Welcome to Scarlet Oaks Knoll by Leigh Donnelly

Author:Leigh Donnelly [Donnelly, Leigh]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-04-22T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Denny, May 2014

Denny liked to write while Julia and Lindsay were at pinochle and the kids were next door under James’s watchful eyes. He’d sometimes hang out in the kitchen with the women, sampling the food they were making and engaging in a bit of conversation before retreating back to his office with fresh ideas for his novels. If he was lucky, he was able to apply a few new details to whatever he was writing at the time. Usually, he would have to jot down a few lines on his legal pad to save for later. There it would sit for months, sometimes years, before he’d find the perfect story to use it in.

He had a good feeling when the two women returned from their game only somewhat drunk and a few hours earlier than they usually got home. Both of those details had him out of his office chair and opening his door a crack so he could eve’s drop on their conversation.

He shamelessly stood directly at the door so he could hear better. It sounded as though Lindsay popped another bottle of wine and poured them each a glass. Though he couldn’t see anything he pictured them in their usual spots: Julia on the second bench from the deck sliding doors while Lindsay stood on the other side of the island. Lindsay wouldn’t allow herself to indulge, so he was certain she would ignore the leftovers they’d brought back while longingly watching Julia pick at the food throughout their conversation.

This is stupid, he thought. He laughed slightly at his own misbehavior at the door and then went into the kitchen.

“Hey, hon. You guys are home early. Everything okay?” Not only had he abandoned hiding out in his office, but he also dropped any pretense of allowing the conversation to flow naturally since he laid out his curiosity as soon as he entered the room.

“Everything’s fine. It was just a bust of a game. A few of the women have the flu that’s going around, one had a funeral out of town, and another was out with her husband for their anniversary. It was only six of us tonight, so we didn’t bother playing. We all ate, had a few glasses of wine while we talked, and then called it a night.”

“That’s too bad,” Denny said. He wasn’t sure what the right comment was since it seemed like they’d had a good time regardless. “Well, I’m writing in the back if you need anything.”

“We’re fine,” Lindsay deadpanned.

“No, wait,” Julia said. “I want to know if Denny’s heard any of this.”

“Not likely. Denny mostly keeps to himself. Aside from James, I don’t think he has any neighborhood friends. Do you, hon?”

“No, I mostly keep to myself.” Denny worked hard to keep the annoyance out of his comment. Did she always have to be so blunt about everything?

“See? But go ahead; ask him.”

“Okay…Should I sit?” Denny asked. “Is this a loaded question?”

“It’s pretty fucked up,” Lindsay said as she gestured to the stool next to Julia.

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