Missing Pieces by Joy Fielding

Author:Joy Fielding
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780307574893
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 1997-07-07T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

Two days before Christmas, my mother disappeared.

I was in the middle of an argument with Sara when the phone rang. “Could you get that?” I asked. We were in the family room, and I was on my knees, stacking the last of the Christmas presents around the tall, ornament-laden spruce tree.

Sara remained where she was, in the middle of the room, impossibly long legs planted firmly apart on the tile floor, stubborn hands poised on improbably slim hips. She was wearing elasticized black leggings, a cherry-red, too short, too tight tank top, and ankle-length black boots with three-inch heels that exaggerated her already considerable height. Her hair, like parchment paper, had yellowed from continual exposure to the sun, except for the dark roots that framed her oval face like a wide headband. To say she was a formidable-looking opponent would be something of an understatement. In fact, she was terrifying. “The answering machine will pick it up,” she said, not budging. “Why won’t you give me any money?”

“Because I don’t feel like paying for my own Christmas presents again this year,” I told her truthfully, as the phone fell mercifully silent. “I think you’re old enough now to be buying gifts for people with your own money.”

“What money?”

“Money you’re supposed to have saved. Christmas isn’t exactly a surprise. You’ve had lots of time to prepare. Michelle’s been saving her money for months.” I knew it was a mistake the minute the words were out of my mouth.

“Sure, compare me with Michelle, why don’t you?” Sara threw her arms into the air, in a gesture that was simultaneously threatening and full of defeat.

“I didn’t mean to compare you with Michelle.”

“You’re always comparing us. Little Miss Perfect, she can’t do anything wrong. Little Miss Bitch,” she sneered.

“Sara! Stop it right now. Leave your sister out of this.”

“You’re the one who brought her in.”

“Yes, and I’m sorry.”

“So nobody will get any presents from me this year because I don’t have any money,” she repeated.

I shrugged. “That’s too bad.”

“Yeah, you sound really broken up about it.”

The phone rang again.

“You’re determined to embarrass me, aren’t you?” Sara continued, trying a new approach. “Just because I’m not organized like Michelle, because I’m different than you guys, you’re trying to punish me.”

God help me, I thought, clambering to my feet, heading for the phone on the counter that separated the kitchen from the family room. “Hello.”

“Mrs. Sinclair?”

“Yes.”

“Thank God. I tried you a few minutes ago and got your machine.”

“Mrs. Winchell?” I asked, connecting a face to the harried voice on the other end of the line. “What’s wrong? Has something happened to my mother?”

There was an ominous silence. “Then she’s not with you?”

“If I were Michelle, I bet you’d give me the money,” Sara raged, pacing back and forth in front of the counter.

“What do you mean?” I asked Mrs. Winchell.

“I mean, if I were Michelle, there wouldn’t be any problem,” Sara said.

“We can’t find your mother,” Mrs. Winchell said.

“What do you mean, you can’t find my mother?” I demanded.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.