The Sailor Who Washed Ashore by Frank W. Butterfield

Author:Frank W. Butterfield [Butterfield, Frank W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: courtroom, Daytona Beach, detective, gay, mystery
ISBN: 9781726888080
Google: 99IvvQEACAAJ
Publisher: self-published
Published: 2018-10-09T12:45:49.845000+00:00

Chapter 7

761 Palmetto Avenue

Thursday, September 11, 1947

After midnight

Tom turned on his stomach for what seemed like the fiftieth time that night. Even though the fan was on, pointing near him but not at him and just like he liked, he was still sweltering in bed. He only had the sheet pulled up. Finally, not knowing what else to do, he kicked that off.

That brought a little relief as the fan blew warm, humid air over his naked body. About half an hour earlier, he'd stood and removed his pajamas. Of course, he'd made sure the door was closed and wasn't likely to slowly swing open like it could do at times. He didn't want to embarrass Howie. Nor did he want Howie to see him, not naked like that.

He wondered, for the thirteenth time, if it had been a good idea to let the young man stay in the house with him. He could just as easily have put him up in a motel, even beachside, and let Howie have time alone to grieve. The young man had a lot to think about.

Of course, having so much to think about was the reason Tom had started drinking so much back in May. He hadn't known how to think about everything that had happened, not until he met Dr. Meisner and had started to come to terms with the loss of his wife and his daughter.

He turned over on his back and looked up at the ceiling. His wife. His wife. Who was Sarah, really? From what Ronnie had told him back in August up in Ormond, it sounded like she knew him better than he knew her. Why had they even gotten married?

Tom knew the answer to that question. It was what he'd planned. Graduate from high school. Attend the University of Florida. Then on to Stetson for law school. He mapped that out when he was in the 8th grade, he didn't know how or why, but he had. And, somewhere along that way, he would get married. Of course. Everyone did and so would Tom Jarrell because that's what everyone did. It all made so much sense.

But, along the way, he'd met Ronnie Grisham. He and Ronnie had gotten to know each other very well when Ronnie had moved in to his parents' house after Mr. Grisham had died from cirrhosis of the liver. Tom knew he was like that, an invert, by the time the day arrived when he graduated from high school. He'd been in love with Ronnie, truly and deeply, he'd thought, and was so proud of him as he'd watched his friend, his lover, walk across the stage.

All these years later, it seemed so ridiculous. It had been puppy love, if that. Tom didn't love Ronnie. He liked him, sure. And they still could get together from time to time and do nice things to one another...

He turned on his side. That was what kept him awake at nights and had for the last few weeks.

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