The Grand Finale by Janet Evanoich

Author:Janet Evanoich
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2009-10-12T04:00:00+00:00

Rain slashed down the plate-glass windows of the Pizza Place, casting the small shop in funereal shadow. The ovens were warm against Berry’s back, but the fluorescent lighting did nothing to dispel the gloom of cold April showers.

The front door swung open and two bedraggled men entered, stomping the rain off their sneakered feet. Their first reaction was to sniff the air and smile appreciatively.

“Lady, if I were you, I’d move my bed down here. The pizza smells great.”

Berry handed them each a slice on a paper plate. “Are you done? Is my carpet all installed?”

“Yeah. Boy, I was never so glad to be done with a job in my life. Nothing personal, but your apartment really stinks.”

“There was a fire,” Berry said. “And it’s just been painted.”

“What kind of paint did you use? That place smells like old socks.”

The second man shook his head. “Worse than old socks. That place smells like dead socks.”

Berry looked at Miss Gaspich and Mrs. Fitz. “Maybe I’d better go investigate.”

She and Jake had checked on it this morning, and it had definitely had a strong paint odor. She hadn’t been able to open the windows because of the rain, but she’d assumed the fumes would have dissipated by now.

When she reached the top of the stairs her eyes began to sting. Paint, new carpet, dead socks. They were right. It smelled bad, really bad. Worse than this morning. The walls were eggshell white, and the insurance had paid for not the best but not the worst grade of beige wall-to-wall carpet. The windows were sparkling clean. There was insurance money for new curtains and a new couch but no time to shop for them.

She turned at the sound of footsteps on the stairs and smiled at Jake before he pulled her to him and kissed her hello. Just as he always did. As if they belonged to each other, she thought. Casual husbandly kisses. Hello, good night, good morning.

Jake wrinkled his nose. “What’s that smell?”

“It’s my apartment,” she said, moaning. “How am I going to live in this?”

“Don’t worry. It’s probably just a combination of fresh paint and new carpet. It’ll be better in a few days.”

Berry felt like screaming. In a few days she’d be a babbling, drooling idiot. She needed to get away from Jake Sawyer. She needed to get out of his bed, out of his house, away from his shower. Especially his shower. A morning shower used to be a wake-up ritual. Now it was an erotic experience that brought her to the breakfast table cracking her knuckles, wondering if Jake was really as good with soapsuds as he claimed.

Jake looked down at her. “You have a peculiar expression on your face. Sort of desperate.”

Desperate. The perfect word. She turned from him so he wouldn’t see the fib. “Not desperate. Just disappointed. I’d hoped to move in tonight.”

“Obviously that’s out of the question. Looks like you’re destined to stay with me a little longer,” he said cheerfully.

“Maybe it’ll smell better tomorrow.

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