Chapter 17

Walking Disaster

It is not long before Mark has another accident. Luckily, he does not get injured this time.

Unluckily, he smashes a vase when he backs up while holding a hammer in one hand. The vase gets knocked to the floor, where it shatters.

I saw it happen. Mark got distracted when Mom entered the study. Mark always turns to face her when she speaks.

“Ugh. Katie, I’m really sorry,” he says, putting the hammer down on the wood floor and bending to pick up the pieces.

“It’s fine,” Mom says. “Honestly, I was sick of that vase anyway. You’re doing me a favor. Don’t try to pick up anything sharp with your hands. Let me get a broom.”

Well! I thought Mom liked that vase, but perhaps she did not.

I think about the fact that there are two fat, fresh blueberry muffins sitting on a plate in the kitchen. I could smell them from the kitchen floor when Mom took them out of the bag. I wonder if Mark’s gifts are influencing Mom’s attitude about that vase.

They are cleaning up the mess when Vincent walks in. He looks distressed to see the shards all over the floor.

“Again?” He crouches and holds a bag open so Mom can empty her dustpan. “Mark. Seriously. You are a walking disaster, aren’t you? A living occupational hazard.”

“Yeah,” he agrees. “It’s funny. I swear, I don’t have these kinds of accidents in the kitchen at the restaurant.”

“Never burned your hand on a pan, huh?” Vincent looks skeptical.

Mark grins. “Okay. Maybe once or twice.”

Vincent sends Mark to take out the trash. “You’re banished to the garage for the rest of the day!” Vincent calls out behind him, winking at Mom. Then, in an aside: “I’ll reimburse you for the vase.”

“Oh, you don’t have to do that. I was going to get rid of it anyway.” Mom stands and wipes her hands off on her hips. “Vincent, you said you met Mark at church . . . ? I know I haven’t been to church in a few months, but I’ve never seen him there before.”

Vincent looks sheepish. “I know what you’re thinking. He’s obviously new to construction. He’s a little green.”

Mom nods.

He continues: “The truth is, he needed a second job to keep himself busy, and I thought I’d give him a shot. We didn’t actually meet at church. I met him in the chapel at the hospital. I was praying, but I don’t know why he was there. He might have just needed somewhere quiet to sit down. Honestly, I don’t even know if he’s Episcopalian.” Vincent chuckles. “Sorry. I wasn’t trying to put anything over on you. I just don’t know how much he tells people. He and his wife lost their baby. I think he fell out with his old friends too, because he doesn’t seem to hang out with anyone. It’s a sad story. That’s why I wanted to help.”

Mom listens to the story intently. “Yes. It is sad. He told me about the baby.”

“He did?” Vincent is surprised. “I’ve never heard him talk about it, outside of the chapel that day.”

“He also mentioned he’s a lawyer.”

“Really?” Again, Vincent does a double take. “Oh. Well. Yeah. I guess after the baby . . . Maybe he needed a break. Or he got fired. I don’t actually know. I don’t like to pry, so I haven’t asked.”

Mom frowns. “He’s been through a lot.”

“He seems to be doing pretty well, all things considered.” Vincent shrugs. “I mean, it’s been a year now since the baby died. I think he’s recovered okay.”

“I don’t know about that.” Mom twists her mouth into a pout for a moment.

Vincent blinks, thinking about it. “I don’t know, maybe this job is helping a little. He seems to like our company. Having someone to talk to. He sure seems happy to come and work here at your house. He always offers to come with me or take my shift.” Vincent gestures toward the bookshelves. “So. Anyway. Let me show you something I was thinking about. I want to get your opinion.”

Vincent starts describing different kinds of doors for some of the shelves. He explains glass-paneled doors versus solid wood. Then he talks about hinges on the side versus hinges on the top. Finally they discuss different colors of stain. Even when he has already made a plan, Vincent often has new and creative ideas that he gets excited about. He loves to throw out last-minute suggestions.

“What do you think, Lily?” he asks, when he sees me watching him.

A shelf is a shelf is a shelf. What’s there to think about?

When Mark comes back into the study, Vincent has finished his explanation. He and Mom have made some decisions, and Mom is standing near the window, looking out absentmindedly. The blinds are only halfway up. Vincent asks her to pull the shades all the way up so they can go over how the new windows are going to look.

“I’ll get it,” Mark offers and walks right over to Mom. He puts two hands gently on her waist to move her body slightly to the left. And when he leans to pull the cord, he leaves one hand on her back to steady himself. His hip nearly brushes up against hers. Mom turns to watch Mark, as if he’s doing something fascinating. I suppose it is intriguing to her: the way his shoulder rolls as he lifts his arm, the way his fingers wrap around the cord in a fist and hold it tight, the way the vein in his arm pulses against his skin as he pulls the cord.

Mark smiles broadly when he sees Mom is looking at him. “That’s better. Now you can see everything,” he says. “The whole window.” It is obvious to me that he is talking only to Mom, not to Vincent. It’s as if Vincent is not even in the room.

And the way Mom gazes back at him, beaming in a way that I never see her light up for anyone else, it is as if he never broke that vase. It’s already forgotten.

And that’s when I glance over at Vincent. His brows furrow. I think he is realizing something he was not aware of before.

This confirms it for me. It is exactly as I suspected. There is something going on with Mom and Mark.

Mom and Vincent have been friends a very long time. Years. As long as I can remember.

Here is one thing I know for sure: Vincent has never put his hands anywhere near Mom’s waist, the way Mark just did.

Vincent looks down at his boots, looking a little disheartened. He rubs the back of his neck and tries to compose himself.

Hmm.

Mom is acting like she wants . . . But how could this be? It isn’t just that she wants Mark to be her friend. She may be considering him as a potential new mate. And he looks at her the same way. Which makes this a dangerous situation.

Dad left not long ago. And Kevin seems to think Dad might come back. I have heard Dad say that’s what he wants.

For now, I consider Vincent’s strange reaction. Is it a bad thing that Mom likes the new man? Wasn’t Vincent hoping she’d like him? Does Vincent not approve? He’s always wanted the best for Mom.

My goodness! This concerns me.

Kevin doesn’t like Mom’s attachment to Mark at all. And now Vincent doesn’t seem too thrilled.

I have to imagine it won’t be long before Dad knows—and I expect he won’t like it either. Not one bit.

It is dawning on me that Charlie’s injuries are not the only problem this family is facing right now. They may not even be the worst of it. I have a terrible hunch that there may be more dangerous things coming around the corner.