Since She Went Away(86)

Jared thought about turning around. The more he walked, the farther he knew he had to walk back to his house as the night grew colder. He thought about calling his mom for a ride, but then he remembered: She was already at Ursula’s house. Maybe she’d even started back home.

At least that seemed to be her plan.

He started checking the cars that passed. If he saw his mom driving by, heading for home, he’d wave his arms, flag her down, and get out of the cold. But it was dark, and the headlight beams glowed bright, almost blinding him.

And then he saw a figure up ahead.

He thought he recognized the size of the body, the gentle rolling bounce of her hips.

Was it Ursula? The girl was two blocks ahead of him, walking slowly in and out of the glow of the streetlights. He quickened his pace and saw he’d catch up to her easily. He tried to land gently, to make sure his footfalls didn’t startle her in the dark. As he came closer, though, she slowed down, and he saw it was Ursula. She came to a stop next to a bench and slumped down. For a moment she stared straight ahead, her eyes fixed on the pavement, and then her body shook as she started to cry, her hands rising to her face to brush the tears away.

Jared felt like an intruder.

She was sobbing, her body shaking. Jared thought about walking away, turning around and leaving her to her private moment. But he stood still under a streetlight, and Ursula looked over and saw him, her face coated with tears.

He couldn’t leave then. Not unless he wanted to act like a completely heartless bastard.

So he moved forward. He expected Ursula to stand up and leave or tell him to get lost, but she didn’t. He came alongside her and said the idiotic thing everybody says to someone who is horribly upset.

“Are you okay?”

She didn’t answer with sarcasm. She shook her head as her breathing started to return to normal. Jared’s hands were jammed in the pockets of his coat. He brought one out and gently, cautiously, placed it on Ursula’s shoulder. He felt like a man testing a stove to see how hot it was.

“Is there something I can do?” he asked.

Ursula wiped at her face with both hands.

“I’m leaving,” she said. “I’m sick of all these f*cking people. And this f*cking town.”

“Do you want me to at least walk you the rest of the way home?”

“I don’t care.”

“Did something happen at the party?” he asked.

She looked up. “You were at Kirk’s house?” Even through her tears, she managed to convey the appropriate amount of shock and dismay at the fact that Jared attended a party given by one of her friends.

“I was. Just for a minute. I saw Bobby.”

Something flashed in her eyes at the mention of Bobby’s name. But she said, “I had to get out of there.”

“It seemed kind of lame.”

“Not because of the party,” she said. “Other stuff.”

“Sure. I understand.”

“No, you don’t.” She paused, sniffling. “Or maybe you do.”

“I’m not sure what I know,” he said.

Ursula stood up. She straightened her coat and wiped at her face one more time. Her breathing seemed to have calmed, and she wasn’t crying anymore. She didn’t say anything to Jared but just started walking, so he followed along. If she wanted him gone, she could tell him so.

But she didn’t.

They walked side by side on the sidewalk, their arms occasionally brushing. Jared didn’t know what to say, but it didn’t seem right to not say anything. “I didn’t go on TV tonight.”

“So?”

“Reena revealed something really personal about me. And my mom.”

“I don’t care anymore, Jared. I really don’t.”

She seemed like the Ursula of the last few years, the one who acted as if someone had just slammed one of her fingers in a car door. Her behavior emboldened Jared to push.

“For some reason, Reena knew the stuff I’d told you. The stuff about me making my mom late the night your mom disappeared. You must have told her, Ursula. Why did you do that to us after you wanted me to go on the show?”

Ursula stopped. Fifty feet away was the street she lived on. A right turn and she’d be home. She looked back at Jared.

“You don’t understand any of this,” she said.

“I know. That’s why I’m asking.”

“Get lost,” she said.

“I’m going with you. I’m pretty sure my mom is over there asking your dad these very same questions. And it’s too cold to walk home.”

“Your mom is at our house? Talking to Dad?”

“Yes.”

“Fuck this,” she said. And kept on walking.





CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO


Jenna reached her car and pulled the door open. She climbed in, tossing her purse into the backseat. When she started the engine, the lights came on, adding illumination to the Walterses’ front yard. Ian dashed from the house, coatless, and came across the lawn before she could pull away.

He gestured for her to roll down the window.

Jenna thought about backing away, dropping the car into gear and leaving Ian standing there in his own driveway watching her go. She tried to process what he’d just told her—what she’d guessed at and been correct: that Ian used Henry Allen’s employees to follow Celia.