Julia was stunned. “But—where is he? Where did he go?”
“I’m sure I don’t know, ma’am. Would you like me to transfer you to Human Resources? They might be able to help you.”
“No, it’s fine. Thank you.”
She could just imagine the gossip and speculation if the whole company knew of her efforts to track him down. Why had he left? Where on earth had he gone? And how would she ever find him again? Despair washed over her like an icy shower. She cuddled the baby close to her, pressing her cheek against the downy head as tears filled her eyes.
Chapter 13
Thirteen years later
“Courtney, I will not ask you again. Where did you go after school today?”
Julia stood toe to toe with Courtney in the foyer, trying hard to control her frustration with her thirteen-year-old daughter. As usual, though, the belligerent teenager reveled in making it difficult for her.
“I went to Laura’s house.” The tone was both petulant and hostile.
“Try again. I called there looking for you.”
“What difference does it make? No one cares what time I come home, anyway.” She turned to leave the room.
Julia grabbed her arm. “Not so fast. You’re not leaving here until I know where you were. And exactly what did you mean by your remark?”
“You’re never here when I get home.” Her tone contained a mixture of anger and self-pity. “Beth and Andy have their own places. They hardly show up here except for a command performance. And Miranda just bitches at me.”
“We are lucky to have Miranda at all, let me tell you. And Beth and Andy work. They were both lucky to get jobs when they graduated. Plenty of kids are out of college and can’t find work at all. We see them as often as they can make time.”
“Understood. They’re wonderful. Can I go now?” Courtney stood with hip cocked and arms folded defiantly across her chest, glaring at her mother.
They stood there in what Julia could only think of as a face-off. She made herself take a deep breath before she said something she truly regretted. As she prayed for the wisdom to know what to do next, the front door opened and Beth breezed in. She stopped and looked from one to the other.
“What’s the deal, guys?”
Julia forced herself to speak calmly. “Your sister missed school again this week.”
“Big deal,” Courtney sneered.
“Courtney, it is a big deal,” Beth put in.
“She hangs out with people two or three years older,” Julia continued. “Kids who look like ads for ‘Just Say No To Drugs.’”
“There’s nothing wrong with them.” Courtney uncrossed her arms and stood with clenched fists, face set in anger.
“They’re nothing but trouble,” Julia seethed. “You shouldn’t even have anything to do with them.”
“They’re my friends,” Courtney shouted. “They don’t judge me and they think I’m wonderful.”
“Who—” Beth tried to interrupt.
Julia held up her hand, her focus still on her younger daughter. “Of course they do. You spend your money buying them food and other things.” She blew out a breath of exasperation. “Fine. Hang out with them. But I’m cutting your allowance. A lot. See how they like you when you don’t have pockets full of money.”
“That’s my money. I heard you tell Miranda that Daddy left it for me.”
“To use wisely.” Julia held on to her temper by a thin thread. “We’ll talk again when you can learn to manage it better. End of discussion.”
“You hate me,” Courtney shouted, and stamped upstairs.
Trembling, Julia blew out a breath to steady herself and turned to her older daughter. “Sorry about that, sweetheart.”
“Well, that was pleasant.” Beth gave her mother a hug. “She seems to be getting worse.”
“Tell me about it.” Julia bit her lip. “I just remember what a sweet child she was and have a hard time believing she does the things she does.”
Beth looked at her mother steadily. “Take it from me, she does.”
“Have you talked to her?” Maybe Beth could get through where Julia couldn’t.
“Of course. So has Andy. She doesn’t hear a word we say. Listen, Mom, I stopped by to see if you wanted to grab a bite to eat with me. I think getting out of the house would do you some good.”
“Maybe.” Julia smiled at her older daughter. “That’s probably just what I need but I don’t think I should leave right now.”
“Mom, she’s going to sulk in her room, you know that. Maybe if she sees she’s not upsetting you she’ll calm down. I love my sister, but I think at least half the time she does this to get a rise out of you.” She paused. “To see if you care enough about her to worry.”
Julia was startled. “You think that? Why? She has to know I love her.”
“I’m sure she does,” Beth assured her. “But think about it. She’s a teenager with raging hormones, emotions all over the place, and—don’t get mad at me—growing up in a one parent household. Not that you haven’t been the best parent in the world,” she added quickly.
“Lord, Beth.” Julia stared at her. “I guess I never looked at it that way. I’ve tried to be both mother and father to her—”
“And you have.” Beth gave her a hug. “I’m not smart enough to have answers here so I guess just keep loving her and doing what you think is best.” She grinned. “You did just fine with Andy and me.”
“I know. You two are my brightest hope.”
When Beth left, she gathered herself and went upstairs. She’d made a decision that she was sure would precipitate another outburst of anger. Courtney was in her room, the door closed as usual. Julia could hear the sound of the CD player racketing as she knocked.
“What?” The girl spat the word out, hostile, as always.
“I need to talk to you. Open the door.” Julia had made it a rule that Courtney keep her door unlocked, in case of fire or some other emergency, but the girl stubbornly refused
