Windless Summer by Heather Sharfeddin

Author:Heather Sharfeddin [Sharfeddin, Heather]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-440-33840-6
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2009-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Lauren pulled up in front of the Jemmett Motel about half past nine at night. She slid out of her Jeep and stood in the eerily dark parking lot. A half moon hanging in the deep-cobalt sky illuminated the white trim of the building, making it look like the cover of some cheap horror novel. It took a moment before she realized that the neon sign was black. She turned a full circle and looked out over the vacant lot next door, where a strange man sat next to his car in a lawn chair. She couldn't make out the signs he displayed, but the way he stared at her with his arms folded across his chest made her feel naked and exposed. There was something curious about him. Something not unfriendly.

She tugged the door to the darkened lobby, but it was locked, so she pulled the keys from the Jeep's ignition and walked around to the back door of Tom's apartment. His pickup was there where he always parked it, but no light came from inside. She fumbled with the key he'd given her months ago, but never used, as she tried to insert it into the lock, finally managing to unlock the door. It creaked on its hinges as she pushed it open and peered into the dark room. She was immediately struck by the vinegar smell of pickles and relish, followed rapidly by the stench of rotting food.

“Tom?” she called, but the place was still and obviously abandoned.

Lauren turned on a lamp in the living room and looked around in the dim glow at the buttons and beads flung everywhere. The sofa cushions were in disarray and a bookcase had been shoved into the hallway. Books lay scattered, some open, their pages creased and torn. She found her way into the kitchen and halted at the crunch of glass beneath her feet, feeling along the wall for the light. When she finally found the switch, she gasped at the mess. She peeked into the bathroom.

“My God,” she said. “That child is an animal.”

Lauren wandered out into the lobby and scanned the motel from the window. Was Tom even here? Where would he go without his truck? Short of knocking on every door, she didn't know how she'd find him. She'd never convinced him to get a cell phone—he claimed he rarely went anywhere so there was no need. Perhaps he'd left with someone tonight. Perhaps he was with Charlene.

The odd man sat in his chair, staring at the building. Lauren went back into the apartment, pulling the door closed behind her. She looked into the bedroom, which smelled of urine. She noticed the photograph of Maria that Tom kept displayed for Sienna still sat on the dresser. He wouldn't have left it behind if he were gone for good, that she was sure of.

“Tom, what are you going to do with this child?” she said quietly, still stunned by the magnitude of the mess. “Why won't you listen to me?”

Then it came to her—a way to prove how much he needed her.

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