“We need to talk,” he said.
“But... Mrs. Calvert.” I looked past him to the open kitchen doorway and the rest of the house.
“She’s in the barrel room.”
“But what if she doesn’t stay there? What if she comes back?”
“That’s not our biggest problem at the moment.” His voice was agitated, strident. Dark red.
“I think she knows,” I said softly, embarrassed to say those words.
“Of course she knows!” Truman snapped.
I flinched. Truman had never used that tone of voice with me before, or with anyone else, that I could remember. Even when he and Celine argued, he’d always kept his composure.
“I’m sorry,” he added quickly. “God, you can’t imagine how sorry I am.” He exhaled heavily. “Look, if we’re going to get through this, we’re going to have to play by her rules. And that means I need for you to do something. I’ll make sure you’re compensated for it. I’ll make sure you have what you need to make a fresh start for yourself. I promise you. But I need something from you.”
“What do you mean, compensated?”
“I mean I will give you money. You’re going to need it. You know you will. But I can only give it to you if I’m free and able to give it. You understand? I need for you to do something in return. If Celine kicks me out or the county finds out about this, who knows what will happen to me or my family. You can be sure there will be no money for you then. I very much want to make sure you’re taken care of, Rosie, and this is the only way I know how to do it. I feel bad about all of this.”
All of this?This?
“What do you want me to do?” I asked, but I already knew.
“You can’t tell anyone it was me. I’m not exactly asking you to lie. I’m just asking you not to tell anyone it was me. It’s nobody’s business anyway. This is the only way I’ll be able to help you make a fresh start somewhere other than here. After the... after you’re on your own again, you’re going to need money.”
“Where am I going? Where is Mrs. Grissom taking me?” I said, unable to answer his request.
“I don’t know. You’re not the first seventeen-year-old to fall pregnant and be unmarried. Celine said the county has access to places that can accommodate you and...” He glanced down at my stomach. “And the baby.” He winced slightly as the last two words left his mouth.
It had been on the tip of my tongue to tell him then that I was keeping the child, but I bit the words back. I didn’t want to sharethis child with anyone, especially him. And if Celine were to find out I was keeping Truman’s child, what would she do? Nothing good.
There was no reason to tell Truman what I was planning to do.
“Please,” Truman said hoarsely. “Please let me help us both. Please say you’ll do it.”
“How will you get the money to me?”
“I have a safety-deposit box at First National Bank in San Jose. I’ll give you the key. I’ve been putting away money for years, money that I thought Celine wouldn’t notice was gone so that I could have some resources of my own. I think she knows I have it after all. I think she wants me to offer that money to you in return for not telling anyone it was me. She wants from you what I absolutely need from you. Your silence. You’ll be paid well for it.”
“How do you know this? How do you know she wants you to do this?” I said, incredulous.
“Because the key for that money was on my dresser just now! I keep it hidden in my cuff-link box in my closet. It was lying right there where I would see it. Who else would have done that? No one.”
Truman reached into his pocket and held out a slender silver key. I looked down at it. Such a little thing, and what a promise it was making. I would in fact need the money, and he should be the one to provide it. But I wanted nothing else from Truman Calvert. Ever. He was a sad, pathetic man. If I hadn’t been disappointed about Wilson and hadn’t drunk the wine, and if the music hadn’t cast a spell on me, I might’ve run from the room when he’d tried to kiss me. Told Celine the next day I wanted Mrs. Grissom to come for me.
“Is it enough?” I asked.
“It’s four thousand dollars.”
I felt my mouth drop open at such an enormous sum.
“It’s all I have,” he continued. “I don’t know if I can give you more at a later time. I doubt Celine will trust me after this. Please, Rosie. I made a terrible mistake and I’m very sorry. You’re going to need the money. I can give you what you need if you give me what I need. When you go to the bank, tell them I’ve left a note with my signature in the box instructing you be given its contents. It will match the signature they have for me on file. I’ll get down there and take care of that as soon as I can. It might take me a month or two. Once you have the money, you will never have to come this way again. You can be done here. Please?” He looked past me, to the kitchen window overlooking the driveway, and then swung his gaze back. “Celine’s coming.” He picked up my hand and put the key in it. “Please?”
I closed my hand around the key and slipped it into my pocket.
“It’s what’s best for everyone,” he said, relief thick in his voice. “Now, go on back to your room. I’ll take care of this.”
