Two days later I sat on the floor of my mother’s drawing room with JJ and Sarah, the sun creating a kaleidoscope of colors through the stained glass window, bathing us in a multihued blanket of light. My mother laughed as the children tried to catch the colors in their chubby fists, but I could only find the energy to smile.
“Mellie, I wish you would talk to him. You can’t stay here forever, with so much unresolved between you.”
I stared blankly at her, realizing that I had, actually, imagined staying there in my parents’ house forever without ever leaving it or having to see anybody ever again.
“Jack’s been here about a dozen times.”
“Did you tell him I didn’t want to talk to him?”
“I didn’t have to.” She paused. “He just said that he needed to talk to me.”
I sat up straighter. “To you? About what?”
“I have no idea, but he said it was important that he speak with me before you and he had a discussion.”
“Please tell me you shut the door in his face.”
“I was more polite about it than that, but in essence, yes. I told him that he needed to speak with you first. But, Mellie, one of us will have to talk to him sooner or later. And the sooner the better. It’s not a good idea to make assumptions without knowing—”
I cut her off. “He had his arms around her! And they were not talking about the weather. And I heard Marc’s announcement myself, so I know Jack’s been going behind my back in more ways than one.” I glared at her. “This is all your fault. You were the one who told me I should be a grown-up and find out the truth no matter how uncomfortable it made me. So I did, and look what happened!”
She frowned but didn’t defend herself. “He wants to see the babies. You can’t keep them away from him. He’s their father.”
“Their lying, cheating father who’s sold out to Marc Longo of all people. And is sleeping with their nanny. It’s like an episode of Jerry Springer and I just can’t believe this is my life.” I wiped away the angry tears that spilled down my cheeks.
My mother sat on an ottoman in front of me and handed me a tissue. “Please, Mellie. Let me talk with him, get to the bottom of this. I’m sure once you know the facts, you’ll feel differently. I just can’t imagine there’s not more to this story, despite what you think you saw. That’s not like Jack. Or Jayne. And this whole issue of him agreeing to use the house as a film set without discussing it with you.” She closed her eyes and gave her head a small shake. “No. I’m not buying it. I’m on your side, Mellie, but this thing can’t be left to fester. Let me call him.”
I shook my head, feeling like JJ when I tried to feed him strained peas. “No,” I said, feeling just as unreasonable. “Just stop answering the door and his phone calls and he’ll forget about us.”
“Seriously, Mellie? You think this will all just go away and he’ll forget about you and his children?”
The doorbell rang, and I turned to her in panic, realizing it was already late afternoon and I was still in my pajamas. I ran my tongue over my teeth and remembered that I hadn’t brushed them yet, either. Even if I didn’t want to see him, I didn’t want him to be glad he couldn’t see me.
My mother stood to go to the door. “Don’t open it!”
She gave an exasperated sigh. “Let me see who it is first before we make any rash decisions, all right?”
She disappeared into the foyer and I listened to her footsteps cross the floor, then pause, and then came the sound of the doorknob turning and I flinched.
“Nola! It’s so good to see you, sweetheart. Come in. I know Mellie will want to see you, too.”
She was right—I did want to see Nola. I’d missed her, but even in my darkest moments it never occurred to me to contact her, because it would be like making her pick sides. Despite her unfortunate choice of fathers, I loved her too much to do that to her.
Nola walked tentatively into the drawing room, wearing her school uniform and carrying her backpack and her overnight bag. The children squealed and she immediately dropped the bag, then sat on the floor to hug JJ and Sarah.
“I missed you guys,” she said, rumpling their hair.
“They missed you, too,” I said. “So did I.”
“Yeah, it’s been not so great at home. My dad’s a mess.”
Good, I wanted to say, but couldn’t in front of Nola.
“He really misses you, and Sarah and JJ. We all want you to come back home.”
“Is that what he sent you to say?” I asked.
She reached behind her and dragged over the overnight bag. “He doesn’t know I’m here. I asked Mrs. Ravenel to drop me off here instead of home. I figured you needed some of your stuff.” She looked at me closely and frowned. “Like your hairbrush and some clothes and makeup. But not too much—because you need to come home.”
“I want to, but I can’t. Your dad . . .” I stopped, not sure how much he’d told her.
As if understanding my hesitation, she said, “My dad wouldn’t tell me anything, so I asked Jayne what happened. She told me that she couldn’t say anything until you and my dad had a talk. She’s moved over to the Pinckney house.”