On the way home, I walked ahead of him on the trail.
“You just tried to kill me!” he shouted after me.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I lifted my shoulders in a shrug.
When we got back to the house, he told my aunt Elsa what had happened. I know because I was eavesdropping from the next room.
Next thing I know, Mom’s calling, telling me she’s on her way to come and get me.
I was furious. Not only did I not want to have my summer cut short, I’d actually been planning on begging her and Dad to let me stay, to finish out high school there.
“Not after the stunt you just pulled! Have you lost your mind?” Mom shrieked across the line.
I could picture her clasping the wall phone in the kitchen, frantic.
“I’m telling you, he’s lying,” I hissed over the phone. “He’s been sneaking into my room at night and…” My voice shook with fake tears.
“Andwhat?”
“He’s tried to touch me.”
Mom sucked in a quick breath. It was almost like a sound of relief, like she wanted to believe me, was happy that there might be some alternate spin on this whole disaster. Someone else at fault.
“And, well, I threatened to tell on him. So now he’s made up this giant story about me, to cover his own ass.”
“Nellie, if you’re lying to me, I swear to God—”
“Mother!” I squealed, loud as I could. “I’m not! I’m totally mortified! This is so embarrassing!”
Aunt Elsa sent me home anyway.
I don’t think any of the Swedes bought my little story, but it kept me out of trouble with Mom and Dad at least.
And I plan to go back there. Maybe even instead of college. Surely they’ve all forgiven me by now?
The door handle rattles, snapping me out of my thoughts. That’s followed by a fist rapping against the door.
“Nellie, what are you doing in there?”
Sigh. Mom.
Why can’t she just grow a pair and ask me if I’m smoking?
I stub out my cigarette, empty the ashtray into the toilet, douse the air with perfume.
Yank open the door.
Mom jumps back.
“What? What’s the big emergency?” I snap.
Mom shrinks a little, combs her French-manicured fingernails through her feathered bangs. “Just wanted to see how your night went.”
I exhale loudly, lean against the doorframe. “Shitty. Okay?”
“Is this about Jane?”
“Yeah. So?”
