The line connects. “Hello?”
“Denny. Oh my God. Where haveyou been?”
“I called my buddy in West Vanto get my boat and then to come and get me.”
“Why didn’t you call me?”
“I’ve been too afraid to use myphone. The only reason I’m calling now is because I think I left mywallet in the attic.”
“You did. I found it.” I’d takenit from my glove box at the first opportunity and replaced it inthe attic. “I put it right on the inside of the hatch. I didn’twant Annie finding it.”
“Great.”
“What are you going to do? Didyou reach your lawyer?”
“Yes, finally. I’m going intomorrow and he’s going to come with me to the police station inWest Van.”
“That’s a relief. I’ve beenscared that something happened to you.”
“I’m okay. I’m taking my medsevery day and my thinking is a lot clearer. Us Banks children aresure messed up, huh?”
I’m nowhere near the level ofscrewed up that Denny is, but I agree with him so that he doesn’tfeel like a freak. “So, where are you now?”
“I’m standing at the cottagedoor.”
I sit up straight and press thephone tight against my ear. “Tell me you’re joking. Denny, youcan’t be at the house—Annie will be home any minute, if she’s notthere already. Please don’t go in.”
“She’s not here. I looked aroundback first and I don’t see her car. I just drove all the way herefrom West Van in my boat. I promise that I’ll be really quick,Jade. I have no choice. I need my wallet.”
I have no choice. I know him—ifI refuse to help, he’ll just stand there, and Annie will definitelysee him. “Sonofabitch, Denny. Hurry the hell up, then. Get in andout in five seconds.”
“No problem. Do you still keepthe key inside the planter?”
“Yes. It’s there.”
I look at the time on the dash.Annie will be there any second. My stomach clenches.
“Your dog likes me. I think hewants to come home with me.” Denny laughs, and I can hear Stinkygive a happy bark.
“Take the wallet, Denny, not thedog.” I grab my cigarettes and light one.
“Okay, I’m in the pantry.”
I hear rustling through thephone.
“Hey, Dad’s gun is up here.”
“Yeah, I know. I was going toget rid of it.”
“No way! I’ll take it home withme. I love this old relic.”
I thunk my head on the steeringwheel. Just what I need—Annie coming home to Denny holding ashotgun. “Just get the hell out of there, okay?”
“Okay, okay. Calm down. I’m justputting the gun by the front door and then I’ll climb up the shelfand get my wallet.”
I take a long drag. I hearDenny’s footsteps as he walks from the pantry to the front door andthen back again.
“I’m in the hatch, but I don’tsee my…wait, there it is. I got it!”
“Good, now go before Annie getshome.”
The boat is docking and theloudspeaker comes on, telling everyone to get back in theirvehicles, making it hard for me to hear Denny.
“I’m going, I’m going. Don’thave a… Oh, shit.”
“What? Denny? What’s goingon?”
His voice has dropped to awhisper. “Annie just got home. I’m in the pantry.” He breathesheavily into the receiver. “Shit. What should I say?”
I’m so stressed that I nearlyeat my cigarette. I grind it in the ashtray before I burn myself.“I really don’t think you can say anything that will make her okaywith you being there.”
“I’ll just wait in here untilshe goes into the bedroom, then I will deke out.”
I drive off the ferry and up theroad. “I told you not to go in the house, but you wouldn’t listen.You never do.”
“Shh, or she’ll hear…”
“What in the hell are you doinghere?”
My breath catches in my throatas I hear Annie’s voice. It’s low—angry, but calm.
There’s more rustling. I imagineDenny lowering the phone. “Put the gun down, girl.” I hear himsay.
“What’s going on?” I say,loudly. I slam on the breaks and stop in the middle of the road,pressing the phone tighter to my ear.
“Stay right there, Denny. Don’teven think about moving or I’ll blow your head off.”
I hear the phone hit the floor.Thankfully, it doesn’t hang up.
Denny tells Annie that he’sleaving right away and that the only reason he was there is becausehe had to get something from the attic.
“Why do you keep showing up inour lives?” Annie says. “The last thing your sister needs is todeal with the fucking drama that always follows you.”
“Are you delusional, Annie? Ifit wasn’t for your loose legs, none of us would be in thismess.”
“That’s a lie.” She’s yellingnow. “You know damn well that you’re the one that brought Raj here.It’s your fault, not mine.”
“So, I made you have sex withhim? I don’t remember that part.”
“Who brought the drugs here,Denny? You and Raj did. If I wasn’t so high, I never would’ve sleptwith him.”
Raj? My mind reels. Raj was hergay Vancouver friend. Then, Tim’s voice floats through my brain.Robbie Aaron James.
I slam on the breaks and stopthe truck in the middle of the road. A car beeps then swervesaround me.
“Well, I took the same stuff youdid and it didn’t make me sleep with him.”
“Fuck you.”
“And you weren’t high thoseother times, remember? You two were screwing each other ever sinceI introduced you in Vancouver.”
Annie lets out a scream offrustration. I’ve never heard that sound come from her before. “Theonly reason I did that was because I was going through hell withJade.”
My breath leaves my lungs.
“Oh, I’m sure,” Denny says,sarcasm heavy in his voice. “Perfect Annie needs a perfect reasonto cheat. I remember that well.”
“She was suffocating me. Alwayssuspicious and jealous, oh my God, always sulking and worryingwhenever I was away from her.” She lets out a dry, angry sob. “ButI still regret it. Every minute with Raj. If I could take it back,I would. You know that.”
Her words slice through myinsides. Suffocating. Suspicious. Jealous. Sulking. I don’t knowwhat’s worse—that she’s trying to foist the blame of her cheatingonto me, or the possibility that she truly believes what she’ssaying. Tears well up as I continue to listen.
“Well, he’s dead now, isn’t he?So, I guess you don’t have to worry about Jade finding out aboutyour little affair.
