He saw a flicker of uncertainty cross her face as he hesitated. He quickly reviewed his choices: tell her he wanted to end their relationship on the same day her father had a heart attack, or make up a plausible excuse for refusing sex.
It was an easy choice to make, because he didn’t want to cause her any more distress on such a painful day. The problem was coming up with a realistic lie. He maintained his composure, smiling at her as his mind struggled to come up with something.
“I just have to call the studio real quick,” he managed. “I’ll be right back.” He rapidly strode from the room to avoid her reply.
In the end, he was able to fabricate an emergency involving a broken water pipe. She sighed with frustration when he told her he had to return to the studio immediately.
“Fantastic timing,” she grumbled. “All right, well, you can wake me up if I’m asleep when you get back.”
Jason gave her a non-committal nod. “We’ll see. You need to get some rest after everything that’s happened, though. And your flight is very early.”
She frowned at him but shrugged wearily.
“I really have to go, before this turns into a major disaster. I could be there half the night.” His guilty conscience forced him to cross the room and give her a kiss on her forehead. He absolutely intended to remain at the studio for half the night, taking out his aggressions on a punching bag. Grabbing his wallet and cell phone, he hurried from the apartment.
****
For five days, Jason tried to put women out of his mind as much as possible. He caught up at the studio, put himself through vigorous workouts, cleaned the apartment, and visited with his family. However, he made sure to never be away from his cell phone, unless he was teaching a class. Cara called once a day, usually. Rain called not at all. He didn’t expect her to, but he still was hopeful that she might want to talk to him.
The calls from Cara were usually business-like updates on her father’s condition, which was critical. There didn’t seem to be much else for the two of them to discuss, so the conversations were brief. She was anxious to get home, but the doctors warned her that his situation was not improving.
The call that came on Wednesday was different, however. Although he knew it was Cara from his caller ID, she didn’t speak at first. When she did, she was crying. “He died, Jason,” she sobbed softly. “My dad died. I can’t believe this.” Jason found himself thinking that this was the first time he had ever heard her cry.
“I’ll be on the next flight,” he assured her, trying to focus on what was important.
“No, don’t do that,” she sniffled. “I really appreciate it, but we’re coming back home. The Donovans have a family plot, remember? We’re going to...bury him there.”
He didn’t remember, but that didn’t matter. “Of course, Cara. But I want to be there for you.”
“You are so sweet, Jay. But we, I mean, my mom and I, were hoping you could help with some things there while we’re traveling. You know, the…arrangements,” she said, her voice breaking.
“Anything. Just let me know what you need.” He quickly located his planner on his organized desk.
“It’s an incredible amount of work to transport a casket to another state, but that’s what we need to do. So we may not be able to get home for a few days. But we’re hoping for a wake on Monday and the funeral and burial on Tuesday,” she said, tremors causing her normally smooth articulation to waver.
“I’ll do whatever I can to help. Just give me a list.”
He could hear her voice calming as she ticked off the details. She even managed to segue into complaining about her extended absence from work; apparently her main rival at the station was benefiting indirectly from the Donovan family’s tragedy. He commiserated in the most supportive manner possible, reminding himself not to judge whatever coping mechanisms she needed to get her through the grief.
****
“How’s Florida?”
Rain’s heart leapt at the sound of his voice. She had been secretly hoping for a call from Jason for days, although she kept reminding herself to keep her thoughts platonic. She walked through her parents’ house and out onto the stone patio surrounding their pool. “Hot,” she replied. “Oh, and humid too.”
“And how’s little Ella?”
“She’s doing much better, thanks. She didn’t have to have her spleen removed, but it will take a long time to heal. We have to be really careful to keep her quiet. It isn’t an issue now, since she’s still in the hospital, but when she gets out, it will be months before she’s fully healed. I’m so glad you called! That was really thoughtful of you. I miss you guys. What’s new?” Stop rambling, she ordered herself. Could she sound any more desperate for a conversation with someone other than her family?
Her spirits sank as Jason conveyed the news Cara had given him two days ago, and she shamefully realized that she was thinking about herself when another person had died. Granted, she didn’t know the person, but still. The first thought that had leapt into her mind was “I’m not going to see him again.” This was followed by an equally selfish “We’ll never find our answer about Brandy now.” Of course Jason would have to bail on the rest of the summer. Then Allie would follow suit, and that would be that. Even if Rain could convince A.J. to hang out with her at the lake and help her channel his dead girlfriend’s ghost, she doubted the two of them alone could accomplish anything.
“I’m so sorry, Jay,” she managed, as she waited for the inevitable excuses and for the lightning bolt that she was fairly certain would strike her down at any moment. She wasn’t exceptionally religious, but she was pretty sure God wasn’t bursting with pride for her right now. She glanced up at the heavens and was rewarded with a painful glare of bright, fiery sun.
It took her a moment to realize he wasn’t talking about the lake at all. He was talking about his karate studio, and waiting on a reply from her it seemed. She scrambled to keep up.
“Sorry, I was distracted for a moment. What was that?” She sat down on the warm pool steps and put her feet in the turquoise water.
“Nothing, I was just kind of thinking out loud. Are you okay?” He sounded genuinely concerned, which made her feel even worse. She should be the last thing he was worried about.
“I’m fine. It’s just the heat down here in the summer. I’m not used to it. It’s making me feel tired and kind of out of it.” Lame, but true enough.
“Maybe you should go to the doctor?”
Rain laughed weakly. “No, I’m fine, really. Please don’t worry about me.” She watched a salamander cross the pavers and make its way toward her in fits and starts.
“I do worry about you. You need to get your Yankee butt back to New England. When are you coming home?”
Home. That was a loaded word. She had no home, and being here with her parents and her sister’s family had really brought that back to the forefront of her attention. She was playing house right now at the lake, but summer wouldn’t last forever. She paused a beat and then replied, “I leave Monday.” She lowered her voice and looked around before she continued. “And it won’t be a moment too soon. I love my family, but by then I will have been here almost two weeks. I really can’t stand any more subtle comparisons between my life choices and Mia’s.”
Jason laughed with her. “I can imagine. You tell them we all think you’re doing great. You pulled the whole reunion thing together; it never would have happened without you. And I can’t tell you how much I miss your cooking.”
Rain flushed with pride even as she rolled her eyes at the ridiculous amount of pleasure his compliment brought her. “That’s nice to hear. My mom called my meatloaf ‘dry’ last night.”
“Not possible,” Jason insisted. “So, you’re flying back into White Plains?”
“Yep. My flight gets in around noon. I’m thinking about driving to Westgate from there to visit Mrs. Pierce and maybe staying with Holly for the night. Then I’ll be going back to the lake house.”
“By yourself.” It wasn’t a question. His voice relayed his concern and disapproval.
“I’ll be fine, really. Last time I was alone at the house, there was almost no activity. That I know of, at least. I suppose there could have been a few incidents of bodily possession that I wasn’t aware of,” she tried to joke.
It worked, and Jason laughed. “For all you know, you could have been dancing naked by the lake all night.”
“I think the neighbors might have noticed.”
“They’re probably waiting for a repeat performance. Seriously, though, I’ll get down there as soon as I can.”
Rain pressed her phone tighter to her ear. “Really?” She tried to keep the excited joy out of her voice. “I mean, you probably should stick close to home. Cara will need you, I’m sure.”
“Cara doesn’t need anybody,” Jason said flatly. “Anyway, once this is all over I’m positive she’ll be working like a demon. She’ll have catching up to do, and working is her coping mechanism. Besides, I promised you I’d come back.”
She squeezed her eyes shut as she assured him she wouldn’t hold him to his promise in light of recent events. Then she let out the breath she was holding when he reiterated that he would be there.
“I’m so glad, Jason. I know we all have to be there for this to work. And please tell Cara I’m sorry.” For everything, Rain added silently. She promised herself she would avoid being alone with Jason from now on. It was just too complicated.
Chapter 20
Rain’s plane touched down on schedule in White Plains, New York, and she grabbed a sandwich and a large coffee in the terminal before catching a shuttle to her car. She was glad she had been able to sleep during the flight, although her plan had been to work on notes for her book. She was getting nowhere fast in terms of her writing, and it was already the 19th of July. Tomorrow she’d be back at the lake house, and then she would have nine full days to dedicate to it before her friends returned, she told herself firmly.
A thunder storm had passed through earlier, and the sky was still heavy with sinister clouds. A depressing day for a drive back to her hometown. Rain turned up the music in her car and tried to collect her thoughts in preparation for her impending visit with Brandy’s mother.
Rain pulled into an upscale grocery store as she approached Mrs. Pierce’s apartment complex and purchased two floral arrangements and two boxes of chocolate. She hoped the candy was something Brandy’s mom could enjoy. Mrs. Pierce was expecting her, and when Rain entered the apartment, her eyes shone with happiness and a genuine smile lit up her pale face.
Physically, Mrs. Pierce looked almost exactly the same as she had four months ago when Rain had last visited. Rain thought that was remarkable, considering the terminal cancer that had invaded her body and the brutal treatments that came with trying to keep it at bay.
Despite this observation, Rain didn’t think “you look well” was an appropriate thing to say, so she settled for, “It’s so nice to see you, Mrs. Pierce. How are you feeling?”
“Please, call me Claudia,” she replied, gesturing for Rain to sit on the couch placed at a right angle to her reclining chair. “And I’m doing quite well, all things considered. I feel I owe that all to you. Ever since you and the rest of Brandy’s friends went to the lake in June, the nightmares have stopped. I still have dreams about my beautiful daughter, but now they leave me feeling peaceful. I’m very grateful to you, Rain.”
Rain blushed faintly at the undeserved praise as she arranged the flowers on the coffee table and set the chocolates on the medical tray table standing next to the chair. “That’s very kind of you, Mrs., um, Claudia. But you are the one that set everything up and made it possible. And it’s been amazing on so many levels. I should be the one thanking you.” She sat down on the couch and shook her head politely as Claudia offered her a chocolate from the new box.
Claudia selected one for herself and thanked Rain for the gifts. “One of the perks of terminal cancer is that you no longer care too much about what you eat. Of course, you can’t really taste much, either. But my sweet taste buds still seem to work, so I thank you for this.” She paused and bit gingerly into a chocolate truffle, then closed her eyes with pleasure. “Delicious. Now, I’m sure you are busy. But I’ve so enjoyed all your letters, and I would really love to hear more about your summer so far.”
Rain had anticipated this, and she took pleasure in relating all the mundane details of the reunion and their renewed friendships. Then she sighed and braced herself to deliver the unpleasant theories she had formed about Brandy.
“I explained in my last letter that I felt we may have some new ideas about what happened to Brandy. I know I was vague, but I really wasn’t sure how to say this.” She drew a shaky breath and continued. “We all feel at this point that Brandy is…deceased.”
Mrs. Pierce’s withered features registered her anguish, but she nodded her head stoically. “Perhaps as a mother, I should never give up hope. But I believe you’re right. Whatever happened between us, I truly think Brandy would have come home or at least contacted me at some point in the last five years if she was able.”
“Oh, I’m sure she would have, Claudia,” Rain nodded vigorously in agreement. “And we really think she
is
trying to tell us something important. So far we’re just not smart enough to get the message.” She attempted a weak smile.
“Will you tell me what’s happened? I hate to take up your time, but I would really like to hear everything.”
“Of course I will, but I’m not sure it will make a lot of sense.” Rain launched into a confusing jumble of unintelligible dreams and mysterious happenings. The more she explained, the more foolish she felt. But Mrs. Pierce’s expression was rapt and encouraging.
Rain finished her narrative with the apparition she and Allie had seen and the exploding flower pot. She shrugged sheepishly and twisted her hands nervously, waiting for Claudia to process the wild claims.
“You saw my daughter’s ghost?” she asked incredulously.
Rain nodded gravely. “Allie did too. It couldn’t have been a dream that time.”
“And you’re saying that her ghost can do things? In the physical world?”