Roommates by Jackie Calhoun

Author:Jackie Calhoun
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: ! Yes
ISBN: 9781594931239
Publisher: Bella Books
Published: 2008-05-13T05:00:00+00:00

Julie studied Sammy, thinking about how her changed looks seemed to have changed her attitude, or maybe it was the other way around. She only wore three tiny earrings, her hair had grown longer and turned a shiny brown, and her jeans were stylishly tight. “You look terrific. How’s it going?” School had just started up after summer break.

Sammy grinned and the smile changed her face. “Awesome. Nicole and Patsy and I hang out together.”

“Wow. When did that happen?”

The girl shrugged. “At the last meeting.” She looked at her feet and mumbled, “I took out the rings and let my hair grow.”

“Smart cookie.”

“You told me to.” There was the flash of blue eyes, now bright.

Julie laughed. “I wanted to see the young woman behind the disguise.”

It was the last appointment of the day. She dictated her observations after Sammy left and went out into a warm rain. After picking up Peggy, she made a quick stop at the grocery store.

“What do you want for supper?” she asked as they strolled down the aisles.

“Macaroni and cheese and hot dogs,” Peggy said.

“That’s all you ever want, kiddo. Tonight we’re going to have a salad and homemade pizza.”

“I don’t want pizza.”

“Hey, it’ll be fun putting it together. Besides, I thought you liked pizza.”

“I want Daddy to help make it.”

She sighed. How to say that Daddy didn’t want to help?

The For Sale sign swung in the breeze when they turned the corner onto their street. There was an open house Sunday. She and Peggy would have to leave for the afternoon. Joe’s Lexus was parked on one side of the driveway. A surprise.

“Daddy’s home!” Peggy shouted, her face and hands pressed against the window.

Joe got up off the swing on the front porch and walked toward them as she drove into the garage. Releasing Peggy from her booster seat, he held her to him, hiding his face in her neck.

Julie slid out of the car and stood rooted to the cement floor. She knew immediately. Charlie. Leaning against the roof of the car, she buried her face in her arms.

A stray shot, Joe told her when Peggy went to her room to get some pictures she’d drawn. “I have to go back to Washington tomorrow night, but I wanted to tell you in person.” His red eyes revealed his pain. He swiped at them when Peggy reappeared.

“What’s wrong, Daddy?” Peggy stopped running and looked worried.

“Uncle Charlie died,” he said.

Later, when Peggy had fallen asleep and been put to bed, Julie and Joe sat on the front porch swing.

“If I say it enough, will it become real, Julie? Does Charlie seem dead to you?”

“No. Yes. I don’t know.” The anger she’d felt toward Joe disappeared, punctured by Charlie’s death. “Do you remember our discussions about what we wanted to do and be?”

“At least Charlie wrote his novel.”

“He would have written more.” She stared at the rain splashing on the sidewalk. “You’re the protagonist in that novel. It’s not always flattering.”

“And you’re the protagonist’s wife. Do you ever talk to Peg?”

She shook her head.

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