Promises, Promises (Class of '85) by James Silver

Author:James, Silver [James, Silver]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2011-04-25T21:00:00+00:00

Chapter Four

Like clockwork, Michael called every week, asking her out. Like a broken record, she turned him down. She had no time for fun, for…what did her mother call it? Getting on with her life. She couldn’t step back into her former life. She didn’t have the resources or the desire. Like so many of the people Geoff had defrauded, she didn’t have much paycheck left at the end of the month, especially since so much of her funds went into the trust the court set up to deal with the claims of her ex’s former clients. If Lighthouse hadn’t given her a cell phone to carry, she wouldn’t have contact with the outside world. No Internet—she didn’t need it since she didn’t have a computer any longer. No cable. She didn’t have a TV. She’d reactivated her library card and rediscovered the joy of reading.

But like clockwork, Michael ignored her reticence. He would show up after a long day, pizza box or fish and chips in a greasy bag in hand, and give her a ride home. Despite her best intentions, he always broke through her resolve. Sometimes they made love on the narrow confines of her bed. More often than not, he would feed her, cuddle her, kiss her goodnight and send her off to a hot bath. Alone. He obviously wasn’t using her for sex. And he obviously wasn’t dating anyone else.

Her parents ignored her at Christmas time, not that it mattered much. She had a party to work Christmas Eve. After the cleanup, several of her single coworkers suggested a stop at Doogan’s to celebrate the season. Hesitant to go at first, she eventually relented, especially since her ride home insisted.

The six of them burst through the front door, laughing and eager. The warm air enveloped her and the mingled scents of cinnamon, pine, fried fish, and beer, provided a sense of home like she’d never felt. She almost staggered from the weight of the sensation. Her eyes sought out Michael and found him behind the bar filling a mug from the beer tap. He looked startled for a minute as their gazes met and then he smiled and winked.

Her five coworkers took over a large table near the Christmas tree and Maggie Carpenter was already there taking orders. Shrugging out of her thin coat, she hung it on a peg by the door and joined them.

“I’ve got yours, Kelly,” Maggie called as the older woman sailed toward the bar.

A bit later, her stomach full of fish and chips, and a second foaming glass of Guinness in front of her, Kelly finally relaxed. Christmas carols wafted from the speakers, but not so loud people had to shout to be heard. The pleasant hum of conversation faded into the background as she closed her eyes. In moments, she’d dozed off.

Strumming chords on a guitar brought a smile to her face but she didn’t open her eyes. A sweet soprano sang the first line of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman.

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