Mind Games

“I don’t ever want to go back. Do you?”

Rem shook his head.

“We want to sell it.”

“All right. You take a few days to think about that, then we’ll talk to the lawyers about it.”

“Can they come here, too? Mom and Dad.” As he asked, tears swirled into Rem’s eyes. Then in Thea’s as she reached out, gripped his hand. “If we’re not going back, can they come here? They shouldn’t…”

“They shouldn’t be buried in Virginia.” Still gripping his hand, Thea finished for Rem. “They should be here, with all of us.”

Lucy pressed her fingers to her mouth, just nodded until she could speak again. “I think that’s what they’d want, too. I’ll see to it. I’m going to ask both of you not to worry. Or if worry comes, to tell me so we can fix it. We have to help each other now, do our best for each other.”

Rem poked at his eggs. “I’m sorry I called you the b word and a freak. I’ll never ever do it again.”

“That’s a fine apology, Rem, and a good promise to try to keep. Y’all are going to get mad at each other here and there, now and then. Brothers and sisters do. And that’s all right because under it, you’re always going to love each other.”

She took a long breath before poking at her own eggs. “I need to call your daddy’s mother, to express my condolences. I have to ask you both to speak with your other grandparents, to be kind.”

“She doesn’t love us, or Mom.” Thea spoke flatly. No rancor, no heat, just fact.

“Now, Thea—”

“She doesn’t. I’d’ve felt it, the way I feel you love Dad, and always did. And us, and Mom.”

“People feel love in different ways, but she’s still his mother. We’ll give her and her husband that respect.”

“She won’t respect you.”

The words, and the cool, flat tone, were so adult, Lucy’s brows lifted. She did her best to answer in kind.

“Well, if she doesn’t, that’s on her, isn’t it? Somebody else does wrong doesn’t mean we do.”

When the phone rang, she rose to answer.

“Tate, have they…” She looked back at the children. “All right, yes. She’s right here, let me ask her. Thea, honey, they’ve sent down a police artist from Virginia, and Sheriff McKinnon wants to bring the artist here to talk to you. Is that all right with you?”

“Okay. I can try.”

“That’s fine, Tate.” She listened awhile, rubbing her free hand on her other arm. “That’s good to know. Yes. Tate, I’m so grateful to Will. I know, I do, he is all of that. If I do, I will. We’ll see you soon.”

She hung up. “Y’all go up and get dressed.”

“Will you stay with me when they come?”

“Yes, I will.”

“What was good to know? We need to know, too.”

“The police found the car he drove before, in a driveway on the street behind the house. He’d stolen that one, too.”

“Did he kill somebody else?”

“Yes, he did, Rem. I’m afraid he did.”

“I can see him, Grammie. I can tell the police artist what he looks like.”

“I believe you can and you will, Thea. Go on up now and get dressed.”