Jenny met Alan online and after a few quick months they traveled to Mexico for fun. Soon after, they were married in Las Vegas and Alan booked tickets to take Jen home to meet his mother.
“I am super excited.” Jen leaned over and brushed Alan’s cheek with a kiss, “What’s your mom like? You don’t really talk much about her.”
“I haven’t had time sweetheart. I can’t pile 35 years into conversation that quick.” Alan sipped his 7&7.
Jen sat back to pout. “I’ve told you stuff about my mom. She’s crazy, remember, and my sister is a bitch.”
“Can’t wait for Christmas.” Alan held his plastic cup to cheer, then chuckled to himself.
“Come on, just one thing, just one?” She sat upright, blinking her eyes and smiling all cutesy, she reached her hand over to run her fingers down his arm.
“It will be a surprise, I promise.” He leaned back and shut his eyes.
Jen gave up. “I hope it’s a good one.”
The plane touched down in Denver and a limo was waiting for them outside. The ride to Littleton wasn’t long especially when the champagne glasses seemed perpetually filled. Jen was used to ‘doing it” in a limo now, and she barely squeezed back into her jeans before they pulled up to the house.
The house was not at all what Jen expected. Flat and Adobe brick with blood red trim. An old beat up blazer looked lurched in a parked position under a buckling carport. Jen was certainly not impressed.
The driver asked, “Will you be staying here Mr. Cartwright, or should I wait?”
“We’re staying. Put the bags in the first bedroom to your right through the back door it should be unlocked.” No one came out to greet them.
I guess I expected better. She was thinking they had spent more money in Mexico and in Las Vegas than his mother’s house was probably worth. She followed him inside.
There was a long green cord traversing down the dark hall. All the doors along it were closed. Sounds echoed like a machine rhythmically cooing cackle and pump, cackle and pump. Jen stayed close behind Alan. When they entered the family room his mother was sitting quietly on a small couch hooked up to oxygen.
Mrs. Cartwright breathed through her mask and said, “Aa a alan, sssa sooooo good that you,whoooo, came.”
“Ma.” He leaned down and kissed her wrinkled cheek. Jen stood in front of her feeling self-conscious. “Ma, this is Jennifer, I married her last week in Las Vegas. Alan’s mother stopped breathing but the pump automatically forced oxygen through her respiratory system and her frame heaved and hoed in response.
“Huuuha, so nice tatooo meet you, huuuha, sweet…ta…heartta.”
“Nice to meet you too, Mrs. Cartwright.”Alan ordered dinner sent to the house. Mrs. Cartwright went to bed shortly after they ate, and she finished off her forth glass of sherry.
“Aren’t you going to show me the rest of the house?” Jan asked later when they floated around and around in the small oblong pool out back.
“No not yet, I think it might be too much for you. My mom’s been in this place for like 30 years. My dad left her when I was born. After that she started herself on retail therapy, smoking, and booze. Now, most of the bedrooms, including hers, are full of things, just junk, really tons of stuff, even our living room and dining room. See where that window is dark over there, full to the top.” He pointed to the picture window above the deep end of the pool.
“Your mom’s a hoarder?” Jen swirled her arms in the water to float toward the deeper end and then lifted herself out by the side bars to splish-splash over and peer into the dark window. She couldn’t see anything inside, no cracks of light filtered through. It must be completely full like just like he said.
That night when Jen was sure REM sleep had captured Alan, she snuck out of bed and down the hall. Each bedroom door she opened was stuffed full of boxes and Christmas decorations, old pieces of furniture and nick knacks. It was incredible how cram packed Mrs. Cartwright’s house could be.
The door at the very end was the last door to try. Quiet as a mouse she turned the knob. Slowly she worked the door open and felt inside on the wall for a light switch and flipped it on. 500 unblinking abandoned eyes starred directly at her. Dolls, nothing but dolls. She quickly shut the door and stood in the dark feeling creeped out.
Then, Jen swore she heard tiny voices from behind the door. Little whispers from the other side. “Help me.”
“Please come back for us.”
“Save me.”
“Where are you going?”
“Be my mommy.”
“I love you.”