Excerpt:
“They still have her at the Hearthville Mental Hospital on suicide watch. I go to see her two or three times a week. Some days mom seems to be normal. Other days, she is non-responsive. And some days it is like she is in some imaginary world. They say my visits are helping her but I don’t know. I guess all the visits she receives that brings her back to a more normal state helps stop her from totally losing a grasp of reality or becoming totally non-responsive, comatose.”
“I am sure your visits are helping her. I know she never really liked me but mom said I should try to visit her sometime. What do you think?”
Hearthville Serial 3
What Happened To Victor:
A Paranormal Suspense Gangster Horror
By Charles Peters
Copyright 2019
All Rights Reserved
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Chapter 8
Chapter 8
Steed discovered his cousin Roger Ogleby parked in the parking area in front of the garage. Nineteen year old Roger Ogleby had dark black hair and eyes that were a deep blue. Sometimes his eyes had a glisten and a sparkle but other times his eyes revealed a dark, menacing look. He was described by most as a tall young man. He stood six feet and three inches. He was the jock type and had a muscular build.
Steed waved to his cousin Roger as he got out of his expensive car. Roger yelled, “Yo cousin, was that Judy Duddley speeding off?”
Steed walked up to Roger. “Yeah. She and I have been dating.”
Roger considered how he had once been friends with the Duddley family but didn’t say anything about the past. “Man. It is good to see you.”
“Same. So, were you out to see granddad?”
“No. He is in Savannah with father. I missed the both of them. I’ve been out to the college and trying to decide whether I want to be the quarterback of their college football team. I don’t know.”
Steed said, “Well, it would be cool if you did come back to town. I’ve met some people but I could use a close friend here in this backwoods whistle-stop. I have not fully adjusted to the move from Atlanta to Hearthville.”
“Moving is hard. But this place is hardly a backwoods whistle-stop.”
“Well, I do not regret moving here so I could could be near mom. I guess I did sound overly harsh about being here.”
“How is your mom, Aunt Rachel?”
“They still have her at the Hearthville Mental Hospital on suicide watch. I go to see her two or three times a week. Some days mom seems to be normal. Other days, she is non-responsive. And some days it is like she is in some imaginary world. They say my visits are helping her but I don’t know. I guess all the visits she receives that brings her back to a more normal state helps stop her from totally losing a grasp of reality or becoming totally non-responsive, comatose.”
“I am sure your visits are helping her. I know she never really liked me but mom said I should try to visit her sometime. What do you think?”
“Sure. Sometime you should go with me to visit her. That would be good. I’d like that and if she is more at herself she will enjoy seeing you. I should tell you that she asks about Jossette. She can’t seem to remember that Jossette died.”
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“I know how much Aunt Rachel loved Jossette. She, mom, and Jossette did enjoy their shopping trips.” Roger paused. He thought a moment to consider his words. “I think back to the day of Jossette’s funeral and then we were gathered at home afterwards. I was in such a mess. Even without the tranquilizers mom was giving me, I was kind of like in auto-mode. And I was confused and I am confused on some things regarding that day. I know that I am. But what happened with Aunt Rachel just does not make sense. Now I think back and I try to remember that day. I remember mom screaming when she found Aunt Rachel in Jossette’s closet where Aunt Rachel had hung herself.”
“What mom did that day shocked everyone. Attempted suicide never makes sense. But you know mom had a history of drug usage and weird behavior.”
“Jossette mentioned some things but she loved Aunt Rachel. Even when Jossette was angry at her, she would hold back. I didn’t push it. Regardless. When I say it does not make sense I am not speaking in the platitude. Aunt Rachel was grieving like the rest of us but she even reached out to console me and you know she seldom had patience with me and my football talk. In my mind it is foggy. It is hazy. Still, I remember Aunt Rachel suggesting that she and I should go to see the Falcons play sometime and that maybe I could teach her more about the game. Then I remember seeing her laying on the stretcher and being carried out. I wonder how could someone have that conversation with me–trying to make me feel better–and then a few hours later try to kill themselves. What happened between the time of our conversation and just a few hours later that would cause her to do something like that? Did I accidentally say something that I shouldn’t have that pushed her over the edge?”
“I don’t think you said anything that pushed her over the edge and caused her to snap. I think back to that day also. It is complicated. It is confusing. On the one hand, there is a part of me that wants to say that the way mom snapped does not make sense. Still, I know what was happening to mom was more than just the grief over Jossette’s death. Before Jossette’s death, mom had started back doing drugs. Jossette figured it out and Jossette flipped out on mom because one of Jossette’s friends had recently died from an overdose. Also, you remember how mean mom would get from some of the drugs she would take.”
“Jossette had told me how mean Aunt Rachel could get though I was not as close to Aunt Rachel as Jossette. I didn’t see it. I do know something happened shortly before we moved from Hearthville to Atlanta that really upset Jossette with Aunt Rachel. I realized the strain between Aunt Rachel and Jossette but Jossette wouldn’t tell me about it in much detail. She would just say, ‘I love Aunt Rachel. That is not going to change.'”
Steed thought about that day that Rachel had caught Victor and Jossette naked in the attic. It was an awful day that Steed did not fully remember in full detail or comprehend. Rachel’s psychiatrist, Dr. Donald Higby, thought understanding what happened that day was key to helping Rachel. Steed said, “Mom’s drinking and drug usage were at times bad. I didn’t know how to handle the situation. It had gotten better but then Jossette had discovered that she’d had a serious relapse.”
Roger said, “Jossette didn’t tell me how bad Aunt Rachel’s problem was or maybe I didn’t want to hear how bad the problem was becoming. I think back and I wish I had spent more time with Jossette. Please do not think I am complaining because it sure was nice when mom sold her business and consigned her patents and we became rich, but mom had me extra busy helping to set up her new business. I did not and do not mind what mom had me doing because I learned a lot but I regret the time I missed with Jossette. I try to remember back to those last precious months I had with Jossette and I realize how oblivious I must have been to what was happening. I feel guilty for the time I did not spend with Jossette.”
Steed said, “I am sure Jossette understood. Jossette loved you. When I talked to her she would mention you. She was proud of how you were helping your mom and also how your quarterbacking skills had improved. Anyway, so Jossette was trying to help mom. In the process she and mom had this huge argument before Jossette became sick. I know mom felt guilty about that and also something else. You know, argument or not, mom did love Jossette. Never doubt that.” Steed thought a second. “And of course I’ve always loved both of my cousins.”
Roger smiled. “I know I am not the most loveable cuss in the universe but sis and I always felt the same way toward you. I understand Uncle Arthur has cut you off from your trust fund. Do you need any money or anything?”
“Your mom and my father are helping with the bills regarding mom. As far as my trust fund, dad temporarily cut if off after I screwed up. And trust me, I did screw up. Dad had every right to be angry with me, but he has restored access to my trust fund. I am just trying to make it on my own without accessing that money. I guess I should access it to pay mom’s bills and not put that expense on your mom or dad. But they kind of insisted they pay her bills and so I guess I am just being a shit by letting them.”
“Mom wants to pay so that she and dad will have some voice in Aunt Rachel’s care. I understand from mom that Uncle Arthur feels the same way. So basically, they want to make sure they have a voice against your father if needed and he wants similar against them. It all confuses me because I think they are getting along pretty good.”
Steed nodded. He kind of laughed. “All their money, but Paps is going to have the final say.”
Roger said, “Yeah, granddad is the boss. But no, don’t misunderstand. Mom and dad totally respect your opinion and what you are doing. In the beginning they had their concerns, especially regarding Uncle Arthur but I don’t think they have those concerns so much now. I feel like I am screwing up with what I am saying here. Mom is happy to pay. She loves you and Aunt Rachel. I should have left it at that.”
“No. I understand. Shoot they should have a voice. I respect their opinions. If I was paying the expenses from my trust fund, I’d still respect their opinions. I guess this is going to sound stupid but I feel like if I start again pulling my money from my trust fund for anything, I will drift back into my old ways. Then I will start asking dad for even more money to be put into the trust and there I will be back dependent and obligated. Not that he did me wrong. I screwed up. Anyway, at some point I will start pulling money out of the fund, but for now I want to prove I can make it on my own.”
“What about Aunt Rachel’s money?”
“As I have told you more than once, mom doesn’t have any money. That report dad’s lawyer presented at the divorce proceedings is totally bogus. And the judge damn well knew it. It was just a way to stop dad from being forced to pay mom any money in the divorce settlement. Of course that said, dad took care of mom after the divorce. I guess he just wanted the divorce on his terms and not hers. Right after the divorce and when I was less aware of things, I was angry at dad about the way mom was done in the divorce. But he has done right by mom. He has done right by me. I love both of my parents. “
“Sure.” Roger felt certain Steed was wrong in thinking his mom had no money of her own. Still, he guessed there was no reason to argue about it. “So do you want to go with me to get a bite before I head home?”
“Absolutely. I just finished closing up. We can head on out.”
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