Saturday Afternoon, Continued
“Why’s the front door open?” my mother asked as we pulled into the driveway after leaving Sarah’s house. I glanced at the clock built into the dashboard; we’d barely spent any time at the wake. The front of the car smelled like wine.
I glanced over at Maggie, who signed What? to me.
Front door is open, I signed back. Her eyebrows crinkled as she sat upright to look at the front of the house.
“Who forgot to shut the door?” my father asked as he pulled the Range Rover into the driveway.
“Is Daniel out of rehab?” I asked. We’d left through the garage door, so we hadn’t used the front door. Had we?
No one answered and I didn’t bother translating for Maggie.
“What if there’s someone inside?” my mother whispered, as if the mythical person inside would hear her if she spoke in a normal voice.
Dad sighed. “I’ll check this out,” he said, and climbed out of the car.
“I’ll help,” I said as my mother said we should call the police.
“No, Harper, stay here with me!” My mother’s voice was a sharp, a bit panicked. She turned and signed at Maggie, her hands forming sloppy signs.
Dad went around to the side door of the garage, leaving us to sit in silence. A few minutes later he came out the front door, golf driver in hand. He motioned for us to come.
“Was there anyone inside?” Mom asked, her words slurring. I glanced at her; how much had she drunk?
“No. But I’m calling the police.” He turned and marched toward the front door. We followed, Maggie patting my arm and signing What? at me.
“Why call the police?” Mom asked. Did she have a flask hidden in her purse, or something? I sniffed the air to see if there was more than wine circling the air around my mom, but didn’t get a whiff of anything else.
“Because someone broke in,” Dad said. “Harper, Maggie, stay in the front yard. Don’t mess up any evidence.”
I put my arm on Maggie’s shoulder, and she looked at me. Come with me, I signed, and walked back to the Range Rover. I explained, and then pulled my cell phone out of my pocket.
I texted Gin.
Someone burglarized my house.
What? Do you need me?
Dunno.
There in a minute. You need anything?
I glanced at Maggie, who was shivering in her thin black jacket and cotton dress. My black boots and wool jacket were warmer. I unwound my scarf and put it around Maggie’s neck before texting back.
Hot chocolate for Maggie. She’s cold and we’re supposed to stay outside.
Gotcha. See you in a few.
I tried the door to the car, which was locked.
“I’ll get the keys so you can wait inside,” I talked and signed to Maggie.
It’s okay.
Mom and Dad walked out of the house. My father still held the golf club. What would he have done if there really had been an intruder? Putted him across the room?
His face was drawn; tight. Like the time the hospital had called because Daniel was found ODing in the bathroom of a club downtown. Mom held his arm on the side that was not holding an implement of golf-destruction.
A police cruiser showed up seconds later, its lights on but without a siren. A face peeked out of the window across the street in a swish of curtains.
Dad was on the police officer as soon as he stepped out of his car. “What’s going in the neighborhood these days?” he ranted. “What’s the use of having a security system if the burglars are smart enough to bypass it?”
“I’m sorry, sir. How about you tell me what happened? We can figure out what happened with your security system later.”
“This area is going downhill,” Mom slurred as she joined us, and leaned against the car.
I wondered how she’d react if I told her the crime spree was partially my fault. Although. Mother fucker. I stood upright.
Alex did this.
Did he still have the alarm codes for our houses? I’d gotten my key back, but had Alex made a copy? This must have been his “errand,” and why he arrived late to the wake.
I wanted to pace, but my mother and Maggie were staring at me. I leaned back against the SUV, ignoring the looks my sister gave me.
Was this Alex’s present? Chaos?
Another car pulled up, and Detective Parker emerged from the car. What was Detective Parker doing here? Didn’t his business card say he was a homicide cop?
“Hi, Harper.”
I felt my checks flush as he used my name. “Hi, Detective.”
“How do you know my daughter?” my father demanded from across the driveway. The patrolman must have gone inside the house.
“I met your daughter while investigating the death of one of her classmates.” Detective Parker sounded smooth, and he offered his card to my father. “I was in the area when the call went out over the police radio, so I stopped by.” They walked to the front door of the house.
Gin pulled up behind the detective’s car. He hopped out and walked around his car, and then disappeared behind the open passenger-side door of his Jeep and emerged with a tray of drinks from the neighborhood coffee shop. He had a blanket folded over one arm.
“Hi. Mrs. Jacobs, Maggie,” Gin nodded at my sister and then put the drinks down on the hood of the SUV. He then signed and spoke. “Harper told me what happened, so I brought some coffee, and a hot chocolate for Maggie.”
He pulled the cocoa out of the drink carrier and handed it to Maggie, whose face lit up. She held the drink close before taking her first sip. He put the blanket over her shoulders like a shawl.
“Sugar-free vanilla soy latte for you, Mrs. Jacob.” Gin handed my mother her usual drink. How had he remembered?
“You’re so thoughtful,” she said as she took the drink from his hands.
“Caramel latte for you,” he handed me a drink, and then took the fourth for himself. I glanced at the loopy writing on his cup. Americano for Jim. I smothered a smile.
The super-sweet flavor of caramel and whipped cream coated my tongue as I took a sip. I wished my mom and Maggie were far away so I could talk to Gin. How could I get them to leave? Or was there a way I could go somewhere with Gin?
Gin leaned into me ever so slightly, his shoulder barely touching mine. He felt warm, like a solid rock of stability. Maggie nestled into his other side and he put his arm around her.
My phone buzzed and I pulled it out of my jacket pocket. Paisley.
You at the wake? I don’t see you.
We left early. Talk later.
Check SchoolF. Later.
My drink was cold by the time I sucked down the pure caramel that had nestled at the bottom. The detective appeared at the front door.
“Can you all come in, please?” he asked. “We need to figure what was stolen.”
“Why do the girls need to do this?” my mom asked.
“Because they need to inspect their bedrooms.”