He punched in the familiar number to the house, hoping that Lucy would answer. Since she had a particular hard "episode" (as the doctor called them) about two years ago, their mother had taken her out of her boarding school. He was glad of that in some ways, the girls at her school had been tremendously cruel to his dreamer sister. She was so eager to return to Narnia, and she had once more with Edmund and their cousin Eustace. Eustace was stuffed into a boarding school the first time he ever even mentioned the adventure he went on with Edmund and Lucy. It was bad enough that Alberta wasn't precisely thrilled to have them around and rather disliked them; but it was another entirely for her to hear and see her son change after they visited. She was furious. She hadn't spoken to the family for a little over a year- the only correspondence they recieved was a note stating that Eustace was attending a boarding school and that he had permission to visit. Actually it was much more strongly worded, but he'd rather not think of that. It was as if the very word "Narnia" turned adults into madmen.
His own mother had lost her mind when the Narnia talk continued. She had sent them all back to boarding school without a second thought; and only the girls went home for Christmas that year. Soon, a pattern developed. The girls got Christmas, The boys had Fall break. Easter holidays, usually Peter was the only one who didn't go home; and in the summer they were all scattered to the winds. It was as if his mother couldn't stand to have them all together at once.
"Come on Lu," he muttered, "Pick up." He knew that if she didn't, it was more likely than not that he wouldn't be able to speak to her. Their mother was getting a little too good at this game. Only if Lucy picked up would he get to talk to her.
He had no such luck though, his mother answering.
"Peter," she said, her calm thinly veiling her fear, "How lovely to hear from you darling. How was your appointment?"
"Fine Mother. I was hoping I could talk to Lucy," he said, his teeth gritted. He didn't know what his mother was afraid of. Sure, he'd yelled in her face a few times... but she shouldn't have said the things she said. She shouldn't have told Susan, "I feel like I'm living in a nut house between Lucy and Peter." That was when she sent him off to the professor's home when he was not in school. That was when their stepfather announced that he was divorcing his mother. That was when Lucy stopped talking about Narnia unless she was sure she was alone. She was afraid her mother would send her away like she sent away Peter. Like she secretly believed she sent away their father.
"Oh, darling I would but she's been feeling a bit off the past few days," Helen tittered, her voice airy. It was a strange noise, the way her voice sounded. It made Peter's stomach turn.
"Mum, who's that?" he heard Lucy's voice in the background. He knew his mother kept the volume up quite high and that Lucy would be able to hear him.
"It's me, Lu," he said loudly. He heard Lucy's excited squeal of joy as she butted her mother away from the phone.
"Peter! You haven't called in ages," she said, the hurt apparent in her voice. Peter pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration.
"But I have Lu…Mum keeps intercepting the calls with excuses that you're out or sick or sleeping."
"She doesn't want my "fragile disposition" upset," she said, "But Edmund is coming home for the weekend- I know he'll take me out, he usually does. Will you meet us at the cafe on the corner?" she asked, sounding excited.
"Of course, Lu," he said, tenderness seeping into his words, "You know how much I miss you."
"I miss you too," she whispered as their mother's steps approached, "I love you."
And then she was gone, replaced by her mother's falsely cheery disposition, "Well, there. You talked to her and it looks like it was quite nice. Now, we have to go dear but don't be a stranger, feel free to call anytime."
"Yeah," he said quietly, "I hear the honesty in your voice Mum. I'll talk to you later."
He hung up the phone, glaring at nothing in particular.