Chapter 4 - "My Lips are Sealed for Her"

Lauren pulled up to the curb, turned off her 2005 Toyota Camry, and waited for her brother. School would let out soon, and Mark would be out then.1

Mark Campbell would be sixteen in less than a week. For now, his mother picked him up after school. Today, thought, Lauren was filling in for her mother.2

She had set her cell phone down a mile back when her boyfriend had arrived at the restaurant where he worked. A breeze blew through the car, inviting her auburn locks to dance on the cool autumn air. The windows were down.3

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Caldwell slipped slowly into her chair after replacing her jacket across the back. She paused for one moment. Was she crazy? - What was that scent? It was as though David Pembroke was there in her office with her – or had been.5

Her nose rose into the air and searched the office for the source of the appealing aroma. She twisted and lifted her jacket from the back of the leather office chair. There it was – the smell of David Pembroke. She returned to a regular position in her chair. When had he been in her office? And what had he been doing there?6

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Scout pulled Benny to his feet. "I am taking my son," she said, taking his hand, "and we are going home."8

"No," Ralph protested. "He's just as much my son as he is yours." He moved forward and grasped Benny's other hand. The child looked up at each of them helplessly, but neither of his parents noticed.9

"Ralph, let go," said Scout, her voice shaking – perhaps with fear, perhaps with anger. "I'll call my lawyer," she threatened, "I'll call the police." Then she saw it.10

The glare on Ralph Randolph's face was impossible to miss, and he aimed it menacingly at his wife.11

"S-St-Stop it," Scout stuttered in reference to the awful glare.12

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At long last the final bell of the day rang and the students burst from the classrooms. Amy and A.J. flew through the halls and out the front doors to the parking lot. When they were in Amy's Taurus, she asked A.J., "So how did you like your first day of public school?"14

"It wasn't so bad, I guess," said A.J. He glanced out the window and saw Mark approaching a white car and waved.15

Mark spun around and jogged to Amy's window and Amy rolled it down. "What's up?" she said.16

"My birthday's this weekend," said Mark. "Would you guys like to come over to my house on Saturday around five?"17

Amy looked at A.J. "What do you think?" she asked him.18

A.J. smiled. "Sounds great," he replied.19

"Great," said Mark, grinning. "Can't wait. See ya." With that, he turned and jogged back to his sister's car.20

Amy turned the key in her own ignition, and the car came to life and rolled easily out of the parking lot.21

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Penny let the curtains fall back across the window once her daughter's 2006 Buick Lucern disappeared from view. Her hand ached as she brought it to a rest against her blouse. She took a step back, stumbled a little as her knees started to give. She held her balance though; she was not yet quite old enough for these pains. She crossed the kitchen and dining room and entered the living room where she fell, exhausted into a her well-stuffed chair. Why did everything hurt so much these days?23

A part of her was glad Caldwell had left. Although she always enjoyed her daughter's company, she had really begun to hurt and had not wished to disturb or concern her daughter with her pains. They were the pains of an old woman, but Penny Cook was not ready to be an old woman. She had fought old age for years. Now she was fifty-three years and still kicking. Granted she wasn't kicking as hard as she had in youth since the pain had begun in her knees, but still she was kicking.24

She lifted the remote control from the table beside her big blue chair and pushed the power button; color came over the television screen. Penny mostly just enjoyed the sound. There should always be sound for her; she could not be without it. Whether the conversation of friends or the drone of the television, sound soothed her. Slowly, the soft sounds soothed her to sleep.25

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Caldwell turned the dial on the radio and a light static flowed from the speakers. She enjoyed her tunes from time to time. As she turned the radio to her favorite station, the first song she heard was circa 1987.27

I get weak when I look at you28

Weak when we touch29

I can't speak when I look in your eyes30

I get weak when you're next to me31

Weak from this love32

I'm in deep when I look in your eyes33

I get weak34

Belinda Carlisle's "I Get Weak"sounded through the office. Caldwell got weak sometimes. She tried ever so hard to be strong. Often she considered herself a very strong woman. Still, she got weak.35

In her mind she saw David Pembroke now. For him she grew weak in the knees. For him she felt her heart melt (or was it the pit of her stomach?) In her mind she saw him, his broad structure, his deep eyes. Yes, sometimes she got very weak.36

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"Who was that?" asked Lauren when Mark climbed into her car.38

"Amy Foster and a new kid, A.J. Cromwell," he replied. "I just invited them over for my birthday," he explained.39

"That was nice of you," said Lauren, "making the new kid feel welcome." She steered the car around a corner. "So what do you want for your birthday?" she asked her brother.40

"I don't know," said Mark, pulling a book out of his bag. After a moment, he suggested, "A new car."41

Lauren smiled. "You're barking up the wrong tree, kid." Her little brother was growing up fast. She remembered being his age.42

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When A.J. opened the front door, his mother was waiting behind it. "So, how was your first day of school?" she asked him. When she saw Amy behind him, she said, "Hello, Amy."44

"Hello, Catherine," said Amy.45

A.J. shrugged his shoulders and blushed a little. "It was okay," he muttered sheepishly.46

"He made a new friend," said Amy, smiling. "That's a big plus, isn't it?"47

"Yes," said Catherine. "Aaron, that's great. Good for you." A.J. smiled.48

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Benny wriggled free of his father's grasp and wrapped his arms around his mother's legs. Thsi brought Scout's troubled gaze from her husband's harsh stare to the loving eyes of her young son.50

"Come on, Benny," she said, leading him by his hand to the door. She never took her eyes from Ralph Randolph, who stood staring blankly after them. (For once his cold eyes seemed to have nothing to say.)51

Scout pushed the door open and the room was temporarily filled with sunlight. Ina moment, thought, Scout and Benny were through the door and Ralph was left in artificial light again.52