Pandora's Box Read online

  "Who the hell is that?"

  "It's my mother!! Fuck! What is she doing here?"

  We spring apart and both frantically begin to search for our clothes.

  "I thought she wasn't bringing Travis home until this afternoon?" she asks haphazardly pulling her shirt on.

  "She wasn't! I should have never given her that key damn it!"

  "Sam? Honey? Are you home?"

  The bedroom door is open a crack and I start to panic as I hear her on the stairs.

  "Shit!" I murmur. "Yes, Mom! Hold on! I'll be right there!"

  I pull on a pair of shorts and an oversized T-shirt and I can't help but kiss her one last time before leaving to go cut my mother off before she comes into my room.

  "Sit tight," I whisper pulling her bottom lip slightly with my kiss. "Mmm, I'll be right back."

  --

  My mother is at the door as I come out and I quickly pull the door shut behind me.

  "Hi sweetheart," she says kissing my cheek. I resist kissing her back knowing where my mouth has just been.

  "You're sweaty. And your cheeks are all flushed, dear. Were you working out?"

  I feel my face grow redder as I can't stop myself from blushing. Working out? Yeah. That's it.

  "I was...I'm...I..."

  "Oh dear. Do you have someone in there? You do don't you? Who is it? Is it the nice guy from the coffee shop? He's had his eye on you for a while. Did he finally give you his number? Let me go say hello..."

  "MOTHER! Go downstairs! NOW!" I yelled pointing at the stairs.

  Chapter Eight

  Elena

  I sit on her bed and absentmindedly look around when I notice that she has left her laptop on but it has gone into sleep mode. I move quietly towards the door to listen and when it seems like she's going to be a while I quickly get to work.

  It only takes me two tries to get her password correct. Passwords are one of the easiest things to figure out if you know even a little bit about the person who created it, and the fact that hers was her dog's name was not surprising.

  I click on the icon in the corner and a password window pops up. It counts down from five and then the computer immediately shuts down and restarts. It looks like the program was designed to close the whole system down if you couldn't immediately provide the password. There was a way to override this so not only could you get into the program but it disabled the password as well. I laugh to myself and smile as I realize that this was going to be so much easier than I thought. I find my pants and pull out my extra flash drive and hope that the download moves as fast as everything else.

  Chapter Nine

  Sam

  "So who is it? Where did you meet him? How long have you been seeing him? Is this your first sleepover? I'm so glad you're having sex. It's about time you had sex. You were getting ornery...."

  "Mother..."

  I roll my eyes and hold my temples as my mother rapid fires a hundred questions and statements at me quickly in succession. I know she means well. I've never really had a boyfriend other than Isaac and he doesn't even count. He was just my failed attempt at being straight that resulted in me getting knocked up. But she already had us married with two point five kids and a house with a white picket fence. She was devastated when Isaac died, even more than me because she felt that her vision of my future died with him. I never had the heart to tell her just how wrong she was.

  "Jesus Christ mother."

  "Don't curse, Sammy. It's not attractive."

  "Is there something I can help you with? Where's Travis?"

  "He's with Will. I'm taking him to the zoo today and he needs Mr. Tully."

  "He doesn't have him? I swore I packed him. How did he sleep without him?"

  "I gave him melatonin."

  "Mother!"

  "And ten dollars to spend at the zoo. Worked like a charm. How is your arm by the way? The colors creeping out of that bandage look painful."

  "It's sore but I'll be okay. I've had worse."

  "That you have my dear. Don't you want a nice desk job or something?"

  "Bye, mom."

  "Not without Mr. Tully."

  "Fine. Stay here and I'll go get Mr. Tully."

  --

  I go upstairs and find Elena peeking out the bedroom door. I motion for her to close the door but she opens it more and indicates she has to pee, mouthing the words "emergency" as she does. I move up the stairs quickly and take her by the elbow as I guide her down the hall towards the bathroom.

  "Why didn't you go earlier?" I ask in a harsh whisper.

  "Oh I don't know...probably because we were having SEX!" she says in a loud whisper.

  "Shhhhh," I urge. "Be quiet! Here," I say shoving her in the door. As it closes I hear my mother's voice come from behind me.

  "Well, that's not the nice boy from the coffee shop. That's not a boy at all."

  I mouth the word "Fuck" as I turn around and see her standing at the top of the stairs with her mouth slightly open in shock.

  "No mom, it isn't," I sigh. "Her name is Elena. And I'm gay."

  --

  I go back to my bedroom and Elena is laying on my bed with her eyes closed. I crawl from the foot of the bed up next to her and pretend to cry.

  "That bad," she asks pulling me toward her.

  "I told her I was gay," I answer as I hide my face.

  "She didn't know??"

  "I didn't even know," I laugh. "Well I did but I was still struggling with it. Until I met you."

  Her face softens and she sighs as she leans forward and kisses me softly on the lips.

  "And what was her reaction?"

  "She just wanted to know if I'd still give her more grandbabies, and I assured her I would most likely. Someday. And another thing: she swears she knows you from somewhere but she couldn't quite put her finger on it."

  There is a long silence and then she finally answers.

  "Does your mother shop at Trader Joe's?"

  "Yes. Every Thursday."

  "Well, that's where she's probably seen me. That's my shopping day too," she says as I move so I can look at her. She has a look on her face that I can't quite read, but it's probably her just wondering where my mother could have seen her.

  "Yeah probably. That's probably it. She's taking Travis to the zoo which means he won't be back until dinner time. Weren't we doing something before she showed up?" I asked changing the subject.

  "Um I think we were, and it looked a little something like this..."

  She rolls me over as I squeal and our clothes come off just as quickly as we had put them back on.

  --

  The weekend goes by far too quickly and Elena finally leaves my bed around mid-Monday morning. And the only reason for that is a follow up with my doctor to get the all-clear to go back to work.

  If I'm being honest this was truly one of the best weekends of my life, and I feel like we got to know each other better in those few short days than people I have known for years. It's like we had this connection that I just can't explain, and I think I'm falling in love. But this was just too easy and nothing in my life had ever been without complication. So I remain optimistic, but cautious despite these intense feelings I seemed to be developing for her.

  My doctor gives me the rest of the week off. Between the stitches and the bone bruise on my elbow he wants me to be 100% before he clears me for work. I'm not okay with that, but I'll listen because I refuse to risk getting injured further. I text Elena as soon as I leave the doctor's office.

  Me: Rest of the week off. Wish you could take the time with me. My bed is going to be so cold tonight. And lonely. xoxo Sam

  She is back to work as of tomorrow morning, and her schedule is pretty hectic so she promises to keep in touch via text and FaceTime until we can go out on Friday to dinner. We've only been apart for about three hours, but I miss her already.

  Elena: That's too bad. I mean me not being with you, not you having the week off. Who wants to do boring techy stuff when
I could be doing you? Friday cannot come soon enough.

  I smile and feel myself blush at her text as my insides grow hot. I really want to reply to her text, but nothing I'm thinking is anything less than an NC 17 rating, and I have plans for the afternoon which don't include me being alone at all so I just shove my phone in my pocket and make a mental note of what I want to write later.

  I meet my mother for a late lunch at the Corvette Diner on Historic Decatur Road so I can pick Travis up. Not only is the restaurant reminiscent of the fifties, complete with waiters that burst into song, but there is also an arcade in the back where Will loves to challenge T to different games.

  When we get there they immediately order two Dine-and-Play packages: a Pint-Size and a Fill 'er Up, before shouting their orders of "a Hot-Diggity-Dog with a Cha Cha Chocolate shake" and a "Diner Chicken Fried Steak with a Karl Strauss Red Trolley pint" before they disappear into the back. This leaves me with just my mother. Which is awkward. I try to avoid eye contact by burying my face in the menu but that doesn't seem to work.

  "So, Sam..."

  "I think we should start with The Garbage Plate..."

  I start reading off the menu, ignoring her completely.

  "About this girl you're seeing..." she pries.

  "A trio of sliders, onion rings, potato skins..." I continue.

  "Where did you meet her?"

  She's not letting this go.

  "... mozzarella wedges, chicken fingers... ginormous ones at that..."

  "That's too much food. And when did you decide that you're gay?" she questions.

  "Mother!" I yell slapping my menu down.

  "What? I have questions!"

  "You don't just decide that you're gay," I say exasperated.

  "Well now that I have your attention, I know that. I've known that you were gay since you were twelve years old," she states matter of factly.

  "What? No, you didn't! How?" I ask with a combination of irritation and intrigue.

  "Justine Dunbar, sixth grade... you used to stare at her like your father would stare at a bottle of bourbon."

  "What...no... that’s not... " I stumble for words but then I feel my face get hot as I realize that she's not wrong.

  "Good afternoon! My name is Brett and I will be your waiter today. Can I start you ladies off with something to drink?"

  "You don't serve whiskey do you?" I ask with a half laugh.

  "No I'm sorry we don't ma'am, but we do have a variety of beers and mixed drinks if alcohol is your choice."

  "Just give me the Gidget' S Bellini. And make it a double."

  "I'll see what I can do. And for you ma'am?"

  "I'll just have a water. Thank you. And we have two others with us: they'd like a Cha Cha Chocolate shake and a Karl Strauss Red Trolley pint. Draft please."

  "Ok, I'll be right back with your drinks and to take your order."

  "Thank you," we both say.

  "Now, honey...sweetheart, talk to me. Who is this? Where did you meet her?"

  "You're not going to let this go are you?" I ask with irritation as I rub my temples.

  "Not a chance!"

  "Ok fine! You win! Her name is Elena. Elena Roberts. She is a tech consultant at Juniper Davies, and she freelances at some techy magazine as a writer."

  "And...?" she pushes.

  "And what?" I ask feigning extreme interest in the menu again.

  "Where did you meet her?" she persists.

  "We met (mumble)..."

  "What? I didn't hear you," she asks again leaning forward.

  "We met...at a... (mumble)"

  "I swear I heard you say at a bar, but that can't be right," my mother says disbelievingly. "Because my baby doesn't go around picking strange men OR women up in bars. I raised her better than that."

  I continue to look at the menu like it's the most fascinating thing I have ever read as she desperately tries to make eye contact with me.

  "You know, looking at this menu, I think I felt my cholesterol spike. An Ike and Tina Tuna Melt? Now that's just in poor taste..."

  "The boys love it here. Now, Sam? Samantha? Samantha??" she finally yells as she slams her hand down on the table making everyone turn to look at us.

  "Mother, I am almost thirty years old! I think I know what I'm doing," I snap at her in a loud whisper.

  "Do you? What thirty year old do you know picks someone up in a bar?" she loud whispers back.

  "Oh yeah, mom? Where did you meet Will?" I asked rolling my eyes.

  "I'm not a single mother," she digs.

  "Being a single mother does NOT make me have to abide by a certain set of rules! I don't know what century you think this is! My son is well taken care of. I feed him, I clothe him, I make sure he goes to school and finishes his homework, I take him to his piano lessons, and I take him to soccer. I cuddle him, I discipline him, I comfort him when he's scared. He is never around anyone he shouldn't be, and I do my damndest to protect him from being hurt in any way. And what I do in my bedroom has nothing to do with what kind of mother I am! And who I see when he is not home is not your concern. I have never exposed him to anyone bef..."

  "You've never dated anyone before Sam!"

  "Which makes me even more cautious. You don't think I know that? I'm also a police officer in case you hadn't noticed," I say sarcastically.

  "I know Sam. I know. I just worry about you. I'm your mother. And after what happened to Isaac, well..."

  "I know mom. I get it. But trust me. Just a little bit. Please? Travis is my top priority. He always will be," I reassure as I reach my hand out across the table to her.

  "I know baby. I know," she says taking my hand and squeezing it reassuringly.

  --

  One Garbage Plate (which we shared), a California Dreamin' Chicken Sandwich, two Gidget' S Bellinis, and several fifties serenades later we finish lunch and head out to the parking lot to our cars. I just finished closing the door to the back seat when I see Elena come out of a building across the street. Upton Sinclair's is a security company in direct competition with Juniper Davies. Maybe she's looking for a new job? I call out her name, but she either doesn't hear me. Or doesn't want to hear me. She looks upset.

  "Isn't that Elena?" my mother asks as she comes around to say goodbye to Travis again.

  "Yeah, I called her but she didn't seem to hear me. Elena!," I yell again but she doesn't even look up. She's definitely in a rush to go somewhere, but she said she didn't have to work until tomorrow.

  Suddenly a man rushes out of the same building she just left. He is in his fifties, dressed in a nice suit with short hair and a clean-shaven face... and looks a lot like the same man we saw in the diner. Or was it? It can't be. She didn't seem to know him then. How would she know him now? But he was clearly following her. Finally, he caught up with her at the crosswalk at the end of the block. Grabbing her arm they began exchanging heated words. I started walking towards them but just as quickly as it began it was over with Elena pulling away from him and going one way and him going the other.

  "What do you think that was about?" I ask my mother.

  "I don't know. But that's the same gentlemen I've seen her with in Trader Joe's. I wonder how she knows him?"

  --

  I sit in the car for a few minutes and mull over what just happened. Maybe she didn't hear me. This was a busy intersection and she did seem preoccupied.

  But what was she doing at Upton Sinclair's? And how did she know that man that showed up in the diner that day? Was he following her? If so, why? I had so many questions that they were starting to make my head spin.

  "Are you okay, momma?" I hear Travis finally ask from the back seat.

  "Yeah, I'm fine, Bud. Momma was just thinking."

  "Can we go home now? Grandma and Papa Will always make me tired. And I miss Zo," he expresses quietly before rubbing his eyes and yawning.

  "Sure thing, kiddo. Just let momma take care of this and then we're out of here, okay?" I ask reaching into the back se
at and shaking his leg. He smiles at me and nods his head as I turn back around and take my phone out.

  Me: Hey there! Just saw you leaving Upton Sinclair's office. Consorting with the enemy? Just kidding! ;) I tried to yell for you but couldn't seem to get your attention. Hope you weren't purposely ignoring me. :( Anyway, just wanted to tell you that seeing you just made me miss you more and I didn't think that was possible. Talk to you soon.

  I hit send before starting the car and heading for home.

  --

  A few hours pass, and I still don't hear from her. I sit on the beach and watch T run up and down the surf with Lancelot and his friend Daniel that lives next door.

  My phone buzzes on the blanket next to me:

  Are you home?

  I pick it up and I feel my stomach knot as I see that it's from Elena.

  Me: Sure. Just hanging on the beach with T.

  Elena: Do you mind if I come over?

  I sit for a minute and watch Travis running and laughing as I contemplate what she's asking.

  Me: Sure. I'll leave the front door unlocked if we are inside. If not just come around back and down to the beach.

  I switch my phone off and continue to watch my boys. Travis looks so much like Isaac did when he was eight years old that I can't help but wonder what he will look like as an adult. Lost in thought it takes me a minute to even realize that he is calling me.

  "Hello? Mom??," he yells as he waves his hands at me. "I said 'what's for dinner?'"

  "I'm sorry, love. How does grilled cheese sound?" I ask finally giving him my undivided attention.

  "That sounds great!"

  "Alright, bring me Zo and I'll go make it. It's time for his dinner too."

  "Can I stay out here? Please?"

  "Sure. Just stay where I can see you okay?"

  "You got it, mom!"

  I make my way back to the house and brush the sand off myself and the dog. Removing my shoes I leave them outside as I strip off my t-shirt so I'm just wearing a tank top as I go into the house. Elena had said that she was stopping by so I text her that the front door is open as I go to make sure that it is unlocked. While I'm there I decide to check the mail and notice that there is a manila envelope that is addressed to me. But that's not the strangest thing about it. The address reads c/o Isaac Ventura.