Splintered (22 page)

Fate had been on his side today. Last night’s drenching rains ensured hazardous conditions at the job site. He and his crew would be off until things dried up.

The block was quiet. Maddy stopped at the corner bus stop. She was the only one standing there, the lone student—a fact consistent with the surveillance video shown on TV the prior evening. From a distance, Hank could only make out the girl’s silhouette; the two street lights closest to the bus stop were burned out.

A roar of a bus’s diesel engine rushed past him. Hank checked his watch—6:34 a.m. A tight window.

Can I pull it off?

The bus opened its doors and swallowed up Maddy, shuttling her off to school. Hank continued studying the neighborhood. He couldn’t risk his van’s plates getting picked up on Paul Gleason’s surveillance camera. He’d have to make his move before Maddy reached the perimeter of the guy’s yard. That meant he’d have to swerve to the other side of the road.

From the moment he’d seen Maddy’s face on his television screen, the idea running through his head had consumed him. He had to work out every minute detail, plan for every possible scenario, or he’d get caught. Yet, do it right, and no one would ever know he had the girl. Hank could do whatever he wanted to her. High risk. High reward. And Maddy Eastin was definitely one reward he’d waited fourteen years for.

After school that afternoon, Maddy shuffled down the center aisle of the bus, trying to ignore the names being hurled at her. She adjusted her backpack as she stepped off and trudged toward her house. When she was almost home, she lifted her head. Her Aunt Emma sat on the porch’s damp concrete steps. She stopped midstride.

“You showed up,” Maddy said.

“Of course I came. I told you I’d be here.”

“So where were you all the other times?” Maddy defiantly crossed her arms in front of her.

“You’re right. I deserve that.” Emma stood up, wiping off the back of her pants. “I could tell you that I’ve been busy, and I have, but that would just sound like one more lame excuse. Selfishness is the only thing I can claim. I’m sorry, Maddy. I’ve been more concerned with my job and my own life than with what you’ve been going through. If you can forgive me, I promise to do better. I want you to know that when you need me, you can reach out and I’ll answer. From now on, I’ll be there for you.”

Maddy’s mouth gaped open.

Maybe I do have someone in my corner now, someone who won’t let me down again.

Unable to find her voice, Maddy just smiled and nodded.

“How was school today?” Emma asked.

Maddy’s stomach dropped. She’d thought the day everyone found out that she’d lied about the attempted abduction was bad, that it couldn’t get any worse. She was wrong.

She hurriedly climbed the steps and unlocked the front door. “I don’t want to talk about it.” She dumped her backpack inside the house and spun around before Emma even had a chance to move from her step. “Let’s get out of here,” Maddy said, locking the door. “Home is the last place I want to be right now.”

“Where do you want to go? You name it, my treat.”

“What about the mall?”

“Perfect.” Emma put her arm around Maddy and pulled her in close. They walked side by side until they reached the car.

Once they were both buckled in, Emma asked, “Which mall?”

Maddy was surprised to be given a choice. She’d figured they would just head over to University Mall since it was closest, but given the choice, she knew where she wanted to go. “International Mall.”

She studied Aunt Emma’s face, trying to read her reaction. She knew sometimes adults asked for opinions they really didn’t want, but it looked like Aunt Emma was happy with her selection.

“Sounds fun. I haven’t been there in a while.”

The few times Maddy had been to the posh mall, she’d been awestruck at the beauty of all the expensive shops. She knew she couldn’t afford to buy anything there, but she loved going and running her fingers over the soft fabrics of all the fine clothes. She and Aunt Emma could pretend to be buyers, try on their favorites.

“Mom never wants to go there. Even if she has the time, she says she hates walking around looking at everything she can’t buy.”

“It’s tough to go from being able to afford whatever you want to pinching pennies in order to make ends meet at the end of the month. It must be hard on you too.”

Maddy shrugged. She picked at a hangnail until a droplet of blood surfaced. She was mesmerized by how the rich red color contrasted with her pale skin.

“Come on,” Emma said, giving her a playful elbow in the arm. “I know things have been tough, both at school and home. You can talk to me.”

“What good will it do?” Maddy turned her head and stared out the side window. “You can’t change anything.”

“True, but I can listen. Sometimes it’s nice to have someone listen.”

Maddy continued looking out the window.

It would be nice. Neither of my parents want to listen, and I don’t have any friends I can trust.

Maddy sighed. She decided to take advantage of riding in the car to be able to talk without having to make eye contact.

“Did you . . . did you see me on TV?” Maddy asked.

“I did.”

“And?”

“I thought Channel 3 was wrong for taking advantage of you.”

Maddy turned toward Emma, shocked at what she’d said.

“Your mom told me how the news station cut out the pieces where you apologized for making up the abduction story and where you made a plea for kids being bullied.”

“I can’t believe they tricked me like that!”

Emma glanced at her, then back at the road. “When you agreed to the interview, what did you hope to accomplish?”

Tears welled up in Maddy’s eyes. “Once the kids at school found out I lied, I just couldn’t take it anymore. I had to do something. I thought it was fate when Miss Larson called asking me to be on their program. Like it was a sign. I mean, how often does a kid like me get asked to do a show like that? I tried to come up with good answers, but instead I came off sounding like an idiot.”

“You didn’t sound like an idiot, Maddy. Cut yourself some slack. Do you have any idea what you’ve been through these last five months? Living through a divorce, dealing with one parent whose entire worldview has shifted, and another one who’s disappeared from your life. In my job, I’ve seen plenty of grown women buckle under less pressure than what you’ve gone through.”

“Really?”

“Yes. There’s always an adjustment period after a life-altering change. The trick is to learn how to talk about what you’re going through, to express your feelings. Tamping them down inside won’t work for long. They always find a way of leaking out. Have you talked to
anybody
about what you’ve been going through?”

Maddy shook her head.

“See? When you don’t open up, those feelings come out in destructive ways. Hence making up stories, looking for attention in the wrong way. In the future, if things feel overwhelming, try talking to your mom.”

“Seriously?”

“What?”

“The Ice Queen? She’s so screwed up herself, she can’t see over her own mountain of shit to even consider helping me with mine.”

“Maddy . . .”

“I’m serious, Aunt Emma. Whenever I try to talk to her, it starts out good but then . . . she says something that sets me off. Her condescending attitude drives me nuts. If she calls me ‘young lady’ one more time, I swear I’m going to flip out.”

“Try to give her a break? Her husband bailed, and now she’s the sole bread winner. That’s a lot of stress to shoulder. No matter what mistakes she might make, she still shows up. Every day. She’s there for you, imperfect as she may be. That should count for something. Because sometimes mothers
do
leave. Sometimes the stress is so overwhelming they walk out on their own kid.”

Maddy looked down in her lap. She felt bad for Aunt Emma. Maddy may not have known all the details surrounding her aunt’s childhood, but she knew Rose Parker had left her daughter.

Emma cleared her throat. “Until your mom acclimates to her new life, accepts her new reality, she may not be able to be there in the way you want her to. You might have to do some accepting of your own. Learn to let her be the person she is now, and love her despite her faults.”

“Easy for you to say.” Maddy couldn’t help the dig.

How can Aunt Emma tell me to accept Mom when the woman can’t even take her own advice? Four years is a long time to hold a grudge.

“Okay, okay, you’re right. I didn’t say it would be
easy
, only that you’ll have to try if you want to make the relationship with your mom work.”

“How did you two become such close friends anyway? You guys seem so different.”

Aunt Emma was quiet for a moment, seemingly lost in thought. Eventually she spoke, but her voice sounded funny. “I wish you could have met the girl your mother used to be. Her loyalty and dependability—those were the two things I valued most. You know how your Grandma Jackie is. She’s a hard person to live with, but no matter how rough things got for Lily at home, she always had a sympathetic ear for me. I remember how inseparable we became the year my mother left. I wouldn’t have gotten through it without her support.”

“It doesn’t even sound like the same person.”

“Hard times have a way of changing people. You’re still young, but you’ll see. The year my mother walked out, my dad completely forgot about my birthday. I guess I can’t blame him. I mean, that kind of thing was always mother’s job—sending out birthday invitations, baking the cake.

“Lily saw how devastated I was—not only would my mother not be there to share my ninth birthday, but it had slipped Dad’s mind too. After school, she gathered all the neighborhood kids and threw a surprise party for me in her backyard. Sure, we only had animal crackers instead of birthday cake and homemade gifts instead of store-bought presents, but to this day, I swear it was the best birthday I’ve ever had. It wasn’t the details of the party that mattered. It was the effort Lily put in to make the day special. But truthfully, Maddy, there are hundreds of examples that demonstrate how much she valued our friendship.”

“You sound like you still care. Why can’t you take your own advice and accept Mom for the person she’s become? Things would be so much better if you guys were friends again. You could hang out at the house. I’d be able to see you more.”

“It’s complica—”

“Just a minute, Aunt Emma.” Maddy had felt her phone vibrate and took it out of her back pocket.

It was her mom. Maddy thought about ignoring the call, but noticed Aunt Emma’s disapproving look. It was like she’d been reading Maddy’s thoughts.

“Hi, Mom,” Maddy said when she answered.

“Are you okay? You never texted me when you got home from school.”

“Sorry. Aunt Emma was waiting for me at the house and I forgot. We’re headed to the mall.”

“That’s great. You definitely sound happier than you did this morning. School mustn’t have been too bad. See, I told you it would all work out.”

Maddy didn’t answer. She didn’t want to get into another argument.

Breaking the silence first, her mom said she had some good news. “I got hold of your father this morning. He’s coming over to see you tomorrow night.”

“Seriously?” Maddy stomped her feet up and down on the car floor and let out a loud squeal.

“He said he’ll be in town for a couple of days before he has to head off to Buffalo. He’ll pick you up at seven.”

“Wow, I didn’t think you could pull it off. Thanks, Mom.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re happy. See you—”

Maddy hung up. She couldn’t wait to tell Aunt Emma the awesome news. “Guess what?” Without waiting for an answer, Maddy said, “Dad’s taking me out tomorrow night. I can’t wait to see him. I wonder what I should wear?”

“Sounds like you need a new outfit. My treat.”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

Maddy felt like she was flying so high she’d need to be tethered to the car to keep from floating away. Her two most favorite people in the whole wide world had chosen to spend time with her. She just knew tomorrow was going to be the best day of her life.

Maddy barely slept a wink. She’d kept waking up to look at the clock, hoping it was time to get out of bed. When the radio on her alarm began playing Pink’s song “Blow Me One Last Kiss,” she realized she must have dozed off.

She sprung out of bed, the lyrics still floating around in her mind. Normally, she’d agree with the singer’s sentiment that it would be another shit day. But she vowed that nothing the kids might dish out at school would ruin her good mood. Her dad was coming to see her tonight. Maddy was certain that with enough coaxing, she’d be able to talk him into letting her live with him.

There was no time for a shower. She decided to skip it and take one later, when she got home. She’d want to look her best for tonight anyway. After brushing her teeth and then her hair, she gave herself one last look in the mirror. It’d have to do.

With no time to sit down and eat, Maddy grabbed a Pop-Tart and started searching for her backpack. She didn’t want to miss her bus—it might give her mom an excuse to cancel her night out with Dad.

“Do you need help with something?” Lily asked in a sleep-filled voice.

Maddy told her she was looking for her backpack.

“Over by the door,” Lily mumbled.

“Oh, right.” She remembered dropping the bag on the floor yesterday before heading out with Aunt Emma.

“Do you want me to make you some breakfast?”

“Nah, I don’t have time. Go back to sleep. You should get your rest.”

Maddy pulled on her shoes, gathered her stuff, and opened the door.

“I love you, Maddy. I hope you know that.”

“I know . . . Love you too, Mom.”

Already wondering which new outfit she should wear later, Maddy shut the door behind her. When she hadn’t been able to decide between two at the mall yesterday, Aunt Emma had generously offered to buy both. All four pieces mixed and matched well together, but it made the decision that much harder. Standing in front of her mirror last night, she’d tried on every combination.