Season of Passion (35 page)

It's no one's fault, darling. We can both torment ourselves with that for the next hundred years, but maybe it was just meant to come out. Maybe he had to know.

I know he did. I should have told him years ago and then this wouldn't have happened.'

But you didn't, and you can't know now if that made any difference. Maybe he couldn't have handled it till now. Whatever the case, you just have to let the past be. You didn't tell him. Now he knows. Those are the facts we have to deal with.

But what if something awful happens to him? Her voice was a plaintive wail again as her eyes flooded again.

Nothing will. We just have to believe that, Kate.

I wish I could. She blew her nose loudly and closed her eyes.

The police had called every hour, as promised, but they still had no news. It was after midnight when they reached Felicia.

Oh my God. Felicia gasped and sat down as Nick explained. Kate was in no condition to talk. She had stopped crying, but she only sat there, staring, and thumbing through the pictures. Nick had finally stopped trying to take them away from her. Should I come over?

It might help. You've been through worse things with her before.

Yeah. And Nick she hesitated for a moment, and then decided to say it I'm glad you know. She needs to be free of all that. She can't hide forever.

I know. But this is a rough way to go.

Maybe there's no other way. Nick nodded silently and they hung up. Felicia came right over, and they sat there together, drinking coffee and going crazy until five. And at five-thirty, the police called again.

Nick braced himself for the same dismal news. No news.

We've got him.

Where?

Right here. The cop grinned down at the kid.

And Nick closed his eyes and shouted into the room, They've got him. And then into the phone again, Is he okay?

Fine. He's tired, but fine. Willie the Bear looks a little forlorn though. The kid was very quiet. Probably sobered by the experience.

Where was he?

Sitting around the Greyhound bus station, trying to talk someone into taking him to Carmel. His mother was right. They usually are. We'll have him home to you in ten minutes.

Wait. Can I talk to him? He was going to put Kate on, as she stood there next to him sobbing and laughing and squeezing his arm while Felicia looked on through her own tears.

The policeman came back on in a minute. He says he's too tired to talk. Ornery little bugger. But that was their problem. He'd make out the report, give the kid a speech about the evils of running away and the dangers of bus stations, and take the boy home.

What do you mean he was too tired? Kate looked stunned after Nick hung up, and then she understood. He's still pissed.

Nick nodded. I assume so.

He assumed right. When Tygue got home he was subdued, and he waited until the policeman had left before speaking to them. He had dutifully hugged his mother when he came in, but it won her no warmth and no comfort, only the puddle Willie had squeezed onto her shirt. He was still soaking. Tygue had dried off in the bus station. It was amazing he had gotten there at all. He said he'd had a nickel and had taken the bus. Bus drivers all along the way had given him directions.

Do you have any idea what could have happened to you? She was starting to scream at him out of relief. He hung his head, but he did not look contrite. And then finally he spoke.

I'm going to do it again.

What? She shrieked as Nick tried to calm her down.

I'm going to find my father. I want to see him. And then she sat back with a sigh and looked at her son. How could she tell him without breaking his heart that there was no father to see? There was a man, and he had been his father, but he was gone now. And Tygue couldn't see him.

You can't do that She said it very softly.

I'm gonna, Mom. He looked at her with determination all over his face.

We'll talk about it.

She put him to bed and this time he stayed there. But it had been a very long night, and as Felicia drove home at six-thirty in the morning, she had a feeling that it wasn't over yet. Maybe this time. But Tygue meant what he said. He was going to see his father. She hoped Kate understood that. But at that moment, Kate was already sound asleep in Nick's arms. She got three hours sleep. Stu Weinberg called at nine-thirty.

Hm? In the deep haze of sleep, she couldn't figure out who it was. Nick had promised to leave a note out for the car pool, and they would all sleep late. All day, if she could. Nick had said he'd deal with Tygue until she got up.

Did I wake you?

Hm? What? ' No ' But she was already drifting off again. Nick walked into the room and shook her shoulder.

Wake up. You're on the phone.

Huh? Who is this?

It's Stu Weinberg, for chrissake. What the hell is going on there? Did you go to a wild party last night?

Yeah. Very. She sat up in bed, squinting, feeling sick. Her head churned as though she had the worst hangover of her life, but at least now she was functioning. How's the book?

Making you and me both a fortune. In fact, that's why I'm calling. You've got another tour.

Oh no. Did Nick fix this one too? She tried to smile, but her face wouldn't comply. What was Nick up to now? But Weinberg insisted Nick had nothing to do with this one. And he sounded sincere. Then what is it?

A week in New York. Your publisher wants you there for promo to keep the book hot on the lists. It's a must, kiddo, especially if you want to hit them pretty soon with the one you're working on now. You'd better stay in their good graces.

I can't now. There was too much to cope with at home.

Bullshit, Kate. You have to. You have an obligation to these people. They're making your career. He began to tick off the shows they had booked her on. Too many, maybe. It was going to be an incredible week.

I told you. I can't'

You're going to have to. I told them you would.

How could you do that? She was ready to cry. And she was still so unbearably tired from the night before.

I did it because you have no choice. Ask Nick. He knows what this means.

Never mind that. All right, I'll see. From when to when?

You leave in three days. You'll be gone for a week.

Til do my best.

You'll have to do better than that. He was relentless. I'll call you later to confirm it.

Okay. She was too weak to argue. She lay back on her pillow and tried to think.

Who was that? Nick looked down at her with concern.

Weinberg.

Something wrong?

She nodded. He called to tell me that my publisher booked me on tour in New York. For a week.

When? Nick looked stunned

I leave in three days.

Sonofabitch. I'll kill him. Nick sat down and ran a hand through his hair. You can't go.

He says I have to. And he didn't do it. I told you. My publisher did. And besides, dammit, Nick couldn't tell her what she could and couldn't do.

I don't care who did it. You know goddamn well you can't go now. You told him that, didn't you?

But she hadn't. Even with everything that was happening, she hadn't. Stu had made it sound as if her career were on the line, as though she had to or else.

What the hell did you tell him? Nick looked down at her, shocked.

I told him I'd see what I could do.

You mean you're going?

I don't know. I don't know, dammit. I can't even think. How do I know what I'm doing three days from now?

If you have any sense, three days from now you'll be trying to straighten out this mess with your son. That ought to be the number one priority.

It is, but ' godamnit, leave me alone. Would they never get off her back? Nick with his righteous indignation and ideas of perfect parenthood, and Tygue with his overwhelming needs and demands. Jesus, she had a right to some kind of life too. She had a right to the success that was coming her way.

Falling in love with yourself, aren't you, Kate? It took every ounce of control not to slap him. It's not so much fun being a mommy now, is it?

Will you leave me alone, damn you? She was shrieking and her voice didn't sound like her own. What do you want from me? Blood?

No, some reality. You have a child who is facing a major crisis in his life. He doesn't need you to go gaily off on tour,

Well, what about what I need What about my career? What about what I've given him all these years? Doesn't that count for anything? Don't I get a little time off for good behavior?

Is that how you feel about it all, Kate? Is that how you feel about him? About me? For an insane moment, she wanted to say yes, but she didn't dare.

Her voice was suddenly very quiet. I just need some time to think. That's all. Just let me work this out for myself. She sat down on the bed and ran a hand through her hair.

I just don't think you've got much choice.'

I've never had much choice. Maybe right now I need to be able to choose, to make my own decisions.

You've made decisions before, Kate. Why was he pushing so hard? Why didn't he get the hell off her back? But she didn't say any of what she was thinking. She was suddenly lost in her own thoughts.

Yeah. I've made decisions before. Like the decision not to tell Tygue about Tom. That had been some great decision, as it turned out

What's eating you, Kate? Are you feeling guilty again? Is that it?

Dammit, Nick, yes! She jumped to her feet as she shouted at him again, and this time her eyes were blazing with fury. Yes, I feel guilty. Okay? Does that make you feel better, to hear me say it? Yes, I feel like this whole mess with Tygue is my own goddamn fault. And you know what? It doesn't make me love him any more than I did before. It just makes me want to run away. Because between his being pissed off at me and not understanding anything I've done, and you shoving it in my face, I want to get the hell away from both of you. How does that sound to you, mister?

Just dandy. He turned on his heel and left the room, and she slammed into the bathroom, to emerge ten minutes later looking tidy but still wan. Tygue was still asleep, but Nick was sitting at the breakfast table with a cup of coffee. She poured herself one and looked over at him. He looked like hell too.

I'm sorry I yelled.

It doesn't matter. His voice was subdued now too, but he looked at her as though examining a visitor from another planet. Are you going?

I don't know.

It's happening to you, Kate.

What is? But she knew what he meant.

The star trip. The Me-Fabulous-Me syndrome. You have to do what you have to do for your career. Do you have any idea what's happening to that kid right now? Nick was seething again.

Do you have any idea what's happening to me? How many ways I'm being pulled?

I'm sorry. But you're a grownup. You can deal with it, Kate. He can't. I know you've had a lot of rotten breaks, but that's no reason to pass them on to him. He can't help it. And he is totally confused right now about his father.

And I can't change that. I can't wave a magic wand and make Tom whole again. He's not. And Tygue can't see him. It would be terrible for both of them, She was shouting again.

I understand that he made an effort to lower his voice but Tygue doesn't. I just can't believe you'd go to New York now.

I didn't say I would.

No, but you will.

How the hell do you know? She wanted to throw her coffee at him, as he sat there glaring at her, angry and self-righteous. She hated him.

I know you'll go because you've already been suckered into that whole horseshit game of success. The shows, the interviews, the money, the best sellers, all of it. I can see it happening to you, Kate. And I'll tell you something, I'm goddamn sorry I had anything to do with it. I'm sorry they put you on the show.

What does that have to do with it? Look at the money I've made in the last four months. It comes to over a quarter of a million dollars. Me, I made that, all by myself, with one lousy book, with or without your lousy show. Tygue will go to college because of that, he'll go to a good school before college. He'll have everything he needs.

Except his mother.

Fuck you.

You know something? I don't give a damn what you do. I just don't want to have to sit here and watch when you tell him you're going to New York.

Then don't. I'll tell him while you're out.

You're going, aren't you? He pushed and he pushed and he pushed '

Yes! It was a long angry wail that seemed to fill the whole house. They were both startled, mostly Kate. She hadn't even been sure she was going. At least, she liked to think that. Actually she had known all along. As soon as Weinberg had told her how important it was for her next book. She wanted that one to do even better than the first. It told her a cold hard empty thing about herself as she sat in the kitchen alone, after Nick had quietly left the room. Maybe he was right. Maybe it was starting to happen to her. The success trip. But not at Tygue's expense ' no ' not Tygue.