The Grace of Crows by Tracy Shawn

Author:Tracy Shawn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tracy Shawn
Published: 2024-03-25T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

By the time Saylor found herself in front of her mother’s door, it was already three in the afternoon. She shivered, guessing that the miles-thick fog encasing Breakers Point was too massive to leave anytime soon. Finally, she pushed the bell and within seconds, Erika opened the door. Her over-perfumed body and Pine Sol scrubbed house stung Saylor’s nose. As soon as Saylor eyed her in her severe black turtleneck and ironed slacks, she wondered what, besides guilt and the remote possibility of seeing Billy again, had possessed her to make the trip. She really wasn’t up for visiting her mother alone, and yet here she stood with the rest of the afternoon and night and next day waiting stagnant and downcast-gray in front of them. What would they do? What would they talk about? How would they not fight? She resisted the urge to scratch her neck, trying to ignore the heat of anger toward both herself and her mother.

She should have stayed home for the whole of her kids’ Thanksgiving break. She could have talked Devin into a walk, maybe even ventured into his room and helped him. She could have taken Brooke shopping for some new clothes. She could have made sure that just the four of them went out for dinner. And she missed Brian. God, she felt as if she were a five-year-old again, holding back tears that made no sense.

“Well, come in already.” With raised eyebrows, her mother gave her the up and down once-over. Saylor knew that in her mother’s eyes, she looked decidedly unkempt and overweight. Dressed in grungy jeans, a baggy sweatshirt, and without a trace of makeup, she knew she wasn’t exactly pulled together. And then, of course, there was her hair—snaky and surly-looking as it half-escaped her attempt at a bun. She hadn’t stepped on a scale in years, but knew she had gained weight, all her pants—even her old, worn Levi’s—had become uncomfortably tight. Erika, of course, had commented on it—more than once. And even though Saylor had told her that she wasn’t interested in hearing about how to cut calories and explained that she didn’t need to hear about how much better she’d look if she only lost ten pounds, Erika continued to badger her.

“Sorry, Mom, I didn’t have time to doll myself up for the drive.” Saylor smiled, hoping to break the all-too-early tension. “But I did bring some nicer clothes in case we decide to go out later.”

Erika ignored the comment, waving her to the kitchen. “I’ve put on some tea. Come, let’s sit down.”

Tight-lipped, Erika turned on the kettle, placed a burn-scarred hot pad on the kitchen table, and set a rose-colored ceramic teapot on it. She turned to her cupboard and took down a tin of Royal Dansk biscuits. With a small napkin, she clasped one pretzel-shaped butter cookie and placed it on a dessert plate for Saylor, and then put one plain round cookie on her own. They sat without speaking while Erika placed three Earl Grey tea bags into the teapot.

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