Read Cold Deception for Free Online Page A
Authors: D.B. Tait
stared after her as they wheeled her away.
*
Weariness fell on Julia like a dark, heavy cloak when she left the hospital. All she wanted was to crawl into bed and block out the world, but the words of the cop penetrated her brain like a pneumatic drill. Most people were sympathetic when they found out what she’d done, which made her sick. Rarely did anyone give her a hard time for hurting her family. She did that herself every night. No doubt about it, she had to give Dylan credit for unerringly hitting on the one truth that haunted her.
Her family suffered because of her.
Not that she and that particular truth weren’t well acquainted. But now she was back, the reality of her actions confronted her full force. She didn’t regret what she’d done. She’d do it again in a flash. But maybe a little more skillfully…
This wasn’t the time to regret the past and fall into a heap. She had to get on with life. Get control of it and make something of herself instead of becoming dependent on her family. Eleanor’s success as an artist and the money she inherited from her parents meant they were far from poor, but Julia had no intention of living off her mother. She’d work on the house, build up her skills, and maybe set up a small business as a decorator.
It was a short walk to the Council Chambers were she could renew her driver’s license. Then she’d be on her way to getting around the place without relying on Eleanor or Dee.
She trudged down the highway, past the showground, bending forward against the wind. It was only early June but there was a feel of snow in the air. Eleanor had bought her scarves, gloves, and a beanie then forced them on her as she left the house. She’d been irritated at all the fuss, but now she was grateful for her mother’s unaccustomed attention. Dee normally fussed, not Eleanor. But this morning she’d hovered around Julia like a fussy hen.
“Are you sure you’ll be okay? I can come with you after we see Blossom.”
Julia shook her head. “I’m fine. Have to do this on my own some time.”
Eleanor nodded, a worried look on her face.
“Take my phone.” She thrust it into Julia’s hand. “Call me if you need to.”
Trying to make up for all the years of neglect again? She had to hold back from biting off her mother’s head. Too little, too late. After several years of therapy with Dr. Devlin, she saw this was the pattern of their relationship. But maybe Eleanor’s letters told a different story. Maybe she’d changed, gotten older, exorcised her demons.
“Are you still going to Narcotics Anonymous meetings?” she asked her mother, not yet willing to put the past behind her.
Eleanor nodded, an eager light in her eyes. “And I’ve been stable on medication for ten years. No breakdowns, no crises. Even my paintings are better.”
Her pleading look shamed Julia. She took the phone, squeezed her mother’s hand and was silent in the car on the way to the hospital.
Now, as she plodded along the highway, she hoped her mother was better for good. Coping with her madness while Blossom seemed to be going off the rails would be too much. Julia had to find her some help. Maybe this doctor the cop mentioned…
Her thoughts crashed around in her head as she rounded the corner of the highway to spy the Council Chambers. Now days the Road and Traffic Authority couldn’t afford rent on a separate premises so had moved into the local Council building. The pink concrete monstrosity perched on the side of the highway, looking like some misguided architect’s idea of late sixties modernity. Completely out of place with the rest of the town’s shabby Art Deco sensibility.
She’d quickly go in, get her license, then cross the square to the parole office. Get everything unpleasant over and done in one hit.
Her heartbeat sped up at the sight of the automatic doors. She could do this. She had a right to live just like normal people. Stepping onto the rubber door mat, she jumped
*
Weariness fell on Julia like a dark, heavy cloak when she left the hospital. All she wanted was to crawl into bed and block out the world, but the words of the cop penetrated her brain like a pneumatic drill. Most people were sympathetic when they found out what she’d done, which made her sick. Rarely did anyone give her a hard time for hurting her family. She did that herself every night. No doubt about it, she had to give Dylan credit for unerringly hitting on the one truth that haunted her.
Her family suffered because of her.
Not that she and that particular truth weren’t well acquainted. But now she was back, the reality of her actions confronted her full force. She didn’t regret what she’d done. She’d do it again in a flash. But maybe a little more skillfully…
This wasn’t the time to regret the past and fall into a heap. She had to get on with life. Get control of it and make something of herself instead of becoming dependent on her family. Eleanor’s success as an artist and the money she inherited from her parents meant they were far from poor, but Julia had no intention of living off her mother. She’d work on the house, build up her skills, and maybe set up a small business as a decorator.
It was a short walk to the Council Chambers were she could renew her driver’s license. Then she’d be on her way to getting around the place without relying on Eleanor or Dee.
She trudged down the highway, past the showground, bending forward against the wind. It was only early June but there was a feel of snow in the air. Eleanor had bought her scarves, gloves, and a beanie then forced them on her as she left the house. She’d been irritated at all the fuss, but now she was grateful for her mother’s unaccustomed attention. Dee normally fussed, not Eleanor. But this morning she’d hovered around Julia like a fussy hen.
“Are you sure you’ll be okay? I can come with you after we see Blossom.”
Julia shook her head. “I’m fine. Have to do this on my own some time.”
Eleanor nodded, a worried look on her face.
“Take my phone.” She thrust it into Julia’s hand. “Call me if you need to.”
Trying to make up for all the years of neglect again? She had to hold back from biting off her mother’s head. Too little, too late. After several years of therapy with Dr. Devlin, she saw this was the pattern of their relationship. But maybe Eleanor’s letters told a different story. Maybe she’d changed, gotten older, exorcised her demons.
“Are you still going to Narcotics Anonymous meetings?” she asked her mother, not yet willing to put the past behind her.
Eleanor nodded, an eager light in her eyes. “And I’ve been stable on medication for ten years. No breakdowns, no crises. Even my paintings are better.”
Her pleading look shamed Julia. She took the phone, squeezed her mother’s hand and was silent in the car on the way to the hospital.
Now, as she plodded along the highway, she hoped her mother was better for good. Coping with her madness while Blossom seemed to be going off the rails would be too much. Julia had to find her some help. Maybe this doctor the cop mentioned…
Her thoughts crashed around in her head as she rounded the corner of the highway to spy the Council Chambers. Now days the Road and Traffic Authority couldn’t afford rent on a separate premises so had moved into the local Council building. The pink concrete monstrosity perched on the side of the highway, looking like some misguided architect’s idea of late sixties modernity. Completely out of place with the rest of the town’s shabby Art Deco sensibility.
She’d quickly go in, get her license, then cross the square to the parole office. Get everything unpleasant over and done in one hit.
Her heartbeat sped up at the sight of the automatic doors. She could do this. She had a right to live just like normal people. Stepping onto the rubber door mat, she jumped