Marriage Matters

Thirty-nine

While her mother was in Rome, Chloe had one responsibility: to keep an eye on June.

“Take care of her,” Kristine said before she left, squeezing Chloe just a little too tight. “I know you’re busy but June’s just not used to being on her own.”

Chloe’s intentions were good but she got so caught up with school, midterms and Geoff that before she knew it, three days had passed without hearing from her grandmother. The moment she realized this, Chloe called her six times and even stopped by her house, but June didn’t answer the door. Troubled, Chloe headed to her shift at Tiny Tumblers but checked her phone every hour, on the hour.

June never called back.

The moment her shift was over, she rushed outside and called Ben. Her mouth tasted like metal, but she knew just hearing his voice would help. He’d say, “Clo, everything’s okay. I’ll be right there,” but his phone rang and rang before finally going to voicemail.

Chloe fought back a wave of panic. There was a very real possibility that something bad had happened. It just wasn’t like June to not call for three days. And to not return a phone call? Never.

Even though Chloe hated to drag Geoff into all this so early in their relationship, she made the call. “I’m so sorry to bother you at work,” she said, her voice breaking. “But I’m too scared to go over there alone.”

“I’ll call Rue on the way,” he said. “See if she’s heard from her.” After getting directions to June’s house, he said, “Don’t worry, Chloe. I’m sure she’s just fine.”

Traffic was jammed, so instead of jumping into a cab and begging the driver to go ninety, Chloe ran the five blocks to June’s apartment. Her book bag banged against her shoulder with every step, her heart pounding frantically. What if June was lying there with a broken hip, abandoned for days? Those stairs up to her bedroom were much too steep. She easily could have taken a tumble. Or what if . . . Chloe shook her head, refusing to think of the alternative.

She blinked hard, hating herself for being so irresponsible. It wasn’t like her mother had asked her to check on a hamster or a goldfish. June was her family. Why, oh why, had she gotten so caught up in her boyfriend? What kind of person was she?

Rounding the corner, she ran smack into a man. It was already dark, and she almost screamed. She realized it was Geoff and collapsed against him.

“Thank you so much for coming,” she said. “I’m sorry. I’m so scared.”

Geoff put a finger under her chin and lifted it gently. “Chloe, look at me,” he said, his voice calm. “It’s going to be fine. And if it’s not, we’ll deal with it, okay? We’ll handle it together.”

She nodded, letting out a shaky breath. Leading the way, he walked up the steps to June’s house and pounded on the door.

Chloe’s heart was in her throat. She prayed that, at any moment, June would throw open the door and say, “What on earth is all this racket about?” But the house remained dark, the door tightly closed. With trembling hands, Chloe handed him the spare key.

As they walked in, he turned on the lights in the hallway. She cringed, expecting to see June crumpled in a heap at the bottom of the stairs, but the path was as clear as always. Chloe tried to push past him, but Geoff’s arm blocked her way. “Please. Let me go first.” His voice was grim. “Just in case.”

Slowly, with Chloe right behind him, Geoff searched the entire house from top to bottom. Nothing. In the kitchen, he walked over to the counter and eyed an apple on the cutting board. “This seems . . .” A note of hope crept into his voice. “Decently fresh.” He held it up. The apple was cut in half and only slightly brown at the edges.

Chloe’s heart pounded with relief. There might still be time to save her.

Geoff’s eyes darted to the window. “I think I just saw something move outside.”

Of course! June would have been working in her garden. Maybe she’d fallen out there. Chloe rushed for the back door. It was dark outside and she couldn’t see a thing, but she could hear the faintest muffle of laughter. “Grandma?” she called.

Abruptly, the laughter stopped. There was the sound of shuffling and nervous whispers. Chloe squinted. Through the dark night, she could swear she saw Charley Montgomery dart across the lawn. But he wasn’t wearing a shirt. And his hands were crossed in front of his . . .

Chloe froze. Her eyes fell on the wrought-iron table where her grandmother typically ate her breakfast. A checkered gardening shirt was neatly draped across it like a napkin. A few feet away, something white was suspended over a rosebush. Chloe put her hands over her mouth.

It was a brassiere.

She gasped in horror. No. This couldn’t be . . .

Geoff rushed into the yard, the beam of a flashlight bobbing in front of him. “Did you find her?”

With one hand, Chloe shielded her eyes. “Yes,” she whispered. “But something terrible is happening. Please turn off the . . .”

“Chloe?” June called, her voice high pitched and nervous. “Is that you?”

Geoff shined the light in the general direction. June was peeking out from behind a tree, a branch pulled over her form. Even though the tree was covering her, it was perfectly obvious that she was naked.

Chloe dove for the flashlight, turning it off. “Oh, no.” She clutched it in her fist, maintaining eye contact with Geoff, afraid of what else she’d see if she dared to look away. “Oh, no.”

“Chloe?” June called again. The leaves on the tree rustled.

“Don’t,” Chloe shrieked. “You stay right there!”

Geoff’s eyes widened as he, too, finally figured out what was happening. “Oh, no.”

Chloe closed her eyes, shaking her head. “Apparently,” she said, “my grandmother is not dead. Not even close.”

There was silence. Out in the garden, both June and Charley chuckled.

“Sorry,” June sang. “Didn’t mean to scare you. We just . . . um . . .”

“Got attacked by fire ants,” Charley said. “Had to wash the clothes out. But I think everyone’s okay now.”

“Yup.” June’s voice was cheerful. “Doing just fine.”

A small smirk settled at the corner of Geoff’s mouth. “Fire ants,” he said. “Is that what the kids are calling it these days?”