New America by Jeremy Bates

Author:Jeremy Bates [Bates, Jeremy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ghillinnein Books
Published: 2014-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

☼

After speaking with Steve I ditched my plans to find the Shoplex. I felt sluggish and unmotivated and went to the upstairs bedroom instead and passed out on the bed. When I woke the blinds were drawn, indicating it was night out. I panicked, thinking I had slept through the entire evening, and the bar-b-que Steve had organized for me, but the clock on the wall read quarter to seven.

Relieved, I freshened up in the bathroom, had a sonic shower, then put back on the self-cleaning clothes the hospital had provided. Despite what Steve had said about having everything you needed in New America, I would have liked to have brought a bottle of wine over…or maybe a six-pack of beer, as Steve seemed to be more of a beer guy.

Nevertheless, I didn’t want to be late, so I left the house empty handed and cut across the lawn to Steve’s front door. I was scanned and announced to those inside. A few moments later the door slid open to reveal a mature redhead clad in a dress with bold stripes. In her youth she had probably been the cute girl next door, though the years had hardened her features and padded her frame. Even so, her green-blue eyes were lively and welcoming.

“You must be Bob!” she said.

“And you must be…sorry, Steve never told me your name.”

“Carly. Carly Woods. Come on in. Come meet everyone.”

I followed her through the house, which was much more lived in than mine. My pulse quickened, and I realized I was nervous. I hadn’t been to a social gathering for some time; I was out of practice. Maureen and I had largely kept to ourselves after our daughter’s death.

We stepped through a doorway to the backyard.

When Steve had mentioned he was going to invite “the guys” over, I imagined he meant his male friends, so I was surprised to find two women sitting at a patio table with him.

“Bob-o,” he said, standing. He wore a green cap now and held a bottle of beer in his hand. “Good to see you, buddy. Jane, Rachel, this is the new neighbor I told you about.”

The women stood and shook hands with me. Jane was tall and drop-dead gorgeous with long-lashed electric green eyes and a mountain of brown curly hair. Rachel was petite and thin, with brown eyes and straight brown hair. She wore little makeup and her face was bland, though she was oddly attractive in a puckish way.

“My, Steve,” Jane said, not taking her eyes off me, “you never said you had such a handsome neighbor.”

“Cool your jets, Jane,” Steve said. “I told you, he’s married.”

“I’m simply being friendly, Steve,” she said. Then to me: “Congratulations on your marriage, Bob. It’s a rare thing these days.”

“Maureen and I are a bit old fashioned,” I said.

Carly said, “Steve mentioned your wife—Maureen—she didn’t come with you? Have you gotten in touch with her yet?”

“No, not yet,” I said simply.

“How hard is it to get in touch with someone?” Steve said.

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