Mid-Life Friends and Illusions by Freeman Jeffrey

Author:Freeman, Jeffrey [Freeman, Jeffrey]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Jeffrey M. Freeman
Published: 2015-02-10T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

The moon was full and rising as Samuel stopped the rental car in his driveway and got out. He took a moment to look up at it before opening the kitchen door.

“Full moon,” he announced to Jane, standing by the sink, and Sara, sitting at the table, legs pulled under her, a cup of tea in one hand, half raised to her mouth.

“Harvest moon, some would say,” Jane responded.

“What’d he say?” Sara asked anxiously, biting a fingernail.

“Not much,” Samuel said. He pulled a chair from under the table, careful not to scrape it on the floor, not to cause any further disturbance or irritation within the household.

Sara sipped her tea, staring straight at him as he sat down carefully and quietly.

“Tea or wine?” Jane asked, her hand on the hot teakettle.

“Wine,” he answered. “It’s been a day.”

Jane pulled two glasses from the cupboard, picked up an opened bottle of Cabernet, and joined them at the table. She poured the glasses to the brim, leaving only a swallow in the bottle.

“Well?” Jane asked.

“He said he wasn’t shooting at Sara.” Samuel took a hefty swig of wine. Sighed. Looked at Sara, spoke softly. “He apologized. Said he was drunk.”

“That’s all? That’s it?” Jane demanded.

“He clammed up after that. Wouldn’t say another word.”

Sara reached for her mother’s wine. She drained half the glass at one swallow. Jane got up to get another glass and another bottle.

“But they’re going to prosecute him for shooting at Pete?” The repugnance in Sara’s tone was unmistakable.

“He confessed,” Samuel offered.

“But not to me!” It was obvious to both Samuel and Jane that Sara’s conscious and subconscious minds mixed her words. They understood that she meant George would not admit to shooting at her and had not, would not, apologize to her.

Silence filled the kitchen.

It was broken at last by the popping of the cork when Jane pulled on the corkscrew.

“What did Pete say?” Jane asked quietly.

Samuel shook his head. “Ed said he’s disappeared.”

“A day and a half,” Jane said. She picked up the nearly empty bottle and drank it clean.

Samuel and Sara looked at her with amazement. In all their years, neither had ever seen Jane do something so un-lady-like. It broke the tension. With a smile, knowing precisely what she had done and purposefully, Jane poured herself a full glass from the second bottle.

“And did you and Ed put to bed any other rumors?” Jane asked coldly.

“You mean about the divorce? No,” Samuel replied.

“Divorce? What divorce?” Sara exclaimed.

“Nothing,” Samuel was quick to respond. “Some idle gossip going around.”

“Mother?” Sara demanded.

Jane raised her glass, preparing to drink. “Maybe idle, maybe not. We’ll see.”

Samuel’s jaw dropped.

“In any event, I was referring to the money.”

“What money?” Sara asked.

“How?” Samuel started to ask of Jane. There was no point. It was a small town. It didn’t matter who had told her. “Pete accused George of covering up a large amount of money. Some folks think it’s tied to my re-election campaign.”

“Is it?” Sara regretted the words before they came out of her mouth.

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