Page 91 of In Her Eyes

Bill slaps the table. “Don’t worry, honey, the cops will survive a day without him.”

Jake looks at his father. “Her name is Ava. Not honey.”

His father almost recoils when his gaze meets Jake’s. Does he really believe there’s something evil about his eyes? His father gets up, and without another word, walks toward the restrooms.

The mood instantly lightens. Jake takes his mom’s hands in both of his. “How are you, Mom?”

Her eyes mist, and she presses her lips together. “I’m well. Really. He’s not so bad. More bark than bite.”

“Come live with me, Mom. You have options. I can take care of you.”

She glances at me and back at Jake. “You know I can’t do that. He’d be all alone.”

“He doesn’t deserve you.”

“I have to stay. It’s okay.”

I cast down my gaze to give them a semblance of privacy.

“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. I wish you understood that.”

“I do. I do. But there’s more to our relationship than you know. All you see is how angry he is, but he’s not always like that.”

“Mom—”

His father is back. “Look how cozy you all are. What did I miss?” He drags his chair back, wood scraping on tile, the screech like claws ripping through my eardrums.

His mother pulls her hands away and fists them in her lap. She toys with a ring on her right hand, turning it over and over, nearly removing it, and then twirling it back in place. She does this again and again.

No one answers him. Caroline lifts her gaze to her husband. “Oh, you didn’t miss anything, dear. Jake was just telling me I should stop by and visit him sometime.”

“I bet he did.” Bill spits the words with such violence that Caroline flinches. And the loose ring on her hand rolls down her lap and onto the floor. She blanches but has no other reaction.

I nudge my fork to the floor. “Oops. Klutzy me.” I kneel on the floor, lift the tablecloth, and find the ring. The moment my fingers touch it, the visions start.

Caroline as a young woman. She’s beautiful, happy, and deeply in love. A young man gives her a promise ring. Her mother disapproves. Wants Caroline to marry Bill. Her family sets her up on dates with Bill. She continues to meet the other boy in secret. They plan to run away. Bill feels jealous. He proposes to Caroline. She wants to refuse, but her beloved disappeared. She’s pregnant. She accepts the marriage proposal and quickly marries Bill.

She has a baby. Jake. A baby with two different-colored eyes, just like the boy who disappeared.

The vision releases me, and I wobble a little. Blink away the tears threatening to fill my eyes.

Bill knows and resents that Jake is not his son. And Caroline's guilt won't let her leave her husband. Little by little, Jake’s story unfolds in my mind. The few things he’s told me fill the gaps left by the vision. Jake doesn’t know the truth about the circumstances of his birth. But he should. It explains so much. He needs to know, but it’s not my place to tell him.

I pick up the fork and set it on the table. “Found it.”

Caroline glances at me. I smile at her, and when Bill is distracted, I give her the ring under the table. Her hand grasps mine for a second and then lets go. The ring goes back onto her finger, she fists her hands in her lap, and then stretches them. Glancing at me, Caroline gives me a slight nod. Then she stands up. “I need to visit the ladies’.”

I stand up as well. “Me, too. I need to wash my hands after touching the floor.”

I follow her into the restroom—thankfully empty, but for the two of us—she walks to the sinks and braces herself on the counter, head down, a slight tremor to her shoulders. I don’t know this woman, but I feel a connection to her. Without asking permission, I put an arm around her shoulders and pull her into a hug. She sobs and hugs me back. After a minute, she steps away, puts space between us, and wipes under her eyes. “I’m so sorry. I’m usually not this emotional.”

“That’s okay. Everyone is allowed an emotional day here and there.”

She chuckles. “Thank you. Thank you for finding the ring. It’s important to me.”

“I know.”

She frowns. “You know?”

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