The Blacksmith by Susan Shultz

Author:Susan Shultz [Shultz, Susan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-63370-022-2
Publisher: Full Fathom Five Digital
Published: 2014-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

I get up late this morning for my meeting with Daniel. I’m supposed to meet him at 9 at the diner. Maybe it’s psychological. Trying to protect myself.

Daniel isn’t mean or violent, he just blatantly doesn’t care about me. I am only a blip in his perfect history. He didn’t even call me to make the appointment. He had his secretary do it.

I tried to kill Daniel once. Or at least, I thought so hard about it that I came very close to doing it. I thought about poisoning him. I thought about stabbing him. I even thought that all the hormone treatments and the miscarriage might make for a good alibi. Finally, I decided he wasn’t worth the jail time.

He would have tasted as bland as his personality.

But if I had known for certain I could get away with it, I would have done it. Daniel’s net worth would have made me a suspect immediately. Even though I never cared about his money. I just wanted him to love me.

I pull into the crowded diner parking lot and give myself a pep talk. I try to make myself appear that I feel I am worthy and intelligent. That I think I matter. He may have won, but I still want to retain some of my dignity. That’s what I have to do before seeing my ex-husband.

He is there already, and I see him look at his watch as I walk through the door.

“Still punctual as ever, I see.”

“Hello, Daniel.”

“Please, sit.” He gestures to the other bench. He snaps to get the server’s attention.

“Another coffee, please?” He points to me. “You’re not hungry, are you?”

He looks very handsome. Tan. Probably from being out on his sailboat. His blue eyes are bright but cold. He wears a golf shirt.

“No, I’m not hungry.”

“Good. I don’t have a lot of time. I have a meeting on the golf course in an hour, and with rush hour traffic—”

“What do you need me to sign, Daniel?”

“Oh, uh, right.” He rustles through his papers.

“Here, just some estate stuff. Thanks.” He passes some papers to me, and I have them all signed in a few minutes.

“You’re looking good.” I know he’s lying. He’s barely looked at me.

“Thanks. So are you. You got some sun.”

“The kids love the boat. It’s great.”

“How is Margaret? And the family?”

“They’re doing great, thanks.”

He runs through various community activities and volunteer positions and charity balls and kids’ sports activities while I quietly drink my coffee. Eventually, I interrupt him.

“Don’t you have to go?” I point at my watch.

“Oh, shit. Yeah. Right. Thanks. You may not be able to keep track of time, but somehow you’re still keeping me organized! Wait, uh. How is…I mean, how are you?”

“I’m the same, Daniel. The same. Have a good meeting. Take care.” I try to sound cheerful as I let him off the hook.

With a look of relief, he breezes back out into the world of Daniel, leaving me to drink my coffee in solitude.

Selfish bastard.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.