What's Best for Jane by Bett Norris

Author:Bett Norris
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bywater Books
Published: 2011-07-25T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Five

Mary watched Jane walk up the yard and pause at the back steps. It was well after dark, and Jane should have been home. Jane seemed to gather herself, holding her shoulders back, her posture very rigid. Jane looked like Mary felt, old and tired and—that something wasn’t right. Jane started up the steps, placing her feet deliberately and carefully, as if something hurt. She pulled open the screen door and propelled herself toward her chair. Mary grew more concerned as Jane sat down and stared ahead, not even saying hello.

“Are you okay?” Jane didn’t look up, simply nodded. “Jane, what is it? Are you sick?”

“No. I’m fine.”Jane opened a book, but still gazed into the yard.

“Something is definitely wrong,” Mary said. “Talk to me. Maybe it will help.”Jane looked up and shook her head no, but didn’t speak. Her eyes looked dark, cloudy. Leaving her chair to kneel in front of the girl, Mary gently touched Jane’s arm. Jane drew her shoulder up as if touching was something she couldn’t bear. Mary ducked her head to look in Jane’s eyes. “What happened?”

“It’s nothing. Just another day at the Jackson family home.”

Two hours later, Jane sat on the couch. Mary sat beside her with an arm around the girl, who had grown increasingly sullen and silent and Mary more alarmed. Jack had joined them after Mary called him to help her with Jane. He declared Jane physically fit but emotionally in shock. He gave her a pill that left Jane glassy-eyed and sleepy. Mary felt helpless when confronted with anything emotional. She carried on a whispered conversation with Jack.

“What do you think traumatized her?”

Jack sat opposite in an armchair. “She didn’t have fever. When anyone is put in a threatening situation, adrenaline kicks in and triggers a fight or flight response. By the time Jane reached here and knew she was safe, she experienced a kind of let-down from the adrenaline wearing off, and that’s why she was shaking so.”

“What on earth could have happened to throw Jane into shock?” Mary needed him to confirm her suspicions. Jack was being deliberately obtuse and aggravating.

Jack lowered his voice. “I suspect Jimmy and Delores had another go-round, that’s all.”

“Do you think there’s real abuse going on out there?”

“Not physical abuse, no.”Jack shrugged.

“It’s not Daddy’s fault.”Jane’s eyes closed after this declaration, and she slumped against Mary as she fell asleep.

Mary felt something tighten in her chest. “Is Jimmy at the house?”

Jack shook his head. “Now Mary, just hold on.”

Mary brushed Jane’s hair back from her face. “We’ll talk about this later. Hand me that afghan, please.”

Jack got up, and she eased Jane to a prone position. Jack covered the girl, and Mary motioned for him to follow her outside. They settled on the back porch and she lit a cigarette.

“Mary McGhee, those things are going to kill you.”

“Tell me, is there no end to the damage and misery one man can cause? I shot the wrong person when I had the chance.” A cloud of blue smoke rose above her head as Mary puffed furiously.

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