A Different Kind of Forever(83)

Diane swallowed hard. “In the kitchen.”

Kevin took in a bushel of air and went into the kitchen. Sue came out a moment later, with a tray of coffee cups. She set them down and pushed a mug into Diane’s hands.

Diane shook her head. “I can’t drink caffeine this late,” she said automatically.

Sue looked disgusted. “Oh, right. Like you’re really going to sleep tonight. Drink up. You’re white as a ghost and your hands are freezing.” Sue took a sip of her own mug. “Megan seems okay, Diane, honest. She’s a level-headed kid.”

Diane sipped the coffee. Kevin and Megan came out and together went upstairs. Sue and Diane exchanged looks, and they sat together, drinking coffee until Kevin came back downstairs. He sat down heavily and picked up a coffee mug, spooned in sugar, and drank.

“Megan is helping her pack.” Kevin said. “At least she’s stopped crying.”

They sat and waited. Finally, Emily came slowly downstairs, dragging a duffel bag behind her. She stood at the front door, looking at the floor, not speaking. Kevin stood up, nodded to Diane, and walked Emily out of the house.

Sue stood up. “More coffee?” Diane nodded, and Sue went and brought back the pot. They drank another mug. Diane kept taking long, deep breaths. Sue hadn’t said anything. Megan came back downstairs, face red and blotchy, and sat down next to her mother.

“Why was she so angry?” she asked Diane.

“How much did you hear, Meg?”

Megan looked shamefaced. “All of it. We followed you upstairs. I knew she was mad about something. I didn’t know why, though.”

Diane lifted her shoulders and let them drop heavily. “I don’t know why either, honey. Maybe she thought I should have told you both about Michael long before this. I would have. When Michael came back, and when we started seeing each other again, I would have told you both.”

“I like Michael,” Megan said.

“Yeah. Me too. He’s a nice person.”

“Where did he go?”

“London,” Diane explained. “He’s writing music for a movie over there. He’ll be back in a couple of weeks.”

“Is he really your boyfriend?” Megan was looking interested now. Sue began to smile.

Diane chewed her lip. “Yes, honey, he’s my, ah, boyfriend.”

“Oh.” Megan nodded to herself. “Does this mean we’ll get to go to all the concerts?”

Sue ducked her head, hiding her grin. Diane smiled and nodded.

“Yes, honey, I guess if we want to.”

“That’s cool.” Megan stood up and kissed her mother’s cheek. “I’ll see you in the morning.” She ran upstairs.

Sue gave Diane a quick smile. “Want me to stay?”

Diane shook her head tiredly. “No, but thank you for being here. Really.”

“No problem. Call me tomorrow.” Sue went to the front door. “I mean it.”

Diane waved her out, then fell back against the chair cushions, pressing her hands against her eyes. She sat, exhausted, until Jasper jumped onto her lap. She took her hands away, and pushed the cat off her lap. She walked into her kitchen. It was spotlessly clean, a single pan of brownies on the counter. Diane cut a square out of the corner of the pan, ate it, then ate three more pieces. Feeling slightly sick, she went into the den. The light on her answering machine was blinking. She played the message. It was Rachel, saying she had talked to Emily about Michael and Diane should call A.S.A.P. Diane looked at her watch. It was almost eleven. She’d call her tomorrow. Then she looked at her computer. A message from Michael - just a quick line. He had her tickets to London. She could confirm the reservation. She sat down and answered. She wouldn’t be able to make London after all. There were too many problems with her play. She’d have to wait for him to come home. She hit the send button and started to cry again.



Emily did not apologize. She did not come home. She texted Megan all day long, but Emily would not speak to her mother. Kevin, having heard the story from both Diane and Emily, threw up his hands. He would not interfere. He felt she owed Diane an apology, but if she refused, he could not force her. She could stay with him as long as she liked.

For the next few weeks, Diane lived under a cloud. Michael was still in London. She had tried to call him again, but the number he had given her had been disconnected. His cell phone, she knew, had vanished his second week in London. She was desperate to speak with him, but did not want to call one of his sisters to ask how to reach him. Angela continued to be cool and aloof. Diane knew why. She was spending too much time with Quinn.