Authors: Mary Carter
My Sister's Voice (17 page)
Chapter 16
L
acey worked for a few hours on a new horse painting. This one was purple with blue hooves, the hills behind his floating head, green. It was the last thing she should be doing; she should have been choosing which portraits she was going to put in the show, but she couldn’t help herself. She knew this compulsion to paint the horse wasn’t normal, but desire beat logic. After a few hours she stopped and stretched. She wandered into the kitchen. Mike was standing by the door. A pixie-ish woman with spiky blond hair was standing next to him. If she had been with Robert instead of Mike, Lacey would have pegged her as an actress and assumed they were putting on
Peter Pan
. She was definitely a Tinker Bell.
acey worked for a few hours on a new horse painting. This one was purple with blue hooves, the hills behind his floating head, green. It was the last thing she should be doing; she should have been choosing which portraits she was going to put in the show, but she couldn’t help herself. She knew this compulsion to paint the horse wasn’t normal, but desire beat logic. After a few hours she stopped and stretched. She wandered into the kitchen. Mike was standing by the door. A pixie-ish woman with spiky blond hair was standing next to him. If she had been with Robert instead of Mike, Lacey would have pegged her as an actress and assumed they were putting on
Peter Pan
. She was definitely a Tinker Bell.
Was this his girlfriend? The woman caught Lacey’s eye and gave her a smile and a wave. Obviously, Mike hadn’t told her about Lacey’s wanton behavior. Lacey waved back, making sure not to look at Mike. At least her curiosity was satisfied. She’d always wondered what kind of woman Mike would date. The girl was cute—not beautiful by any means, but cute. She looked wired too, as if she were about to burst into a spontaneous cheer à la “Go, team!” Lacey turned away from them and had just started to put on a pot of coffee when the lights flashed. Mike looked over as if to ask her if she were expecting anyone. She shook her head no. Mike opened the door, and to Lacey’s surprise, in walked Alan.
Lacey’s first reaction was to hug him. Did he want her to hug him? She hung back, and her hesitation reminded her of where they were: stuck, stranded.
“What are you doing here?” Lacey asked before she could stop herself. His expression told her she’d hurt him even more. But she couldn’t be too soft. After all, days had gone by and not even a text. Not even an RSVP to the show. He knew how much it meant to her.
“I’m here for the weekend,” Alan said. “I came to see the show.” Lacey stepped back and allowed Alan to step inside.
“Coffee?” she asked.
“Why not.” They headed for the kitchen.
“Lacey,” Mike said, following them. “I’d like you to meet a friend of mine.”
“Hi,” the woman said. She waved again.
“This is—” Mike started to say.
“Wait,” the woman said. She turned to Lacey, beaming. She held up her hand and began to slowly finger-spell her name. “T-I-N-A.” Lacey smiled. Thank God the woman had a short name; her finger spelling was painfully slow.
“Lacey,” Lacey voiced.
“Nice to meet you,” Tina said.
“You too.” Lacey turned to Alan. “This is—” Lacey said. Then she stopped. Hurt welled up in her. Normally, she would introduce him as her boyfriend.
“Alan,” Alan said, stepping forward and holding his hand out. Mike crossed his arms against his chest but said nothing. Tina held up the postcard advertising the show.
“Ready for the big show?” she asked. Lacey gave Tina a thumbs-up. Tina grinned and mirrored her. Then she pointed to Lacey’s paintings. “Can I look?” Mike put his hand on Tina’s shoulder.
“You should wait,” he said. “It’s only a couple days.”
“I don’t mind,” Lacey said. “Go ahead.” Tina giggled and headed for Lacey’s paintings. “Do you want coffee?” Lacey asked Mike.
“No,” he said. “I have work to do.” Without another glance at Alan, he headed back to his space. Alan followed Lacey over to the pot of coffee and leaned against the counter as she prepared their cups. Then she threw herself into Alan’s arms. He was stiff at first, and then she felt his arms wrap around her. He smelled good. She reached up and stroked his hair. Their lips found each other, and soon they were kissing. Lacey forgot all about their visitors. Alan, however, did not. He pulled back.
“Is that his girlfriend?” Alan answered, glancing over at Tina, who was examining Lacey’s portraits so closely she wondered if the girl was extremely nearsighted.
“Yes,” Lacey said.
“She obviously doesn’t know,” Alan said. And then, their romantic mood was gone. Lacey shrugged. She handed Alan’s coffee to him black and put cream and sugar in hers.
“Have you talked to your sister?” Alan said.
“Are you using your voice?” Lacey said, glancing again at Tina.
“She can’t hear me,” Alan said.
“I told you,” Lacey said. “I don’t have a sister.” Alan slammed his mug down on the counter.
“Lacey,” he said. “Don’t do this.”
“Don’t do what?”
“You’re hiding your head in the sand like an ostrich.” Alan started his little “act” of an ostrich.
“Stop it,” Lacey said. “I don’t need your stupid idioms. And I don’t need you to tell me what to do.”
“So you plan on just ignoring her? Ignoring us?”
“Ignoring us? You’re the one who hasn’t spoken to me for several days!”
“I was giving you time.”
“I didn’t ask for time.” Lacey noticed Mike was back in the vicinity and he was glancing over. “You are using your voice,” she said.
“I don’t like that he’s here,” Alan said. “I don’t like it a bit.”
“We share the same space. That’s all.”
“Look what it’s done to us. And he’s still running around with his girlfriend as if nothing ever happened!” A few seconds later, Alan turned his head sharply. Lacey followed his gaze. Tina stood just behind them, hands on hips, mouth slightly open.
“What did she say?” Lacey asked, although Alan’s face had already given it away.
“She said—‘What did happen?’” Lacey glared at Alan. She’d told him to stop using his voice!
“Nothing,” Lacey said. She noticed Mike was making his way over. “He’s just—”
“They almost slept together,” Alan said. Lacey stared at Alan. He wasn’t usually vindictive. She’d underestimated how much she’d hurt him, how much he was still hurting. She wanted to tell him again how sorry she was. She wanted to punch him for causing more trouble for Mike. But there wasn’t any time to deal with Alan—Tina stole the focus.
“Almost slept together?” Tina said. “You almost slept with her?”
“Nothing happened,” Mike said. “Lacey was drunk and—” He glanced at Lacey and signed: “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” Lacey said.
“What was that?” Tina asked. “What did she say? What did you say?”
“I just told her I was sorry,” Mike said.
“Is that why you were drooling all over Monica?” Tina said. “Are you hot for her too? You have some kind of ‘twin’ fantasy going on here?” Alan interpreted for Lacey. Lacey shot Mike a look.
“Did she just say Monica?” Lacey asked, turning first to Mike, then to Alan. “I saw ‘Monica’ on her lips.” Alan nodded. Lacey turned once again to Mike. This time the expression on her face would’ve broken anyone. Mike looked stricken.
“She works with Monica,” Mike said. “She’s her assistant.” Lacey glared at Tina, who seemed to shrink even more, even though she kept a fake grin plastered to her pointy face.
“You told her about me?” Lacey said. “You told her?”
“No,” Mike said. He looked from Tina to Lacey. “She Googled me,” he said at last. “She saw your picture on our Web site.”
Another stalker,
Lacey thought. Just like Kelly. The world was apparently full of them. Lacey walked up to Tina and gazed directly in her eyes. Then she pointed at her with her index finger. Lacey knew pointing in hearing culture was rude. Pointing in Deaf Culture was normally a linguistic reference. But this point was the hearing-culture variety, for in this situation, “rude” was just fine with Lacey.
Another stalker,
Lacey thought. Just like Kelly. The world was apparently full of them. Lacey walked up to Tina and gazed directly in her eyes. Then she pointed at her with her index finger. Lacey knew pointing in hearing culture was rude. Pointing in Deaf Culture was normally a linguistic reference. But this point was the hearing-culture variety, for in this situation, “rude” was just fine with Lacey.
“Did you tell her?” Lacey asked. Tina met Lacey’s stare without blinking, but she didn’t answer right away. “Did you tell Monica about me?”
“No,” Tina said. Her eyes slid over to Mike. “He asked me not to.”
“You can’t tell her,” Lacey said. “It’s none of your business.”
“So it was a fake interview?” Tina said. Mike nodded. A look of glee passed over Tina’s face, and this time her smile was genuine.
“Did he tell you all about your parents?” Tina asked Lacey. “Their cabin?”
“No,” Lacey said. “He didn’t.” Her parents? Their cabin? She wanted to wring his neck. What was he keeping from her? He met her parents? He went to their cabin?
“I was going to tell you,” Mike said.
“When?” Lacey said. “We just talked ten minutes ago. You didn’t say a word about my parents. Or their cabin.”
“Tina,” Mike said. “We have a lot to talk about here. Can I catch you another time?” It was impossible to miss the look on Tina’s face. Her eyes slid over to the front door, where a little red suitcase was propped up, waiting like a patient dog to be taken for a walk. Mike followed her gaze over to it.
“I can wait for you,” Tina said. “I was hoping I could maybe crash on your couch for the night?” The look on Mike’s face was just as easy to read. Lacey smiled at Tina. “Alan—keep her company—I need to talk to Mike.” No one was playing poker; Alan looked like he would rather eat glass. “Please,” Lacey added. To his credit, Alan guided Tina away. Lacey almost forgot Alan had been interpreting; she was back to writing. Instead of using the easel, Lacey took out a pad of paper and pen.
You have to let her stay with you.
No, I don’t.
She looks crazy. Don’t piss her off.
I’m not interested in her.
Tina was right, Lacey thought. Mike was interested in Monica. Lacey wasn’t happy about this either, but it was the least of her worries at the moment.
I don’t care. I need to keep her quiet.
Lacey knew what Mike wanted to say—she could see it in his face. He’d already taken a punch, now she was pimping him out.
It’s one night!
Lacey knew what Mike wanted to say—she could see it in his face. He’d already taken a punch, now she was pimping him out.
It’s one night!
“Tina,” Mike said. She and Alan were standing just a few feet away.
“Yes?”
“You’re welcome to crash with me—but I still have things to finish up here.”
“No problem,” Tina said. “I’ll go explore. But I won’t eat, because I am taking you out to dinner. What time should I come back?”
Stalkers,
Lacey thought again.
There’s one born every minute.
Stalkers,
Lacey thought again.
There’s one born every minute.
Through a reluctant-to-interpret Alan, Mike told Lacey all about Tina inviting him to the cabin. He explained he was just trying to learn as much as he could for Lacey, and she let it slide for now, even though she knew it was a lie. He was totally smitten with Monica. Was it because he couldn’t have
her?
Lacey couldn’t help but wonder. Maybe she
had
turned him on the other night, and Monica was the next best thing. Or maybe he was intimidated because she was Deaf. Maybe Monica was the Golden Goose with the Golden Voice.
her?
Lacey couldn’t help but wonder. Maybe she
had
turned him on the other night, and Monica was the next best thing. Or maybe he was intimidated because she was Deaf. Maybe Monica was the Golden Goose with the Golden Voice.
He told her about Aunt Grace. Lacey was floored. She hadn’t even begun to deal with parents and a twin; now not only was there an “Aunt Grace,” she was yet another person threatening to reveal Lacey’s identity to Monica. If Lacey was going to confront her twin, she was going to have to do it soon, before someone else got to her first. It wasn’t fair. This was her twin, she had dibs.
Shotgun,
Lacey screamed inside her head.
I call shotgun!
Lacey pressed Mike for more information about Aunt Grace.
Shotgun,
Lacey screamed inside her head.
I call shotgun!
Lacey pressed Mike for more information about Aunt Grace.
“She’s got spunk,” Mike said. He looked at Alan. “Is that word hard to interpret?” Alan interpreted the question to Lacey without answering it.
“He’s interpreting the concept, not necessarily word for word,” Lacey said.
“Oh. So there’s no sign for ‘spunk’?”
“Just like English, ASL has several options for almost any word you want to use, or it could just be spelled out. ‘Spunk’ sounds very dirty, so if that’s what you’re getting at—I’ll show you.” Lacey asked Alan to turn off his voice and after a few seconds of extremely graphic signing about “spunk,” Mike shut up, even turned slightly red. “You were saying?” Lacey said.
“Aunt Grace walked up to Monica in front of everybody—and there was a huge crowd—and said, ‘Lacey, Lacey, Lacey.’ ” Lacey and Alan exchanged a look. Lacey didn’t want to think about this too much with two men staring at her, but a jab of pride, and even love, for this Aunt Grace stabbed at her. She existed! Someone was acknowledging that she existed!
“So Monica does know about me,” Lacey said.
“No. Your father stepped in. Later, Monica followed her parents into the kitchen—and I don’t know what was said—but I know she doesn’t know.”
“You don’t know for sure—”
“Remember the couple you saw me talking to this morning?” Lacey furrowed her eyebrows, nodded for him to continue. “They’re her parents. Your parents.” Lacey took a step back. Alan bridged the distance and stood next to her.
“My parents?” Lacey said. “They came here? To see me?” Mike shook his head. He glanced at Alan. “Look at me,” Lacey demanded.
“They came to see me,” Mike said. “To buy my silence. Just like they bought Aunt Grace off with a trip to Italy.”
“You took money from them?” Her head was spinning. She didn’t care what the consequences were; if Mike took money from her parents, she was going to go berserk.
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