Barbara Levenson - Mary Magruder Katz 03 - Outrageous October by Barbara Levenson Page B
Authors: Barbara Levenson
Ads: Link
death with her silver letter opener. I am the lawyer who got the charge dismissed.
Lillian seemed like a shy fearful person that needed my protection until her case was dismissed. Then she turned into a hard-charging business executive. She grabbed the reins of her family business and she consumed the lives of her children I got to know Sherry and Brett during Lillian’s case and still get e-mails and notes from Sherry.
I pulled out my phone, hoping for cell service, and dialed Sherry’s number. I glanced at my watch. It was ten a.m. She probably would be in class at this hour. To my surprise she answered on the second ring.
“Sherry? It’s Mary Katz. I didn’t think I’d find you in your dorm at this hour.”
“Mary, is something wrong with my mother?”
“No. I’m not in Miami. Actually I’m in Vermont, in High Pines, just a few minutes from you. I thought maybe we could make a plan to get together, maybe for lunch or dinner while I’m here.”
“Mary, this is great. You’re just the person I want to talk to. Where are you right now? I don’t have classes ‘til two this afternoon. Can you come up here for lunch? Or are you here on business?”
“This is actually the first vacation I’ve had in ages, so no business. I was just about to start a hike into the Gorge, but that can wait. I have Sam with me. You know, my German Shepherd. Can I bring him? Is everything okay with you?”
“Absolutely. I’ve never been better. I just need someone for some girl talk. Bring Sam. Everyone takes their dogs everywhere here and it’s all casual. Meet me in front of the Dartmouth Book Store. It’s right in the middle of town on Main Street. You can’t miss it. There are parking meters behind it. Come right away and I’ll walk you around town before lunch.”
.
CHAPTER
EIGHTEEN
It was a beautiful drive to Hanover. The granite formations on either side of Interstate 91 looked like a study in geology or ancient history or both. Sunlight shimmered off the mountains. There was no traffic at all; this freeway and Interstate 95, my normal Miami route, have nothing in common except that they’re both freeways.
Once off the freeway we crossed a huge bridge over the Connecticut River. Rowers were practicing on the river and a few guys and gals were stretched out on a dock enjoying the sun. At the top of a hill the town stretched to my right and what appeared to be the college campus spread out to my left.
I turned right and saw the book store along with shops and restaurants. It looked like a backdrop for a movie about New England. I pulled down an alley and found a parking meter behind the store. Sam and I strolled back to the main drag, Every person we passed smiled and said “good morning” or “great dog.” Now I began to feel like I was in the movie The Stepford Wives.
A large table sat in front of the store filled with all kinds of books on sale. I began to browse just as Sherry came from somewhere and tapped me on the shoulder. I automatically jumped and whirled around, fists clenched and Sam pulled close.
“Hey, take it down a notch. This isn’t downtown Miami. This is safe and sound Hanover, New Hampshire.” Sherry laughed and hugged me. She was wearing a Dartmouth sweatshirt and jeans. With her hair pulled back and without makeup she looked fifteen years old.
“I am so glad to see you. You look great,” I said. It’s good to see you relaxed and without the tension when your dad died.”
“It was such an awful time, but we’ve all managed to get on with our lives. I know Brett will be disappointed not to see you. He’s doing an internship with a wine distributor in New York, so he won’t be back at school until after Thanksgiving. So tell me, what are you doing here?”
She took my arm and we started walking toward the campus. “This is the Dartmouth green right ahead of us, and over there is the Hanover Inn, very old, at least by Miami standards, and that big building is the Hopkins
Lillian seemed like a shy fearful person that needed my protection until her case was dismissed. Then she turned into a hard-charging business executive. She grabbed the reins of her family business and she consumed the lives of her children I got to know Sherry and Brett during Lillian’s case and still get e-mails and notes from Sherry.
I pulled out my phone, hoping for cell service, and dialed Sherry’s number. I glanced at my watch. It was ten a.m. She probably would be in class at this hour. To my surprise she answered on the second ring.
“Sherry? It’s Mary Katz. I didn’t think I’d find you in your dorm at this hour.”
“Mary, is something wrong with my mother?”
“No. I’m not in Miami. Actually I’m in Vermont, in High Pines, just a few minutes from you. I thought maybe we could make a plan to get together, maybe for lunch or dinner while I’m here.”
“Mary, this is great. You’re just the person I want to talk to. Where are you right now? I don’t have classes ‘til two this afternoon. Can you come up here for lunch? Or are you here on business?”
“This is actually the first vacation I’ve had in ages, so no business. I was just about to start a hike into the Gorge, but that can wait. I have Sam with me. You know, my German Shepherd. Can I bring him? Is everything okay with you?”
“Absolutely. I’ve never been better. I just need someone for some girl talk. Bring Sam. Everyone takes their dogs everywhere here and it’s all casual. Meet me in front of the Dartmouth Book Store. It’s right in the middle of town on Main Street. You can’t miss it. There are parking meters behind it. Come right away and I’ll walk you around town before lunch.”
.
CHAPTER
EIGHTEEN
It was a beautiful drive to Hanover. The granite formations on either side of Interstate 91 looked like a study in geology or ancient history or both. Sunlight shimmered off the mountains. There was no traffic at all; this freeway and Interstate 95, my normal Miami route, have nothing in common except that they’re both freeways.
Once off the freeway we crossed a huge bridge over the Connecticut River. Rowers were practicing on the river and a few guys and gals were stretched out on a dock enjoying the sun. At the top of a hill the town stretched to my right and what appeared to be the college campus spread out to my left.
I turned right and saw the book store along with shops and restaurants. It looked like a backdrop for a movie about New England. I pulled down an alley and found a parking meter behind the store. Sam and I strolled back to the main drag, Every person we passed smiled and said “good morning” or “great dog.” Now I began to feel like I was in the movie The Stepford Wives.
A large table sat in front of the store filled with all kinds of books on sale. I began to browse just as Sherry came from somewhere and tapped me on the shoulder. I automatically jumped and whirled around, fists clenched and Sam pulled close.
“Hey, take it down a notch. This isn’t downtown Miami. This is safe and sound Hanover, New Hampshire.” Sherry laughed and hugged me. She was wearing a Dartmouth sweatshirt and jeans. With her hair pulled back and without makeup she looked fifteen years old.
“I am so glad to see you. You look great,” I said. It’s good to see you relaxed and without the tension when your dad died.”
“It was such an awful time, but we’ve all managed to get on with our lives. I know Brett will be disappointed not to see you. He’s doing an internship with a wine distributor in New York, so he won’t be back at school until after Thanksgiving. So tell me, what are you doing here?”
She took my arm and we started walking toward the campus. “This is the Dartmouth green right ahead of us, and over there is the Hanover Inn, very old, at least by Miami standards, and that big building is the Hopkins
Similar Books
