3 Chapter 3
After Laura left, a quiet fell over the room. The loudest sound was the clinking of fork and plate as Anne worked through the last of her pie slice. Lizzie’s gaze flicked back and forth from her mother to her own plate of food.
As much as she tried to push down the memory, it would not stop nagging at her. It tugged at the sleeves of her mind like a child in a grocery store begging her mommy to buy a flashy box of fruit snacks. Despite this, Lizzie tried to tell herself that she was just remembering incorrectly and there was no need to suddenly view everything as lies. She was so young when it happened. Maybe she didn’t have the full story. Yes, that’s it. She convinced herself that she simply had a piece that misrepresented the whole situation.
“Mom?”
“Yes, Lizzie?” Anne swallowed her final bite and dabbed at the corners of her mouth with a napkin.
“Being here, and thinking about Grandma, has really sent me down memory lane,” she started. “I remember a lot of good times, like celebrating holidays or throwing surprise birthday parties. I remember Grandma’s warm hugs and all of our inside jokes. Like what happened with the banana muffins.” Lizzie smiled briefly, and Anne joined her while chuckling. She went on, “But there’s something else I remembered that isn’t so good. Well, I… I’m really not sure what to call it. I was hoping you could tell me if I’ve got it wrong.”
Anne’s smile devolved into a frown , and she took two consecutive sips of water. Then she said, “I don’t think there’s much value in getting caught up in the past, but if something is really bothering you, I’ll do my best to put your mind at ease.”
Lizzie nodded and reached up to grasp her necklace. She fumbled with the charms, twisting them round and round on the silver chain. She said, “I was really little, like five years old, and I heard that you, Grandma, and Grandpa were involved in something. Something you didn’t seem proud or happy to be a part of. Grandma also mentioned you owed money?”
Anne was still for a moment, just staring back at Lizzie. Then she asked, “Are you accusing me of something?”
“I just want to know the truth, Mom,” Lizzie said, leaning forward. She gestured to the grand dining hall they were seated within. “I mean, look around! I can estimate how much money it takes to acquire this kind of luxury. It’s a lot. More than our family should have. I-”
Anne held up a hand. “Now hold on, there. Your grandparents worked very hard while they were alive, and you know I have that same drive and dedication.”
Lizzie leaned back in her seat. “I’m not saying you don’t work hard. I just don’t think you would have made enough money to afford this.”
“Okay, so where did we get the money?”
“I don’t know! That’s why I’m asking!”
“Lizzie, don’t forget why we’re here,” Anne said. “Leave the past where it is and relax.”
Lizzie crossed her arms against her chest. She asked, “Are you still involved?”
“In what?” Anne snapped.
“Oh my God, Mom! Just be honest!” Lizzie shouted. “If you don’t tell me, how am I supposed to think anything other than the worst? I mean, you could be involved with weapons or drug deals. Or maybe you’re in contact with mafia members, assassins, thieves, poachers, hackers, and human traffickers. How am I supposed to know? And I remember you wanted out of whatever was going on, but did you get out? Did you pay back the debt you owed? Mom, please just tell me what happened.”
Anne sighed. Lizzie watched as she shook her head and cursed under her breath. Then she quietly said, “Lizzie, you cannot tell anyone what you remember.”
Her eyes widened. She suspected this was the closest she was going to get to a confirmation right now. The worst part was that her mother didn’t even bother to deny anything.
She murmured, “How could you?”
“Hey now, I did what I had to do,” Anne said. “There were moments of doubt, moments I felt ashamed, but I don’t regret it. It wasn’t easy raising you three. The extra money made it manageable . Now that I think of it, you should already know that. You do remember what I’ve done for you, right? You remember what happened to that friend of yours?”
Lizzie’s gaze dropped to the ground. Those words were enough to bring back little memory fragments, like the first flakes of a snowstorm. Broken glass. Sirens. Blood. The shattered screen on her phone. Distant shouting. Ringing in her ears.
“We both know you’re not the person you’re trying to be.”
Lizzie looked up and met her mother’s gaze. She said, “Don’t do this.”
“Don’t dig up the past?” Anne asked. “Funny. I remember asking you the same thing.”
~~~
Matty’s high was wearing off and his headache was getting worse. He walked out to his car since there was an emergency stash in the trunk. Once there, he grabbed a pre-rolled joint and some prescription medication. As he walked back to the house, he thought about all the times he raced up to the porch to get scooped up by his grandma. She was there to catch him and lift him up every time. He thought about how something so small could become tradition as he walked up the steps and sat on the swing alone. He missed her terribly, the one person he could trust. As he studied the surrounding of the house, he slowly inhaled a large puff and dry-swallowed a pill.
The world seemed to slow to a standstill, and he closed his eyes.
When he opened his eyes, he looked over to the left and jolted back in shock. He whispered, “Grandma?”
“My Matty Boy, how are you, sweetie?” said Grandma in her sweet voice. Matty leaned over to hug her.
“Things aren’t great… I am really struggling here. My job is hell, I don’t have a girlfriend, and I can’t even connect with my family. Everything feels so… wrong, like I lost my way somehow. I miss you so much, Grandma,” Matty choked .
“I miss you too, Matty. And I can see you’re not yourself. I can’t find that usual sparkle in your eyes. What happened to all your dreams ?” she asked.
“It seems that I can’t do anything right. I try and try and never get a break,” said Matty. “And my sisters are so selfish, running away to far-off cities once their wallets are full. They’ve built entire lives without me. I don’t even feel like I’m a part of this family anymore.”
“Be patient, dear. Good things come to those who wait ,” Grandma said with a sweet smile. Matty chuckled, remembering all of the dozens of times she’d dished out that advice. He wondered when he’d finally follow it.
“I don’t think I can be any more patient with my sisters” said Matty. “They’re really testing me.”
“Oh my God, Mom! Just be honest!”
Matty whipped around and realized that sound was a yell from Lizzie.
“See what I mean?” chuckled Matty, as he turned back around. Now he only saw an empty spot on the swing beside him. He rose up, saying, “Grandma? Where’d you go?”
As Matty fell back into reality, realizing he might have taken too strong of a concoction , he decided to go inside to see what all of the ruckus was about. He walked through the front door and made his way to the dining room. As the door opened, the room became silent. Matty looked around and instantly spotted Lizzie who had tears in her eyes. He quickly looked away .
As he grabbed another slice of pie and sat down, he asked “What’s going on in here?”
“Nothing,” responded Anne. “Your sister is just being contrary.”
Matty nodded, but he was willing to bet he’d hear a different story from Lizzie later on.
Lizzie rolled her eyes. “How was your phone call?”
Matty swallowed a bite then said, “It was fine. Just a friend.”
“Just a friend? Then why did you leave us when you knew it wasn’t important? And why are your eyes so red?” Lizzy demanded.
Damn. Matty knew there was no way the fight he just interrupted was “nothing.” It wasn’t often that Lizzy went for blood like this. Anne must have really struck a nerve .
Matty mumbled out, “Give me a break. I’m tired.”
“Quit with the bullshit, Matty. You’ve been high since you arrived, haven’t you ?”
“Normal people grieve, Liz. Not everyone can be emotionless like you guys .”
~~~~
Laura gave one final look over everything around her, the glory and luxury of the bedroom, with the decadent balcony overlooking the grand backyard space surrounding the house. Laura paused, pondering over the adjustments she would make once she inherited the house, and smiled to herself. The feeling of ownership felt so natural and right.
There was only one problem.
Laura knew that her siblings and family would not agree, but who was to say they had any right? With the look of things, the only one who was deserving enough was her. After all the heartbreak and disappointment that Laura experienced this past year, with Louis and the loss of her job, it would only make sense for her family to be considerate and rightfully agree to let Laura have this one win: the estate. And if there were to be any disagreements, Laura knew she had all the necessary information to refute each and every one of her family members.
Walking back into the hallway and silently closing the door to the bedroom, Laura started to head back downstairs. Then she come face to face with the painting again. The one of her grandma and grandpa. They looked at her like they could read her thoughts. Feelings of nervousness and fear started to creep up. Would Laura’s obtaining of the house have been her grandma’s wishes? Suddenly yelling came from down below and Laura turned to listen.
“Oh my God, Mom! Just be honest!”
Laura recognized Lizzie’s voice. She wondered what Anne had done to get Lizzie so worked up and slowly made her way back downstairs . She also worried they might not respond well to her proposition if they were upset. When she was just a few feet away from the dining room, she saw Matty slip inside. She waited a few moments before starting to follow him in. The air was sticky with anguish and agitation, and she couldn’t quite make it past the doorway.
Matty said, “Give me a break. I’m tired.”
“Quit with the bullshit, Matty. You’ve been high since you arrived, haven’t you?”
“Normal people grieve, Liz. Not everyone can be emotionless like you guys.”
Then Laura cleared her throat. “I need to say something.”
“Everyone turned, shocked to see her standing in the dark entryway.
“How long have you been standing there?” asked Lizzie, sounding on edge.
“I know what’s going on.” Laura looked at both Anne and Lizzie. “I have given it some thought. And I want to inform you all that I will be taking the estate. I expect everyone, considering their situations, to understand that this is the only way to go about this right .”
“Wait, who said anything about anyone inheriting the house? Was this already being discussed?” Matty asked, looking around the room for clarification.
Anne began, “Now, Laura, I understand where this might be coming fro-”
“No. You do not understand. I am taking it. No one is doing our family justice here but me. I will make sure to carry on this household in respect to Grandma.”
“Laura. Don’t be ridiculous. You don’t even have a grasp on what this family is,” Lizzie said, looking Laura directly in the eye.
Laura’s phone vibrated in her pocket, but she ignored it .
She laughed, “And what? You do? Being the trader for all the secrets? Don’t even start with me. At the end of the day, you do nothing but give this family problems that we have to cover up. Just like Mom. Just like Matty.”
“Hey,” Matty said. “What the hell?”
Anne said, “Listen, Laura. I understand you may be feeling tired after tonight’s dinner and drinks. How about we go upstairs?”
Laura shook her head, “No. I think it’s time you all accept what’s going on here with me taking my inheritance , or it is time for you to leave”.
Matty spoke up, “Maybe we just all need to go to bed and talk this over tomorrow.”
Laura looked sharply at Matty, “And what? You go smoke yourself to the point of exhaustion because you can’t function without drugs ?”
Matty got up abruptly to leave the room. She shot him a look to sit back down and he did. Then Laura’s phone started vibrating again. She quickly pulled it out in frustration. Whoever it was, now was not the time. Then her heart squeezed.
Louis .
Anne sighed, “Laura, that was uncalled for. I understand that we have a lot to discuss, but we are still a family at the end of the day.”
“I want the house,” she said. “You don’t know what I’ve been through lately. I deserve this, and I thought I could count on you to support me. I guess not, huh? I guess I shouldn’t expect any better from a drug dealer, a money launderer, and a murderer .”
As she said the last word, her gaze fell on her sister.
~~~~
Lizzie, the child who had prided herself as the glue that kept the family together, was beginning to fall apart. Her secret had been exposed. Because Lizzie had her doubts about Anne’s capabilities to keep the incident from prying eyes and ears, she was prepared for her past to come knocking at some point in her life. However, she never imagined the grisly experience be used against her, let alone by the ones she cared most for in the world, her family. Could anyone be prepared for such a gut-wrenching betrayal?
Laura, seeing how her threat had left Lizzie unable to make sense of her racing thoughts, pushed the knife a little deeper:
“Well? Anyone home? Did Ms. Perfect finally get a taste of some humble pie?”
This series of cold-hearted retorts, initially, gave Laura the ego boost she had been craving the entire evening. Unfortunately, the silence she worked so hard to achieve was broken by her own drunken belch followed closely by an equally ridiculous squeaky hiccup.
Even more unfortunate, Matty offered no crass wisecrack in response. How could he? He was still stunned that Laura had threatened him. And the joint he had just blazed was a rather experimental blend of green crack, sour diesel, and bubba kush. It was an exceptionally potent mixture .
Anne was of a similar mind. Stunned that is. She had not seen her children for some time and was only expecting a warm family get-together. She couldn’t understand why this year was different from the rest. Knowing full well that the current atmosphere was to be navigated with care, Anne attempted to calm Laura.
She rose from the head of the table, that grand piece of woodwork which was now adorned with empty plates, dirty silverware, and greasy napkins. “Laura, please. You’ve been drinking.” She began inching forward hands extended, placating. “I can tell you have been thinking long and hard about this subject but I, your mother, would appreciate it if you would exercise some restraint.”
Before Anne could finish her next sentence, Lizzy found her voice. She met Laura’s gaze and murmured, “I don’t care what you want.”
“What?” Laura questioned. She wore a quizzical look that remined Lizzy of their childhood together.
Briefly, Lizzie began to recall the times she would help Laura with her homework that, almost assuredly, was saved for the last minute. Whenever Laura, teetering between hysteria and despondency, would beg for her sister’s assistance, a faint smile would find its way in the middle of Lizzie’s face. Even though, she had plenty of work herself, she always felt gratified knowing she could be relied on and that others would listen to her advice. The memory quickly disintegrated when she remembered that this same person had blackmailed her. She was done with her games.
“I know it’s hard for you to listen, maybe that why your art never improved after high school .” Lizzie said louder than before. Then, before Laura offered her own smart response, she continued, “I am done being your babysitter. You have no idea what I’ve been through. For you to use my trauma against me… that’s a whole new level of cold-blooded, Laura. I’m not proud of what happened. That crash has haunted me for years and I would take everything back if I could. All the blood, the face of my best friend – an unrecognizable mess of meat… the screams…. I couldn’t even say goodbye.” Tears began to fall. She straightened herself and continued, “I was a kid. I made a mistake and have been trying my best to atone. And you’re willing to use that, as what? Dirt?” She shook her head. “I don’t give a shit about what you want.”
“Oh, so this is how you want to play,” Laura said. She laughed dryly and turned away from everyone. Then she froze and asked, “Does anyone else hear that?”
When Lizzie listened closer, she heard knocking at the door.
~~~
Louis was tired, as he had worked a long shift today and hopped right onto a plane to Chicago. He had not gotten much sleep since that day that Laura came home and caught him with Olivia. He couldn’t believe it had happened like that, more so he couldn’t believe that he had been caught. He had never been caught in the past by anyone else.
The fact that it happened with Laura made it all worse. He thought he may actually love her and was mad at himself for screwing up like that. Mad at himself for getting caught. It was supposed to be a one-time thing. He didn’t even really enjoy it. It was more the excitement of knowing that another woman had fallen for him and was willing to risk her friendship with Laura. There was a certain thrill from that, but really, the sex wasn’t even that good.
Man, what was wrong with him? He shook these thoughts from his head and focused on the big picture. Although she had her bad qualities, Laura was someone he could see himself spending his life with. He was getting older, and he wanted to settle down. Eventually. He had really screwed up this time. He was not even sure what he would say when he arrived at Laura’s grandmother’s house. He was more focused on getting there first. He had never even met her family, but maybe if he won them over, then she would be more forgiving.
Who was he kidding? Laura was definitely one to hold a grudge , but he still had to try.
~~~
Laura heard the knock at the door first. She wondered who could be showing up to her grandmother’s house at this time of night. Her head was still fuzzy from all the alcohol before and during dinner, so she let someone else answer it. She was so wrapped up in her own thoughts, dreaming about when this would be home, that she didn’t even hear her sister saying her name.
Out of nowhere, Louis appeared in the doorway. Her mouth dropped.
“What are you doing here?” she asked dryly. “How did you even know the address?”
Louis responded with a simple grin and said, “That’s not important right now. The important thing is that I’m here. Right?”
She just stared at him , paralyzed with shock. She had so many questions, and deep down, the hurt began to blossom and bleed again. Even after what happened, she knew she still had feelings for this guy. He had seemed different than all the others… She wished she knew what she did wrong, why he would hurt her like this. She’d gone over the past month over and over again, trying to figure out when she lost him. She wondered now if he wasn’t as lost to her as she once thought. She longed to bury herself in his embrace again at the same time that she wanted to carve his throat like Thanksgiving turkey.
Before Laura could say anything, her mother appeared in the doorway. “Well, aren’t you going to introduce us to your…friend?”
Laura made the introductions quickly as Louis stood there smiling like an idiot. She wished he hadn’t just showed up like this. Now was not the time. She did not like her family involved in her business, and she did not want him involved with her family. She was not about to tell them all how she had discovered him cheating with her best friend. Nor was she going to fill him in on the proposition she’d just made .
“You look tired. Are you hungry? There’s plenty of food downstairs. Come on down and let me show you,” said Anne. As she led Louis away, she shot a look in Laura’s direction. She understood exactly what it meant.
Their discussion wasn’t over.
Lizzie hung back a little and looked questioningly at Laura. “No one special, huh? Not that serious? Seems pretty serious to me if he was willing to just show up here.”
Laura was boiling inside. At this point, she couldn’t even talk. She just watched as Lizzie followed Anne and Louis downstairs.
Laura turned and quietly left the room, after grabbing a few more small bottles from her purse. There was no telling what was about to go down. But she did know how to put on a show for her family, so maybe she would just put everything else on hold and entertain them for the night. She was willing to try anything to stop her two worlds from colliding . And if that didn’t work, she’d need the alcohol. As she headed downstairs, she wondered how worse things would get.