Night Road(18)

Jude didn’t answer. What was the point? Instead, she stood up. “How about we have lunch now?”

Her mother rose. “That would be nice.”

They spent the rest of the appointed time—exactly two hours, from twelve to two, talking about things that didn’t matter. When it was over, Mother kissed Jude perfunctorily on the cheek and went to the entry, where she paused. “Good-bye, Judith. Today was lovely. Thank you.”

“Good-bye, Mother.”

Jude stared through the open door at her mother’s slim figure, walking fast through the garden, not bothering to look at any of it. As hard as she tried to feel nothing, Jude experienced the free-form depression that always accompanied these lunches. Why was it that she couldn’t quite stop wanting her mother’s love? The Mercedes came to life with a throaty purr and drove slowly up the driveway.

On the entry table, a cordless phone lay next to a glass bowl filled with floating roses. Jude picked it up and punched in her best friend’s number.

“Hello?”

“Molly. Thank God,” Jude said, leaning against the wall. Suddenly, she was exhausted. “The wicked witch was just here.”

“Your mother? Is it Wednesday?”

“Who else?”

“You want a drink?”

“I thought you’d never ask.”

“Twenty minutes. Dockside?”

“See you there.”

*

On Friday, after school, they went shopping for dresses. Jude was ridiculously pleased about the whole thing. She knew it was just a dance, nothing earth-shattering, but it was Mia’s first real date, and Jude was eager to make the whole experience perfect for her daughter. To that end, she’d set up manicures and pedicures for both of them—and Lexi, of course—and an evening of shopping at the mall.

She heard her bedroom door open and she turned. Miles stood in the doorway. He leaned against the doorjamb, wearing a pair of well-worn Levi’s and an Aerosmith T-shirt. In the pale autumn light, he looked ruggedly handsome. A gray stubble had grown out during the day, giving his face a sculpted look. “I come home from work early and you’re leaving?”

Smiling, she went to him, let him take her in his arms. “Why is it, Dr. Farraday, that you don’t shave and your hair starts going gray and you manage to look more handsome, but if I forget makeup for one day, people mistake me for Grandma Moses?”

“They only call you that behind your back.”

“Very funny.”

He touched her jawline, a featherlight caress. “You’re beautiful, Jude, and you know it. It’s why things go your way.”

It was true for both of them. Miles had been golden from childhood. Good-looking and brilliant, with a ready smile, he seduced people without even trying. His nickname at the hospital was Doc Hollywood.

“Take Zach out for dinner. I’ll be home as soon as I can. Maybe we can sit on the beach tonight and have a glass of wine. We haven’t done that in a while.”

Miles drew her in for a kiss that meant something. Then he swatted her butt. “You better go before I remember how much I like afternoon sex.”

“As opposed to morning sex and evening sex, which you hate?” She twirled playfully out of his grasp and headed upstairs.

At Zach’s bedroom door, she knocked, waited for a “come in,” and opened the door. He sat in that expensive new game chair of his, playing something on his Xbox. She touched his head, scratched his hair. His hair was still damp from football practice. He lifted up into her touch, straining like a flower toward the sun.

“We’re going to the mall to buy Mia a dress for the dance. You want to come?”

He laughed. “I’m not even going to the dance, remember? Amanda will be in L.A. with her family.”

Jude sat down on the bed. “I hate that you’re not going. It’s senior year. And Mia tells me you’re a shoo-in for homecoming king.”

Zach rolled his eyes. “Big deal.”

“You should take a friend to the dance. Someday you’ll look back—”

“If I care about that crap in the future, shoot me. Really.”

Jude couldn’t help smiling. “Okay, fine. But at least come shopping with us. It would mean a lot to Mia.”

“I thought Lexi was going.”

“She is. What does that have to do with it?”

“Mia has a friend with her. And I am not sitting outside a dressing room while my sister tries on dresses. No way.”

“Okay, but I’m not giving up on the dance.”

“There’s a shock,” he said with a grin. “You’re not giving up on something. And do not buy me jeans again. I mean it, Mom. You don’t get what I like.”

“Fine. Fine.” Jude scratched his head one last time and turned away from him.

She left Zach’s room and met Mia in the hallway. Together, they went out to the garage. In fifteen minutes, they had picked up Lexi and were on their way to the mall.

At the first store, Mia wandered among the racks, looking a little confused and overwhelmed, and then suddenly she pulled out a dress. “Look at this one,” she said, holding up a floor-length salmon-pink dress with lacy sleeves and a tiered skirt. “What do you think?” she asked Lexi.

Lexi smiled, but it was a little distracted. “It’s great. Try it on.”