Island of Lost Girls - Jennifer McMahon [82]
Ernie?
Hey, Suz, Rhonda said, jumping out of her car. Whatre ya up to? Rhonda studied the dark-haired girl: freckles, brown eyes. She looked an awful lot like the girl in theMISSING poster; the girl Warren said had fallen out of Laura Lees car.
Nothing, Suzy said.
Rhonda nodded. Your dad inside?
Yep, she said.
Rhonda went up the steps and knocked. Tock answered. Rhonda instinctively took a step back, remembering the other womans rage when theyd last met.
Rhonda, she said, stone-faced. We were starting to think you werent coming. Rhonda couldnt tell from Tocks expression if she was grateful or disappointed.
I got held up, Rhonda said. She heard voices in the living room. Peter and a woman.
The girl playing in the yard with Suzy, Rhonda said, who is she?
Come in, Tock invited, placing a hand gently on Rhondas back. Rhonda flinched. No, not a knife. Just a hand. Tock was guiding her toward the living room, pushing her almost. Rhonda half-expected the room to be full of people who would jump out and yellSurprise! People who would tell her that the past weeks had all just been a trick, a game. Warren would be there in the rabbit suit and say something like,See, Rhonda, things are never what they seem. Even Crowley would be there, peeking out from behind the drapes to give her a we-sure-fooled-you-didnt-we? wink.
Rhonda looked in and felt all the air drain from her, like an abruptly punctured balloon. There was no party. Just Peter talking with a woman she recognized at once.
Ronnie, the woman said. My God, Ronnie.
Lizzy? Rhonda managed to whisper. The name came out like a question, but there was no doubt. Rhonda stood and walked over to her.
Lizzy wore her hair long still, but had it back in a braid. She had dark eyeliner on and was dressed in faded jeans, black cowboy boots, a white T-shirt.
Rhonda took Lizzy in her arms and clung to her. I dont understand, she whispered.
I have so much to tell you, Ronnie, Lizzy said.
Youre talking, Rhonda pulled back and studied the face of her long lost friend.
Not just talking, Peter said. Shes a singer. Tell her, Lizzy.
Lizzy nodded. I have a band in Seattle. Amazing Grace and the Disciples. Weve put out a couple albums.
Seattle?
Thats where I finally landed.
There was so much to say, so much to ask. Little by little, they sketched out their lives for one another in broad strokes. Tock brought out fruit, bread, and cheese. Peter opened some wine.
When did you start singing? Rhonda asked.
Nowtheres a story, Lizzy said. See after I left home, I hitchhiked. Ended up in Boston for a while. Lived on the streets and in a couple of shelters.
Wait, Rhonda interrupted. Shelters? But I thought you were with Daniel.
Lizzy shook her head, looked away.
But thats what you said in your postcards, Rhonda explained.
Thats what I wanted everyone to believe. Maybe, on some level, I wanted to believe it too, Lizzy said. The truth is, I was on my own. No one knew who I was or where Id come from. I still wasnt talking. I didnt talk until I was sixteen. Five years of silence. I was in San Francisco then, pregnant with Kimberly, living in this home for pregnant girls. This gal Trish, she asked me if I wanted to be in her band. They needed a guitarist. So one day, I just sat down with them, picked up the guitar, and the next thing I knew, I was singing. I dont know if it was music or Kimberly that gave me my voice back, but the way I look at it, it must have been the combination, cause thats been whats kept my life afloat ever since. Kimmy and the music. The centers of my little universe.
Thats Kimberly in the yard with Suzy?
Lizzy smiled and nodded.
AFTER