Reality Lies by D.F. Downey (e manga reader .TXT) 📕

“I don’t agree. We have to make sure that nothing reinforces what he saw.”

“That shouldn’t be too difficult now that I’m out. There’s no reason why I should see him very often. Although, I guess that doesn’t apply to you.”

“What do you mean by that?” Jackie turned slightly red.

“Don’t get so defensive. I’m not implying anything” She paused a minute, gauging Jackie’s reaction. “Wait a minute you’re not attracted to him are you?” She looked Jackie in the eyes. “You are! Well, that’s unexpected. ”

“I’m not attracted to him.” She protested. “I’m a married woman with a young child for crying out loud. He’s not even my type. He’s too young anyway.”

Johanna laughed, “You so are.”

Jackie face got redder yet, “He is kind of cute. Don’t you think?”

Johanna nodded, “A total hottie!”

Jackie was enjoying the sudden turn in the conversation. “What an excuse. We both know there wasn’t any kidnapping but you can tell him what you choose. You could string him along for months!”

“Years!” Jackie laughed.

“You’re bad.”

“But really, we have to be more careful for Jay’s sake.”

“For you too, we don’t want the Detective to find out there wasn’t a kidnapping.”

“Right, what do you think he’d do?”

“Probably use it to get you to go to bed with him.” Johanna teased.

“What…ah…really! You don’t really think he’s that kind of guy, do you? That desperate, that hard-up?”

“Naah! Just playing with you, but still, I do believe he could use it to get closer to you. He might let you decide how close.”

Jackie smiled wryly as she stared away, “That sounds tempting. But we’ll all be better off if we never go there. Let’s try and make sure the secret stays with us.”

“You’ll have no more problems with me.”

“Good.” She pulled into her driveway. “Let’s get you set up. It shouldn’t be more than a couple of days, probably after the weekend.”

“I’ll sleep anywhere. It really doesn’t matter. After the last month anything will be like the Ritz. Does your husband know I’m staying?”

“Oh, Joey’s okay with anything as long as it doesn’t affect him. I could put a homeless shelter in the basement and he wouldn’t bat an eye.”

“How about a detective in his bed?”

Jackie realized she had to establish limits, “Will you drop that! Nothing’s going to happen. I don’t need the complications.”

“Okay, I’ll drop it. Sorry, I thought you were all right with that.”

“Johanna you don’t know me. You may never know me. I’m sorry if I gave you the impression that I didn’t mind. But we’re in my home now and I don’t talk of such things in my house.”

“Okay, I said I’ll drop it.” She waited a moment then changed the subject. “So show me where I’m sleeping.”

“It’s right down the stairs. The sofa pulls into a sleeper. I’ll get you the sheets and pillow.”

“I’m going to need to go to my house for awhile. You know to check up on things and get some stuff together for the next few days.”

“Sure. Do you want to do it now?”

“Okay.”

“Boys, we’re going over to Johanna’s house. Come on get in the car.”

“Yay! I can show you my room and my toys.” Jay chimed in.

The boys took off for the car. “They’ve been inseparable since Jay’s been here. I don’t know what they’re going to do when Jay moves out.”

“I’m sure they’ll get used to it.” Johanna stated coldly. “They don’t have a choice anyway.”

“They can still get together for play dates.” Jackie offered.

“Sure once we’re settled in and everything’s back to normal. They can get together once in awhile.”

The women rode in silence in the front seat, the boys wouldn’t shut up in the back.

“In my room I have tons of toys.” Jay said excitedly.

“I can’t wait!” Robbie answered.

The women shared the same thought sarcastically. Jackie glanced over at Johanna catching her eye. Breaking the tension, Johanna mouthed I can’t wait. They couldn’t help but smile.

When they pulled in front of Johanna’s it was obvious the house was a shambles. Someone had broken the rear windows and trashed the place. They didn’t take much but they destroyed pretty much everything. Johanna had gone ahead. Jackie had remained in the car with the boys.

She knew then and there that she would have to stay here a while to get the house in order. She decided to give Jackie a call even though she was just outside.

The William Tell Overture sounded below the dash. “I have to change that ring tone.” Jackie vowed.

“Hello.”

“It’s me, Johanna. I’m calling from inside.”

“What, is something wrong?”

“The house is a mess, someone broke in.”

Jackie hadn’t even considered this possibility, “Did you call the police?”

“No, I’ve had enough of them besides it doesn’t appear anything of real value is gone. It’s just that everything has been tossed around. Would you mind terribly telling Jay that mommy’s going to stay here a while.”

“How do you want me to tell him?” Jackie was upset at the prospect of Jay’s possible reaction.

“Make something up, use your imagination. I’m sure you’ll say the right thing.”

“Okay, when should I pick you up?”

“I’ll give you call. Will that be okay?” Johanna questioned.

“Uh sure, see you later than.”

“Later.”

As she placed the phone in her bag she searched her mind for what to tell Jay. “Jay, that was your mom. She asked me to take you home for awhile. She’ll join us later.”

“Why?”

“She’s looking for your favorite toys and she can’t find them.”

He was out the car door and running up the walkway before she could stop him.

“Jay come back.” but he had disappeared inside the front door before she could stop him.

“Too late, I guess. Robbie come with me, we got to collect Jay.” Robbie was right behind her.

They got inside just in time to witness the room by room transformation. Jay was in the house and the house was as it was in his mind.

“Good thing we didn’t call the police.” Jackie mumbled. She was becoming all too used to Jay’s reality.

“Mom, I’ll be back later.”

“Okay honey, but be careful.”

The young man appeared to be about sixteen, tall, slender, good-looking. His mother looked surprisingly young. She couldn’t have been more than twenty-eight but that would have made her twelve when the boy was born.

“I will Mom.” he opened the door. She gave him a mom look.

“I love you mom.”

“Love you too.” she replied.

He was headed to the mall. “How are you getting there?” his mother asked.

“Brian’s older brother, Eddie, got the car. He’s gonna pick me up.”

Just then a horn sounded.

“He’s outside, gotta go!”

Jay ran out the door and hopped in the back of the Civic. All Johanna could do is watch as the car disappeared down the street.

Inside the car’s cramped confines the boys’ gave their minimalist greetings. “Hey.” Brian grunted.

“Hey.” Jay replied.

Jay settled in the backseat. He didn’t even notice the boom emanating an inch from his ear.

“Did you see Robbie?”

“Nyah, he can’t get out tonight. He got to stay at his father’s and he insists on them doing stuff together.”

They cruised along the boulevard.  Occasionally, they let out a whoop if they saw a hot looking girl walking alongside.  Well, actually not that hot.  Honestly, the major criteria were that she was female and ambulatory.

“Check this one out! Oh my God! She’s amazing! Let’s get a look at her face.” Silence as they moved past the almost mandatory butter face, generally attached to a young firm body. “What do you say Jay?”

Jay hadn’t been paying much attention. He saw her from behind all right but hadn’t really focused on her face. He glanced over. “Charlize Theron.”

Sure enough that’s what she now looked like, albeit like her movie image.

“Cool!” Danny, the guy next to Jay exclaimed.

Brian pivoted towards the back seat. “What did I tell you? Strange thing happens when Jay’s on board.”

Jay had heard this before but still didn’t quite get what they meant. “She’s a beautiful girl, what’s strange about that?”

“Nothing, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with a beautiful girl.” The guys shared the joke. Jay joined them even though he wasn’t quite in on it.

“Maybe she’d like to join us. There’s room for one more.” Jay proffered.

“Sure.” Brian rolled down the window. “Hey!” the young woman picked her head up a bit, surprised by the interest.

“Yes?” her tone just a bit defensive.

“We’re going to the mall to hang out. You want to come?”

“What?” she blushed shyly. “I don’t know?”

“Ah c’mon, what were you going to do?”

“Hangout I guess?”

“Wouldn’t you rather do it with us?”

She hesitated a moment. She was not used to positive attention. Part of her was afraid they were messing with her but that wasn’t the part that answered, “Yes.” She hopped in the back next to Jay.