I checked the address I had written on a slip of paper. I looked up at the large, white house. The numbers matched. I sighed. I didn’t want to do this. I didn’t want to walk up that driveway, knock on that door and deliver the news I had to deliver. But I had no choice. The parents had the right to know.
I walked slowly, but I got to the front door much too soon. I knocked on the door hesitantly. It flew open inward. I felt my breath catch. Tess Evans was standing there in a loose T-shirt and jeans. She was barefoot, and her blond curls were wild. “Kyle- I mean Sheriff.” Her eyes widened. “How are you this morning?”
I noticed her tremble. I sighed. I slipped off my sunglasses. This would be harder than I had thought. “How are you Mrs. Evans?” I asked formally.
She opened the door wider. “Please come in.”
I did so. I looked around the house- Max Evans became a high-powered attorney and he has the lifestyle to prove it. “You have a beautiful home.” I commented.
“Thank you.” She stiffened. “I take it this isn’t a social visit- why are you here so early in the morning?”
She was starting to sound panicked. I sighed. That wasn’t what I was trying to do. “Mrs. Evans-,”
“Call me Tess.” She said. “We’ve know each other for thirty something years. Or are you here in an official capacity?”
“Partially. When was the last time you saw Daisy?”
“Last night, right before I went to bed.” I saw her frown. “But she’s not here right now- I woke up and I couldn’t find her. And her bed, it wasn’t slept in. I’m so worried, her cousin, Emma, doesn’t know where she is and…” Tess stopped talking. “You know, don’t you?”
“She ran away this morning with my son Jake.” I admitted, watching closely.
Tess staggered. “Oh my God.” She slumped against the doorframe. Shocked, I reached out to catch her, in case she fainted. She was shaking. Without thinking, I scooped her up. I was amazed- I think she weighs less now than she did when we were in school together. Her body seemed slightly feverish.
I tried the first door I came to- it looked like a very proper study. I bypassed that, and tried another door. It looked like a comfortable room, with a large couch and cozy love seat. I put her down on the couch, wondering what I should do next. She saved me a decision by sitting up.
She looked so panicked I hastened to reassure her. “Now I’m sure they’re fine- they’re both good kids and-,”
“I know- I’m not against your son.” She said quickly. “Just- God- run away? Why? Where?” She sat up, running her hand through her hair. She looked very breakable.
“Where’s Max?” I asked. I knew that if, God forbid Maria got news like this when I wasn’t around I would want to be called immediately.
She looked stunned. “At breakfast.” She murmured. “He and Eli go to breakfast at the Crashdown every Saturday.” She looked ghost white. “God this brings back memories.”
I frowned. I rubbed her shoulder reassuringly. “Tess?” Somehow Mrs. Evans didn’t apply anymore. She leaned her head against me.
She looked up, still resting against me. “I don’t know if you remember- maybe not. It was my nineteenth birthday- or the day I celebrated turning nineteen.”
I frowned, trying to remember.
“Don’t worry about it.” She said, a small choke in her voice. “No one remembered. Not Nasedo, not Max, not Isabel. I was feeling under appreciated. So I just- I decided to run away.” She shrugged. “A stupid decision but I was nineteen.”
I nodded in appreciation.
“You and your dad used to come to the house to check up on me every now and again. I never understood why but,” She shrugged helplessly. “Anyway you saw my suitcase.”
I started to remember. “I wanted to know where you were going.”
“I was rude to you.”
“When were you not?” I tried to tease.
“I don’t know anymore. Finally you said, “Since you won’t tell me where you’re going-”
“I guess I’ll have to go with you.” I finished. “I remember.”
“I said ‘What about Maria’?”
“And I said, ‘What about her’.” The event was becoming clearer to my mind. I had just had a really nasty fight with Maria- she basically rejected me.
I had stopped by Tess’s because my Dad insisted, something about taking care of her being part of the job description. I didn’t understand then but now I think I do. I followed in my father and my grandfather’s footsteps- I’m the third Valenti to be Sheriff of Roswell New Mexico.
“I cried.” Tess confessed softly.
“I called Max.” I said.
“He ran over. But you wouldn’t leave me, even after he was there.” She sounded confused.
I shrugged. I didn’t understand it then, honestly I still don’t, but I felt the need to stay. I thought she needed someone to protect her, and Evans just wasn’t doing a very good job. “But you promised to stay.”
“Yeah.” I felt a shiver go through her. “Yeah, I stayed.”
“Did you ever wish you hadn’t?”
She appeared to consider for a long moment. “No.” She answered. “No, because if I left I wouldn’t have Daisy and Eli.”
I wrapped her in my arms, knowing she needed to be held. She seemed like Maria for a moment. “I should call Max.”
“Please don’t.” She whispered. “Not yet.”
“Why not?” I had to ask. She pushed away from me. “After you left that night- that was the first time Max and I-,”
“I don’t want to know.” I said hastily.
She raised a hand to her lips. “Sorry.”
I felt guilty. “How are you and Max?” I asked. Rumor had always said they looked perfect, but there were fundamental problems with their marriage.
I once heard one of Maria’s friends saying that there might be another woman. I had trouble not laughing at that. The only other woman for Max Evans would be Elizabeth Guerin. She is still so in love with Michael neither of them can see straight.
“Perfect.” She said sweetly. “Everything’s perfect.”
“Tess…” I sighed. What exactly could I say? ‘You can trust me’ would sound weak, considering the last time we had an actual conversation was when we were our children’s age, thirty years ago.
She jumped up, and crossed to a mirror. She started to smooth her hair. “About the kids.”
She was starting to shut me out. “Don’t do that.” I requested.
She sighed. “I’m sorry, it’s a bad habit.”
I mutely shook my head. I vaguely heard a radio in the background.
“This could be my anthem. Mine and Max’s.” She shook her head.
“How does it go?” I felt trapped. I didn’t want to hear this, know this. I wanted to pretend, the way the rest of Roswell does, that the Evans have the perfect marriage, two beautiful children, money, an enormous house, expensive cars etc. They’re our equivalent of the Beautiful People.
Every now and then I'd mention her to him.
He'd get that look in his eyes,
But it was only there a minute.
So I let him get away with it.
I’ve always been told that Tess is the perfect society wife. I had no trouble believing it. She’s done more for Max’s career than any case. She shmoozes his clients, she goes shopping with their wives. She volunteers at the hospital, etc, etc. I heard that she had something of a nervous breakdown two years ago, but no one knew if that was true or not. Suddenly I saw that she was miserable.
And there was one day he called me by her name.
It tore me all up inside.
He never even knew he did it.
So I let him get away with it.
Tess walked away from the mirror. “I look like a hag.”
“You’re beautiful.” I told her. Maria once informed me that every woman needs to hear that at least twice a day.
The radio continued to sing.
I let it go. I closed my eyes.
I told myself just this one time.
Yes I refused to see the signs.
Oh but love is blind.
I sighed and touched her gently on the shoulder. Before I knew what was what she was sobbing in my arms. “Shh. It’s all right.” I told her, stroking her hair. I’d done this once before, only then she’d been yelling, throwing things and a lot more angry. This was just total defeat.
I said "I love you," he would say "me too."
But when I looked in his eyes
I wasn't really sure he meant it.
So I let him get away with it.
I had never been so angry with anyone as I was with Max Evans. Couldn’t he see that the woman beside him, the woman he built a life, a home, a family with needed his love? Couldn’t he get over some high school obsession with a woman who would never be his?
So I gave him all of my heart.
Lord how I hate to admit it.
I let him get away with it.
I began to tell her things, little odds and ends about Jake and Daisy. I tried to reassure her about the kids, but I knew she was worried. Calling Maria didn’t cross my mind. I knew she would flip. I didn’t think I could deal with melodramatic hysteria in addition to Tess’s tears.
I let it go I closed my eyes.
I told myself just this one time.
Yes I refused to see the signs.
Oh but love is blind.
Her son chose to walk in the door the moment she asked, “What would’ve happened if we had run away together years ago?”
Every now and then I'd mention her to him.
He'd get that look in his eyes,
But it was only there a minute.
So I let him get away with it.
Oh I let him get away with it.
I let him get away with it.
He stopped short, staring at the sight of his mother in the sheriff’s arms. I think I blushed.
“Mom!” The boy exclaimed.
Tess pushed out of my arms, wiped her eyes, turned around and gave a perfect smile. “Eli, sweetheart, is your dad here? We need to talk.”
“Tess you can’t do this.” I think some of my disgust came out in my tone.
Eli looked from her to me, obviously sizing up the situation.
“Kyle, I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.” She said.
Those were the same words she said to me over thirty years ago. That time I made the mistake of believing her. But what could I do? I couldn’t force her to talk to someone. I couldn’t punch her husband for paying so little attention to her. And I couldn’t gather her in my arms with her son standing right there. “Tess, sit down. You had a shock.”
“Mom, what’s wrong?” Eli sounded upset.
“Sweetheart, get your father. I’ll tell you together.”
Max walked in. “Tess.” He said. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
She stepped away from me, with a grateful look. “Daisy ran away.”
“What?” Max exploded. Anger radiated off of him. “Why?”
I seriously considered decking the guy. Couldn’t he see she was vulnerable; that she needed to be held and told things would be fine?
“She ran away with Jake Valenti. That’s why Kyle- the Sheriff was here. They were last seen on the road to Vegas.”
“Vegas?” Eli sounded disbelieving. “My kid sister is in Vegas?”
“Oh my God.” Max said. He pulled her against him, holding her close. “It’ll be fine baby, I’ll get her home.”
I saw Tess relax in her husband’s arms. “I know.” She said. “I know, but give them their adventure.”
“What?” He asked, shocked.
I couldn’t stop a smile from spreading across my face. I shook my head. “Think about it Max. Our kids haven’t had to contend with the FBI, being shot at, coming back to life, love, betrayal, brawls with long time best friends, utter and complete confusion or being the savior of the world. Compared to all that this seems pretty tame, so give them a moment of rebellion.”
Eli looked like he thought I was crazy.
“She’s nineteen.” Max pointed out.
“Legally old enough.” I reminded him.
Max countered. “They have no money.”
“When we moved in together did we?” Tess asked.
Eli was staring at us like we’d all grown three heads. “You’re-,”
“Nuts?” I asked. “Yeah, there’s a chance.”
Tess was leaning against Max. “She’ll be happy Eli. Isn’t that what you want for her?”
“You’re trying to guilt me into being nice.”
“I don’t want to guilt you into doing anything.” She looked sad.
Max squeezed her. “I love you.” He said.
From the look on her face she hadn’t heard that in a long time.
“Me too.” She said. She kissed his cheek. He held her tightly. I saw tears spring to her eyes, but this time they might’ve been tears of happiness. He let her go and she opened her arms to her son. She had an arm around each of their shoulders. They were not tall men but they dwarfed her.
“Do you really think they’ll get married without us there?” Eli asked. “I mean Daisy and Emma have been playing wedding since they were four. I can’t see her taking a step that big without her best friend.”
“They might just want to shake us up.” I offered my two cents. “Jake can’t stand it when things seem placid and calm.”
“He’s like Maria then.” Max commented.
“Sort of- I think he’s a blend of both of our better sides. All of our kids are.”
“Then they’re all precious. I’m glad we’ll be family.” Tess said. She smiled at me. It was a genuine smile. It said, don’t worry. Be happy for me. I’m where I want to be. I hoped I could.
“I’m going to get something to drink.” She announced. “Kyle, come with me, you can call Maria.”
I followed her. She looked at me seriously. “Kyle, I am so sorry.” She spoke earnestly. “I think I may have given you the wrong impression about Max.”
“I-,”
“He is a wonderful father. He loves the kids so much. And in his way he loves me.” She babbled. “I know it isn’t traditional- how can it be? But it works. I love him, he loves me. He takes care of us. You have to promise not to worry or-,”
I understood what she was saying. Back away. “I won’t interfere, since you say it works.”
“Thanks Kyle.” She gave me a smile that was like a sunbeam, warm and glowing. She fixed tea, and I called Maria.
I kissed my wife extra long when she arrived and made a point of telling her how much I loved her. I do that more often, now that I had my conversation with Tess. Tell Maria I love her that is. I realize now how important she is to me. I realize I wouldn’t trade what we have for all of the Evans’ money.
What else? Oh, the kids. Yeah, the spent the weekend in Vegas. They came home married, but no one minded too much, since they’re going to have another ceremony. They’re broke, but don’t seem to mind. No one’s caught her yet, but I think Tess is giving them money here and there.
I haven’t seen Tess to talk to since the kids came home. She sent me a thank you card for being understanding on that day. I burned it. She should know why I did what I did, and on a level she does. On some level that’s the reason she turned to me.
I heard that Tess is going to counseling regularly now. Rumor has it she seems really happy. I hope it’s true, but I can’t get the picture of her tearstained face out of my mind.
I feel sorry for her, but it’s her own fault for staying with him. She could do so much better on her own. I hope someday she realizes she can stand on her own two feet. But until then I’ll leave her alone, the way she wants to be.
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