Snapshot (22 page)

“If you’ll excuse me a minute, I’m going to step outside and make a call.”

He exited the sliding doors of Tony’s office to a small patio and driveway that allowed service vehicles an area to unload. He placed his call, hoping he wouldn’t get voice mail.
 

“Hey little brother, what’s up?” Peter answered.

“Time for Plan B.”

*
 
*
 
*

The afternoon dragged, dinner came and went, along with three girls who got into camp via boat, and four more by hiking through the woods. Marti’s mom hadn’t shown. Marti called Ruth Jenkins again, Grandma’s friend. They both agreed that something had happened, and her mother had let her down again. Ruth said she couldn’t drive that far anymore due to her cataracts, and could Marti ask the camp director to find a way to get her back in time for Grandma’s visitation the next evening?

Marti slumped in a chair inside the lodge like a forgotten orphan. Her luggage mocked her. Despite the fact she wanted Adam with her, she needed out of camp so bad she couldn’t stand it. She no longer fit here.
 

Her friends wanted to wait with her, but she wouldn’t allow it. Even though they had exchanged phone numbers and FB info, every time they went off to another activity, they hugged her goodbye again. Exhausted from the emotional toll, she finally told them, no more goodbyes. She couldn’t handle their parting words one more time. She sent them off to join a volleyball game. She wanted to be home and see Grandma’s room. She wanted to use Grandma’s hand lotion, touch her purse, sit in her favorite chair. Anything that would bring her closer, if only for a second, even if it seemed kind of stupid.

Adam joined her. He ran out of words hours ago. What more could be said? He slid his arm around her, and she leaned her head on his shoulder. “I just want to go home,” she whispered.

“I know. Soon.” He played with the ends of her hair.

“She’s not coming.” Marti willed herself not to cry.

“I know.” He kissed the top of her head.

She closed her eyes, and they sat in silence. Suddenly, she heard what sounded like a large truck. She heard the kids at the volleyball court talking with excitement.
 

Marti opened her eyes to see a huge bus wind around the bend into camp. Her eyes went large.

“Your ride is here,” Adam murmured in her ear.

“Is that…”

He smiled, and his face looked so adorable she wanted to hug him. “That’s the Jamieson tour bus, or one of them, I should say. Shall we?” He stood and held out a hand.

Her eyes welled up at his thoughtfulness. How did he get a tour bus here so fast? She didn’t even realize herself until a couple hours ago that her mom had abandoned her again.

“Thank you.” She took his hand, and together they gathered her bags and headed to the parking lot and the gathering crowd of campers.

The bus rolled to a stop, a loud whoosh of air sounded, and the door opened. Adam hopped aboard. Marti waited, unsure what to do. A few seconds later, Adam reappeared with someone who, Marti surmised, could only be his brother, Peter.

She couldn’t hide her smile. They looked like brothers. Very similar, but very different, too. Peter’s hair was a lot longer, with subtle waves, but none of the signature curls that Adam had cut off. His smile was friendly and kind, but not the infectious playful kind like Adam’s. They faced each other and spoke quietly, with respect and kinship. Adam said something, and Peter laughed and bumped his shoulder.
 

They clearly cared a lot about each other. Marti wondered if his whole family was on the bus. Was his older brother, Garrett, there? From the little she heard about him, she feared he wouldn’t be very nice. She didn’t really want to face his whole family even though they were giving her the most important ride of her life.

Adam brought Peter over. “Marti, this is my brother, Peter.”

“Hi,” she said.

“I’m really sorry to hear about your grandmother.” His eyes were warm and sincere.

“Thank you.” She nodded.

A girl with long blonde hair and a friendly smile appeared at Peter’s side.

“And this is my girlfriend, Libby.
 

“Nice to meet you,” Libby said. “I’m so sorry about your grandmother, and I’m glad we can help out.”

Marti relaxed a little. “Hi.” Adam put his arm around her. “If you don’t mind, Peter and I should talk to people for a little bit before we go. Everyone’s been so supportive, and they deserve a few minutes.”

“Of course, no problem.” She really wanted to leave that instant but didn’t want to be selfish, so she hugged Adam and whispered in his ear. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”
 

“Want to come onboard? I’ll show you around,” Libby offered.

“I’d like that.” She followed Libby into the spacious tour bus and received the grand tour while the guys took their time and talked with each camper and allowed lots of pictures. Her heart warmed at Adam’s generous spirit. All during camp he wanted to pretend he was nobody, but now that he was leaving, he wanted to give back to their friends, and even the people who never suspected who he was.
 

Haley looked like she was in seventh heaven standing between the two rockers and having her picture taken. All Marti’s friends had turned into little groupies. She wished she had the strength to go say goodbye one more time, but she didn’t. She hoped they’d understand.

After a few minutes, one of the counselors arrived with Adam’s packed bags. The guys waved their final farewells and came aboard.
 

“Ready to hit the road?” Peter asked.

She smiled. “You bet, but where’s the driver?”

“You’re looking at him.” Peter grinned and looked more like Adam for a second.

Marti looked at Adam. “Is that legal?”
 

“Yes, he’s licensed, and he’s a good driver. I can drive the bus too, but I’m too young to try for my motor coach license yet.”

“Okay,” she said with doubt, as Peter sat in the driver’s seat and buckled up.
 

Adam slid the giant coach window open so they could wave goodbye.

Peter put the bus in gear and slowly pulled away. She waved at her amazing friends. Brooke’s model-perfect face looked as if she were ready to cry. Then came Kayla with tears running down her cheeks and finally Haley, who openly cried.

 
Adam wrapped his arm around her as they slowly passed.
 

Marti had shared the special secret of Adam with these friends. They knew her troubled background with her parents and a lot about her family. They knew her so well, and while she’d talk to them online, she’d probably never see them again. She swallowed down a sob and leaned out the window to wave a final goodbye. The tour bus turned around the bend and her friends disappeared from sight.

Chapter 13

Adam waited as Marti inserted her key into her grandma’s front door. He knew this must be difficult for her, not having Grandma there to greet her, or even her cat, Kahlua. Marti had told him the neighbor was watching the cat. This time only silence would greet her. Marti let out a breath. A wave of dread washed over him. He couldn’t imagine coming back to an empty home after a family member died. He wished he could shield her from this harsh reality.
 

He gently squeezed Marti’s shoulder in support. She tried to convince him to say goodbye outside, but he refused. He understood she might want privacy, but he couldn’t bear for her to enter alone.

She turned the key and nudged the door open. Inside, the kitchen light burned bright, illuminating cream-colored walls and a dining room table covered with a floral tablecloth. Did her grandma forget to turn off the light before her trip to the hospital? Or maybe her friend Ruth left a light on for Marti.

She stepped into the apartment first. He followed, carrying in her luggage. He didn’t know what to expect, but this sure wasn’t it. An acrid smell of stale cigarette smoke assaulted his senses. The place looked a mess. Drawers to the desk were partially open, with papers scattered on the floor. A pile of ripped open mail littered the kitchen. An open closet revealed boxes, and empty tubs lying on their sides, their contents dumped in heaps.

Marti glanced at him, her face showing her confusion. So, apparently this wasn’t a normal. Had Marti and her Grandmother been robbed?

A glance into the kitchen revealed dirty dishes and empty take out containers. Empty diet soda cans cluttered the counter.
 

Adam wanted to grab her hand and stop Marti when she moved to the entry of the small living room. Her body tensed, and she stopped. Adam followed and discovered a woman draped limp across the sofa. At first, he feared it was her grandmother, but then realized it couldn’t be.

He glanced at the coffee table and saw more empty soda cans, a lighter, a hypodermic needle, a teaspoon and a small square of paper containing a dusty, white substance.
What the hell was going on here?

Marti closed her eyes. Was she afraid? Did she know this person? She clenched her jaw and approached the rail thin woman.

“Mom! Wake up,” she said in a biting tone to the slack-jawed woman with dark circles under her eyes.

Adam tried to hide his shock. This nearly comatose woman was Marti’s mother!

“Mom! Tami!” She hollered this time, but her mother didn’t budge.
 

Adam inched a little closer and touched her arm. “Marti, she doesn’t look so good. Maybe we should call 911.”
 
He wanted to help, but this was far beyond anything he’d ever dealt with.

“She’s fine. I’ve seen her like this too many times to keep count. This is her preferred state of being.” This was a new side to Marti. She stood rigid, her eyes piercing and her mouth in a pinched line. She returned to the passed out woman. “Mom!” This time Marti reached down and slapped her mother’s cheek, quick and firm. “Wake up!”
 

The skeletal frame stirred and moaned. Adam fought the urge to stand between the two and protect Marti.
 

As her mother blinked and tried to focus, Marti went through the contents on the coffee table, nudging the drug paraphernalia with her finger. Her mother’s purse spilled open with cigarettes, a couple pill bottles, scratched sunglasses and a checkbook.
 

“You stole Grandma’s checkbook?” She turned on the scary form of her mother.
 

“Hey baby.” The woman smiled, and her head lolled to the side.

Marti snatched the checkbook and paged through. Her jaw dropped. “You emptied it! What is wrong with you?” Marti threw the checkbook on the table. She rifled through the purse and found a bank envelope. She splayed three twenty-dollar bills in her hand.
 

“This is it? This is all that’s left?” Marti looked Adam’s way, and he hoped he didn’t look as stunned as he felt. He didn’t mean to intrude on such a private confrontation.
 

“I’m so sorry you had to see this. You should go,” Marti said softly.

He looked deep into her eyes. “Oh god, Marti. I can’t leave you here.” He gestured toward her mother, and hoped Marti could see how dangerous this woman might be.

“Yes, you can. You don’t want to be a part of this. Trust me.” She wore the stubborn expression he’d come to know and love.

“Let me call my mom. She’ll help figure this out.” No way should Marti have to deal with this on her own.

“No, Adam. Your mom has better things to do than try to fix my problems. I can handle this. I’ve done it before when I was a whole lot younger. When the drugs and money are gone, Mom will disappear. I just need to get her through the funeral. Grandma’s friend Ruth will help me.”
 

Her stoic expression broke his heart. No doubt she could get through it, but he wanted to protect her from these evils and heartaches.

Marti took Adam’s arm and led him to the hallway, and pulled the door closed to block out the horror that lay on the couch.

“Everything about this is wrong,” Adam said. He couldn’t go without her. “Come get on the bus with me. You can’t stay here tonight.”
 

She reached over and caressed his face. Hell, she was comforting him!

“This is my home. Granted, it’s royally screwed up, but it’ll be fine. This is just a blip. Tomorrow is Grandma’s funeral. I need to see her one more time… and say goodbye.” Her voice cracked.
 

Adam felt like ten times an asshole. He wanted to steal her away to safety, and here all she wanted was to say goodbye to the woman who raised her.

He couldn’t believe how somber and grown up she’d become in one short day. Instead of the playful, feisty girl he’d grown to love, she’d evolved into a calm, take-charge person.
 

He sighed. “You shouldn’t have to do this by yourself. Your mom should be handling this.”

“My mom never acted like a mother. That’s why I lived with my dad all those years. She’s incapable.”