Reality Queen

Reality Queen

Debbie DiGiovanni

Howard Publishing

Fiction

OUR PURPOSE AT HOWARD PUBLISHING IS TO:

Increase faith in the hearts of growing Christians

Inspire holiness in the lives of believers

Instill hope in the hearts of struggling people everywhere

BECAUSE HE’S COMING AGAIN!

Reality Queen © 2006 by Debbie DiGiovanni

All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America

Published by Howard Publishing Co., Inc.

3117 North Seventh Street, West Monroe, Louisiana 71291-2227

www. howardpublishing.com

www.SimonandSchuster.com

Published in association with the literary agency of Janet Kobobel Grant.

06  07  08  09  10  11  12  13  14  15   10  9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1

Edited by Ramona Cramer Tucker

Interior design by John Mark Luke Designs

Cover design by Terry Dugan Design

ISBN 1-58229-487-9

eISBN: 978-1-451-60554-9

This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of either the author or publisher.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, record, or any other—except for brief quotations in reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

This book is dedicated

to my Mother,

who trusted God all her life.

Many thanks to Ramona Cramer Tucker, my brilliant and bighearted editor; Philis Boultinghouse, a godly example in the mostly hectic publishing world; Janet Kobobel Grant, my patient agent; and Susan Krause, my Reality TV expert. Also to the Red Hat Society ladies for allowing me to grill them over breakfast at the Cracker Barrel and Dr. Phil Higgins for his kind assistance.

I was trying to remember if I had added an egg to my cookie batter when my daughter, Hannah, sat next to me at the kitchen table with that freshman Psych 101 look in her inquisitive brown eyes.

We re studying empty nest syndrome. Have you heard of it?

I wrinkled my nose. Yes, I’ve heard of it.

She patted my right hand with hers, which gave me the impression I was being consoled for some reason. So Mom, Mark is already out of the house.

Yes, I noticed that.

She grew even more serious. And Jeff is practically gone. He’s hardly ever home.

He has been spending a lot of time at the library, I admitted.

It’s Kelly.

Who’s Kelly?

This girl he likes. She works in the reference center.

Jeff likes a girl, does he? I wondered why he was suddenly fascinated with expanding his mind beyond the sports page.

You promised I could live in the dorm next year when I’m a sophomore.

I nodded. That’s the plan. I haven’t been clipping coupons and inventing creative casseroles for nothing.

What is it going to feel like when you have no life?

I gave her a blank look.

What I mean, Mom, is, what are your plans? For when all of us kids are gone.

The blank look remained. Goodness, Hannah. I don’t know. Maybe I’ll take up skydiving or some other low-impact sport.

She rolled her eyes and continued grilling me. Who are you, Mom? Besides being a mother, a people pleaser, and a domestic goddess. If you were on an island, who would you be?

That didn’t take much thought. Stephy Daniels, age forty-three. Blue eyed, wiry-haired brunette. Five foot five, one twenty five … uh, a hundred thirty pounds. Making lots of coconut casserole dishes, I guess.

She focused in on me like a camera. "Not the outer you. The inner you."

Apparently, she and her professor had me pegged for a self-identity crisis.

Have you considered switching your major to animal husbandry? I asked wryly.

Does that have anything to do with scooping poop?

Yes, I verified.

Then absolutely not. She stood up and showed me all those dazzling, straight teeth we paid for, before she made a hasty exit.

I heaved a big sigh, shook my head back and forth a few times, and returned to my duties as a domestic goddess. Checking on my chocolate-chip cookies, I found them to be a perfect golden brown.

Eighteen months later

I didn’t think it would really happen—at least not so fast. All three of our children were gone. It was just Brock and I all alone in our big, yellow house.

Still, there was no weeping or clinging to photo albums. My babies all lived within a forty-mile radius and were only a visit or phone call away. I’d been as busy as ever taking care of them the past six months.

After six rings Hannah picked up and breathed heavily in my ear.

Good morning, I chirped, and she managed a sleepy hello.

I was Hannah’s wake-up call. She slept through alarms and earthquakes. Every morning I called her before her first class. Get a head start on the world! Come on! Get out of bed!

She moaned.

I imagined her rubbing her eyes and yawning. I could hear her shuffling across the floor in her flip-flops and smiled as I thought of her in her Tweety Bird pajamas (the only kind she wore), brown hair in every direction, as unmanageable as mine.

Allowing her a moment of silence to get her bearings, I stared proudly at the pictures of my children. I heard the hum of the microwave in the background.

Hannah, you shouldn’t do that.

Do what? she asked.

Reheat your coffee. It ruins the flavor.

How did you know I was reheating my coffee?

I’m your mother. I know everything.

That’s what I’m afraid of.

Everything I didn’t know she ended up telling me—eventually. I went on to the daily weather report. How does it look there?

After a minute she replied, It’s yucky here. Foggy.

Hannah lived in the dorm at Biola University in La Mirada, where I frequently visited and made her bed, cleaned out her fridge, collected dust bunnies, and left goodies.

The sun is out here, I boasted. It’s another beautiful fall day in Santa Monica.

That’s nice.

I heard her turn on the bathroom faucet. When she was home, sometimes I’d sit on the toilet lid talking to her as she performed her morning routine. We were close.

Hold on, Mom.

I took a sip of orange juice and waited.

OK, I’m back, she said, whishing her toothbrush back and forth.

Brush your tongue, Hannah. It’s a known fact that people who brush their tongues not only have good breath and less plaque, but also enjoy better health, I claimed.

She answered with her mouth full. Well, it’s been harder to brush my tongue since I pierced it.

I almost knocked over my glass of orange juice. You pierced your tongue?

She whished and spat. No. She laughed.

Shock value. How cute. I laughed too.

"But I can if I want. I am twenty, you know."

May I remind you that we are your primary source of income and have the say on your expenditures?

"My only source of income, she clarified. I haven’t been able to find a job."

Honestly, I didn’t mind. I’d rather she concentrate on her studies. Do you have a swim meet this weekend?

No, last week was the last one. Why?

It’s something to do, I said absent-mindedly, then wished I hadn’t said it.

I warned you, Mom. This empty nest syndrome can be a traumatic transition. You need to get a life, she said predictably.

Animal husbandry, Hannah, I reminded her and laughed.

I’m not joking. You need a life.

I have a very fulfilling life.

What? Picking up Dad’s socks?

And taking care of you kids. I think I do more for you now than when you were home.

You really don’t have to.

I paused, not sure if she meant it. Would you like to meet me this afternoon after your classes? I asked hopefully.

Sorry. Rachelle and I are going shopping.

Oh, I said, disappointed. Isn’t she the one with the pierced belly button and nose ring?

And tongue. Hey, maybe I can get her to pierce my tongue.

I laughed, but I wasn’t sure I liked this Rachelle, 4.0 or no 4.0.

Jeff was next on my call list. At eighteen he was the baby of the family. I loved spoiling him, and he loved being spoiled. The poor child wouldn’t eat a peanut-butter sandwich unless the crust was cut off, and he had a dozen other idiosyncrasies that were probably my fault.

Was he driving safely? Was he taking his vitamins? Was he getting enough sleep?

I let the phone ring several times. He always picked up by the third ring, but there was no answer. The answering machine didn’t pick up, either.

The basement apartment he was renting was dangerous. It had ancient wiring, inadequate ventilation, and was basically in bad shape. In my opinion, he was too young to be on his own, but since Mark, his older brother, had moved out at this same age, we had agreed to support him in his decision (or try to, in my case).

I called again and let it ring at least eight times.

I called fifteen minutes later and let it ring twelve times.

Jeff was always home in the mornings.

I called one last time, and there was still no answer.

Something had to be wrong.

I grabbed my purse and jumped in my car, speeding down the road in a state of panic. I rang Mark on the way.

Hello, a deep voice replied.

Mark.

Mom?

Meet me at Jeff’s apartment. I think something is wrong. He’s not answering, and I know he’s home.

Wrong? What could be wrong?

He’s not answering the phone.

He’s probably in the shower, Mark guessed.

For thirty minutes?

Without you yelling, ‘Get out of the shower,’ it’s possible.

I pictured a big grin on his face. I’m sure he thought I was overreacting.

I nearly drove through a red light. Well, I’m worried. Anything could have happened.

Like what?

Someone could have broken into his place. Or he could be lying on the floor dying from carbon-monoxide poisoning. There’s no alarm in that apartment.

Mark was quiet. Then he sighed. "Did you ever think that maybe he doesn’t want to answer? He has caller ID, you know."

I was on to Mark. I knew he ignored my calls sometimes. But not Jeff. Never Jeff. I didn’t say it, however.

Would you please just meet me there? I pleaded.

Sure. Mark’s voice was resigned. Whatever, Mom.

When I reached Jeff’s place, his car was parked on the street. As I ran down the cement stairs to his apartment, I heard music blaring. I didn’t know if this was a good sign.

I banged a couple of times, then used my spare key to unlock the door. Barging in like a fireman, I heard a high-pitched scream.

Jeff was standing a few feet away with a stick in one hand, and the screamer, his blond, blue-eyed girlfriend, was holding on to him like her life depended on it.

Mom! Jeff yelled and dropped the stick.

Kelly held on to Jeff even tighter. I was so scared. We thought someone was breaking in!

I closed the door and took a deep breath. I was relieved Jeff was OK but surprised to see Kelly there so early.

Jeff broke away to turn the music down, and I followed him.

When did she get here? I whispered.

Her well-trained ears heard me from across the room, and she answered for Jeff. About an hour ago. See, I made breakfast. She smiled.

I noted the buffet on the table and gave a tight smile back.

Where did you get a key to my apartment? Jeff asked, baffled.

I made it the day you moved in, I said casually.

Can I have it? I could use a spare key.

I pulled it off the macramé key chain Hannah had made in Girl Scouts and reluctantly handed it over. I was sure I saw Kelly roll her eyes.

Jeff, I thought something terrible had happened to you. Didn’t you hear your phone ring? I snapped.

Uh. He looked to Kelly for assistance, which really bothered me.

We heard it, Kelly said.

I purposefully faced Jeff and away from Kelly so he would have to answer my question. It rang twenty times—at least.

I had the ringer turned off, I guess. He laughed guiltily.

I was sure that was Kelly’s doing.

Anyway, I’m glad to see you’re OK, Jeff.I hugged him. I’ll come by later with some chicken and dumplings.

I won’t be here. I’ll be at work.

I’ll leave it on your doorstep, and you can have it when you get home tonight.

He touched my shoulder. Mom, maybe you should ease up on the meals.

Since when did Jeff turn down my chicken and dumplings? Why?

You shouldn’t go to all that trouble. You have better things to do.

This was troubling.

It would seem to me that leaving food on the doorstep would attract animals, Kelly said, nosing in on our conversation again.

Animals. What kind of animals? I replied, perplexed.

He scrunched his forehead. Dogs. Skunks. Raccoons.

Skunks and raccoons in LA?

Sure, Kelly said, like she was some animal expert.

After a couple of eternal pauses, I said maybe I should go.

There was no objection.

I said good-bye.

Oh, to be a fly on the wall and hear what Kelly had to say.

I stood at the top of the stairs to Jeff’s apartment, feeling lost.

When Mark drove up, I ran over to meet him.

He’s fine, isn’t he? he said as he got out of his blue pickup.

More than fine, I admitted.

Is Kelly over already? He ran his fingers through his sun-streaked, surfer-cut hair.

With a spread that could feed King Kong and his hungry friends. I slumped, wanting to forget the whole terrible mess. Would you like to have breakfast, Son?

He looked pensive. I guessed he thought I meant with Jeff and Kelly.

I mean eat out, I clarified. Anywhere you want. Ed’s Coffee Shop, House of Pancakes. The Disney restaurant would be fun. Remember when you and I went there? I tried to sound convincing.

His dark eyes narrowed. That was ten years ago.

I looked up at his six-foot frame. When did he get to be twenty-one? Or Belisle’s is great. They serve sausage patties the size of pizzas.

I don’t have time, he went on. We’re filming a mock shaving commercial at school this morning, and I’m the subject. He beat on his chest.

Oh, that’s why you’re unshaven.

When he didn’t say anything, I wondered if the comment was meddling.

He took a step closer to me. Mom, I don’t mean to tell you what to do, but you have to give the kid some room.

What do you mean?

You call Jeff several times a day.

I leaned on his truck. That’s an exaggeration.

I was with him yesterday morning. You called him three times.

You were there, and you didn’t say hi? I straightened up.

He looked down.

I defended myself. Well, that was because I wanted to know if he wanted Parmesan on his lasagna, and then I wasn’t sure if he was a size ten or eleven in Nikes. Brands vary, you know.

He raised his eyes to meet mine. Can I be honest?

You usually are.

If you keep treating him like a mama’s boy, no woman will ever want to marry him.

And the problem with that is …? I kept that thought private.

Do I smother you children? I asked, expecting the answer to be a resounding no.

You are very protective.

I wanted to choke on that surprising news. Me, protective?

We need to go through our own ‘stuff,’you know.

Frankly, I didn’t know. I had gone through a lot of stuff alone, and I didn’t care for it.

Mom, you really, really, really need to get a life.

Hannah said that this morning, too, only she left out the really, really, really.

I remembered Jeff’s comment about my having better things to do. It was basically the same thing.

Listen, I’m late for school. He gave me a compassionate look. Please don’t get your feelings hurt. I hate it when you get your feelings hurt.

I shrugged.

I’m not leaving until I know you’re OK, he insisted.

I didn’t feel OK, but I smiled for his benefit.

He lovingly pecked me on the cheek, climbed in his monstrous 4x4, and sped away.

I started my car and sat there for a long time, disbelieving the last hour of unfortunate events.

Finally, no longer able to deny my emotions, I burst into inner complaint.

You change their dirty diapers, stay up with them when they’re sick, drive them around like you’re their personal chauffeur, and on their sixteenth birthday you buy them a shiny, used car to drive their friends around in. Then the traitors use that car to move out and tell you to get a life.

Why didn’t anybody tell me this would happen?

Of course, they had practically stapled a note to my forehead. Everyone from the women in my Bible study, to my bank teller, to the lady at Kmart who was reaching for the Oakland Raiders Bed in a Bag I had claimed for Jeff.

Just wait, she had said, after I’d pleaded my case and won, explaining that my wonderful son, who’d just moved into his own apartment, was a sports fanatic.

Your son will get a taste of freedom and, like my son, you’ll hardly hear from him, she spewed as she walked away.

I remember thinking, Well, she’s not very nice, and she probably doesn’t treat her son very nice, either.

Now I wasn’t sure it was that simple.

I retrieved a handful of Kleenex from my Vera Bradley bag and unleashed a waterfall.

Jeff peered out the window. I didn’t want him to wonder why I was still there, so I put on my sunglasses, waved, and drove away, bleary-eyed and shaken.

I had been ushered into a full-fledged identity crisis, just like Hannah and her professor predicted.

Where does one go to have a self-identity crisis?

About thirty minutes later I found myself at the park near my home. There were probably all kinds of people having identity crises there. But as I walked on the paved trail, I wondered. The cyclists, the Rollerbladers, the joggers, and the exercise enthusiasts all looked so happy. That made me kind of happy, until I reached the lake where I had taken my children when they were small. Then the waterfall flowed again. The wadded Kleenex ball came out of my bag.

My tears were interrupted when playgroup moms overtook me with their ultramodern strollers. Five or so women chatted as their younger children fought over the duck food and the older children terrorized the ducks.

I eavesdropped on their conversations, which ran the gamut from motherhood is the most fulfilling job in the world to what a draining existence it is.

I would love to have one day for myself, a harried mother wailed as her son tugged on her shirt.

I remembered that game. Our mom’s group called it One Day.

One day I’m going to swim with the dolphins.

One day I’m going to take a gondola ride in Venice.

One day I’m going to start my own clothing line.

We’d dream. Or at least they would. I never could think of anything interesting I wanted to do, except be a comedienne, which my friends highly discouraged.

They called me Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. I like Kraft Macaroni and Cheese.

But suddenly I wanted to do something spontaneous.

I walked along the lush grass and thought about it. Then I realized if it were a truly spontaneous act, I wouldn’t be thinking about it. I’d be doing it.

Hmm. If the Society for Barefoot Living had a club dedicated to the experience, there must be something to it.

I looked around before I flung off my tennis shoes and wiggled my bare toes. Then I ran with no particular direction in mind, leaving my Keds where they landed. Holding on to my bag, I tried to capture the sensory experience.

The only thing I captured was wet grass on my feet. I had forgotten about last night’s rain. My feet were a soggy, muddy mess.

Panting, and obviously out of