowered at his sister with a look so dark, so full of a sense of betrayal that it made her chest hurt. “Did you tell this piece of shit about my family?”

“I tell him everything,” said Bella.

“How could you?”

“Because I need to talk about it, Drake. I need the people I'm close with in my life to know what happened. Don't you think I loved them too?”

“But him? Why him? Why are you giving your life away to this?” Drake shot him a withering look. “This bullshit coward of a man.”

Bella didn't answer. Her small shoulders drooped and her face crumpled in a way that made her look like a different person. A small, sad person. “I can't explain it. You don't choose who you love.”

Well, that was the truth, thought Annie, feeling the heat from Drake's arms around her as if they were still there.

Bella's eyes, glistening, turned to Annie. “I heard what you said about me. No one's ever said anything like that about me before.”

“It's all true, Bella. You're doing so well here.” She reached for Bella's hand and held it like they were two young children on the playground. “Don't blow it for empty promises.”

“You're right,” Bella whispered. She squared her shoulders, looking over at Graham. “It's something about the river here, Graham, that teaches you your own name.”

“What kind of hippie dippie talk is that?” asked Graham. “What is with you people in Oregon anyway?”

Bella smiled—a sad, defeated smile. “My brother's right. You shouldn't have come up here. I've wasted too much time with you.”

“I've left her,” said Graham, looking considerably desperate. “For good.”

Bella stared at him as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing. “Impossible. Not now. After three years?”

“When you left, I realized what I'd lost. I mean it this time. Please, just come with me now. I'll help you pack your things. We can be in California by tomorrow. Back to civilization.”

“To Pebble Beach?” Bella's voice lifted in a hopeful lilt. “You've never taken me there. You always said that was a place just for your family.”

Graham looked to the ceiling and then back to Bella. “No, we can't go there. She's still there. Later, after she moves out maybe I can take you there.”

Annie, in spite of her best intentions to keep her mouth shut, couldn't hold it in. “You haven't left her. You made the whole thing up to get Bella to go with you.”

Graham flinched. “Don't be ridiculous. Of course I left her. Why would I lie about it?”

“Hmmm…I don't know,” said Annie in the most sarcastic tone of voice she could muster. “Because you're a liar?”

“I'm not lying. Bella, don't listen to her. I've finally come to my senses. I realize life is short. I want to be with you. I'm choosing you.”

“But what about your kids? Why is it suddenly okay to leave them?” asked Bella. “That was always the thing, wasn't it?”

“They'll adjust. I need to be happy.” He gestured towards the door. “Come on. Let's get out of here.”

Bella looked over at them. Annie turned her gaze to the floor. She couldn't watch this.

“Graham, come on,” said Bella, holding out her hand. “Let's talk.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

DRAKE LEANED OVER THE COUNTER,
his back moving up and down as he took in deep breaths. Annie watched him carefully. Was this the beginning of an attack? But he lifted his head, turning so that his back was against the counter. “I was away at college, finishing my last year at Stanford when Bella called me in the middle of the night. Our mother was sick with the flu, running a high fever, and hallucinating. Should she take her to the emergency room? This was always the question about every sickness when we were kids, should we go to the doctor or not because we had no insurance. I told her yes, please, just take her. I'll figure out how to pay for it later. So she drove her there in the middle of the night but it was too late. Her fever was high enough that it sent her into a coma. She died the next day. I was in shock for weeks. Could not get my head around how a perfectly healthy woman dies of the flu. But it happens, apparently. Bella took it really hard.”

“That's when she came to live with you?”

“Yeah, the state let me become her legal guardian. My mother would've wanted me to look after her. I know it probably drives Bella crazy because I treat her like a kid. Like my kid. But she's all I have left. So I'm not rational.” He stopped, staring at his hands for a moment. “I know it's no excuse, really. Just please forgive me for scaring you like that. I'm not a violent man, I swear. But when he said that about you something made me feel crazy.”

“Please, it's nothing.” She put her fingertips on his forearm. “I wanted to punch him myself. The guy's a complete jackass.”

“He's right about something though. She does have
abandonment and self-esteem issues. Why do you think she acts like such a pill half the time? Just faking it to cover up all her insecurities.”

“I know.”

He looked sheepish. “I wish to God Ben and Bella were shamelessly flirting on my deck right now.” He rubbed his eyes. “I worry about her so much.”

“Well, in that way, it is like being a parent,” she said softly. “Because that's how I feel about Alder.”

Something passed over his face. She thought for a moment that he wanted to tell her something but then changed his mind. She knew better than to ask.

Alder appeared in the glass door that led out to the deck. He mouthed, “Can I come in?”

Alder. The poor kid had been out there by himself all this time. “Yes, baby, come in.”

He stepped in the open doorway, his brown eyes searching their faces. Looking for clues. Was everything all right? She wiped under her eyes and rearranged her face into a smile. The most important thing was for him to feel safe.

“Are you guys okay?” He came to her and took her hand, patting her arm like she was a child.

“Yeah, we're fine.”

“You were crying. I know because you always get those little red blotches on your cheeks and your eyes are red.” He looked over at Drake. “And your face is all dark like it gets sometimes. What happened?”

Drake turned to him. “I scared her, bud, but it's okay now.”

“But you didn't mean it, right?” said Alder. “She just scares easy, right Mom?”

“That's right, honey. It wasn't his fault.”

“What did you do?” Alder said to Drake. “Usually I scare her by climbing a tree or something like that.”

“I got really mad at Bella's friend,” said Drake. “Too mad. And it made your mom cry.”

“Oh, well, that doesn't sound like much compared to stuff I do.”

“But still, I'm sorry,” said Drake to Annie. “It was the last thing I
wanted.”

“I know,” she said softly. “I'm all better now.” She smiled at Alder to prove it. “I promise.”

“Okay, Mom.” But he stayed next to her, keeping her hand in his.

“Alder, I have some kind of disappointing news,” said Annie. “Bella is leaving.”

“With her friend?”

“Yes.”

Alder shook his head like it was all too perplexing for the human mind to comprehend. “But why would she go with him?”

“What do you mean?”

“He makes her cry. I know because she cried all the way back from our hike even though she kept saying it was just allergies. I know different. And I don't think you should have friends that make you cry.”

She put her arms around Alder's shoulders and reached for Drake's hand. “You know what I think?”

“What's that?” asked Drake faintly, gazing at her hand.

“I think we need breakfast for lunch. Pancakes. Sausage. Eggs. What do you say?”

“That cheers a person up for sure,” said Alder.

Annie smiled and kissed his cheek. “Let me shower and dressed and then I'll get started on it.”

She was just outside the room when she heard Alder's voice. She stopped, curious. “If someone like you got mad it means the person deserved it. I know you and you're not a mad person. More sad than mad.” There was a pause and then Alder's voice again. “Why are you so sad?”

Drake's voice was hollow but gentle. “It's hard to explain, bud. Sometimes life can be hard for certain people and that's how it is for me.”

“Like something bad happened to you?”

“Right.”

“Like the same as with my mom?”

“Kind of. Only your mom isn't sad. Is she?”

“Sometimes she is. Even before this stuff with my real dad I
heard her crying in her room at night and stuff. I think she's lonely.”

“I'm sorry to hear that.”

“You know what else?”

“What's that?”

“Even though she's been afraid about things she's been really happy here with you. I think she likes taking care of you.”

“Your mother is a great woman. Anyone lucky enough to be around her is truly blessed. Don't you ever forget it.”

“I won't.” His voice sounded so earnest that it made Annie smile through her tears.

“Now come on, let's help her with breakfast by setting the table.”

She sat on the floor of the shower, sobbing into her knees as the water cascaded down her back, wondering how she could possibly go out to the kitchen and make a meal as if her heart had not just been reborn inside her chest, his words replaying in her mind over and over.
Your mother is a great woman. Anyone lucky enough to be around her is truly blessed.

Chapter Twenty-Three

THEY WERE FINISHING THE REST OF THE EGGS
when they heard the gate intercom buzz. Drake looked at her over the rim of his coffee cup. “That'll be Peter Ball.”

Annie and Alder cleared the table, making haste, and a few minutes later a handsome blond man and one of the loveliest women Annie had ever seen entered the foyer. He was of medium build, compact, with soft blond curls hanging slightly over his forehead. When he shook her hand and she looked into his eyes, Annie could think only, this is a man of strength, both physically and mentally. His new bride was Cleo Tanner, who told Annie right away how they were married two days ago and were on their honeymoon. Cleo was lovely in a way that reminded Annie of classic movie stars like Grace Kelly, despite very modern, long, honey-hued hair that flowed about her shoulders. Both of them glowed the way people in love do.

They went into the front room while Alder fetched them all glasses of iced tea. Peter had the inquisitive eyes of a detective, surveying the room in a way she suspected took note of every detail.

Cleo's eyes were wide, looking around the room. “This is the most beautiful home I've ever seen.”

“Thank you,” Drake said.

“It's a great tribute,” said Peter. “She was obviously very talented.”

Who was talented? What did he mean?
Annie searched Drake's face but he wore the same guarded expression when she asked him questions he didn't want to answer.

“She was,” said Drake. “Please sit.”

Alder came in then, carrying a tray with a pitcher and four glasses, walking with careful, slow steps. Cleo jumped up and took the tray from him. “Well done,” she said to him as she set the tray on the coffee table. “I'm Cleo.” She held out her hand for him to shake, which he did, staring at her with an instant look of adoration.

“You're so pretty,” he said.

She flushed. “Oh, thank you.”

“Are you an actress?”

She looked startled, glancing over at her new husband. “No. I mean, not anymore. I used to be. In college, that is. But I don't do it anymore.” Something showed in her eyes. Was it pain? No, perhaps more like regret.

“Why?” asked Alder. Only children could get away with asking what everyone else wanted to, thought Annie.

Cleo smiled, kindly. “It's a long story. But do you know what I am now?”

He shook his head, his brown eyes never leaving her face.

“I'm a Montessori teacher.” She pointed at the tray on the table. “And we use a lot of trays at my school.” She proceeded to tell him of the Montessori method of teaching with hands-on tools, all of which were kept on trays, each called a ‘lesson.’

“Cool,” he said. But Annie knew he wasn't listening to a word. His eyes were glazed over and his mouth turned up slightly in a way that made him appear bemused and besotted. Her boy was in love with Cleo Tanner. What was it about this house that made everyone fall instantly in love?

After she shooed the lovesick Alder outside to play, the four of them sat together in the front room, sipping tea, while Drake filled Peter in on Annie's situation. “Any advice for us?” Drake asked when he'd finished.

Peter's brow was wrinkled, his green eyes taking in Annie sympathetically. “I'm afraid there's not much we can do but wait, which I know must be excruciating. But I'm assuming he'll be on probation, so the minute he steps out of the state of California, the authorities can nail him and bring him back where they'll throw him into his old jail cell. And you should file a restraining order against him. That way if he comes near you, the police can pick him up.”