“Ethel, it’s just Ace. She’s tryin’ to help. I locked myself out again!” Jack continues.
Ethel’s eyebrows knit in confusion, like she isn’t positive that it’s really her husband yelling at her. I fight to create a coherent explanation over the fear screaming in my head.
“H-hi … hi, Mrs. Janes. I haven’t seen you in a while, but it’s me … Ace. I live a few doors down. David and Muriel Bosse’s daughter.” I work to keep my voice soft as I search her face for any sign of recognition.
“Dammit, Ethel, let the poor girl in and come unlock the door!”
“I’ll uh, I can go back out this way.” I motion to the empty space behind me.
Sneering, she maintains her aim. “You do that.”
I quickly scramble out the window, keeping my eyes focused on her, noticing that as I move her level of unease seems to increase. My upper body and one leg are out and my mind’s so focused on trying to keep my fingers, which are shaking and slick with sweat, gripping securely so I can pull my next leg free, I barely notice Max’s hand clasping around my freed leg. Leaning back so I can pull my second leg free, a deafening blast erupts from behind me and I lose balance. I half lunge, half fall from the window.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I prepare to feel the slam of the earth and instead feel two hard arms below my knees and back that feel more like two-by-fours than flesh.
He drops me to the ground and lays himself over me, resting most of his weight on his hands and feet, while his eyes dance rapidly over my face.
“Ethel? What in God’s name are you doing?” Jack yells angrily.
“Are you alright?’ Max’s eyes scan over my face in fear. I nod several times, and Max nods in turn like he’s trying to convince himself.
“She’ll be fine. Ethel couldn’t hit a fish in a barrel. But look at the hole she made in my house!” Jack groans as he elaborately waves a hand at the large hole blown through the siding.
Another deafening blast erupts above us, and I barely catch sight of Jack cowering in surprise before Max’s body shifts over mine again, blocking my vision with his shoulder.
He slowly lifts himself again and rolls so he’s crouched on his hands and feet, staring up to see the new hole a few feet from the first.
“Holy hell, Ethel, what are you doing?”
A loud clamber has me wondering if Ethel’s just managed to give herself a heart attack, or worse, shot herself. Seconds later, her face appears in the window, obviously stepping on something to look out. She appears unharmed, eyebrows furrowing as her eyes lock on Jack.
“Jack? How’d you get out there?”
“I’ve been out here. Weren’t you listenin’? I locked myself out, had to get the neighbor kids to help me. What are you doin’ with my gun, Ethel?”
“Taking five years off my life,” I whisper, dropping a hand to my forehead and closing my eyes as I release a loud sigh.
A soft chuckle makes the hair on my arms dance with his close proximity. My eyes open to his piercing cobalt blues inches from my own, close enough I can see the flecks of lighter and darker blue around the edges creating a mesmerizing maze of blue that I’ve never seen before.
“You’re sure you’re alright? That first shot only missed you by a little over a foot. What in the hell are they doing with a shotgun?” Max’s demeanor seems to shift as he climbs to his feet. His body is rigid as his focus turns from the house to me before he shakes his head and rakes his eyes over my body several times ensuring that I’m indeed fine.
“You cut your leg.” He squats beside my feet.
“It’s not a big deal. I can hardly feel it.” Sitting up, I look at the small gash across my shin. “Once it’s cleaned it’ll be nothing.”
“ACE! ACE!” I quickly stand, hearing Kyle’s voice. “What in the hell’s going on? Are you guys okay?” His chest rises and falls with labored breaths as he stops in front of us with Caulder right behind him.
The police officer is apparent in Caulder as he steps forward with his hand clutched to the gun holster he always wears on his right hip.
“We’re okay. It was just a misunderstanding.”
Kyle doesn’t even look at me as I try assuring him. They’re looking past me, widening with horror at the sight of the Janes’s house.
His mouth opens, but words don’t come and I take the opportunity to attempt to smooth things over. “Let’s go. I’m starving,” I lie, placing a hand on Kyle’s shoulder and the other on Caulder’s. I gently push them forward, hoping to diffuse the situation before Caulder starts issuing citations and giving gun safety advice.
“I’m real sorry about that, kids. She’s been hearing all these stories on the news about people breaking into homes, and all the terrible ruckus they’re causing. It’s got her a little on edge.” Mr. Janes shakes his head and shoots us an apologetic grimace.
“You guys should consider mace, or another form of protection ... maybe calling the police,” Caulder suggests, turning around and looking between the gun holes in the wall, and to me. “You could have easily killed someone today.”
“Bye, Mr. Janes.” I call over my shoulder as I give my brothers another shove in the hopes of moving them before any of the Bosse women make their way over. They would lose it.
I can feel Kyle’s reluctance under my palms as his muscles strain against me and realize my efforts are likely futile.
“She forgot who I was. She’s not doing well. I’m fine. Really. Please, let’s not make a big deal out of this.” I keep my voice quiet so Jack can’t overhear me. He still isn’t ready to come to terms with the fact his wife is starting to have more frequent lapses of dementia.
I see the understanding in Caulder’s eyes. He responded to a call a few weeks ago about an elderly lady that was found in the park that couldn’t recall where she lived.
“Please?” I beg. Kyle’s eyes focus on mine for a moment and then move, and I follow his gaze to Max, who looks like he too is waging an internal battle with himself. I give Kyle my best pleading look and hear the deep intake of breath that he releases in a whoosh. I smile in appreciation at his resolve.
He wraps an arm around my shoulders and shakes his head a few times as we make our way to the front yard. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have had you do that. It was a stupid idea.”
“What in the hell happened?” Savannah cries from the driveway.
“The Janes’s need a hide-a-key,” I reply, forcing my smile to appear genuine. “Did you guys bring your suits? Dad said he wants a rematch,” I say with practiced deflection.
“What in heaven’s name was goin’ on over there? Were those gunshots we heard? Eric thought it was just a car backfirin’, but it was so loud!” My mom rushes to us, her eyes bright as they scan over the four of us, stopping on my leg. “What happened?”
“It was nice of him to check.” I hear Max murmur as he walks past us and disappears into the house.
“Apparently she startled Mrs. Janes when she was climbing through their bathroom window—” Caulder starts, his voice turning factual as it does anytime he discusses work.
“Why were you climbin’ through their window?” Mom ushers me in the house as I shoot Caulder a glare.
“Mr. Janes locked himself out again,” Kyle answers. “I couldn’t fit, so I came and got her.” His expression is filled with guilt. I open my mouth to assure them once again that I’m fine, but my words cease when my dad barrels into the foyer, in his swim shorts and soaking wet. His eyes quickly glide over the small group of us and then close in relief. He lets out a deep breath and wipes a hand across his brow.
“Why didn’t you guys get me?” It’s not often that my dad looks angry, but right now his temper is spiked higher than we usually ever see it as he looks to my mom and sister. He turns his full attention to me. “You got shot at?”