|
The Tessarae Inn |
|
Regrets In Jade Tones
CHAPTER 18 Starr noticed that Wyatt’s mood had changed ever since he got that call then made another one. He was humming and he actually smiled at her once or twice. Then he said he was sorry about what he said about her mommy and that she was going to come through after all. For the life of her she couldn’t figure out whether he was talking about her mommy or Tee. Remembering what he said about Tee being her mother made her mad and it made her sad. She slumped down on the couch. One thing he said that was true was that grownups lie all the time. Her daddy lied to her mommy all the time and her mommy lied to her daddy but they never lied to her, did they? She didn’t like thinking about it. She wanted to go home. She was tired of this game. If she could get to her backpack maybe she could find a way to get home. “I’m so bored. Can I get my Gameboy out of my backpack?” Wyatt stopped pacing and studied her for a minute. “Yeah, sure. It’s in the last room down the hall on the right.” Starr jumped up and walked toward the hall. “Just your Gameboy. Nothing else. I’m going to search you when you come back.” Starr kicked the woodwork. “And hurry up, Miss Princess. I got plans.” She opened the door to the room. It was a bedroom. It smelled bad. She covered her nose. She could see her backpack and Jason’s on the floor by the bed. She looked around the room but there was no way out. There was only one window and it was closed and she knew it was locked. She grabbed her backpack. “No,” said Wyatt from behind her. “I said just get that stupid game. Leave the bag here.” “Why does it stink in here?” “What’s a matter? Your little delicate nose can’t stand a few rotten odors?” “Just stinks is all.” Wyatt stomped across the room and tried to open the window. He cursed when it didn’t move then twisted the lock at the top and open the window a crack. “Okay, we’ll air it out ‘til I have to go. And because it smells so bad back here to you. You and that other one can stay in here while I’m gone.” “All I wanted was my game.” “Get it and get back in the front room.” Starr reached in her bag and pulled out the Gameboy.” “Got it?” “Yeah.” “Then get going.” ====== “I’m going out for a while now. You two get back into the bedroom.” Starr jumped up and pulled Jason with her. She ran back to the room and closed the door. Wyatt swung open the door. “What’s going on?” Starr stepped close to him and put her arms behind her back. “I was just trying to be good. I don’t want to make you mad.” “Now, I like that. You’re learning. I may have a treat for you when I come back. But I’ve got to get moving now. You two be quiet. Try to sleep.” Wyatt looked around the room closely then noticed the window. He slammed it shut but just before he could lock it, Starr screamed. Wyatt turned around and rushed across the room. “What the hell is going on here?” “He pushed me,” whined Starr. “No, I didn’t.” “Shut up both of you. Just shut up. I’ll be back in an hour or so. Hope neither one of you is dead by then.” Wyatt slammed the door shut and Starr could hear him turning the key in the lock. Things were quiet for a long time but she knew he was still in the house. Finally, she heard what sounded like the front door slam shut. A few minutes later she heard the sound of a car starting then pulling away from a gravel driveway. She exhaled. When she turned around Jason was pulling his backpack onto his back. “Let’s go,” he said. As always, Jason amazed her. He knew exactly what she was doing without her having to tell him one thing. “Come on, Starr. Let’s open the window and go home before he gets back.” The window was heavier than she expected. She and Jason pulled and pulled but it didn’t bulge. Starr wasn’t sure that was such a bad thing because she didn’t realize before that the window was at least two stories off the ground. She didn’t want to jump that far. She was scared but Jason kept tugging and pulling at the window. The bedroom door flung open so suddenly and violently that Starr thought she'd jumped out of her skin. Wyatt was standing in the doorway. He was very angry. “I should have known you two trash babies would try something as soon as I left. I was half-way down the street when I remembered I forgot to lock the window.” “It won’t our fault that you’re stupid,” yelled Starr. “My daddy is going to kill you if you hurt me.” “You’re right that he would try but your daddy ain’t gonna be killing nobody ever again…He’s gonna to be sleeping with the fishes.” “My daddy doesn’t sleep with fish.” “Too young, I guess.” Wyatt pulled out a piece of rope and demanded that Starr come first and then Jason. He tied their hands behind their backs. He pushed them back on the bed. “Now you two stay there nice and quiet and thank your lucky stars that I give a damn about your mother, Starr. Because you two are so much trouble it would be easier to kill you.” Wyatt locked the window. Slammed the door and locked it and stomped down the hall. For the first time, Starr was really scared. She didn’t know who her mommy was and her daddy wasn’t coming. She didn’t understand about the fishes but she knew what Wyatt was saying to her. Her daddy was not going to find her. Starr started crying. She was tired. She was tired and she was scared. She wanted to go home. “Don’t cry, Starr. We’re gonna get out of here.” “My daddy always said he would find me wherever I was. But he lies.” Jason nodded solemnly. “Parents do that sometimes. They don’t mean to hurt you though. That’s what my mommy says. She said she didn’t lie about my father to hurt me.” “He didn’t tell me about Tee. He didn’t tell me she’s my mother.” “Maybe he didn’t want her to be.” “He should have told me.” “You’d be mad, like you are now.” “He hates it when mommy is mad at him. I guess he didn’t want me to be mad too.” “Is Tee nice?” “I guess so, but if she was my mommy, why would she leave me?” “Maybe she didn’t want to be.” That was too much for her. She put her head down and let her tears wet the bedspread. Jason sat beside but he didn’t say anything else for a long time.
|