Avery, true to her word, made “found dog” posters and hung them around the neighborhood. But, just to be sure, Betty called the animal shelter and local vets to let them know about Ralph as well. Naturally, she did this while Avery was holed up in her room, where she was working on the anniversary things and unable to hear. But so far there hadn’t been a single inquiry about the dog. Betty didn’t know what to make of it.
Then late on Thursday afternoon, the dog went missing again. Avery was fit to be tied, and Betty felt a mixture of relief and regret. On one hand, it would be easier for everyone if the dog simply exited their lives as quickly as he’d entered. Yet at the same time, Betty realized she’d grown a tad bit fond of the mutt. She didn’t mind when he nestled down at her feet while she sat at the kitchen table. And she liked how nicely he would sit to wait for a treat—just like someone had taught him manners. Sometimes she thought he was a right nice little dog. This, of course, worried her—she had no intention of becoming attached to a pet.
“I’ll bet Jack took him again,” Avery said as she pulled on her parka. “I’m going to find out.”
“I don’t think you should go alone.” Betty pushed herself up from her recliner.
“You sit tight, Grandma,” Avery said. “I can handle this.”
Betty wasn’t so sure. “But Jack is a bit unpredictable, dear.”
“I can deal with him.”
“Wait,” Betty said. “Why don’t you take him a cookie plate?”
“A cookie plate?” Avery frowned. “Why would I want to do that?”
Betty took Avery by the elbow and walked her to the kitchen as she explained the “kill him with kindness” theory. “Your Aunt Susan reminded me of it a few days ago. And I think it’s worth a try.”
“I don’t know.”
But Betty was already loading up a Christmas platter. “I don’t think it could hurt,” she said as she wrapped it in plastic wrap. “And if it doesn’t sweeten him up, well, at least we can tell Susan that we gave it a try.”
“Okay.” But as Avery took the plate, she still looked skeptical.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to come along?”
“No, I’ll be fine.”
“Just be careful.” Betty shook her finger in warning.
“Yeah, yeah.” Avery was already halfway out the door.
Betty sighed as she returned to her recliner and the task of untangling an old string of Christmas lights. Earlier that morning Avery had decided to venture into the attic, then happily came down with two boxes of Christmas decorations. After that, she’d been determined that the house should be decorated to the hilt.
At first, Betty had opposed the idea. She had imagined being alone when it was time to take everything down, struggling to get it all put away before her trip to Florida. However, it wasn’t long before the youthful enthusiasm infected Betty, and it was fun to see Avery enjoying herself. Betty watched with fascination as her granddaughter tried out new ways of using old decorations. For instance, Betty never would’ve hung her mother’s old handblown glass ornaments on the dining room chandelier, but they actually looked quite lovely there, reflecting and refracting the light. Very clever indeed.
Betty set aside the hopelessly tangled lights and frowned out the front window. Had she been foolish to allow her granddaughter to go to that man’s house? She got up and hurried to the kitchen, nervously staring at Jack’s mess of a house as if she thought she could help Avery should trouble erupt. Just then the phone rang, and she was forced to turn away from the window.
She’d barely said hello when the female voice on the other end demanded to know if Avery was there.
“Hello, Stephanie,” Betty said cheerfully, hoping she could warm up her daughter-in-law. “How are you doing, dear?”
“How do you think I’m doing when my only daughter refuses to come home for Christmas?”
“I really don’t see why that should be such an—”
“That’s just it. You really don’t see, do you, Betty?”
“Avery is a grown woman, Stephanie. Shouldn’t she be allowed to make her own choices about where—”
“Talk to your son,” Stephanie snapped.
And then Gary was on the line. “Hi, Mom,” he said.
“Hello, Gary.”
“Stephanie wants me to persuade you to send Avery home.”
“Is that what you want too?”
“I suppose.” His voice sounded flat.
“But why? I don’t understand why it’s so important.”
He didn’t answer right away, and when he did, his voice was quiet. “Stephanie’s mom is coming for Christmas. And, as you know, Evelyn is, uh, well, rather jealous.”
“Oh?” Betty was well aware that Evelyn had often resented Betty’s relationship with Avery in the past. But that was when Avery had been a little girl, a long time ago.
“I know it probably sounds silly to you.”
“I just don’t really understand.”
“Well, Evelyn wants us to help her with her will. And Stephanie is worried that if Avery isn’t here, and if Evelyn figures out that she’s with you . . . well, Stephanie feels this could present a problem.”
Betty was speechless. Did they plan to use Avery as some sort of bargaining chip, a form of insurance to assure them they would be properly compensated for in Evelyn’s will? This just seemed so ridiculous.
“I know what you’re thinking, Mom.”
“Really?”
“I can guess.”
“Well, I must admit that I’m a bit surprised.”
“Anyway, I’m not telling you what to do.” His voice was gentle now. More like the old Gary. “I’m just telling you how it is here. Frankly, I’m glad that Avery is with you. I think you’re a wholesome influence in her life.”
“Well, thank you.”
“I just wanted you to know that Steph is very determined.”
“I see.”
“So if Avery could give her a call, just talk things through, I’d appreciate it.”
“I’ll tell Avery.”
“And I apologize for how Steph just spoke to you. All I can say is that she’s very upset. And she’s been hurt deeply by Avery’s little disappearing act.”
“I’m sure it’s been difficult for her.”
“But I realize Avery is an adult. At least according to her birth date.”
“If it’s any encouragement, Avery is acting very much like an adult.” Betty described how Avery had taken full responsibility for the anniversary preparations and how she’d put up “found dog” posters. “And this morning she even got me to help in decorating the house for Christmas. I’d been feeling a bit like Scrooge. But she’s so enthusiastic that I finally gave in. And she’s actually quite clever.” Betty rambled on until Gary said he needed to go.
“I’ll tell Avery to call her mother,” Betty said. Then she hung up and looked out across the backyard toward Jack’s house. It was dusky now, and suddenly Betty felt concerned. How long had Avery been gone? Shouldn’t she be back by now? Betty could see light coming from what had once been the dining room window. But there was something like a sheet draped over it, so she couldn’t see inside.
Betty began pacing in the kitchen. Should she go and check on the girl? Or would that seem like interfering? Would it send the message that Avery wasn’t mature? That she wasn’t capable of taking care of herself?
Betty looked up at the clock. It was about four forty now. Perhaps she should wait until five. But what might happen in twenty minutes? And then, if something really was wrong, wouldn’t it be foolish for Betty to go over there? Wouldn’t it be better to call the police? But if she called the police, what would she say to them? That her grown granddaughter had been at the neighbor’s house for more than thirty minutes? They’d probably just laugh or write her off as crazy.
She considered calling the Gilmores, but what would she say to them? Katie was already fearful about Jack. Why alarm them further? Or maybe Katie and the girls had fled to her mother’s by now. In that case, what would Betty say to poor Martin? He’d already endured several confrontations with their contrary neighbor. Why would he want to have another?
Betty continued to pace, staring out the window and trying to replace her worry with prayer. But her prayers sounded feeble. “Protect Avery,” she said again and again.
Finally, it was nearly five o’clock, and she could stand it no longer. She went for her coat and took off to discover what was wrong. If all else failed, she might be able to scream loudly enough to disturb a neighbor. But Betty had barely rounded the corner when she spied Avery and the dog strolling her way.
“What happened?” Betty said. “Are you okay?”
“Sure.” Avery smiled.
“But you were gone so long.” Betty realized that her hands were shaking. Perhaps it was from the cold, but she thought otherwise.
“You were right, Grandma.”
“Right?”
“Jack seemed to appreciate the cookies.”
“Really?” Betty wasn’t sure how to respond. She should be happy about that, but instead she felt suspicious.
“And we had a nice talk.”
“Is that so?” Betty imagined Jack’s dark countenance as he eyed her granddaughter. Sizing her up, making his plans for evil. Avery was a beautiful young woman. And vulnerable too. What if Jack were a rapist, a serial killer, or both? Oh, why had Betty been such a fool as to let her go over there by herself?
“He’s lonely, Grandma.”
“Is that what he told you?”
“Yes, and—”
“I don’t want you going over there by yourself again,” Betty said quickly. “I’m afraid he could be dangerous and—”
“He’s not dangerous.” Avery laughed.
“You don’t know that.”
“Oh, Grandma, you’re just being paranoid. Jack told me about the misunderstandings you’ve had and how he’s tried to talk sense into you, but how you just won’t listen, and now the whole neighborhood has turned against him.”
“And you believe him?” Betty stopped walking and turned to peer at Avery. Her face was illuminated by the streetlight, and she looked confused.
“Why shouldn’t I believe him?”
“Because he’s not trustworthy, Avery.”
“But you’re the one who said to be kind to him. And I think that’s just what he needed.”
Betty was too flustered to respond. So they both walked back to the house with only the clicking of the dog’s toenails on the sidewalk to break the silence.
Why hadn’t Betty seen the danger in this situation? Why had she allowed Avery to walk right into what could have easily been a trap? Wasn’t that how criminals worked? They earned the victim’s trust, and then they went to work. What would Avery’s mother think if she knew?
“Your mother called,” Betty said as they went into the house.
“So?”
“She wants you to call her back.” Betty removed her jacket. “She said it’s urgent.”
“Big surprise there.”
“But you’ll call her, won’t you?”
“I guess.”
“I promised that you would.”
Avery groaned. “I wish she’d just leave me alone.”
“I’m going to start dinner,” Betty said. She headed for the kitchen, but once she got there, she just stood and looked out the window toward Jack’s house. As she looked, it appeared more frightening and sinister than ever. And so she prayed again. Only this time she prayed that somehow Stephanie would convince her daughter to come home for Christmas. And, as much as Betty would miss the girl, she felt certain that Avery would be safer there than here.
Because they’d had a good-sized lunch, with a snack of Christmas cookies and tea in midafternoon, Betty decided to fix oatmeal for dinner. This with whole wheat toast and home-canned peaches should be sufficient for both of them. She was just taking the oatmeal off the stove when Avery appeared.
“My mother is losing her mind.” Avery sat down at the kitchen table, which Betty had already set for their simple meal.
“How so?” Betty avoided Avery’s eyes as she spooned the hot cereal into the bowls.
“She says Grandma Evelyn is dying.”
“Is she?”
“I seriously don’t think so.”
Betty sat down, bowed her head, and asked the blessing. Then she looked at Avery. “So why does your mother think Evelyn is dying?”
“Because she’s old.”
Betty nodded. “But what if your mother is right?”
Avery just shrugged and stuck her spoon into the brown sugar, dumping two heaping spoonfuls onto her oatmeal.
“Would you feel bad if you didn’t get to see your grandmother . . . if she were to die?”
“I guess.”
Betty felt a stab of guilt. She knew she was being somewhat insincere with her granddaughter. But she was doing it for Avery’s own good. She wanted Avery out of harm’s way. More specifically, out of Jack’s way.
“I still regret not making one last trip out to see my own mother,” Betty said slowly. “I knew she’d been having some health problems, but I just didn’t believe it was terribly serious. I considered going out to visit in June. But then I changed my mind. I don’t even recall why exactly. The next thing I knew, she was gone. I never got another chance.”
Avery nodded. “I’m sorry.”
“Thank you, dear.”
“But that was your mother. Not your grandmother.”
“That’s true.”
“And I assume you had a good relationship with her?”
“Yes, very good.”
“Well, it’s not like that with me and my grandmother.”
“Perhaps that’s an even better reason to spend time with her.”
“So that she can torture me?”
Betty didn’t know what to say.
“Grandma Evelyn and my mom will probably gang up on me, Grandma. They’ll get on my case for taking off. They’ll lecture me about going back to school. They’ll remind me that I’m a failure, and then they’ll rub my nose in it.” Avery seemed on the verge of tears now. She set down her spoon with a clank. “And I just can’t take that—that’s not a happy way to spend Christmas.” She scooted her chair back and ran out of the kitchen, slamming her bedroom door behind her.
Betty felt like a villain. And her few bites of oatmeal now sat like hard little stones in her stomach. She just sat there with her hands laid flat on the kitchen table and wondered how she had managed to make such a mess of things. How was it possible to hurt someone so deeply when you only wished to help them?
Betty realized she was crying for the second time in one week. The tears surprised her. She was a woman who usually kept her emotions in check. But what surprised her even more was the feeling of something warm pressing against her leg. She looked down to see the dog sitting right next to her, looking up at her with the most compassionate brown eyes she’d ever seen.
Reaching down, she stroked his smooth head. “You really are a good dog, aren’t you?” She stood slowly. “But there is someone else who needs you more than I do right now. Come on, boy.” He obediently followed as she walked to Avery’s room and quietly opened the door. Betty let him into the darkened room, where the quiet sobs of a hurting girl cut through her like a knife. She knew the animal’s presence would just be a Band-Aid—a temporary solution to a problem that was much bigger than a little brown dog. But at the moment, it was all Betty had to offer.