It was pitch black when I got to my house. My mom was worried sick, like always. “You could've been killed!” she exclaimed, glaring at me. I shrugged my shoulders and looked back towards the Mason house.
“They're back.” I said, returning my gaze to her.
“Who?” she questioned with a puzzled look.
“Joanna and Wesley.”
“Are they crazy?”
“Apparently.”
She shook her head and pushed me towards the table. “Eat.” she demanded.
I looked down at the plate. Roast beef, mashed potatoes and beans. Great. The fireplace in the living room crackled and popped and I heard my dad groan.
“He's not feeling any better?” I asked, shoveling a forkful of food into my mouth.
“No, the surgery's turning towards the worst.” she informed me, sitting down, looking at the door that led to the living room.
I frowned and continued eating in silence, my mind racing. I didn't understand why they wanted to return. What was here for them? I was glad they were back, now I'll be able to reconnect with the two people I cared for outside of my family, but didn't they know that this whole thing was an act? Mr. and Mrs. Mason hadn't changed at all in the past seven years. Maybe they'd stopped drinking and arguing, but that was because their kids were gone.
“Why are they back?” I finally asked my mom.
She looked at me, with a confused expression and then realized what I was asking and sighed. “They want their parents to love them. I know Joe as well as you do, and you and I both know she's only here because Wesley wanted to come. She's a bright girl, and she's trying her damnedest to make it work for Wesley. But, if I didn't know better, I would say she was contemplating revenge. And, revenge on her end might mean death on theirs.”
I nodded, slightly surprised at her analysis of the situation.
“You don't think she'd really kill them, do you?” I said, staring off into space. I didn't think she would, but she had an alibi if she did.
“They almost killed Wesley. He was half dead when they showed up that night.” she said quietly, tears forming in her eyes. “For them to return? They have got to be insane. Those people don't care about them. They'd rather have them dead. I remember when Jackie came to me and asked me if I thought she should have an abortion because Mike beat her.” she added.
And then the tears flowed.
They flowed down her cheeks and onto the scarf she was knitting for my dad. She loved those two children more than she loved anyone, except me of course, and she wouldn't do a thing to hurt them. To think that the Masons wanted to kill their children, it almost killed her herself.
I stood up from the table, and hugged her. I couldn't think of what else to do. All I knew I could do was attempt to comfort her. But until they were out of their parents' house, comfort was far from my mother's mind. She would start worrying every night and lose all her sleep. I knew she would. And I knew there was no stopping it.
Ever.
I finally stood up straight after holding her, and looked her in the eyes. “I promised Joanna I wouldn't let anything happen to her. And I'm not going to.” I then kissed her forehead and retired to bed.
