The Hurt Locker
Hold each other under your veil
Norma woke up with the sun shining in her eyes. She turned over to find her son sitting beside her. She smiled up at him as he stared off into space. "Where were you last night?" he asked.
She swallowed a bit. "I was with Alex." She didn't like talking about him with either one of her sons. Her love life was a touchy subject for them—especially Norman.
His eyes settled on her, glaring. "You know I don't like him." There was condescension in his tone.
Who was he to tell her who she could and couldn't date. She tried to brush it off. "You haven't even met him yet."
He got up from the bed and stormed to the door. "Well then maybe it's time we met." She hated it when he gave her that look. She knew he was right.
She shook her head lightly. "I don't know—"
He scowled at her. "Why not? Why don't you want us to meet each other?"
She stared at him, her mouth open slightly trying to come up with words to ease his thoughts. "Because, Norman." She got up and slowly walked towards him. There was no telling what he'd do when he got like this. "You know how you are. I know how you are. Other people don't need to know that. It's too soon."
"You've been sneaking around with him for months now." The hurt in his eyes pained her heart. She loved him more than anything—more than anyone. He was all she had. He was the only sense of light in her life. He was her saving grace.
She knew there wasn't anything she could say to change his mind. But she'd die trying. "I'm not sneaking around. Nobody's sneaking—"
"Then why are you keeping him from me? Or are you keeping me from him?" He was catching on. She'd be damned if he found out the truth.
"You're special, Norman." She placed her hands at his shoulders, gently looking into his piercing eyes. "You've always been special. No one understands that but me. Not even your brother. He doesn't get it. Alex might not get it."
His lip began to quiver. He knew there was something wrong with him. He just didn't know what. But it was his job to protect his mother. They belonged to each other. "He's just like the others, mother. He's using you just like the others."
Maybe she was in denial. Maybe she was blinded by love. But she needed Alex. He was the only one who could save her. "He's not like them. He's different. He cares about me—about us."
He violently pulled away from her. "He doesn't even know me."
"And you don't know him," she scoffed. He didn't understand. He'd never understand her.
His rolled his eyes at her. He's heard this speech before. "Oh, I know him. I know people like him. I've seen what they've done to you. He doesn't know what they've done to you. They've killed you. They've killed us."
"Don't say that, Norman." Tears gently rolled down her cheeks. She wished her could forget everything that's happened to her. She wished she could forget the choices she's made. But she can't. She's stuck. All she has left is Norman.
"You know it's true." He gave up, letting his emotions flow through.
"Norman." She tugged him into her, wrapping her arms around his fragileness. "Norman. No one's ever gonna take you away from me. I won't let them. Not this time." They sobbed quietly as they sunk to the floor, collapsing together. "Alex is a good man. You'll see." She faintly kissed his temple. "I promise."
Alex showed up at the house later than evening. They were having a quiet evening at home—just the way he liked it. He smiled at her as he stepped into the house for the first time. "You have a beautiful home," he complimented.
She laughed. "You don't think it looks like it belongs in a horror film?"
He smiled at her. "Not at all."
She took his coat from him and led him into the kitchen. "Dinner's almost ready." She felt a little nervous having him in the house. She never really invited people over.
He leaned back in the chair, watching as she stirred the stew. "So where are your sons tonight?"
A pain formed in her gut. She kept her focus on the pot in front of her. "Uh, Dylan's at work and…Norman." She glanced over her shoulder at him. "He's out." She turned back to the stove, trying to disguise the guilt on her face. She felt bad lying to him. But she couldn't tell him that Norman was upstairs—he'd want to meet him.
"Oh." She was lying. He could tell. Why she lied…he had no idea. But he chose to ignore it. He didn't want to pressure her. "Dinner smells great."
She smiled at him as she brought him a bowl before pouring her own and taking the seat across from him. "How was work?"
He shrugged. "Same as every other day. Nothing exciting." He was admiring her from across the table. She really was beautiful. But she was more than just beautiful; she was everything he could have ever wanted. "How's the motel going? Are you gonna open soon?"
She sighed. The process of actually opening the motel was taking longer than she hoped. "As soon as the renovations get done. I'm still fighting to get the painters out here. And the carpet—"
The sound of the front door slamming cut her off. "Mom?" It was Dylan. "Why is there a police car parked outside?" He stopped in the doorway, glancing between his mother and Alex. It was like his mother to bring random men home and not tell him about it.
Of course Dylan would come home early. Norma sent him a small glare, turning back to her date. "Alex, this is my son Dylan."
Dylan stared at him. He wasn't like the other men his mother usually dated. He knew she must have been using him for something—or vice versa. "You're a cop?"
"He's the sheriff," Norma piped up, a smile grazing her face.
Dylan narrowed his eyes at her. She was unbelievable. "Norma, can I talk to you for a minute?" He wasn't gonna let her get away with this; he knew something was up.
She glared at him. He always did this. "I'll be right back." She got up from the table and followed Dylan out into the hall. She couldn't believe he'd do this now. He always treated her like she was some broken bird. "What?"
"Why's he here?" He could have lost it, but he kept his voice down.
"We're on a date." It was as if everyday she became increasingly annoyed with him. He was always doing something wrong. He was always accusing her of something. He never took her side. He never could allow himself to believe her.
He furrowed his brow. She never went out with men unless she was after something or she had something to cover up. And he knew she had a huge secret to cover up. It was hiding right upstairs. "Does he know?"
She feigned confusion. "Does he know what?" She didn't wanna talk about it. She didn't like him bringing it up. She'd rather shove it under the rug like she did everything else in her life.
And he hated that about her. He couldn't stand her sometimes. But unfortunately she was his mother and it was his job to protect her…no one else would. "You know exactly what I'm talking about."
She rolled her eyes. He wasn't ever going to give up. She sighed deeply. She always had to give in. "No. He doesn't know about Sam…or Norman."
"Mom." He couldn't believe she still thought that—
"What?" She glared at him. He always treated her like she was crazy.
It pained him to see her like this—to know what she went through day by day. He also knew that he wasn't doing her any favors by making a fuss. They needed help…desperately. "Mom."
"Dylan, we're not having this conversation right now." She wasn't going to lose it tonight—not in front of Alex. "We have a guest, so be nice."
He could have broken into pieces in front of her. She needed to face the truth. Sooner or later the sheriff would find out and he'd be gone just like every other man she dated. "Mom." She wouldn't look at him. He wished that she would just understand what she put him through. He wished she would understand why he had to treat her this way. "I'm worried about you."
She looked at him with disgust. "I can take care of myself, Dylan." He was the child she never wanted. Sure she loved him now that she had him, but he was no better than everyone else in her life. She was nothing to him…so he was nothing to her. "I don't need you around screwing things up for me."
He'd had enough. He'd heard it all before. There was nothing he could say to save her. She was on her own. He loved her dearly, but he just couldn't take all the madness…it drove him insane.