The Man She Left Behind (27 page)

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Authors: Janice Carter

BOOK: The Man She Left Behind
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She didn’t look at him, but heard him mutter, “That’s not even funny, Leigh. Janet Bradley is a weirdo. A complete wing nut. I just hope you find that out before you get hurt.”
After a long moment Leigh glanced at him. He was staring across the yard toward the harbor in the distance. She started to walk around to the front of the house.
“Wait,” he said, his voice husky. “I’ll drive you home.”
“I’d rather walk, Spence. Clear my head, Really, it’s okay. I’ll take the easy route this time.”
“Please,” he said, “be careful. Janet could be anyone. She could be...”
“Crazy? Dangerous?” she scoffed “Spencer, this is Ocracoke, not New York.” Then she disappeared around the corner of the house.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
L
EIGH HUNG UP the phone. Evan was not happy, but he’d agreed to negotiate two more days from the people who wanted to buy her house.
“I hope after all this you’re not going to turn around and inform me you are not selling at all,” he’d sniffed.
And because that had been exactly the thought at the back of Leigh’s mind, tucked away from reason and logic, she’d felt a pang of guilt that lasted at least half an hour. Until her discovery of Spencer’s bandanna.
Midmorning she broached the subject of the missing adoption letter with Janet. Whatever the woman’s reasons had been for “borrowing” it, Leigh wanted the letter returned.
“Oh, dear, I completely forgot about it. It’s upstairs in my bedroom, most likely still in my purse. Shall I get it?”
But Leigh was on her way to the bathroom and insisted on getting it herself. Janet’s handbag was lying on the unmade bed. Leigh glanced curiously about the room. Although she’d invited Janet for a few days, the woman hadn’t set out any personal items on the night table or bureau. The Pullman suitcase stood in a corner of the room, still closed. There were no dresses or even a robe hanging from the hooks on the back of the bedroom door.
She picked up the hefty purse, surprised by its weight. It was the type of bag with two main compartments, each with its own gold clasp. The letter wasn’t in the first section Leigh opened. There was a tattered wallet, a hairbrush, tube of lipstick, vial of a well-known brand of painkillers and the folded section of newspaper that Janet had shown Leigh the first day of her arrival last week. Leigh smiled, touched by the sentimentality that had stopped Janet from discarding the article.
Then she unclasped the other section, finding a folded road map of the Outer Banks, a ferry schedule, a minipack of tissues, a pocket novel, a package of mints and the white business envelope from the agency. When she pulled on it, a corner of the envelope failed to budge, caught on something at the bottom of the purse. Leigh pushed her hand in and felt soft fabric. She pulled out Spencer’s red-and-black checked bandanna.
For a moment a peculiar disjointed sensation flowed over her. Like participating in a game without knowing you were playing. She sat on the edge of the bed, trying to recall when she’d last seen the bandanna. Ah, yes. The day she’d gone up to Hatteras with Spencer. She’d left it on the hall table to give it to him, but had forgotten. Sometime later, she’d discovered it was missing and had assumed he’d picked it up. Well, she thought, someone had picked it up. Janet. But why?
Leigh took the letter and, bandanna in hand, sought out Janet.
“Find it, dear?” Janet asked when Leigh walked into the kitchen. The woman was finishing washing up the breakfast dishes and had her back to the door.
“Yes, I did, Janet. And something else, too.”
Janet turned around, curiosity in her face. She looked at Leigh, then at the cloth in her outstretched hand.
“Oh,” was all she said.
“How did you get this, Janet?”
“Well, dear, it’s not as bad as it looks.” She wiped her hands on the towel hanging from the cupboard door and sat down at the table. “The day of the open house I arrived late. Of course, I didn’t even know there was going to
be
an open house. I’d gotten your address from a clerk in one of those convenience stores in the village. When I found the house, there were cars and people coming and going. The Open House sign was up. I knew I couldn’t barge in to see you for the first time with all those people around. That wouldn’t have been right!”
“So you waited until everyone left?”
“Yes, but I had no idea you weren’t home. I knocked and waited more than fifteen minutes. I thought maybe you were out in the yard. The door was unlocked and I opened it and called out. Of course, I soon realized no one was home.”
“And?”
Janet shook her head. “I was so terribly disappointed. I can’t tell you how long it took me to get up the nerve to go to your house, and then to find you gone! I stepped into the hall, thinking I’d write a note. But I dismissed that idea almost at once. You can’t leave a note for your longlost daughter.”
Leigh could merely agree with a nod of her head. She knew the story would get out, but found the retelling exhausting.
“When I realized I’d have to come back, I started to leave and I suddenly noticed that handkerchief on the hall table. I wanted some contact with you so badly I took it. Just to have something of yours!” she cried. “That night, I slept with it under my pillow. I meant to give it back, but after I came here, you were so nice to me I couldn’t bear the thought of losing your respect. I didn’t want you to know I’d taken it.”
Leigh didn’t tell Janet the scarf was Spencer’s, although a mischievous side of her wanted to. The explanation made sense, Leigh decided, but she still didn’t like it. “Did you come right into the rest of the house? Get coffee from the kitchen?”
Janet drew herself up in the chair. “Goodness, what do you take me for?”
And that was that. One part of Leigh wanted to believe her, and another part wanted to drop the whole thing.
“Janet, as you said, it’s no big deal, but I hope you’re not going to be afraid to tell me things in the future. I don’t think it’s a good idea to base a...a friendship on secrets.”
“I agree completely, Leigh. I promise, no more secrests.”
Leigh tucked the bandanna into her shirt pocket and headed for the door. “Oh, I almost forgot. Yesterday Trish invited us for luncheon to meet her sister, Faye. I’ve put her off before, so I really must go this time. We should leave about noon. Okay?”
Janet was busy cleaning the table with the dishrag. She didn’t look up, but said, “Of course, dear.”
Back in her room Leigh put the bandanna into her drawer. She remembered the day Spencer had given it to her and the sensitivity he’d shown about the episode with Laura’s mother. It was a side of him that at nineteen hadn’t yet evolved. Then she had a sudden memory of yesterday’s argument with him about Janet. How could she have behaved so badly? So holier-than-thou. After finding the bandanna in Janet’s purse, Leigh was beginning to realize that Spencer’s suspicions about the woman were understandable. She peered at her reflection in the mirror.
What
was
the truth? Part of her could relate to Janet’s plight. Fifteen years ago a number of people had thought they knew the truth about her role in the drownings, and even now the doubts hadn’t been erased. Surely Janet deserved a chance to prove herself, too.
On the other hand, there were so many parts of Janet’s story that raised questions in her mind. And of all the questions and what-ifs, the one that resounded the loudest was simply,
Why?
Why would Janet Bradley step into her life and pretend to be her mother if she wasn’t? What could she possibly gain from it, considering she hadn’t once asked her for money? In fact, she’d even borrowed her car and returned it.
Granted, Janet was apparently someone who didn’t always follow the norms of social behavior. She acted impulsively and secretively, but from the heart. That was the point Leigh needed to remember.
Now I just have to change Spencer’s mind
If Leigh was going to accept Janet, Spencer would have to, as well. Because now—she stared hard at her reflection—she was going to make sure she took that second chance with him. The chance he was talking about yesterday.
Leigh thought of Sam’s using what little strength he had to make her promise not to turn her back on Ocracoke and Spence again.
I’m not going to, Sam. I’m not going to let Spencer out of my life so easily this time.
Leigh stepped back from the mirror.
Nothing like a good heart-to-heart with yourself,
she thought.
The phone was still on her night table from the talk with Evan. She dialed Spencer’s house, crossing her fingers while the phone rang. Jamie answered.
“He’s not here, Leigh.”
“Oh.” Disappointment flooded through her. “Out on charter?’
“No. He’s at Grandpa’s place packing up things and cleaning stuff. I’m supposed to go over and help later this afternoon. Want me to pass on a message?”
“No, it’s okay, Jamie. I have to go out for lunch, but maybe I’ll get a chance to pop over to Sam’s later. How are you doing, by the way?”
“Great. Guess what? I’m not going to be adopted by my stepfather, after all. And Shane’s admitted everything to the police, so my lawyer said charges have been dropped. We just have to sign papers.”
“I’m very happy to hear that, Jamie.”
A slight pause and then, “Thanks for everything you did for me, Leigh.”
“Jamie, I didn’t do anything.”
“You listened to me.”
“Well, I liked listening to you, Jamie, so it was no effort, and...and I hope we’ll get to be good friends by the end of the summer.”
“You mean, you might not be leaving right away?”
“That’s what I’ve been thinking.”
“Hey, cool! Wait’ll I tell Dad. He’ll be, like, totally happy.” Another pause. “Oh, maybe I shouldn’t have said that.”
“I’m glad you did,” Leigh said. “It gives me hope. Listen, have a great afternoon and I’ll see you later.”
“You bet. Oh, and Leigh?”
“Yes?”
“We already
are
friends,” he said.
Leigh was smiling when she hung up.
 
“JANET?”
Leigh walked down the hall and hesitated outside the closed bedroom door. She’d called Janet more than half an hour ago on her way into the shower to remind her of their luncheon date and had assumed Janet had heard. She tapped quietly on the door.
“Janet? It’s time to go.” There was no response, so Leigh cracked open the door.
The room was in darkness, curtains drawn against the midday sun. The mound on the bed stirred.
“Janet? Are you all right?”
“Oh, is it time? I’ve got such a vicious headache,” she whispered.
Leigh frowned.
Hasn’t this happened before?
“Can I get you something?”
“No, dear. I’ve taken painkillers and the best thing is simply to lie in a dark room. I’m so sorry to disappoint you again. I hope you won’t put off your plans.”
“No.” Leigh sighed. “I’d better not—not again. I won’t be long.” She started to close the door when Janet’s reedy voice stopped her.
“Dear? Do me a big favor?”
“What?”
“I’d rather you didn’t announce the news about me yet. You know, I’m not up to all those stares I’ll be getting in the village. Privacy is very important to me. I think I’d rather you tell your friends about me after I’ve left the island.”
Leigh wished Janet would make up her mind. Only days ago the woman had been hurt because Leigh hadn’t introduced her to Trish as her birth mother.
“Sure, Janet, whatever you say. Oh, and if Spencer should happen to come by—if you hear him at the door—could you tell him I’ll see him at Sam’s place later this afternoon? He’s cleaning up there and I want to help him when I get back.”
There was a brief silence before Janet mumbled, “Certainly. Bye, dear. Have a nice time.”
When Leigh reached the downstairs hallway, she decided to leave a note for Spencer in case he arrived when Janet was still asleep. She taped it to the inside panel of the big glass door, leaving it ajar to let in the cooling ocean breeze. She’d drive to Trish’s house in order to get home as quickly as possible after lunch. A thrill of excitement at the possibility of being with Spencer later prompted her to skip down the porch steps. Soon, when she could decently escape what would inevitably be a boring luncheon, she’d be in his arms again.
And this time, I won’t be so eager to run off.
 
SPENCER THREW the bucket of dirty water over the porch railing onto the sand. Sam had been one lousy housekeeper.
And he’d have been the first to admit it, too.
He propped the mop against the rail and left the bucket on the porch. Inside, he stood in the center of the living room, scanning it for any overlooked details. No doubt the cottage had never been cleaner. Still, given the choice, he’d rather have Sam back and the place looking like the storage room of a discount warehouse.
Spencer exhaled loudly. Lots of choices in life, he thought, but not about bringing back loved ones. That was why it was damn important not to lose them when they were still alive. And if you did...well, you’d better do whatever it took to get them back. He grinned. Spence McKay, philosopher. Then just as quickly, frowned. More like Spence McKay, king of fools.
Because only a damn fool, he reasoned, would have so unthinkingly jeopardized the opportunity he’d been given to be a normal human being again, instead of an automaton going through life without really connecting to anyone.
Not even your own kid.
It was a sobering thought.
How could he have jumped on Leigh for having such blind faith in Janet Bradley when she’d shown the same trust in his own son? If he could understand and accept it in the one case, why not the other?

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