THIRTY-NINE
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Aunt Paulette asked.
“Want me to spend the night?”
“No, I’ll be fine,” Jessie assured her. “Abby’s sound asleep now.”
She embraced her aunt, then gave her a little wave as she left through the back door and headed across the yard to her cottage. Jessie sighed and shut the door tight, double-locking it. Not for the first time, she wished the security alarm they’d ordered would arrive soon. Because the house was so old, they needed something custom-made. Until then, just a few extra locks from the hardware store would have to do.
What a night. She was still shaking. If Abby had fallen from that beam . . .
She wouldn’t think about it. Abby was safe. She was upstairs, sleeping peacefully.
Still, Jessie planned to sleep in Abby’s room tonight. She couldn’t bear to have her daughter out of her sight for long.
She’d contemplated calling the police, but then decided against it. If Aaron was a real kid, as Mrs. Gorin had convinced them all he was, then surely he had skedaddled as soon as he’d heard Jessie’s voice in the barn, knowing he’d get in major trouble for bringing Abby out there. What would calling the police accomplish? Rather, Jessie decided, she’d speak with Abby’s teacher tomorrow. Aaron was in Abby’s class, after all. They’d figure out exactly what had happened—and what to do about it—then.
Suddenly feeling utterly exhausted, Jessie was about to head up the stairs when she heard a soft rapping on the front door. She peered through the window and saw Bryan standing on the steps, his hands behind his back.
She opened the door a crack.
“Jessie,” Bryan said, looking concerned. “Did you find Abby?”
She looked at him strangely. “Abby’s asleep,” she replied. “How did you know we were looking for her?”
“I was taking a walk earlier, and heard you shouting, so I’ve been out looking for her myself. Oh, thank God she’s okay.”
“Yes, we found her. She was out at the barn. . . .”
“I’m so glad you found her. That old barn is dangerous.”
Jessie nodded. “I appreciate you going looking for her.”
“Of course.” Bryan smiled awkwardly. “Jessie, could I come in for just a second? I . . . I want to apologize.”
“Apologize for what?”
“For what I said at the picnic. Please? Just for a moment?”
“Okay, but just for a moment. I’m very tired.”
Jessie stepped aside to let Bryan in.
“Here,” he said, once he was inside, handing her a rose. “A peace offering.”
Jessie took it, holding it in her left hand, but said nothing.
“I removed all the thorns,” Bryan told her. “Because that’s what you’ve always been to me . . . a rose without any thorns.”
“Bryan, please.”
He drew close to her, and Jessie could smell the whiskey on his breath. “Ever since you’ve moved back here, Jessie,” he said, his words slightly slurred, “you’ve been all that I can think about. . . .”
“I thought you came here to apologize,” she said.
He took her by the shoulders. “We’re meant to be together, Jessie. Can’t you see?”
He leaned in to kiss her. Jessie slapped him with her right hand.
“Get out!” she screamed.
He wouldn’t let go of her shoulders. He gripped her tighter, and tried to force her down onto the couch.
Jessie kneed him in the groin. Bryan yelled out and let her go.
“Get out of here, you filthy pig,” Jessie seethed. “What did I ever see in you?”
“That’s what I always wondered.”
She looked up. This was a new voice.
Todd stood in the doorway. He had witnessed what had just happened. He let himself into the house and walked over to Bryan, grabbing him by the throat.
“It’s okay, Todd,” Jessie said. “Just get him out of here.”
“Let me hit him just once,” Todd said. “I’ll say I was defending you.”
“I defended myself just fine,” Jessie said.
Bryan wriggled out of Todd’s grip. “Fuck you both. I just came up because I was concerned about Abby.”
“Don’t you dare try to frame this as concern for Abby,” Jessie told him. “Just get out of my house and never come up here again. Never speak to me again!”
Bryan grumbled and headed out the front door, cursing and swearing as he staggered down the hill.
“Did he hurt you?” Todd asked.
“No.” Jessie covered her face with her hands. “What made you come up here?”
“Monica and I had just gotten home, and I saw that weasel walking up to the house. I figured I should find out what he was up to.”
“Oh. Todd . . .” Jessie fell into his arms.
He held her tight.
“Why did he say he was concerned about Abby?” Todd asked.
“She wandered off tonight. . . . We were all looking for her . . . but she’s okay now. Oh, Todd, it’s been a long, long night.”
She looked up at him. Their eyes held.
Then Jessie pulled away.
“Please,” she said. “Go home.”
“But . . .”
“Please, Todd, go home to Monica.”
He said nothing. Then he turned and left.
Jessie locked the door and turned out the light. She was walking across the floor when she spotted the rose Bryan had brought. It had fallen to the ground and gotten trampled underfoot. Jessie bent down and picked it up.
Opening the back door, she tossed it outside onto the ground.