hoped that Elliott would side with me in my decision to try to find Mack, but he disappointed me. âCarolyn,â he said, slowly, as he read and reread the note, âI donât think youâre being fair to Mack. He calls every year so that youâll know heâs all right. Youâve told me yourself that he sounds confident, even happy. He respondsimmediately to your promiseâor threatâto find him. In the most direct means at his disposal, he orders you to leave him alone. Why donât you go along with his wishes, and, more important, why donât you refuse to allow Mack to remain the center of your existence?â
It was not the kind of question Iâd expected from Elliott, and I could see the effort it took for him to make it. His eyes were troubled, his forehead creased, as he turned his gaze from me to my mother, whose own expression had become unreadable. I was glad we were at a corner table where no one else could observe her. I was afraid she would flare up at Elliott as she had at me after Mackâs call on Motherâs Day, or even worse, break into a storm of weeping.
When she didnât answer him, Elliott urged, âOlivia, give Mack the space he wants. Be satisfied that heâs alive, even take comfort in the fact that heâs obviously close by. I can tell you right now that if Charley were here, thatâs exactly what he would be telling you.â
My mother always surprises me. She picked up a fork and in an absentminded way, traced something on the cloth with the prongs. I would bet anything it was Mackâs name.
As soon as she began to speak, I realized I had been completely wrong in evaluating her response to Mackâs note.
âSince Dev showed us that message from Mack last night, Iâve been thinking somewhat in the same vein, Elliott,â she said. The pain in her voice was evident but there was no hint of tears there. âI lashed out at Carolynbecause she became angry at Mack. That wasnât fair to her. I know that Carolyn worries about me all the time. Now Mack has given us an answer, not the answer I wanted, but thatâs the way it is.â
Her Mom tried to smile. âI am going to try to consider him an AWOL sonâabsent without leave. He may live in this area. As you say, he did respond quickly, and if he doesnât want to see us, Carolyn and I are going to respect his wishes.â She paused, then added firmly, âSo there.â
âOlivia, I hope you stick to that decision,â Elliott said fervently.
âIâm surely going to try. As a first step, my friends the Clarences are leaving for a cruise on their yacht, starting at the Greek islands this Friday. Theyâve been trying to persuade me to join them. Iâm going to do it.â She put her fork down in a gesture of finality.
I sat back and pondered this unexpected turn of events. I had planned to talk to Elliott about my appointment with the superintendents of Mackâs building on Wednesday. Now, of course, I wouldnât. Ironically, Mom had finally come to accept Mackâs situation, as I had begged her to for years, and now I didnât welcome it. As every hour passed, I was more and more convinced that Mack was in serious trouble and facing it alone. I was about to raise that possibility but then clamped my lips together. With Mom away, I could search for Mack without having to cover up what I was doing, or worse yet, lying to her about it.
âHow long is the cruise, Mom?â I asked.
âAt least three weeks.â
âI think itâs a great idea,â I said honestly.
âSo do I,â Elliott agreed. âNow, what about you, Carolyn? Still interested in becoming an Assistant District Attorney?â
âAbsolutely,â I said. âBut Iâll wait a month or so to apply. If Iâm lucky enough to be hired, I wonât have any time off for quite a while.â
The evening progressed
Rebecca Hamilton, Conner Kressley