The Weight of Small Things (29 page)

57

B
ryn sat in her car, watching children pour out of the school building, laughing, shouting, lining up in front of the row of school buses. She spotted Cody in the crowd and honked. He waved at her and ran to the car.

“Hey,” Bryn said as he climbed into the backseat. “How was school?”

“Good!” Cody grinned at her. “We had macaroni and cheese for lunch!”

“Sounds good.” Bryn was scanning the crowd of children for Micah.

Slowly, the crowd on the sidewalk thinned as children boarded buses and buses pulled away. Where was Micah?

Finally, Bryn sighed heavily. “Okay,” she said, turning to Cody, “I guess he’s still inside. Let’s go find him.”

She took Cody’s hand and they walked into the empty entryway.

“Which way is his classroom?” Bryn asked, looking down the long hallways.

“It’s this way. Come on, I’ll show you.” Cody pulled her along by the hand, stopping in front of a closed door. “This is his room.”

Bryn knocked on the door, then opened it to look inside. The room was empty, the lights were out.

“Where could he be?”

“Maybe he’s at the principal’s office,” Cody said. “I’ll take you.”

They walked back down the hall to the office. A young woman looked up as they arrived.

“I’m looking for Micah Carter,” Bryn said.

“We have a dentist appointment,” Cody chimed in.

“Did you check his classroom?” the woman asked.

Bryn nodded. “He’s not there.”

“Well, let me make an announcement.” The woman rose and walked into another room. Soon her voice carried over the sound system throughout the school.

“Micah Carter, Micah Carter, please come to the front desk. Your . . . your ride is here.”

She returned and sat down.

“Thank you,” Bryn said. They waited several long minutes. Micah did not appear.

“Maybe he went home on the bus,” Cody said.

“I guess we’ll go see.” Bryn walked briskly back to her car, still holding Cody’s hand. They’d be late for their appointment now.

She drove to Bob’s and went inside.

“Micah? Micah, are you here?”

The house was empty.

A cold fear gripped Bryn.
Calm down,
she told herself.
Just calm down and think. Where would he go?

She turned to Cody. “Do you know how to get to Matt’s house?”

Cody nodded.

“Let’s go see if he’s there.”

They walked up the street a block and knocked on a door. A woman a few years older than Bryn opened the door and smiled.

“Hi, Cody,” she said. “What’s up?”

“Is Micah here?” Bryn asked.

“No,” the woman said. “You must be Bryn?”

“Yes,” Bryn said. “I’m Bryn and I was supposed to pick the boys up from school for a dentist appointment, but Micah wasn’t there and he’s not at home.” She could hear the panic in her own voice.
Calm down, calm down, just calm down
.

“I’m Christy. Come in,” the woman said, holding open the door. “Let me ask Matt if he knows where Micah’s gone. Matt!”

“What?”

“Please come in here.”

Matt appeared in the doorway. He smiled at Bryn. “Hey, Bryn. Hey, Cody.”

“Matt, do you know where Micah is? Bryn was supposed to pick him up from school, but he wasn’t there.”

Matt shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know,” he said.

Bryn’s stomach turned upside down. Christy touched her hand and smiled reassuringly. “Let me just call around,” she said.

She pulled her cell phone from her pocket and began dialing.

“Mandy, this is Christy. Is Micah Carter at your house? . . . Oh, okay. Well, thanks anyway.”

Bryn stood frozen in the kitchen as Christy dialed three more times. Finally, on the fourth call, she breathed.

“Okay, good,” Christy was saying. “Keep him there, okay? His babysitter is on her way to pick him up.”

She closed the phone and smiled at Bryn. “He’s at Dillon Murphy’s,” she said. “It’s around the block on Highland Street.”

“I know where it is,” Cody said. “I’ll show you.”

Bryn’s knees were shaking and for a minute she couldn’t move.

“It’s okay,” Christy said, patting her hand. “It happened to me last year with my older son, Keith. I went to get him at school and he’d left with a friend. Scared me half to death.”

“Thank you so much,” Bryn said. “Really, thank you so much.”

She followed Cody another block and around the corner to knock on another door.

“Hi,” she said. “I’m Bryn, and I’m here for Micah.”

The woman who answered simply looked at her.

“I’m Bryn Baxter,” Bryn began again. “I was supposed to pick up Micah from school for a dentist appointment.”

“Do you have a note from his father?” The woman stood squarely in the doorway, blocking Bryn’s view of the inside.

“What? No, I don’t have a note. But look, I have Cody and I’m supposed to take him and Micah to the dentist.”

The woman didn’t move. “I’m sorry,” she said firmly. “I don’t mean to be rude, but I don’t know you and I don’t know anything about a dentist appointment. And I can’t let you take Micah until I talk to Bob or Wendy.”

“Fine,” Bryn snapped, pulling her cell phone from her purse. “Let me call Bob.”

The phone rang several times before going to voice mail.

“Bob, it’s Bryn. I’m at one of Micah’s friend’s houses, and his mother won’t let me take Micah to the dentist. Call me back.”

She ended the call and glared at the woman in the doorway.

“Look,” she said, “I’m not a child molester or a kidnapper or anything like that. I’m just a friend who’s helping Bob out.”

The woman took a step back.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “Until I talk to Bob, Micah is my responsibility. Cody, do you want to come in and play?”

Cody looked from the woman to Bryn. “No,” he said slowly. “I’m going to the dentist with Bryn.”

Bryn stood a minute more, staring at the woman in the doorway. Finally, she sighed.

“Fine, I’ll tell Bob to pick Micah up on his way home from work.”

The woman closed the door and Bryn stood a minute longer, holding Cody’s hand.

“Come on, buddy,” she said finally. “Let’s go home.”

“But what about the dentist?” Cody gazed up at her. “You said we were going to the dentist and then to get ice cream.”

“Well, we’re too late for the dentist now,” Bryn snapped. She immediately regretted it.

“But how about this, we’ll still get ice cream. Okay?”

Cody grinned at her. “Okay!”

 

When Bob arrived three hours later with Micah in tow, Bryn didn’t look up from the chicken-and-noodles casserole she was stirring.

“Hey,” Bob said softly, kissing her cheek. “I’m so sorry about today.”

“It’s okay,” she said, still not looking up.

“Micah, do you have something to say to Bryn?”

“Sorry.”

“I beg your pardon?” Bryn turned from the stove to look down at him.

“I said sorry.” Micah’s eyes stayed firmly on the floor.

“Okay,” Bob said. “Now go clean up for dinner.”

Micah ran from the room, Bryn staring after him, her mouth slightly open.

“Are you all right?” Bob looked at her, a puzzled expression on his face.

“Are you kidding?” Bryn threw the wooden spoon she’d been holding into the sink.

“It’s all right, Bryn.” Bob put his hands on her shoulders. “It was just a mix-up, but it’s no problem. I’ll just reschedule the appointment.”

“You don’t get it!” Bryn stepped away from him. “I was scared to death. I didn’t know where he was! I went to the school and the secretary looked at me like I was an idiot. And then Matt’s mom had to call all the other moms, so they all know I lost your kid. And then, that woman wouldn’t let me take him! She stared at me like I was a kidnapper or something and refused to let me take Micah with me. It’s not okay!”

“Look, I’m sorry you got scared.” Bob’s voice was soft and he glanced back into the dining room to make sure they were alone. “But honestly, it was just a mix-up. And Karen just did what she was supposed to do. I mean, think about it, a strange woman shows up to pick up a child. She didn’t know who you were. She was just trying to take care of Micah.”

“Who was inside the house and who I’m sure heard the entire conversation and could have come out and explained to Karen that he had a dentist appointment. Instead, he let me stand out there and make a complete idiot of myself!”

She turned from him to pick up the casserole dish and shoved it into the oven.

“That will be ready in thirty minutes,” she said, taking off the apron she wore and stalking out of the kitchen.

“Wait!” Bob followed her into the living room, where Cody sat on the floor in front of the television, his eyes glued on Bryn.

“Cody, I’ll see you later, okay?” Bryn smiled at Cody, hating that he had to hear and see the entire scene. She grabbed her coat and walked out.

“Bryn!” Bob stood on the porch. “Wait! Come on, don’t be this way. It was a mix-up, it happens.”

Bryn got into her car and pulled out of the driveway fast, then sped down the quiet street, cursing at the top of her lungs.

58

“O
kay, calm down.” Corrie handed Bryn a tall glass of milk.

“Sit down and relax. This isn’t good for the baby.”

Bryn glowered at her over her milk and sat down at the dining room table.

“This Dillon is the same kid who told Micah that Wendy was a whore,” she spat. “Where do you suppose he heard that? From his mother! So what do you suppose she thinks of me? She just looked at me like I was trash!”

“I don’t know, honey. Maybe she was just—”

“Just nothing! She was enjoying it, watching me stand there like an idiot. God!”

Bryn took a long drink of milk.

“And Bob!” She slammed the glass down on the table. “He acted like it was nothing! Like she was just fricking Suzy Homemaker, being a good mom!”

Corrie said nothing.

“I
know
it wasn’t just a mix-up, either! Micah
never
just goes to a friend’s house after school without calling Bob. Never!”

“Maybe he forgot.” Corrie’s voice was soft.

“No.” Bryn shook her head fiercely. “Honestly, Corrie, I love the kid. You know I do. I’m trying so hard to understand and be patient, because God knows he’s going through so much. But lately . . .” Her voice trailed away.

“Lately what?” Corrie took a napkin from the holder and wiped up milk that had sloshed onto the table.

“I think he hates me.” Bryn said it quietly, her voice quivering slightly. “I mean, he’s just hateful most of the time. Last week when I asked him to help clear the table, he looked me right in my face and told me he didn’t have to do what I said, because I’m not his mother.”

“What did Bob do?” Corrie asked.

“He talked to Micah, made him come and apologize. But Micah didn’t mean it. Anyone could see he meant what he said before. I’m not his mom and he just hates me being there while she’s not.”

“It’s got to be hard,” Corrie said. “I mean, Micah and Cody are both missing their mom, and Bob’s trying to make everything okay, and maybe it’s just really hard for him to see Micah in that much pain.”

“I know.” Bryn slumped in her chair. “I really do know, and I really do love Micah. I’m just so tired of him taking out his anger on me.”

Her phone rang.

“Is it Bob?” Corrie asked.

Bryn nodded.

“You should take it.”

Bryn considered for a second then sighed and answered the phone. She retreated to her room upstairs, leaving Corrie at the table, worrying. Why did everything have to be so hard? Why couldn’t Bob and Bryn just be happy together? Why couldn’t Mark forgive her for sleeping with Daniel? How did everything get so messed up?

She rose and rinsed Bryn’s cup, then flopped onto the couch to watch television. An hour or so later, Bryn came back downstairs, her eyes red, her skin splotchy.

“Are you okay?” Corrie asked.

Bryn shook her head.

“We decided to slow things down,” she said, her voice shaky.

“Micah needs some time to deal with the divorce, and I don’t want to make it worse for him.”

“Oh, Bryn.” Corrie opened her arms and Bryn sank onto the couch beside her. “Don’t worry, honey. It’ll be all right. You’re both just upset, but you’ll work it out.”

Bryn cried for a while, Corrie crooning to her the way she’d done with Maya in the hospital. Finally, she handed Bryn a box of tissues and Bryn blew her nose hard, shook her head, and sat up.

“I’m okay,” she said. “It’s fine. Bob needs to focus on the boys. They need to be his priority right now. And I need to just focus on me and my baby.” She patted her stomach softly. “All I need is this baby.”

She turned to Corrie and hugged her again.

“And you,” she said. “I will always need you.”

59

“C
orrie!” Bryn called from the front porch. “Help!”

Corrie ran to the front door and burst into laughter. Bryn sat on the porch step, groceries spilling from a bag beside her, an ice cream cone upside down on her hugely rounded stomach.

“It’s not funny!” Bryn said, trying not to smile. “I can’t get up!”

Corrie pulled at Bryn’s hands until she stood, then surveyed the mess on the porch.

“What a pair we are,” she said, laughing. “One big fat lady pulling another one up!”

“Shut up and help me clean this up.” Bryn tried to frown at her, but soon she was laughing, too.

It was a beautiful evening in April, only four weeks from Bryn’s due date.

“You know if you keep eating ice cream every night, you’re never going to lose that baby weight,” Corrie said, mopping at Bryn’s stomach.

“Who cares?” Bryn grinned. “I’ll just be a fat mama. The baby won’t care.”

They gathered the scattered groceries and carried them into the kitchen.

“God, my feet hurt!” Bryn sat down and surveyed her swollen feet.

“Just sit there and put your feet up,” Corrie said. “I’ll put this stuff away.”

“Thank you,” Bryn said. “You’re the best.”

“Well, in a few weeks you’ll have to do the same for me.”

Corrie carried plates of pasta salad into the dining room. They had just begun eating when the doorbell rang.

“I’ll go.” Corrie rose and walked into the living room. Her own feet were tired, too, and her back ached.

She opened the door. Paul stood on the front porch.

“What do you want?” Corrie stood squarely in the doorway, blocking his entrance.

“I came to talk to Bryn,” he said.

“I don’t think Bryn wants to talk to you.”

“Come on, Corrie. I won’t upset her, I promise. I just want to talk to her.”

“It’s okay.” Corrie felt Bryn’s hand on her shoulder.

Bryn walked onto the front porch and sat down on the glider.

“Wow!” Paul stared at her stomach. “You’re huge!”

“Thanks for the update,” she said, her voice flat. “What do you want, Paul?”

Corrie closed the door.

“I just want to talk,” he said. “I know it’s been a while. And I know you’re due pretty soon, right?”

“Four weeks.”

“Four weeks, wow. That’s coming right up.”

“Not soon enough.” Bryn shifted uncomfortably in the glider. “So, what do you want to talk about?”

“I’m moving in July,” he said, “to Lexington. And . . . well, I’m not going by myself. I thought you might want to hear that from me, instead of from someone else.”

“The blond?” Bryn sounded bored.

“Yes, actually.” Paul shifted from one foot to another. “Her name is Claire and we’ve been living together for a while and she’s coming with me to Kentucky.”

“Good for you, Paul.”

“Don’t be snide, Bryn.”

“I’m not, really. Good for you. I hope you’ll be happy.”

“Oh well . . . thank you.”

“So, now you’ve told me, and you can go.”

Bryn tried to rise from the glider, then gave up and sat back down.

“We need to talk about the baby,” Paul said.

Bryn simply glared at him.

“Look,” he said. “I know I said before that I wanted to be part of the baby’s life. But now, it’s complicated.”

“Let me guess!” Bryn smiled. “Claire’s not so interested in having a baby around?”

“She’s young,” Paul said. “She just . . .”

“Fine.”

“What?”

“Fine.” Bryn smiled again. “You don’t want to be in the baby’s life, that’s fine with me.”

“I’ll pay support or whatever,” Paul said. “Whatever you work out with the court. But I can’t . . .”

“Paul, listen, it’s fine. Go to Kentucky with Claire, start your new life. This baby and I will be just fine without you.”

He stared down at her for a long minute, then tried to smile.

“Okay,” he said. “Well, good luck to you.”

“Good-bye, Paul.”

“I’ll be in touch,” he said, backing down the porch steps. “I won’t skip out on child support, Bryn. I’ll send you my forwarding address.”

He got into his car and pulled away, leaving Bryn alone on the porch.

“Okay, kiddo, she said, arms wrapped over her belly. “It’s just you and me now. And we’re going to be just fine.”

Corrie joined her a minute later, carrying their plates.

“Did you hear?” Bryn asked.

Corrie nodded. “Are you okay?” She handed Bryn a plate.

“Actually,” Bryn said, “I’m relieved.”

“Good. It’s so nice tonight, I thought we’d eat out here.”

“Sounds good,” Bryn said. “We might as well enjoy the weather now; it’s supposed to storm tomorrow.”

 

Corrie called up the stairs the next morning before she left for work. “Hey, keep an eye on the weather today. It looks like we might get some bad storms.”

“Okay,” Bryn called back. She rolled over, pulled the covers over her head, and went back to sleep.

Three hours later, Corrie sat in her office, rubbing her temples and wishing her headache would go away. She always got headaches when the barometric pressure dropped.

What would it be like in Los Angeles? It was dry there.

“Corrie!” Kenetha opened the door to the office. “The sirens are going off.”

“Damn!” Corrie began shutting down her computer.

“Honey, I think we’d better go now!” Kenetha grabbed Corrie’s arm and pulled her toward the hallway. “Look at that sky!”

Corrie stood frozen for an instant, staring at the greenish-yellow sky, dark masses of swirling clouds hanging low over the ground. Then she ran after Kenetha toward the stairs.