The Liar

Maybe it was foolish to leave so late on a Friday. Smarter, more sensible to get a fresh start in the morning.

But she wasn’t spending another night in a house that had never been hers.

She walked through, bottom to top, top back to bottom, then stood in the two-story foyer.

She could see now, with the stark art, the too sleek furnishings removed, how it might be. Warmer colors, softer tones, maybe some big old piece, something with character, a little bit of curve in the entranceway to hold flowers, candles.

A mix of old and new, she thought, aiming for casual elegance with touches of fun.

Antique mirrors—yes, she’d group old mirrors, different shapes, along that wall, jumble books with family photos and pretty little whatnots on those shelves. And . . .

Not hers now, she reminded herself. No longer her space, no longer her problem.

“I’m not going to say I hate this place. That doesn’t seem fair to whoever moves in after me. It’s like putting a hex on it. So I’m just going to say I took care of it best I could while I could.”

She left the keys on the kitchen counter with a thank-you note for Donna, then reached for Callie’s hand.

“Come on, baby girl, we’re going on our trip.”

“We’re gonna see Granny and Grandpa and Gamma and Granddaddy.”

“You bet we are, and everybody else, too.”

She walked out to the garage with Callie wheeling her little Cinderella—her once favorite princess, currently usurped by Fiona—overnight bag behind her.

“Let’s get you and Fifi strapped in.”

As she secured Callie in the car seat, Callie patted Shelby’s cheek. Her signal for: Look at me, and pay attention.

“What is it, baby?”

“We’re gonna be there soon?”

Uh-oh. Torn between amusement and resignation, Shelby patted Callie’s cheek in turn. If the versions of Are we there yet? began before they pulled out of the garage, they were in for a very long trip.

“It’s all the way to Tennessee, remember? That’s going to take some time, so it’s not going to be real soon. But . . .” She widened her eyes to demonstrate the excitement to come. “We’re going to get to stay the night in a motel. Like adventurers.”

“’Venturers.”

“That’s right. You and me, Callie Rose. Fingers on noses,” she added, and Callie giggled, put her fingers to her nose so Shelby could close the side door of the van.

She backed out of the garage, sat for a moment until the door came all the way down again.

“And that’s that,” she said.

She drove away without a backward glance.

•   •   •

TRAFFIC WAS A MISERY but she wasn’t going to care about that. It would take as long as it took.

To save Shrek for when real boredom hit, she kept Callie entertained with songs, ones her little girl knew, and fresh ones she’d stored up to avoid the endless repetition and save her own sanity.

It mostly worked.

Crossing the state line into Maryland felt like a victory. She wanted to keep going, just keep going, but at the three-hour mark made herself get off the highway. The Happy Meal put a grin on Callie’s face, and food in her tummy.

Another two hours, Shelby thought, then she’d be over halfway there. They’d stop for the night. She already had the motel picked out, the route in the GPS.

When she stopped in Virginia, she saw she’d made the right choice. Callie had had enough, and was getting her cranky on. The adventure of jumping on a motel room bed changed the mood.

Fresh pajamas, Fifi and a bedtime story did the trick. Though she doubted fireworks would wake her little girl now, Shelby went into the bathroom to call home.

“Mama. We’ve stopped for the night, like I said we would.”

“Where are you, exactly where now?”

“At the Best Western around Wytheville, Virginia.”

“Is it clean?”

“It is, Mama. I checked out the rating online before I headed here.”

“You got the security lock on?” Ada Mae demanded.

“It’s on, Mama.”

“You put a chair under the doorknob, just for extra.”

“Okay.”

“How’s that sweet angel?”

“She’s sound asleep. She was so good on the drive.”

“I can’t wait to get my hands on her. And on you, sweetie pie. I wish you’d told us you were starting out today before you did. Clay Junior would’ve come up there, driven you down.”

She was the only girl, Shelby reminded herself, and the baby of three. Her mother would fret.

“I’m fine, Mama, I promise. We’re fine, and already halfway there. Clay’s got work and family of his own.”

“You’re his family, too.”

“I can’t wait to see him. See all of you.”

The faces, the voices, the hills, the green. It made her want to cry a little, so she worked to bump up the cheer in her voice.

“I’m going to try to get on the road by eight, but it may be a little later. But I should be there by two o’clock at the latest. I’ll call you so you know for sure. Mama, I want to thank you again for letting us stay.”

“I don’t want to hear that from you. My own child, and her child. This is home. You come home, Shelby Anne.”

“Tomorrow. Tell Daddy we’re all safe for the night.”

“Stay that way. And you get some rest. You sound tired.”

“I am a little. ’Night, Mama.”