Primer and Punishment by Diane Kelly

Author:Diane Kelly
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group

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On Friday, updated online news reports noted that Grant’s body had surfaced—most of it anyway. While he was mostly intact, some parts of him had been found about the lake and even on boats at the marina, where they’d landed after the explosion. A finger here. A big toe there. My stomach churned at the thought that the man had been partially reduced to chum. I was glad that none of him had surfaced near the Skinny Dipper. I’m not sure I could’ve handled it.

Fortunately, the boat project took my mind off things. Buck and I finished painting the exterior of the Skinny Dipper. What a transformation! The once dull, rusty boat now gleamed in the sun, looking like it was a brand-new boat straight off the showroom floor rather than a used vessel that had been manufactured forty-five years ago. The new generator and motor still needed to be installed, and the inside needed a fresh coat of paint, new bedding, and new furniture cushions, but we’d made significant progress this week. Buck and I felt proud, especially when several people stopped to admire the boat and the adorable cat lounging atop the rubber ducky on its rear deck.

Buck said, “The Skinny Dipper will be up for sale soon. Bring your offers.”

A couple of them asked for our contact information so they could get in touch once the boat was for sale.

“See?” Buck said. “I told you a houseboat would make a good flip project.”

“We haven’t sold it yet,” I reminded him. “Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched. Or your fish before they’re hooked.”

Collin, Buck, Colette, and I had a double dinner date planned on the boat for Friday night. In preparation, Buck and I situated the new outdoor furniture on the upper deck in the late afternoon. We engaged in the usual debate, but finally settled on placing the round table and four chairs in the center of the deck, with the lounge chairs positioned along the railing.

It felt good to have a reason to get out of my paint-splattered coveralls and clean myself up for a change. I showered and shaved my legs in anticipation of baring them for the warm evening. After my shower, I slid into a pair of denim shorts and a tank top under an open, gauzy blouse. Rather than lotion, I decided to use the coconut suntan oil on my legs. The oil would not only soften my skin and smell good, but it would also make my legs look shimmery.

I retrieved the bottle from the medicine cabinet, unscrewed the top, and poured a generous amount into my hand. Lifting my foot up onto the toilet seat, I bent over and applied the oil to my calf. What the…? The oil was so sticky I could barely spread it over my skin. It felt heavier than I’d expected—and looked much darker, too, like brown polyurethane glue or maple syrup or molasses. Wait. Is it molasses? I lifted my sticky hand to my nose and sniffed.

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