Unbreakable (14 page)

"Damn!" Jacie roared, jumping to her feet. "I gotta go." She snatched up her book bag and took both the books from Nina, who also stood. Then she did something she'd never done to anyone outside of her family. She pulled Nina into a heartfelt hug, which Nina giddily returned.

"You shouldn't swear, Jacie," Gwen admonished, still shocked that Jacie had hugged anyone. "It's not ladylike." She scratched her head. "Hey, what's up with you two?"

Jacie gave them a brief rundown of what had happened, and Gwen and Audrey squealed with delight, jumping up and down and hugging Nina.

"You can read to me on Mondays after school, Nina," Gwen offered, eager to help.

"And me on Tuesdays and Katy on Wednesday," Audrey piped up, sure that her cousin would want to help. "Would a magazine be okay?" All eyes turned to Jacie, the newly anointed expert on the subject.

Jacie flipped her ponytail off her shoulder and brushed some grass from her shirt. "How should I know?" But she gave the question its due. "I don't see why it wouldn't work. Reading is reading. Even if it is about foxy, dorky boys."

Audrey smiled. "Then I'm picking a magazine. 'Kay, Nina?"

"Okay." Nina felt like she might cry and her chin began to quiver. "Th-thanks, guys."

The moment was thick with emotion and Jacie shifted uncomfortably. "I really gotta go now."

Nina sniffed, then nodded. "I'll walk b-back with you part way." And then they were off in the direction of their street, turning their heads after a couple dozen paces when Gwen called their names.

The tall girl cupped her hands around her mouth so that her voice would carry. "Jacie, you oughta be a doctor when you grow up."

Jacie waved at them but didn't answer. "So," she glanced down at Nina as they walked. "Do you think I should be a doctor?"

Nina scrunched up her face. "Of course n-not. You're going to be too b-busy breaking world records to be a doctor."

Jacie's smile was so wide it was a wonder her face didn't crack in two. Nobody knew her like Nina.

*  *  *

Present Day
Clayton, Missouri

"Who are we going to see again, Mom?"

Jacie steered the truck onto the quiet residential street where Nina now lived. "We're going to see an old friend of mine."
I can't believe I'm doing this after she hung up on me.
When she realized that her palms were actually sweating, she wiped them on her t-shirt, wondering if Emily could tell how nervous she was.

The girl rolled down the window and stuck her head out like a dog on a truck ride and grinned wildly, the wind whipping back her dark hair. "Why are you scared then?" she said loudly.

Jacie sighed. "Get your head back in the truck, crazy, and I'm not scared. I'm… Well, I'm just…"
What am I?
She let out a frustrated breath and decided to change the subject. There had to be some benefit to being the adult in the relationship. "My friend doesn't know we're coming today and I hope it's going to be a nice surprise."

"Can you at least roll down your window?"

Jacie rolled her eyes, knowing it was too cool to need the windows rolled down, but doing it anyway because it made Emily happy.

The little girl was quiet for a moment, watching the trees and houses with an interested eye. "I was surprised when you came to pick me up from school today." She turned towards Jacie. "We don't usually see each other during the week."

Jacie felt a lump form in her throat, and she had to swallow around it to speak. "I know. But I thought you might like to come with me today." She was still amazed that Alison, the evil whore-bitch, had allowed the impromptu visit at all and Jacie figured that her ex must have had plans for the night anyway and that Emily was simply destined for an evening with a babysitter.

An enormous smile met her mom's words. "I always want to come with you."

Jacie nodded and grinned back. "Same here, kiddo." She eased through an unmarked intersection. "My friend's name is Nina Chilt– Uhh," she realized she didn't know whether Nina was married or if she even had the same last name. "Anyway, I guess you can just call her Nina."
I have lost my mind. I know it.

"Okay." Emily shrugged. She didn't much care what they did, so long as they did it together. "Is it her birthday?" She reached back to the backseat and retrieved a small wrapped box.

"Uh… No. I just… I had something that I wanted to give her." She licked her lips nervously. "I figured now was as good a time as any."

A few more minutes and Jacie pulled up in front of the gray Colonial. "Wow," she murmured. "It's just the same as I remember it."

"You've been here before?" Emily asked as she unbuckled her seatbelt.

"Sure." Jacie didn't move except to peer out of her daughter's window. "I stayed the night here several times when I was a kid when my friend was here to visit her grandparents."

"That long ago?"

Jacie snorted. "Way back in the 1970s if you can imagine that."

Emily's eyes went round. "Cool!"

Jacie chuckled at the awe in her daughter's voice, though her stomach was in knots.

Emily exited the truck and stood on the curb to wait for her mother, taking the opportunity to look around. The neighborhood was nice, she decided. Pretty houses sat back far from the street and were separated by thick sets of bushes or trees. Then she spied something near the back of the house. "A treehouse!"

Jacie craned her head as she stared out the window but couldn't see what Emily was looking at.

"C'mon, Mom," the girl rapped on the window excitedly. "Aren't you coming out?"

Jacie sucked in a deep breath, a little unsure of the answer. Katherine had given her Nina's address and phone number during their phone conversation. She swore she didn't want or need the information, and yet, here she was. She'd picked up Emily and driven over here on impulse, taking only the time necessary to wrap a small gift for Nina. Now that she thought about it, she felt incredibly stupid for showing up unannounced. "Get back inside the truck, Emily. I think this was a bad–" She stopped when a tow-headed boy exploded out of the front door of Nina's house and ran down the walk at full speed.

Jacie was afraid he was going to smash headlong into the truck, but he stopped just short of Emily, sticking both of his hands in his jeans pockets as he curiously regarded the younger girl. He was a sturdy-looking boy, whose face was covered with freckles. His hair was tousled despite being cut short and spiked on top and the thick locks were a lighter shade of blonde than Jacie ever remembered seeing Nina's. There was, however, not a doubt in her mind that she was looking at Nina's son.

"Hi, I'm Robbie," he said to Emily, glancing warily at the grownup in the truck.

Tentatively, Emily gave him a friendly smile, pleased that an older boy was talking to her at all. Then she cast her gaze to the ground, suddenly shy. "Hi. My name is Emily."

Unconsciously, Robbie puffed out his chest and stood a little taller.

Jacie's eyebrows lifted at the natural interplay. "Gimme a break," she mumbled.

"How come you're parked in front of my house?" he asked in a clear but gentle voice. "If you're lost, I might be able to help you."

Jacie smiled at his kindness.

"We're here to see your mom." Emily pointed through the open window to Jacie, who was still rooted in place. "That's my mom." She crossed her eyes. "She's afraid to get out of the truck."

Jacie shot Emily an evil look.

Robbie jumped off the curb as though he was competing in the broad jump at the Olympics, then ran around the side of the truck and stopped just short of poking his head into the window.

Jacie was glad she was sitting down, because when his blue/green eyes met her gaze it was Nina looking at her all over again and her knees felt like jelly. "H–" She cleared her throat a little. "Hi." She tried to smile reassuringly. "I'm Jacie."

"Nice to meet you," Robbie said politely. "My mom's not home." Already bored with Jacie, he glanced back at Emily.

With a reprieve from those eyes, Jacie's gaze strayed to the house and she wondered if she should fish for a little information.
Oh, what the hell.
"What about your dad? Is he home?"

The boy shrugged. "No dad, just us and Grandma, who's watchin' me tonight."

Just then Agnes Chilton stepped out onto the front porch, still drying her hands on a soft yellow kitchen towel. "Robbie?" Her brow furrowed. "Who are you talking to?"

"A friend of Mom's," he bellowed back, loud enough for the entire neighborhood to take notice.

Jacie winced and rubbed her now ringing ear. She sighed inwardly, knowing that she couldn't change her mind now and that she'd have to at least say hello to Nina's mother.
At least it's not my mother.
The thought left her cold.

Under her breath, Jacie cursed herself for not sneaking away while she had the chance. Then she cursed herself some more for being a hopeless chicken. The older woman slowly made her way down the front walkway as Jacie, who felt like she was 11 years old again, emerged from the truck. "Hello, Mrs. Chilton," she said, trying not to look as surprised as she felt at the sight of Nina's mom.
God, how did she get so old?

Agnes smiled warmly. "If it isn't that scamp Jacie Ann Priest, all grown up and as beautiful as ever." She held out her arms. "Come and give me a hug. I haven't seen you in ages."

Jacie let out a relieved breath. Clearly, Nina had never told her mother what had transpired between them. She closed the remaining steps to Agnes and gave her a gentle hug, laughing when the older woman increased the pressure just to hear Jacie squawk.

"I'm not so old I'm going to break, Jacie Ann. Don't you dare coddle me!" But the smile on her face took any sting from the words.

After a long moment, Jacie stepped back and reached for Emily, taking her hand. "Can Nina come out and play?" she asked mischievously, earning a chuckle from Agnes.

Agnes repeated what Robbie had said, adding that Nina had had to go into work for some paperwork for her new job and that she probably wouldn't be home until late. Jacie wasn't sure whether to be relived about Nina being gone or not.

"Is that going to be a tree house?" Emily pointed to the pile of wood at the base of a tree that was just visible around the side of the house. Several boards had already been nailed into place.

"Yup," Robbie said proudly. "Wanna see?"

"Yeah!" Emily took a large step forward, then remembered she was supposed to ask permission. She turned and opened her mouth, but Jacie beat her to the punch.

"Go on." Jacie waved toward the side of the house. "Just stay with Robbie and no touching anything sharp." She lifted her eyebrows meaningfully. "Got me?"

Emily rolled her eyes. "Gotcha, Mom. Thanks!"

The children took off running towards the tree with Robbie slowing down just enough so that Emily could keep up. Jacie shook her head. "Remember when you were young enough to run everywhere you went?"

Agnes sighed. "No."

Jacie started to laugh. "Neither do I."

The two women sat on the porch and chatted for a few minutes with Agnes doing most of the talking and Jacie giving the occasional nod or adding a scant detail about her own life. It was hard to stop Agnes when she was on a roll.

"So," Agnes began casually, "you are going to that gathering of your old friends this weekend, aren't you?"

The smile that Jacie had been wearing since she arrived slipped from her face. The more she thought about it, the less convinced she was that she'd be comfortable being in the same room with Nina, much less Gwen, who she might strangle just for the fun of it. Perhaps missing Nina tonight was a sign that the past was best left dead and buried. "Umm… No." She looked away. "I have plans this weekend."

"Oh, I see." Agnes's tone was thoughtful. "Nina will be so upset."

Jacie's jaw sagged. "She will?"

"Of course! The main reason she decided to attend was because you were going to be there. She's all packed."

Jacie looked skeptical. "She actually said that?"

"She wants to see all you girls." Agnes's gaze softened. "But you most of all, Jacie Ann."

Jacie chewed on that for a moment, not knowing what to say.

Agnes sighed. "Well, I hope you change your mind. You will change your mind, won't you?"

Jacie had to admire the other woman's persistence. "As I said, I have plans. And," she slapped her thighs, "it's getting time for supper."

"You're welcome to join us for dinner," Agnes said quickly, hoping that Jacie would stay. "Since Nina's not home, we're having all of Robbie's favorites, a kid-friendly meal that's all white and consists of macaroni and cheese, cottage cheese, and French fries."

The women shared knowing, chagrined looks. "Emily would be in heaven, but as tempting as that is…" Jacie stood from her spot on the stairs and jumped the two stairs to the bottom as Agnes rose from her nearby chair. "I'll have to say no thank you, Mrs. Chilton. Emily and I already have a date with a pizza parlor."

"If you're sure?"

Jacie nodded.

"All right then." She patted Jacie's forearm. "She's a beautiful girl, Jacie Ann. How proud you must be."

Jacie's face broke into a dazzling smile. "I really am." And as she said the words, she realized that she'd been looking forward to showing off her daughter to Nina.. She wasn't close to any of her family and the thought of someone she cared about meeting her Emily was very, very appealing.

"Time to go, Emily!" Jacie called out, not surprised when both children came racing around the corner in a matter of seconds. But before they left, she asked for Emily to fetch Nina's gift from the truck.

Jacie looked at the box for several long seconds, deciding whether she was going to part with it or not. With a deep breath she said, "Can you give this to Nina for me?"

Agnes took the slender box. "Are you sure you wouldn't rather give it to her this weekend?"

Jacie smiled sadly. "No. I think this way is best. She'll understand."

Robbie patted Emily on the back. "Thanks for coming over to play. Can you come back when the tree house is done? It's gonna be really cool."