Lady Blues by Aaron Paul Lazar

Author:Aaron Paul Lazar [Lazar, Aaron Paul]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: love, Family, Alzheimer's, suspense, scandal, blues, biracial lovers, lovers, reunited lovers, cooking, long lost lovers, Romance, cats, music, piano, dogs, Horses, band leaders, farm, jazz, Glenn Miller, Mystery, animals, country living, WWII, gardens, History
Publisher: Aaron Paul Lazar
Published: 2014-03-03T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-three

After returning to school and slogging through my afternoon classes and office hours, I headed home to find Freddie and Adam waiting for me, seated at the kitchen table with strained expressions. The sound of children’s laughter was conspicuously absent, and no aromas of cooking wafted from the kitchen.

My stomach tightened. I set my briefcase on the counter and faced them.

They sat silently, holding hands.

My instinct was to brace for horrible news. “Who died?” I asked, surprised I said it out loud. “And where are the kids?”

Freddie began. “Nobody died. And the kids are fine, they’re with Adam’s parents. They love Abel and Nina. They’re gonna stay there for a little while.”

I plunked down on the chair opposite them and noticed the suitcase beneath the table. “Why? Are you going somewhere?”

Adam cleared his throat. “Er, sir. We just wanted to tell you—”

Freddie interrupted. “Let me tell him, honey.”

Adam gave in, lowering his head in a slow nod.

“Tell me what? Come on, you’re making me nervous,” I said. Wild thoughts swirled out of control in my brain. Freddie’s pregnant. Worse, she has cancer. Her clinic is closing. Or…Adam’s been called up for the reserves and is off to Iraq.

Before I could torture myself further, she leapt up and took my hands in hers. “Daddy?”

I looked up at her and winced. “You don’t call me Daddy anymore, unless you want something.”

“No, not this time. I just want to tell you that we’ve made a big decision.”

I waited.

She exchanged glances with Adam and breathed deeply. “I’ve closed the clinic.”

I knew it.

She squelched my reaction and shushed me. “Now, Dad. Don’t worry, it’s just for a week. Adam and I are going to the Poconos. We’re getting married, with a justice of the peace.” She sat down again, as if bracing for a storm.

My insides relaxed and water flowed over the dam, swirling the fears away. I burst out laughing. “Is that all? My God, I thought it was something awful.”

“You don’t mind, then?” she said.

“Mind? Heck no. I don’t care how you get married, when you get married, or where you get married. Long as you two are happy. Now, Maddy, on the other hand…”

Freddie rolled her eyes. “Well, I know she was excited about our wedding, but I think she’ll be better off worrying about her own. I’m just not into all that frilly stuff.”

Adam took her hand again. “We just want to make it official, you know? Without all the stress and expense of a big ceremony.”

I nodded. “I’m with you on that.” A trickle of alarm chased down my spine. “But wait a minute. When you’re married, where will you live?” I imagined my grandchildren being whisked away from me and grew cold. I couldn’t stand the thought of losing them.

“Dad, I hope you don’t mind, but we’d very much like to stay here with you and Camille. The house is so huge, and Mrs. Pierce has watched the kids since they were born, and you and Sig make great backup babysitters.

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