Hello Loved Ones (24 page)

“Richard is not her father. You are!”

Phillip’s startled eyes flew to the desk, but the sergeant was on the phone. He shifted his weight and put his arm around the back of Prudy’s chair.

“Don’t you think it might be damaging to Sally, at this late stage, to—”

“Don’t try to weasel out of this!”

He lowered his voice and spoke reasonably. “If they go to the banquet, she could find out for herself what sort of man he is. And then…” he trailed off.

“You just don’t want her finding out what kind of man
you
are,” Prudy hissed.

He rubbed a hand slowly over his face. “Okay, I admit it. I’m scared. I don’t want to lose everything.”

“I’ve already waited too long. Whatever happens to her, it’ll be my punishment. I know that.”

“But is this the best way to help her?”

“The truth has to be the best way.”

He leaned close and looked in her eyes. “Listen to me. We’re doing the Lord’s work, Prudy. You’ve raised three good kids. The church has grown.”

She made a disgusted sound. “That lousy little church hasn’t amounted to anything!” It wasn’t true. The church had been her life. But she wanted to hurt him.

His face turned hard. “Then why haven’t you left?”

“You’d love that, wouldn’t you?”

He slapped his thighs and stood up. “I don’t know why you had to stick around!” He threw his hands in the air and raised his voice. “Why should I have to look at you every week? Why do you have to be a constant reminder to me?”

Prudy saw the sergeant glance at them. She tried to speak calmly.

“
Because
, Phillip….” God, she saw it now. She thought he’d forgive her! That someday they’d be together! When they were old and the kids were gone and nothing else mattered. Now she understood part of her fear. If Sally was gone, her connection to Phillip would be gone too.

“You know what?” she said angrily. “You’re a selfish prick.”

“You’re the one being selfish!” He knelt in front of her. “Make your peace with God! That’s what matters. That’s what I’ve done.”

She stared at him. “That gives you the right to treat people like shit? Because you’ve worked it out with God? I don’t think God operates that way.”

He shook his head. “I didn’t mean it that way. All I’m saying is that you’re asking for trouble.”

“I’ve already got trouble!” she cried.

He sighed heavily. “I struggle with this too, Prudy. If you only knew.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You’re going to be struggling a whole lot more. I’m done with this. I’m going to set things straight, no matter what happens.”

“What do you want? Money? More time? I can do that.”

“You’ve had sixteen years and you haven’t done anything. You barely acknowledge us. You think the church doesn’t notice?”

“I’m helping Lenny, aren’t I?”

“You made me crawl to you for help. You made me beg.”

He stood and turned away. “That’s not true.”

“You think it’ll be easy for
me
when the truth comes out?”

For a long moment she looked at his back. When he faced her his hands were clasped tightly in front of him.

“I won’t let you do it,” he said tightly. “I’ll resign right now, this afternoon. I can be gone by tomorrow.”

He would too! Only a fool would be surprised. She was obviously a fool.

“Go ahead and run,” she said bitterly. “You’ve still got to live with yourself.”

She got up and went to the window. A state trooper car was pulling into the circular drive in front of the station.

“Let’s see what happens with Richard,” he pleaded. “That’s all I’m saying.”

But she wasn’t listening anymore. She lunged for the door.

“Ma’am, sit down,” the sergeant said sharply, coming around the desk. “Let us process this, please.”

Prudy stopped. Outside, the state trooper had the car door open and was helping a man out. The sun shone on a balding forehead.
That’s not Richard!
But then he straightened and she saw the way he rolled his shoulders back and planted his feet. He surveyed the cracked concrete sidewalk and rows of wilting, yellowed box woods like he was looking at a red carpet lined with cheering fans.

It was him.

She grabbed the back of a chair, unsteady. Ten years became as fresh as ten minutes and the old fear sprang up. Not gone at all, just waiting for this ambush. But she was safe here, surrounded by cops. Why was she afraid?

She watched the trooper lead Richard by the elbow up the walk. Lenny climbed out the car, then Nell. She was holding a girl’s hand. Mandy? Mandy Veenstra?

Where was Sally?

They came in and Prudy grabbed Lenny’s arm.

“Where is she?”

Then she was face to face with Richard. There wasn’t time to be stunned, or to ask
my God, what’s happened to you?

“What have you done to her?” she cried.

“Hello, Prudy,” said Richard. He grinned at Phillip. “How’s it hangin’, Rev?”

“Hello?” Prudy said. “Hello? Where is my daughter?”

“She’s with Cash,” said Lenny.

“We tried to go after her but it didn’t work,” said Nell.

“We would have found her too,” Richard said, “if we hadn’t been pulled over.”

“But—” Prudy looked at the desk sergeant. “I thought you found my daughter.”

The sergeant looked surprised. He looked at Mandy.

“Isn’t this your daughter?”

“No! I told you she’s sixteen! I described her this morning when I called. What’s wrong with you people?”

It was clear. God in his infinite justice had brought all of them together for this moment. For tragedy? Life lesson? Another chance? Yes,
please!
Just one more chance to do things right. She would never forgive herself for picking up that knitting needle so long ago. But God, you let her live! You wouldn’t take her away now!

“Take that one back to holding,” the sergeant said to the state trooper, pointing his chin at Richard. “The rest of you sit down here and we’ll sort this out.”

“Stop telling me to sit down!” Prudy shrieked. “Do you know where Sally is or don’t you?”

She looked at Richard’s back disappearing down the hall. “Richard?” she called, but he shrugged. He didn’t care either. No one seemed to care.

She turned to Lenny and Nell. “How do you know she’s with Cash?”

“Someone saw them together this morning,” said Nell. “We had to go after her!”

“Is that why Richard took my car?” Phillip asked.

Nell’s cheeks were red and she didn’t look at him.

“He didn’t take it,” she said. “I did.”

Prudy and Phillip looked at each other, shocked.

“So what does your father have to do with any of this?” Phillip asked.

Nell shrugged. “It seemed like a good idea to get his help.”

“But how did you know—” Prudy began.

“I’ve seen him around,” Lenny mumbled. “I didn’t want to tell you.”

The desk sergeant hiked his pants up with one hand. “So the girl you reported this morning is still missing. Is that right, Mrs. Van Sloeten?”

“Yes, she’s missing! Aren’t you listening?”

He put both hands up, meaning
calm down
. “Who is this little one?”

“This is Mandy Veenstra,” Prudy said. “Our neighbor.”

“I brought her along,” Nell said. “There wasn’t time to take her to Bible School.”

The sergeant’s eyebrows shot up. “Do her parents know where she is, or will I be dealing with another hysterical mother?”

Mandy let out a whimper. “Tell Mona I didn’t do anything wrong. I didn’t!”

Nell hugged her tight. “Please leave Mona out of this,” she said. “She’s not expecting Mandy home until this afternoon.”

“Who is the person you think your daughter is with?”

Lenny spoke up. “She’s with Cash DeVries. He drives a beat up ’62 Impala. By now he’s probably driven my sister into a ditch while you sit here with your thumb up your ass.”

The sergeant squinted at him. “Didn’t I see you in here recently?”

Pastor Voss put a hand on Lenny’s arm. Lenny yanked it away. “He’s doing his community service for me, at the Dutch Reformed Church.”

The sergeant was nodding. “Yeah. Cash DeVries and Lenny Van Sloeten. Simple assault, wasn’t it? Now you and your sister are stealing cars, huh? And you’re looking for DeVries. What is this, some kind of family feud?”

“They’re just trying to find Sally,” Prudy cried.

“Which is more than we can say for you,” Lenny sneered.

“Watch it, kid.”

“Come on, now,” Phillip said.

“Well, what are they doing to find her? We just told him who she’s with and where they’re going.”

Phillip nodded. “He’s right. Are you looking for her?”

“What reason do you have to believe she’s in trouble?” the sergeant asked. “It sounds like she’s out joyriding with her boyfriend.”

“No!” said Prudy.

“And he’s not her boyfriend. She barely knows him,” Lenny said.

Pastor Voss stepped forward. “It’s rather involved, sir, but it doesn’t seem like Sally is acting rationally. She was very intent on finding Mr. Van Sloeten.”

The sergeant nodded. “Let me get on the horn. We’ll see what Van Sloeten says about all this. Then we’ll talk about the car.”

“Great,” Lenny said. “Now I’ll be locked up for breaking parole.”

“What about me?” Nell asked. “I’ll lose my job!”

They were interrupted by a different police officer coming in. He looked at Prudy. “Your husband would like to see you.”

His words jarred her. Richard was still her husband. After all this time, had anything really changed? His absence had been a hole she stepped around, never bothering to fill in. You forget about it until it trips you up.

She was told to leave her purse at the desk and follow the officer to the holding room. Richard wasn’t under arrest, so they could talk in an open room while the officer waited outside. Prudy took a long shaky breath. She had always imagined seeing Richard again. But in a chance encounter on the street, with her looking smart, on someone’s arm. Of course Richard would look as good as ever. He’d most certainly be with a woman, but Prudy would be prepared. She had just the right sort of pitying smile for whatever poor sap fell for him. But for
him
to pity
her
?That wasn’t part of the plan. Still single? Raising delinquent kids? Wasting your time at that church?

She stepped into the room and he turned and smiled. She saw a black gap where his left canine tooth had been.

“You’re looking good,” he said.

“You’re not.”

His smile faded and his eyes narrowed. He peered over her shoulder. “Where’s preacher-man?”

“He’s talking to the sergeant.”

“Go tell him I didn’t take his fucking car. It was your kids.”

“
My
kids,” she repeated. It seemed true. How could this man possibly be the father of Lenny and Nell? How could she ever have loved him? He looked so busted up, so
old
. It took her off guard. He’d gone downhill without her. It made her sad.

“Why would I take it?” he said. “I was minding my own business. Tell him.”

She cleared her throat. She needed to be in control. Or at least sound like it. “He won’t press charges as long as you promise to leave us alone. Especially Sally.”
If they ever saw Sally again.
She turned her face away.

He studied her. When he spoke his voice was gentle.

“Prudy, she’s fine. She’ll be back and she won’t even understand why you’re upset.”

“Stop it!” she said. She couldn’t stand one more of these stupid men who didn’t know the first thing about raising a child! Treating her like
she
was the one out of touch.

“Just tell me if you know anything. Have you talked to her at all?”

He shook his head. “No. But I’d like to.”

Of course he would.
Now
he wanted Sally? And Phillip didn’t. Perfect.

“You think you can just show up after 10 years and…and…” She tried to stop herself, but she was losing it. Her words came out ragged and ugly. “…and take all her
love
?”

“You’re overreacting,” he said.

That’s right. There was that unraveling sensation again. She had to keep it together! She needed a tissue. She had one in her purse, but she didn’t have her purse.

“Where did they find you, anyway?” she asked.