There's a Somebody by Stephen W. Long

Author:Stephen W. Long
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rare Bird Books
Published: 2013-05-10T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Mundelein isn’t even a town; it’s a village. I learn this and other information when I stop at the visitors’ center the next day to get a map. I figure the best thing is to drop in on Allison unannounced because I don’t want to hear she doesn’t want to see me. If I just show up, there isn’t much she can do.

I pass the seminary and turn left over the railroad tracks, then wind through a section of established homes bordering Lock Lomond. Two minutes later, I see Allison’s car in the drive of the last house on the street. Ten minutes after that, I see Allison herself. She has come outside to learn who is parked in her parents’ drive, not leaving but also not coming in. Of course she doesn’t recognize the rental, and for a minute she doesn’t know the driver. But I can tell the instant she identifies me: her smile fades and her features harden. She steps closer to my door but stops short and folds her arms across her chest.

“Well, whaddya know?”

“It’s me, all right,”

Here I expect a fight, starting with a barrage of stored up, thought out, even rehearsed, invectives. But if I don’t get out of the car it can’t escalate into anything physical, so I stay put.

“What are you doing here?” she wants to know.

Truthfully, I’d like to know the same thing. Am I here because I think my mother expects it? Do I honestly believe Allison and I could get back together? And if it were possible, do I want to? No. I don’t. I’m doing the right thing leaving Amanda alone with her mother.

But that doesn’t answer the original question, does it?

“Don’t tell me you were just in the neighborhood.”

Thank you, Lord, I think. She’s pitched me a soft one and I’ll hit it out of the park. “That’s exactly it,” I tell her. “I’m on my way to see Mom. I had a stopover in Chicago, so I figured I’d check on how you’re doing.”

“Ever thoughtful,” she says. “So like you.”

No one says anything for a long time, and I think this is the end of it. I’ll back out of the drive and pull away, look in the rearview mirror, and that will be my last glimpse of her. In my head I’m running through taking the car back, checking on an earlier flight, calling my mother—when Allison uncrosses her arms and steps back from the car.

“I suppose you might as well come in as long as you’re here.”

But I don’t want to go in. Not yet. Seeing her twists my heart. She has cut her hair short, and if I used such words, I’d describe the style as “darling” or “cute.” As it is, I don’t say anything. I just stare at her white blouse tucked tightly into the waistband of her shorts. I’m amazed how she’s gotten her shape back. Better than her shape, actually. Right now, with the sun on her

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.