Beyond Repair by Lois Peterson

Author:Lois Peterson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: JUV039030, book
Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
Published: 2011-05-03T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

When we get home, Mom is at the kitchen table with yesterday’s paper spread in front of her. Behind her, the coffeemaker is gurgling.

“I thought you were at the store,” she says, when she sees we’re empty-handed.

“We got broccoli for you. And brown spaghetti,” says Leah. “But I left the list at home. We couldn’t finish the shopping because Cam saw someone and ran out of the store.”

“I said I would explain to Mom.” I poke Leah in the back. “Okay?”

“Fine then,” she says. “Mom, can I watch TV?” Leah leaves the room without waiting for an answer.

Mom folds up the paper and looks up at me. “Explain what, Cam?”

“Remember the guy on the driveway? That day it snowed?” I say. “You want this coffee, or can I have it?”

“Finish it. I’m done. What about the guy on the driveway?” Mom turns to watch me pour the coffee into a mug and add cream and three sugars. Then one more.

I sit down and stack the sections of the paper.

“The guy in the driveway?” Mom prompts me.

“One day he came into the video store,” I say. “And he was at Shop Rite just now.” I watch her face as I tell her, “I think he’s still stalking us.”

Mom folds her hands on the table so I won’t notice the trembling. “You sure this is the same man?” she asks.

“Pretty sure,” I say. “Well, the first time I couldn’t be sure. But this time? Yeah. Well maybe. I’m pretty sure it was Bryan Klausen.”

Mom shivers. It starts in her shoulders, then runs down her arms.

“He was in the coffee aisle,” I say. As if it makes a difference.

Mom’s hands are still shaking. “I knew I should have done what I threatened that first time. Get a restraining order.” She stands up and pulls her housecoat tight around her. “Why didn’t you tell me, Cam? When you saw him at work?”

“Well, like I said, I couldn’t be sure.”

“But now you are?”

“I don’t know I’d swear to it in court. But yes. I think so.”

Mom pulls the phone off the wall.

“Mom. It’s Saturday. Do the cops handle this kind of thing on the weekend?”

She tips the phone sideways so she can answer me. “I’m not going to call the police. I’m calling Gail. Her husband is a lawyer. He’ll know what to do.” She punches in the number, then holds the phone against her chest. “God, I wish your father was here.”

For a second I think of saying how stupid that is. If Dad was here, the guy wouldn’t be stalking us, would he? But one look at her face, and I keep my mouth shut.

I get up and put our mugs in the sink.

Leah bounces into the room. “Who are you calling, Mom?”

“Come on, kid,” I tell her. “I’m going to hose down my bike. Wanna do yours?”

She sends a sideways look at Mom, who is listening to the phone with her eyes closed. “What’s Mom doing?” asks Leah.

Without answering, I grab my sister’s arm and haul her out of the room.

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