Lost and Found in Lavender Bay (The Lavender Bay Chronicles #2)

40. Chapter Thirty-Seven

Chapter Thirty-Seven

A lthough only June, it was the first uncomfortably hot day of the summer, and the air conditioning unit was on the fritz, the repairman unable to make it until the following day. Maureen didn’t feel like cooking—she certainly couldn’t see turning the oven on—and Allan suggested they go out for dinner, the four of them.

As soon as his final exams were over, Lance had packed up his belongings, vacated his dorm room, and headed home, immediately landing a job with a local landscaper and working six days a week from dawn to dusk.

Ashley had her final exams for senior year in another week, and her graduation ceremony was scheduled for the last Thursday of the month.

Things had been rough since Everett left. Some days, Maureen found herself driving around Lavender Bay, trying to get a glimpse of him. In a strange way, it reminded her of when she was back in high school and always on the lookout for a chance meeting with her crush of the moment, driving and walking around aimlessly, hoping to run into him.

But it seemed as if Everett had disappeared into thin air. Nights were always the worst, when worry kept her awake. She’d lie there on her back, wondering if he was hurt or lonely or hungry, or worse, unconscious with no one to look after him. Beside her, Allan was also awake, but they didn’t speak, neither one of them wanting to voice their darkest fears. Every night, they lay there on their backs, staring up at the ceiling in the dark.

Maureen was relieved when Allan suggested eating out. Even though the Annacotty Room was their favorite restaurant, they all agreed they’d like to get out of Lavender Bay for a bit, and Allan drove them to Cheever, where one of his hygienists had recommended a place.

The restaurant was a former home, three stories, painted a pale yellow with white trim. Several white wooden rockers sat on an expansive front porch with thick white columns. The building was on an elevated site, and the back terrace overlooked a gentle downward slope of trees and a man-made lake. The trees were in full foliage, lush and green. A flock of ducks paddled quietly across the lake. It was such a pleasant evening that they sat outside at one of the heavy wrought-iron scrollwork tables on the terrace, enjoying the scenery.

“I bet it’s beautiful here in the autumn with all the colors,” Maureen said, settling into her chair with its thick, comfortable seat cushion.

Allan nodded, pulling out his readers and scanning the menu. “Aha. They have rack of lamb. That’s for me.” And he snapped his menu shut, smiling, satisfied with his choice .

Maureen couldn’t make up her mind. She was more tired than hungry. Too many sleepless nights. She’d dozed with her head against the window in the car on the way over. Yawning, she looked again at the menu. The offerings looked good, but nothing appealed to her.

When the server arrived to take their order, she simply picked the first thing on the menu, ordering something called Chicken Supreme. Lance went with the filet mignon, and Ashley chose the chicken as well.

A silence had descended over the table. Maureen missed their lively dinner conversations, the in-jokes, everything. But since Everett left, it felt like someone had died.

Forcing a brightness she didn’t feel, she leaned back in her chair, clasping her hands over her belly. “What’s new with everyone?”

“One week until graduation,” Ashley said enthusiastically.

“That’s right.” Was that already upon them? Everett and Lance had each had a graduation party when it was their turn, but she wasn’t feeling it this year, though that wouldn’t be fair to Ashley. If you did for one, you did for them all.

“Mom, when can we go shopping for things for my dorm?” Ashley asked.

Allan laughed. “Gee, honey, you’re not leaving until August, do you need to do it now?”

“Dad,” Ashley said.

Maureen understood her daughter’s excitement. “Right after graduation, Ash.” She looked over at Lance, who hadn’t said two words.

“Everything all right, Lance? You’ re awfully quiet.”

Lance played with his knife, flipping it around in his hand.

“I saw Everett,” he said.

Maureen blinked. “What?”

“You saw Everett? When?” Allan demanded.

Ashley shrank back in her seat, sipping from her glass of water.

“I saw him last night. And I didn’t tell you because I left early this morning and neither of you were awake yet. And I didn’t think it was the type of news to send by text.”

“Never mind all that,” Maureen said. “How is he? Is he all right?”

“Where is he?” Allan asked.

Lance’s gaze swung between his parents. “He seemed all right. I saw him at a party.”

Maureen and Allan peppered him with questions.

“Did you talk to him?”

“Do you think he’s still doing drugs?”

“Yes, and yes.” Lance sighed and looked at the knife he was playing with. “He seemed a little bit out of it. I asked him if he was okay, and he said he was never better.”

Maureen flinched.

“Do you know where he’s living?” Allan asked.

“Any mention that he might come home?”

“He wouldn’t give me the address. Said it was better that way,” Lance explained. “But I have an idea of where he’s staying.”

“Where?”

“And with who?”

Lance shook his head and set the knife down. “No. Look, it won’t help for the two of you to show up there and interrogate him. It’ll only chase him further away. I’ll keep an eye on him as best as I can.”

“But he’s not on the street, living in some cardboard box, is he?” Maureen’s voice betrayed her anxiety. That was one of her many worries.

“No, he has shelter and a bed.”

“But you won’t tell us where?” The tone of Allan’s voice indicated he wasn’t happy about that. Maureen didn’t like it either, but she thought Lance had a point. Everett wasn’t ready to do what needed to be done. And them coming after him would only make things worse. As much as it killed her, she knew she had to back off. This was one thing she couldn’t control.

“No, Dad,” Lance said.

The server appeared with a round of salads, and they all went silent as she passed them out. As soon as she left, Lance spoke, picking up his fork and spearing a cherry tomato. “The way I see it is Everett has always been smart. Really smart.”

“Maybe too smart for his own good,” Allan said.

“Someday, he’ll come to his senses,” Lance said.

“What if it’s too late?” Ashley asked, voicing the deep-seated fear they all felt. Her salad sat in front of her, untouched. Maureen knew how deeply this was affecting her daughter. Being the youngest, she’d always looked up to her brothers, and they’d looked out for her.

Maureen decided it was time to address the issue. “Look, we are a family of five, and when one of us is going through a tough time, we’re all going through it. And although Everett won’t let us help him, it’s important to keep the lines of communication open. And also, to support each other. ”

Allan waved his fork in the air. “Everything your mother says and then some.”

She looked from Ashley to Lance. “This must be very difficult for you. We’ve never had to deal with something like this before.”

Lance shrugged. “Everett and I have always been kind of close. But this last year, I feel like I don’t even recognize him.”

Allan looked over at his daughter. “Ash, how do you feel?”

Ashley had picked up her fork but was pushing the contents of her salad plate around in a circular motion. She looked at her dad and squinted. “Can I be honest?”

Allan nodded. “Of course, honey.”

Her face went red, and tears filled her eyes. “I’m really, really angry at him. That he’d do this to himself. That he’d do it to you guys and to all of us. Because no matter what we’re doing in our lives, in the back of our minds is Everett.” She picked up the napkin and wiped her eyes.

Maureen was seated across from her and wished she was next to her so she could reach over. As much as she wanted to, she resisted getting up and going over to hug her, because Ash would be horrified at having attention drawn to her. Allan reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. “I think we all feel some of that.”

Lance spoke. “You always have me, Ash.” He made a goofy face by screwing up his eyes and sticking his tongue out of the side of his mouth.

Despite everything, this made Ashley laugh.

“One last note on this, and we’ll change the subject,” Maureen said, pushing her salad plate away. She’d eaten most of it. “Dad and I will continue to look at different rehab places—inpatient and outpatient—for Everett. We’ll continue to talk to our doctor, and we’ll continue going to the support group for parents of kids addicted to drugs. If you think you might be interested, I’ll find something like that for you as well.”

Allan finished his last forkful of salad. He shook his head and smiled. “Listen to me when I tell you that your mother is amazing. The way she takes care of everyone and everything. If it wasn’t for her, we wouldn’t have the life we have today. If it had been left up to me, we’d still be living in that two-bedroom apartment in the city.” He sat back in his chair and smiled at her.

He said things like this from time to time, always talking her up. At that moment, as terrible as she felt, he made her feel appreciated. Sometimes, she couldn’t quite believe how lucky she’d gotten with a partner. During really dark times, it was like the small flicker of a candle.