Mother Love by L. R. Wright

Author:L. R. Wright
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781631941535
Publisher: Felony & Mayhem Press
Published: 2018-03-13T16:00:00+00:00

ALBERG WAS SITTING on the edge of his bed in a motel room in Calgary, the same motel he and Cassandra had stayed in just a week ago, when Janey had gotten married. The days had been blue and gold and the sun warm, a week ago; and now tonight the snow was falling here as it had fallen yesterday in Saskatoon. Alberg knew it wouldn’t last. But next month it would.

He had come to Calgary in search of the hired man who had rescued Maria.

He realized that he was staring at an ashtray in which there was a book of matches with the motel’s name on it. He moved it from the bedside table to the desk. But that was where the phone was. He moved it again, to the table on the opposite side of the bed—but that wasn’t good enough, either. Finally he stashed the ashtray in the bottom of the chest of drawers, which he wouldn’t be using.

Then he went to the desk and dialed Janey’s number. The musician answered. Janey, he told Alberg, was not at home. Home, thought Alberg, marveling. Her home was with this musician, now. He left a message and then called Diana and got her machine. Finally he tried his own number in Gibsons, and here he had better luck.

“I’m sorry I had to make this trip,” he told Cassandra.

“Look, Karl. I can’t live the rest of my life in somebody’s pocket. I’ve got to get over this, and I will.”

“I know. But still. I’m sorry.”

“It would be better if we were in another place.”

Alberg’s heart sank, despite the fact that he’d been steeling himself for this. Preparing for it. Even planning it.

“Every time somebody knocks on the door—”

“I know, I’ve been thinking the same thing.” Not anyplace on the goddamn prairies, though, he’d decided, and he hoped she would agree.

“So when you get back,” she said, “let’s go house hunting. Okay?”

“House hunting?”

“Yeah. How about it? I’ll sell my place and we’ll buy a house together.”

“A house? Where?”

“I don’t know where. Here in Gibsons. Sechelt. Wherever.”

“Are you sure?”

She didn’t speak for a moment or two. “You mean you aren’t? I thought you wanted to get married, for God’s sake. Now you don’t know if you want us to buy a house?”

“No no no.” He stood up, but the cord was too short, so he had to sit down again. “No no no. No.”

“Karl, what’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing, nothing. I misunderstood you, that’s all. Yeah. House hunting. Terrific! That’s terrific!” He felt himself beaming.

“When are you coming home?” she said. “I miss you.”

“Me too,” said Alberg, still smiling. “I don’t know exactly. It depends on the guy I’m seeing in the morning. It’s possible I’ll be able to get a flight back late tomorrow.”

“Have you learned anything useful?”

He hesitated. He wanted to tell her the story, but there wasn’t enough of it yet. He was filled with expectation. He wanted to cradle that to himself, for the moment, until he knew more. “Yeah,” he said.

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