“I can pay you,” he offered, sensing her trepidation.
“No, it isn’t that,” she said. “I’m just surprised. We don’t know each other that well. I’m not sure Virginia would be happy about some stranger babysitting her for the day.”
“She suggested it,” he said.
Echo perked. “Really?”
His gut told him that he should figure something else out. He could take Jeanie with him to Lambert, drop her off at a Barnes & Noble, and go about his business. Sure, Echo had saved his ass with the box of stuff and yes, she was the object of Lucas’s current intrigue, but she was still a stranger. He could trust her to water the plants or check the mail, but not to watch the love of his life.
“You know what? Never mind. I shouldn’t even have asked, putting you out like this . . . It’s insane.”
“It’s okay,” Echo said. Lucas got up.
“Thanks for the coffee. We’ll definitely get together again soon—”
But Echo cut him off.
“No, seriously, I’d love to do it.” She rose from her seat and, with a defined sense of determination, left the kitchen to grab her bag.
35
* * *
VEE HEARD THE car crunch up the driveway. She shoved her clothes back to where they originally were on the closet rod, pushed an empty cardboard box into the corner, and closed her closet door. When she finally stepped into the upstairs hall, she was just in time to catch Echo following her father inside.
Echo tilted her chin upward and gave Vee a warm smile. “Hello, Virginia,” she said. “Remember me?”
Vee caught her bottom lip between a row of teeth, unable to help wondering if suggesting Echo coming over was the most fabulous idea. She seemed nice enough, but there was something about her that tied Vee’s stomach into a loose knot. Suspicion. Vee had never been all that great around strangers. Try harder.
“Hey,” she finally said. “Yeah, I remember. Hi.” She forced a smile before slowly descending the stairs.
“Sorry, you two get acquainted, I need to . . .” Vee’s dad stopped midsentence, as if cycling through all the stuff he had to get done before hitting the road, random things he’d not realized would take as long as they would. He passed Vee on the staircase like a whirlwind. A moment later, the pipes groaned in the walls.
Vee pulled her attention from her dad’s bedroom door to Echo, who was inspecting the place like a tenant looking to rent. She eventually looked back up to Vee, who had stopped in mid-descent, not sure whether she should go all the way down to the ground floor.
Echo arched a questioning brow over one eye, then gave Vee a knowing sort of grin. “He’s like that all the time, huh?” she asked. Vee nodded, still unsure. “Well, between you and me, my dad was the same way.”
“Really?” Vee rubbed at the back of her neck, surprised by the unexpected confession.
“Really, but don’t tell. I told your dad I never knew who my father was.”
“Why?”
Echo shrugged. “Eh. I guess I sensed that they were probably both alike,” she said. “And I didn’t feel like telling your dad that my dad hardly knew I existed. What’s the point of talking about someone like that? You may as well say you never knew them at all.”
Vee considered that logic. She thought about refuting it, wanted to argue that her dad knew she existed—he was just really busy. But something about defending him after being forgotten the day before brought a sourness to the back of her tongue. Why should she defend him? Yesterday, he had promised to take her to the beach. Today, he had promised to take a day off and take her to Seattle. Both vows were empty and worthless.
“Hey, maybe we can take a walk along the coast,” Echo suggested. “Have you gone yet?”
Vee shook her head that she hadn’t.
Echo gave her a dubious stare. “You aren’t even a quarter of a mile away and you haven’t gone yet? Oh, you poor girl.”
She was supposed to have gone yesterday, but no, thanks to dear ol’ dad.
Echo was right, Vee was a poor girl. And maybe Echo had been a poor girl, too. Maybe, finally, Vee had found someone who understood what it was like.
NORTHWEST NEWS 1 TRANSCRIPT
Aired April 2nd, 1986 – 06:15 PST
JAMES MARKEL, NWN1 REPORTER: Breaking news this morning regarding Washington State congressman Terrance Snow.
(Begin Video Clip)
JAMES MARKEL, NWN1 REPORTER: Police report that Congressman Snow’s vehicle, a silver Lincoln Continental, was found having veered off the road a few miles north of Thurston County’s Schneider Creek. The vehicle, traveling northbound on US Highway 101, was involved in a possible sideswipe scenario, causing the congressman to lose control of the car.
(End Video Clip)
JAMES MARKEL, NWN1 REPORTER: Both the congressman and his wife, Susana Clairmont Snow, were pronounced dead at the scene. President Reagan issued a statement early this morning regarding the congressman’s untimely passing.
(Begin Video Clip)
PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN: Nancy and I were saddened to hear of the passing of our friend and congressman Terry Snow. Terry was a great leader. He led with diligence and honor. We will truly miss his presence and his unwavering devotion to our great country.
(End Video Clip)
JAMES MARKEL, NWN1 REPORTER: The couple lost their daughter and only child, Audra Snow, three years ago at the hand of cult killer Jeffrey Halcomb. Congressman Snow has been using the Halcomb case to strengthen his argument for retaining the death penalty as a form of punishment in Washington State. He was due to speak on the Congress floor regarding his capital punishment stance later this month. NEWS 1 will continue to report story details, as well as keep you informed of plans as they develop regarding a memorial for the congressman and his wife.
36
* * *