The Passenger by Jacqueline Druga (the giving tree read aloud TXT) 📗

was calling out for his mother in some sort of drug and alcohol induced episode.

A hot mess, barely able to stand, and Cate wasn’t mad, she was relieved. Why was her mother acting differently now? Was she in some sort of denial?

Jessie watched her mother hang up and extend it back to her. She knew her father had hung up abruptly. That was evident by the lack of a goodbye and the slight shocked expression on her mother’s face.

Her parents were in a fight mode, which was par for course when a difference of opinion rose up over Jonas.

“What’s going on with you?” Jessie asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Mom, you didn’t tell me about Jonas.”

“I know.”

“Why?”

“Because a part of me didn’t believe it,” Cate said.

“You didn’t believe he was fine or found?”

“Yes, because to me there was no way he was found alive and fine. They just don’t go together, not with your brother. Let’s go check out bedding.” Cate turned and started walking.

“Mom. Seriously?”

“Jess, I don’t want to talk about this with you. Weren’t you the one like Jan Brady always saying, Jonas, Jonas, Jonas?”

“That’s not right or fair. Actually, that’s mean,” Jessie said.

“You hated when I talked about him.”

“Because you talked about him constantly. We couldn’t have a conversation without bringing him. Telling me what he did or didn’t do, how bad or good. Have I talked to him?”

“That’s why I am not talking about him now.”

“It’s a little different.”

“No, Jess, it isn’t,” Cate argued. “Talking about Jonas is talking about Jonas, it doesn’t matter what the pretext is. You have to be tired of hearing about him.”

“You don’t get it. It’s not because I felt slighted or jealous. It’s not because I don’t love my brother. I do. It’s because I love you and the obsession and worry wasn’t good for you.”

“I get that. Worry is done. Jonas is fine.”

Jessie shook her head when her mother lifted a pillow nonchalantly and looked at the washing instructions. “Jonas isn’t exactly fine. He was in a car accident. He has amnesia.”

Cate scoffed in the form of a soft laugh.

“You don’t believe he has amnesia?”

“No, I don’t.”

“But Dad said.”

“Your father doesn’t know Jonas like I do. He’s playing these people.”

“How can you make that call without even seeing him?” Jessie answered.

“Because I know my son. I know how he uses people to get what he wants. He messed up somewhere and found a perfect place to hide out. I can’t run there, Jessie, I can’t go and look in his eyes, hear that manipulative talking. I can’t.”

“Mom, this isn’t about you.”

“That’s where you’re wrong,” Cate said. “When dealing with an addict, at some point as a mother, it has to be about me.” She turned. “I’m headed to pots and pans.”

Then without missing a beat, as if nothing was different or hadn’t changed, her mother went to window shop housewares.

Jessie knew her brother probably better than her mother thought and like her mom, she just couldn’t accept the amnesia. She couldn’t dismiss it either. Jessie would know the truth the moment she looked into Jonas’ eyes. For her own sake and her mother’s, that was what she had to do.

◆◆◆

Marge knew what she was doing, she didn’t worry. Her goal was to expose Chip or rather, Jonas, to his father in hopes to stir the memories. She spoke to everyone ahead of time. Don’t ask any questions that would force Grant to lie.

She invited Grant to have dinner with them before rehearsal, along with Pastor Rick, Haley and Chip. Even though she knew his real name, he’d always be Chip to her.

Pastor Rick was excited about it, especially when he learned what Marge’s plan was. He grabbed an extra rotisserie chicken from Costco.

Marge whipped up some of her sausage, potato stuffing, made a vegetable and grabbed a cake from the market.

Wednesday dinner wasn’t usually a big deal.

It was this night.

She hoped maybe some part of Chip would remember his father, but Marge didn’t see a spark at all.

“I’m really excited to hear you play,” Jonas said at the dinner table. “We didn’t talk much, have you been playing long?”

“All my life. I sing some. I’m good on harmonies,” Grant replied.

“Awesome, I picked out some cool music. The others already have the charts, but we’ll listen before practice. This is my first service as music leader,” Jonas told him.

“Not worship leader?” Grant asked.

“Not yet.”

“Chip here,” Pastor Rick said. “Is new in town as well. Is your family with you?”

“No.” Grant shook his head. “My wife is home.”

“Any children? Grandchildren?” Marge asked.

“I have two kids. A daughter and son. My daughter is married, my son is not. No grandkids yet.” Grant smiled. “I’m hoping.”

Jonas asked. “What brought you to Williams Peak?”

There it was, Marge thought, the question she didn’t want asked. One that could force Grant to not be honest. But he had that covered.

“I was searching, you know,” Grant replied. “I’m a teacher, I needed a break, decided to just hit the road. You get older, there are things you want to do or see. I stopped here. It’s great little town. You’re new, Chip, what brought you to Williams Peak?”

“A bad night,” Jonas said. “I was in an accident. Maw-Maw and Joe found me on the road. I don’t know what happened, how it happened or even how I got to the road.”

Joe interjected. “I think you do.” He shifted his eyes to Grant. “When Chip was in the accident there was a man in the car with him.”

“What happened to him?” Grant asked.

“No one knows,” Joe replied. “He wasn’t there. No sign of him. A lot of us feel it was a higher power at work that night.”

Haley added. “Whatever the case, it brought him here, to us,” she said. “And I believe this is where he is supposed to be.”

Marge watched Grant for a reaction. It was fulfilling and moving to see his expression, such peace on his face. Different than hours earlier when she met him.

She understood. She