When Darkness Falls(42)

She drove right past Lydia’s house. It was small and set back from the road. She had to turn around on the next side street, which was miles farther along. When she finally pulled into the driveway, she sat for a moment, hands clutched together in her lap, blood pounding in her head.

Lydia must have heard the car, for she came to the door. She was barefoot and wore a short, black dress that showed her long legs. “Not unattractive” had been a gross understatement by Devon. Lydia was striking, with pale skin, black hair, and red lips.

She waved Haley over.

The house looked ordinary. Haley wasn’t sure what she’d expected, probably something exotic. Malibu lights colored the exterior stucco soft rose and green. Inside, Lydia had wicker furniture in the living room, a few hanging plants, bookshelves crammed with books and old DVDs. Her kitchen was an eat-in, with a butcher-block table that matched the natural wood countertops, a narrow dishwasher, a stainless steel refrigerator and matching range. The ceiling fan ran on the slow speed, blades revolving lazily, but its lights were off. A dim light over the sink cast a faint glow around the kitchen. It was actually a calming sort of place. As Haley sat, she became aware of her shoulders aching and the heaviness in her eyes.

Lydia offered breakfast, but Haley refused, except for a glass of orange juice. She sat at one end of the table.

The juice tasted sweet and cold and Haley found it a little easier to keep her eyes open. “Where’s Devon?”

“Out for a walk.”

“What time did he get here?”

“A few hours ago.”

“What did you talk about?”

Lydia sat in the side chair closest to Haley, arms crossed over her chest. “That’s really none of your business, is it? Unless Devon wants to fill you in.”

“Why did you tell him to come here?”

Lydia’s perfectly shaped eyebrows arched. “You think I told him to come here?”

“You must have.”

“I let him know he was welcome. I think it’s wonderful he decided to take me up on it.”

“I doubt he would have decided all on his own.”

Lydia settled back in her chair and smiled. “Either Devon’s changed a lot in a few months or you don’t know him very well. No one tells him what to do.”

Haley set down her glass. “There’s a difference between telling him what to do and manipulating him. He thinks you know something about what’s wrong with him.”

“I do.”

“Then what is it?”

Lydia drew a cigarette out of her pack of Virginia Slims and lit it. “Darling, that’s between him and me.”

“He’s my husband.”

“He was my lover before he was your husband. And after.”

“I – what?” Haley felt the air being sucked out of her lungs and fought the urge to gasp.

“You believed him when he told you nothing happened when I was there?”

Don’t trust her.

“Yes.”

“You might be surprised,” Lydia said.

Haley pushed her glass aside and leaned forward. “Whatever happened or didn’t, when this is over, when Devon gets the help he needs, he won’t thank you. All you’re doing is confusing him and delaying him getting real help.”

“I’ll take care of my relationship with Devon,” Lydia said, “and you worry about yours. Maybe you ought to think about why he’d rather be here than home with you.”

“I know why. He’s afraid he’s going to hurt me.”

Lydia’s eyes widened. “He said that? Before he flew out here?”

“Don’t pretend surprise. He must have gotten the idea from you.”

Lydia shook her head. “Not at all.”

Haley clenched her fists under the table. Lydia’s calm made her feel all the more angry and frustrated. “He won’t stay with you.” As soon as she spoke the words, Haley wished she could take them back. They sounded weak. Child-like.

“He’ll do exactly what he wants,” Lydia said.

Silence fell. Lydia studied Haley openly, and Haley stared back, unwilling to blink first. Lydia’s eyes were dark, nearly black. The room began to blur. Haley gripped the table to keep herself steady. Her nerves had kept her on edge until now, but her exhaustion must be catching up with her. She felt oddly peaceful. There was nothing to worry about, really. Devon would be here soon. He found it so difficult to be outside, unless it was dark.

And Lydia’s eyes were dark. The world began to gray, and the darkness swam around Haley. Too late, it occurred to her that Devon might not return to Lydia’s house, he might find shelter somewhere else. But her mind drifted toward blackness, and she couldn’t pull herself out.

? ? ?

Devon returned before sunrise. Wandering along the shoulder of the winding road hadn’t helped him sort anything out, but his head felt clearer and his lungs cleaner, despite the polluted air. He’d been surprised the uphill climb hadn’t left him winded. He must be in better shape than he’d realized.

A red Neon, probably Eric’s, sat in the driveway. Lydia had a dark blue Camry. Inside the house, Devon glanced into the kitchen first. No Lydia. The door to the spare bedroom was closed. Odd that Eric would sleep there rather than with Lydia.