The Tree Goddess Page 33

  Alexi must have really had plans for the day. She blow dried her hair and gave it some slight curl. Then she made up her baby face with cosmetics and glossy lipstick. It was all completed with a thorough spraying of perfume, which would remind someone more of cotton candy and bubblegum, instead of the desired effect of a sexy girl.

  Was she doing the right thing? Alexi didn't care. She had the power! With her cute figure, the tight fitting clothes showed off all those things that Father would have preferred to be covered in an old-fashioned, Amish dress.

  Alexi entered the kitchen close to 10:00 where Mother was making the preparations for dinner later that night. She took sight of her irresistibly cute daughter and finally asked, “So, what's up? What's the plan for today?”

  “Oh, nothing; Angela and I are going to the park and stuff.”

  “Yeah? Well that ought to be fun.” Mother knew it had to involve boys, but she wasn't going to say anything.

  There was, however, a crucial warning that needed to be given to her daughter. “Alexi, you have to promise me that you will be very careful out there. There have been a couple disappearances in Mapleview and the police think they're related.” Mother was referring not only to the disappearance of the waitress at Hotlicks Sports Bar and Grill, but the woman who had been abducted from her home, earlier that week. “Please be careful, okay?”

  “I will…”

  Whatever the plan was for the day, it wasn't to take place until around lunch. Alexi remained at home, doing her typical Saturday morning activities. Then around noon, a knock at the door produced Alexi's best friend, Angela.

  Five minutes later, Alexi entered the house. “Mom, do you know where the bicycle pump is?” It was an unusual request because Eileen's daughter usually walked to the park. Why was a bicycle necessary that day? Obviously, there was something that Alexi was hiding. A bicycle was only needed if long distance was to be traveled.

  Mother hid her suspicions while waiting for more evidence. But she wasn't sure where the pump was. “Honey, I don't know where your father keeps that. Did you check the garage?”

  “Yeah…”

  “Well, that's the only place I can think of.”

  More rummaging could be heard from within the garage. Alexi returned with the announcement that she would fill her tires at Angela's house. Several minutes later, Eileen took sight of both Alexi and Angela, sailing down the main road of the subdivision, on their bikes, towards Mapleview Road. They were dolled up so cute in their fashionable clothes, styled hair, makeup and whatever perfumes that blew in the wind behind them. They weren't going to the park! The two girls were on the way to downtown Mapleview!

  Eileen was a child once. And she recalled the many times of believing to have pulled a “fast one” on her mother. Hopefully, Alexi wasn't going to get into too much trouble. Surely it involved a boy, probably one who lived in town.

  Another 10 minutes passed and Eileen was struck with the terrible thought that perhaps her daughter was going to meet that Wayne! But she calmed her worries. Surely Wayne was ancient history. Alexi's phone had been spot-checked, regularly, which showed no communication with the older guy. During those late night bed-checks, the girl was found to be sleeping soundly under the blankets with head on the pillows.

  Ironically, at the very moment that Mother convinced herself that all was well, Alexi and Angela pulled their bicycles into the parking of Big Boy's Beef and Ribs. Wayne's midnight-blue Mustang was parked in the back lot, just as shiny as ever. And it was lunchtime as evidenced by the multitude of cars that filled the remaining lot.

  The two girls parked their bikes near the front window and entered the noisy establishment. Patrons sat at tables, ripping away at ribs or wolfing down jumbo burgers with all the works. And famished people stood in one of 3 lines, waiting to give their orders.

  Wayne wasn't standing behind one of the cash registers. He couldn't be seen filling drinks or bringing trays of food to tables. Where could he have been? Alexi was deeply disappointed. Her sorely missed ex-boyfriend would be unable to see her sexiness while she stood in line. Still, both girls were hungry and hoped that whatever pooled funds of allowance might get them lunch.

  With only one more customer ahead in line, Wayne finally emerged from the back room and took sight of his young and beautiful Eileen who beamed while beckoning for his attention. He missed her so much, but was nearly caught some weeks ago. Wayne halfheartedly smiled and waved while filling a tray of soft drinks.

  Finally, the two girls made it to the front of the line with a combined $5.92. The cashier greeted, “Hi, welcome to Big Boy's. Can I interest you in a slab of ribs for $17.89?”

  Angela quickly responded, “Do you have bratwurst sausages? I love bratwurst sausages.”

  Wayne quickly approached the young Eileen and her friend. “Hi girls, how are you doing today?”

  Alexi quickly responded, “Good!”

  Wayne turned to the cashier, “Get them whatever they want. It's on the house.” Then he looked at the two girls, “Lunch is on me, girls.” And with that he walked back to the office.

  Is this all that Alexi had come for, free lunch? She dressed in her sexiest clothes, wore glossy lipstick and slightly curled her hair. But the best Wayne could do was offer a free lunch? Although generous of Wayne and most appreciated, Alexi was disappointed to say the least.

  Seated at the booth with Angela while waiting for their food, Alexi took a deep breath, pulled out her cell phone and selected Wayne from the contacts list. She simply texted, “Hi.”

  Moments later, Wayne responded. “Wut r u doing here?”

  “Came 2 c u. I miss u :-(”

  But Wayne reminded the young girl of his concerns. “I dnt wnt 2 get in trbl. Parents… cops… jail.”

  Alexi reassured her boyfriend, “Don't worry, its all cool now.”

  Soon, the food arrived: Alexi's Works Burger without lettuce, tomatoes, onions, mushrooms or cheese; and Angela's bratwurst sausage on a bun with mustard.

  Wayne had yet to respond, so Alexi continued the conversation. “I just want 2 c u. Its been long enuf now.”

  Wayne finally agreed, “Ok fine. Meet 2nite @ spot. But pleeze b careful.”

  Keep in mind that Alexi was unaware of Mother's regular bed-checks. And they weren't done every night. Eileen wasn't an obsessive, fanatic mother. But she did have a daughter who was sneaking out at night to be with an older man. Do you blame her for the checks that usually happened on Friday or Saturday night?

  But on this particular Saturday night, Eileen and her husband opened up a couple bottles of wine, and then retired to the bedroom for one of those eventful evenings behind the closed door. Eileen made a mental note to check on her daughter in the late night hours. But all that wine and before-bed exercise caused Eileen to sleep deeply until the morning hours.

  She awoke on Sunday morning, fully rested but disappointed she had missed the Saturday night check. Alexi now lay in her bed, sound asleep. Eileen carefully inspected the curtains and the window sill for any evidence of climbing out. It was October and no reason for the window to be open. It was closed, for now, and the lock was engaged. Still, this didn't satisfy her curiosity.

  Eileen went outside below her daughter's window in search of any shoeprints in the dirt garden. And there, a barely discernable print that could have been matched to Alexi was imprinted in the cold ground. The print could have been left over from weeks ago, but Mother knew better. Instincts told her that Alexi had, once again, sneaked out to be with some boy. In fact, she probably went to see that Wayne!

  The evidence piled against the sleeping girl. Eileen took the cell phone from her daughter's nightstand and brought it into the kitchen for inspection. Searching the archive of messages, no texts were sent or received from Wayne. And from what Eileen could read, there were no late night activities much less discussions of meeting in the evening. Apparently, Alexi had deleted the evidence.

  Mother was cunning. Rather than approach her daug
hter with her suspicions, it was best to let her believe that all was well. And suddenly there was a little project to be done on that cold, October Sunday. Being that autumn was well under way, winter would soon arrive. There was no reason for windows to be open. On that day, Eileen went through the house and lowered the storm windows for added insulation of heat. On Alexi's window a simple detection device was added: a transparent piece of tape that connected the frame to the window sill outside. If Alexi opened the window; something unnecessary in the cold, autumn air of Mapleview; the undetectable piece of tape would break. Alexi would be busted!

  But the tape remained unbroken! Every day when Alexi was in school, Eileen checked her daughter's window and could see no evidence of a late night escape. She continued to check her daughter's phone, but no messages to or from Wayne existed in the archive. Eileen even suspended the practice of checking the phone with the hopes of throwing her daughter off guard. And when seized for a surprise phone check, nothing was found. Alexi was truly a bright girl, indeed!

  But it wasn't Alexi's intelligence that kept her one step ahead of Mother. In truth, Wayne was keeping his distance. Sure, a couple text messages may have been sent throughout the week. Wayne's young Eileen would ask how his day was and then mention that she missed him while inquiring of the next night out together. He'd entertain the young girl and make plans to meet the upcoming Friday. But then Wayne would send a “regretful” text late on Friday which mentioned his fictionally, ailing mother that demanded her son's presence. If Wayne's mother wasn't ill, then Wayne, himself, would be ill while claiming to have some nasty stomach flu or a case of mono.

  Soon it was November. And perhaps where you live, this month may offer a few warm days here and there. But for Mapleview, these days in the middle of autumn are not had. Halloween is cold and has even offered flurries in recent years. Windows are shut, snow begins to fall and people look forward to the holidays to remain cheerful.

  Wayne was a lonely man and not very fond of the winter months. He developed seasonal depression once the weather grew cold and wouldn't pull out until spring returned. And during this time of year, Wayne yearned most for his Eileen, not some teenage girl that reminded him of a love that had been lost. Really, Alexi was the next, best thing to Eileen; and Wayne loved her nearly as much as the original. But seasonal depression caused a tendency to lose value in things important to Wayne.

  That would change on a Thursday morning when Wayne awoke much, too early. It wasn't necessary to report to Big Boy's Beef and Ribs until 10:30. Why was he wide awake at 6:30? Depression can sometimes do that, and Wayne had every reason to be depressed. He hated his job, bills stacked up and it was another year without the woman he loved. Months were wasted on some young girl that resembled Eileen. What was he thinking? He could have ended up in jail!

  Pointless to try and go back to sleep, Wayne cursed while rising out of bed and peeked outside the apartment window. It looked cold and gray outside; a long day for sure!

  The apartment needed cleaning, laundry piled up and there wasn't any milk in the refrigerator for cereal. “Bah, I don't want cereal!” Looking in his wallet, Wayne counted $11.00 which could have afforded him a nice breakfast and coffee at the Mapleview Café.

  * * *

  Seated at a small table at the Mapleview Café, while waiting for his ham and cheese omelet, Wayne neared the end of a second cup of coffee. He gazed out the window which offered a sight opposite to the warm summer. The caffeine buzz temporarily alleviated the depression as he thought to himself, “I'm sick of this town. What do I have to live for, here? I've wasted nearly 20 years of my life since high school, working the same job and putting up with the cold weather each year.”

  Suddenly, a sense of freedom provided an urge to pack up and leave his hated life behind. Wayne could have moved to where it's warm year round. Maybe he could have landed another job in construction, return to night school and finally make something of himself.

  Life's cruelty took that moment of alleviation and provided a family of tourists who entered the Mapleview Cafe. It was such an unusual time of year for visitors; Thanksgiving wasn't until weeks away. And what do you suppose Wayne noticed of this family? The happy wife and mother who seated her children slightly resembled his long, lost Eileen.

  She was probably very, much how Eileen would appear today. The woman was such a nurturing mother and beautiful as ever. Wayne continued to study from a distance as his omelet finally arrived with a refill of coffee. Soon the woman took notice of his watching and occasionally glanced up to lock eyes with the stranger. At some point, her husband rose from the table for a quick trip to the restroom. Such a lucky guy! Why couldn't Wayne have had the same luck?

  Although a darker color hair and a slightly different body type; the woman's eyes were so blue, just like the Eileen he once dated and the one who was now a young girl. It wasn't necessary for Wayne to wish! His wish had already come true, and it was better.

  Earlier that year, Eileen returned with so many years erased, a young girl just as Wayne remembered when he first met her. And she was texting him, sending little messages during the day of how she missed him. The young Eileen even came to visit one crisp, autumn Saturday. With this realization in mind, Wayne decided it was now time to resume his relationship with the young girl.

  He picked up the cell phone and sent her a text, “Hey, miss you!”

  Five minutes later, she responded back, “Miss u 2. In class. Must b careful!”

  Apparently his young Eileen was in class and unable to use the cell phone. That was okay; text messages store in memory for later. He could still ask her out that upcoming Friday. “I'm feeling better. Wanna go out Fri nite?”

  “Sure luv 2.”

  * * *

  Thursday night would be marked as the eve before a weekend of terror that started with a simple conversation by Father, during dinner. “I guess they're closing down the Mapleview Coffeehouse.”

  Mother rang in, “Awe, that's a shame.”

  Father continued, “You know, it's amazing how one jerk can screw it up for everyone. That place was there for years. And the owner is the third woman missing.”

  Mother sighed, “I hope they find whoever is behind the disappearances.” Then she looked up at her precious Alexi, “And please be careful out there, Honey.”

  Father quickly interrupted, “Well the same goes for you!”

  There was a moment of silence as the family ate their dinner of mostaccioli and meatballs. Then Father looked up at his daughter, “You going out this weekend? Any plans?”

  “Um, I haven't talked to Angela, yet.”

  “Good; stay home this weekend. It's too cold out there, anyway.”

  Alexi was disgusted and quietly exclaimed her despise towards Father's harsh decisions.

  But Father would only reinforce his order. “Look, it's going to be cold this weekend! There are women disappearing! You want to find out what happens to them? I suggest you stay home. You're too young to be going out Friday and Saturday nights, anyway.”

  A weekend without friends was going to be a long one, indeed. Really, Father didn't mean that Alexi couldn't go out Saturday morning and afternoon. He only wanted his daughter home before dark. But little did he know that in the darkened hours, Alexi had Friday night plans to sneak out her bedroom window and willingly see a man who was quite dangerous, himself.

  The mission would begin on Friday afternoon, just after dark. Alexi carefully opened her bedroom window and slowly raised the storm window. Surely it must have broken the transparent tape, and Mother would find out the following morning. The storm window was terribly noisy as the frame screeched through the tracks. It was best to do this now while Father was in the living room—TV volume up and Mother preparing dinner in the kitchen. Alexi would act her usual self during dinner, appearing to be disappointed that she was confined to the house that night.

  Alexi remained in contact with her boyfriend throughout the evening (deleting messages
in case mother seized the phone, of course!) 8:00…9:00…10:00: Mother and Father stayed awake in the living room. Surely they would retire after the 10:00 news. All the Alexi could do was watch videos on the web and play games.

  “They shud b going 2 bed soon.”

  “Ok”

  “Plez dont leave!”

  “I won't. I miss u 2 much!”

  10:35, the sound of Father cracking open a can of beer could be heard. Adding to the frustration, Mother placed a bag of popcorn in the microwave. How much longer would Alexi have to wait?

  “They're still awake!”

  “Its ok I've got all nite.”

  At 11:06, Alexi could hear the TV turn off and Father stumble to bed. Mother opened the door and peeked her head in her daughter's bedroom. “It's time for bed, Alexi.”

  “Okay.”

  While lying in bed, fully dressed, Alexi listened in darkness for the sound of Father's snoring. When heard, she waited until nearly midnight before getting out of bed and putting on her jacket. Now I won't bore the reader with the lengthy technique of slowly opening that bedroom window. It wasn't until 12:20 when her feet touched the ground. Living on ground level, she slowly closed the window behind her. And it took almost as long to close the window as it did to open.

  Alexi was a free woman and ran to the forested patch that separated her neighborhood from the other. As she walked across the soccer field towards the playground, she could see the silhouette of Wayne's midnight-blue Mustang. When close, he exited the vehicle and approached the young girl until they embraced.

  Years of missing his precious Eileen along with the Thursday morning experience at the Mapleview Café fueled Wayne's desire to hug and caress the young girl. “I missed you so much. I love you.”