The Ones They Buried by Jenifer Ruff

Author:Jenifer Ruff [Ruff, Jenifer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-10-12T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 28

Present Day - Deja

Will hadn’t missed making a single video call to his mother since arriving in Europe. Deja could count on him. She took extra care with Catherine’s hair and makeup, so she looked her best.

Deja checked the time. Five minutes until three. After wheeling Catherine out of the bathroom, Deja ducked back in to check her own reflection. She didn’t want anyone to see her smoothing her hair down or applying a layer of lip gloss. She didn’t usually do those things at work, and now she was doing them every day, right before Will’s scheduled call.

Deja looked forward to three o’clock with a flutter of excitement inside her. Will radiated positive energy and an adventurous spirit. He shared entertaining stories about the sights he saw, his search for recommended restaurants and pubs, and his chats with random people. Will expertly managed one-sided conversations with his mother, never allowing awkward pauses. He acted like a television host narrating an improvised show called Will’s Travel Adventures. Often he directed his questions to Deja, sparking a discussion between them.

If a day went by where Will got too busy and didn’t have time to call, Catherine wouldn’t be the only disappointed one.

Deja had the iPad ready when the video call came through just a few minutes after three.

“Hey, Mom. Hey, Deja,” Will said.

“Hello,” Deja answered as she propped the iPad on the desk in front of Catherine, then took a few steps back, out of the camera’s view. Will’s face filled the screen. He wore a gray cap and had a few days’ growth of scruffy stubble.

“It’s beautiful. Not a rain cloud in sight,” he said. “Thought you might like to see London with me today.”

He flipped his phone camera around and moved it for a panoramic view of a city street.

A sense of haunting familiarity enveloped Deja as she took in the historic buildings and storefronts flanking the road. This was the city where her mother’s tragic death occurred.

Will flipped the camera view, switching it from the city streets to his smiling face. “What do you think?” he asked.

A sob caught in Deja’s throat as terrible memories assaulted her. Her face contorted as she fought to maintain composure.

“Excuse me,” she said, quickly backing away from the iPad. She had to choke back another sob and press her lips together. She missed her mother so much.

Deja hurried into the bathroom and closed the door most of the way. She needed to rid her mind of the terrible memories. On the brink of losing it, she filled the sink with soapy water. After gathering Catherine’s makeup brushes, Deja began cleaning them in the same manner she’d watched her mother do years ago.

When Deja finished laying the brushes on a hand towel, she was in control of her emotions again. She’d pushed her earlier pain back to its usual state, a chronic sense of vague melancholy. In the main room, Will was still narrating a play-by-play of everything happening around him. He walked on a bustling street packed with pedestrians, cars, and a double-decker bus.

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