Page 6 of Long Gone

“I suppose a family as small as ours can only handle one dramatic one,” I said, catching myself before I said drama queen. “But if you’re referring to my career in law enforcement, then no, I don’t see myself being employed by any agency any time soon.”

“So you’re doing this on your own,” she said in a disapproving tone. “Like you did with Ava Peterman.”

I still struggled with her hot and cold attitude over my search for Ava. She was the one who’d told me that she was missing. Sure, she’d pretended it was a more general warning to be careful, but she had to know me enough to realize I’d look into it. But during my investigation, she’d expressed her hostile disapproval, then barely acknowledged that I’d played a hand in Ava’s safe return home.

“I’m not doing this on my own. It’s part of my job.”

“With Morgan, Hightower, and Adams?” she asked in disbelief.

“Yes, Mom. Mitch asked me to do it.”

Her voice turned icy. “And your father approved of this?”

“Mitch is one of my bosses. I didn’t run it by my daddy,” I said in a snide tone.

“Harper Leigh! You will not take that tone with me.”

I drew in a deep breath and held it for two seconds before blowing it out. I’d hoped to ease my irritation with a couple of sips from the bottle, but it hadn’t helped. I unscrewed the cap and took another sip. “I didn’t call to argue with you,” I said as I screwed the lid back on. “I called to tell you I can’t take you to the historical society luncheon.”

“So what do you expect me to do?” she demanded. “I told them my daughter was coming last time, and now you’re not showing up again. It’s embarrassing.”

“Maybe you should tell them I have a job,” I said flippantly.

She didn’t respond for several seconds before she said, “I was hoping things could be different between us.”

I let the words hang out there for a moment before I said, “You mean exactly the way you want them.”

“I don’t ask for much.”

“I beg to differ.” When my father had first left, she’d expected me to come over for dinner every night, then sit with her and watch TV, often some unrealistic police drama, until she went to bed at ten.

I’d agreed at first because, pathetic fool that I was, I’d craved her attention. Sure, the routine had bored me stiff, but a couple glasses of wine had helped move things along. But after a couple of weeks of thinly-veiled and not-so-thinly-veiled insults about everything from my weight to my clothes, my makeup and hair, my career choices, my overall attitude, and basically everything about me, I’d suggested my presence might not be necessary every night. Of course, then she’d started to cry and tell me how much she needed me.

I’d tried to be understanding because she began to cook my favorite foods and desserts and pulled back the edge in her voice, but the improvement had only lasted a few days. It was like she wanted to be more lovable, but she just couldn’t keep from sliding back into her judgmental and snippy self.

How had my father lived with her all these years?

“Don’t be tedious, Harper,” she said, her voice stiff and formal. “Dinner will be at seven. Be on time.” Dinner was always at seven, but I knew why she was “reminding” me.

“I have dinner plans with my friends tonight. I told you that.”

“I’m making chicken parmesan.”

One of my favorites, but she’d made it last week, so I suspected she had a roast thawed in her fridge. Knowing her, she’d pulled out the chicken parmesan suggestion to entice me to join her. “You can still make it. You can freeze it and save the leftovers.” I knew better than to suggest she give them to me.

“So when will you be home?” she asked, her voice smaller.

“I don’t know, Mom. I haven’t had a curfew since I left for college.”

“You don’t have one now.”

Maybe not technically, but she wanted to know where I was, what I was doing, and when I’d be home. I didn’t live an exciting life. It consisted of work, home, and an occasional night out with my friends Louise and Nate. I didn’t need to have that hammered home by constantly talking about it.

“I don’t know when I’ll be home. Don’t wait up.” Then I hung up before she could start arguing.

I really needed to find a new place to live. Sure, I was living in the garage apartment rent free, but it wasn’t without cost.

I plugged Clarice’s address into the map on my phone and started heading to Wolford when my phone rang. Louise’s name popped up on the screen.

---