Susannah at least two, maybe three, before she got her bachelor’s degree.
I decided, as I slowly climbed the stairs, I didn't want to deal with this tonight. Jake, my big yellow tom, sat in the hall staring at Susannah's already closed door. I joined him for a second, wondering if I should knock, say something, then shrugged, slipped into my nightgown, and crawled into my own bed, Jake right behind me.
Sleep took a while. So many thoughts kept whirling in my head, so many emotions I didn't want to face. My six months in Santa Louisa hadn't yet buffered me from the trauma of my sudden divorce and the abrupt change from dependent housewife to independent full time real estate agent. I’d run home, reaching backwards for the roots and stability that had been yanked from under me, to find myself living in the house where I’d grown up, renting it from my absent parents, starting a new life that was just beginning to feel right.
Dan had returned earlier, but for similar reasons. After the accident that killed his family, he gave up a promising career with the San Francisco Police Department to become Chief of our minuscule town force, where the most exciting event was the occasional painting of our park pioneer statue by the neighboring town’s football team when we managed to beat them.
Dan. The boy next door. Literally. We'd grown up best friends, me tagging behind whenever he'd let me, him bossing, teasing and protecting me. Then he left for college, and two years later so had I, to find Brian, to have Susannah, and ultimately to be dumped by my now famous physician husband for his cute blond office nurse. I was grateful Dan was around while I licked my wounds, and was pretty sure some of my feeling went beyond gratitude. Or friendship for the boy next door. We’d both outgrown that. But something else was happening to me, other feelings and realizations were emerging, and I liked them. I hadn’t sorted them out yet, but it had a lot to do with independence and it felt good. Only, tonight I didn’t want to sort. Tonight I wanted to sleep. Right after I quit worrying about Susannah, about her perhaps too close relationship with Neil, about the possibility that Rusty’s death might touch her in any way, about...About here I fell asleep, Jake firmly wrapped around my feet.
CHAPTER SIX
The phone was ringing. I opened one eye and stared at the clock on my bed table. Seven thirty. On a Sunday morning. I fumbled for the receiver and pressed it to the ear not attached to my pillow.
"Murmph."
"Ellie. That you?" Dan's voice was disgustingly cheerful.
"Who else were you expecting," I managed.
"Are you still asleep?"
"Not anymore."
"Are you all right?"
"I haven't been awake long enough to find out." I struggled to sit up, to wake up, but my normally sunny disposition wouldn't kick in until I had my first cup of coffee.
"I guess mornings aren't your thing." Some people don't know when to quit. "It's a beautiful day, Ellie. A beautiful day. And I hear it's going to be a nice night. Lots like last night. Just perfect for a barbecue."
I can take a hint, even half asleep.
"And you think my back yard would do fine." I sniffed the air. Coffee. Just a faint aroma, but definitely coffee. Thank God. "I guess we can do that. Susannah will probably be home and that means Neil. Pat and Carl?"
"Sure. If they want to. Let's have hamburgers. I'll bring beer. See you about, when. Six?"
"Fine." I hung up. I needed to follow my nose toward the coffee while I contemplated my now full day. Beer? That’s all he was bringing? Beer?
Bless Susannah. The coffee pot was almost full and there was a note on the table. "See you at Irma's at 1:00. Don't forget." As if I could, I thought as I sipped.
I’d been both looking forward to and dreading this afternoon's appointment. Irma Long owned an eighty-acre ranch not too far outside of town. Actually, it was two adjacent forty-acre pieces. Irma lived on the back parcel, where she maintained
I decided, as I slowly climbed the stairs, I didn't want to deal with this tonight. Jake, my big yellow tom, sat in the hall staring at Susannah's already closed door. I joined him for a second, wondering if I should knock, say something, then shrugged, slipped into my nightgown, and crawled into my own bed, Jake right behind me.
Sleep took a while. So many thoughts kept whirling in my head, so many emotions I didn't want to face. My six months in Santa Louisa hadn't yet buffered me from the trauma of my sudden divorce and the abrupt change from dependent housewife to independent full time real estate agent. I’d run home, reaching backwards for the roots and stability that had been yanked from under me, to find myself living in the house where I’d grown up, renting it from my absent parents, starting a new life that was just beginning to feel right.
Dan had returned earlier, but for similar reasons. After the accident that killed his family, he gave up a promising career with the San Francisco Police Department to become Chief of our minuscule town force, where the most exciting event was the occasional painting of our park pioneer statue by the neighboring town’s football team when we managed to beat them.
Dan. The boy next door. Literally. We'd grown up best friends, me tagging behind whenever he'd let me, him bossing, teasing and protecting me. Then he left for college, and two years later so had I, to find Brian, to have Susannah, and ultimately to be dumped by my now famous physician husband for his cute blond office nurse. I was grateful Dan was around while I licked my wounds, and was pretty sure some of my feeling went beyond gratitude. Or friendship for the boy next door. We’d both outgrown that. But something else was happening to me, other feelings and realizations were emerging, and I liked them. I hadn’t sorted them out yet, but it had a lot to do with independence and it felt good. Only, tonight I didn’t want to sort. Tonight I wanted to sleep. Right after I quit worrying about Susannah, about her perhaps too close relationship with Neil, about the possibility that Rusty’s death might touch her in any way, about...About here I fell asleep, Jake firmly wrapped around my feet.
CHAPTER SIX
The phone was ringing. I opened one eye and stared at the clock on my bed table. Seven thirty. On a Sunday morning. I fumbled for the receiver and pressed it to the ear not attached to my pillow.
"Murmph."
"Ellie. That you?" Dan's voice was disgustingly cheerful.
"Who else were you expecting," I managed.
"Are you still asleep?"
"Not anymore."
"Are you all right?"
"I haven't been awake long enough to find out." I struggled to sit up, to wake up, but my normally sunny disposition wouldn't kick in until I had my first cup of coffee.
"I guess mornings aren't your thing." Some people don't know when to quit. "It's a beautiful day, Ellie. A beautiful day. And I hear it's going to be a nice night. Lots like last night. Just perfect for a barbecue."
I can take a hint, even half asleep.
"And you think my back yard would do fine." I sniffed the air. Coffee. Just a faint aroma, but definitely coffee. Thank God. "I guess we can do that. Susannah will probably be home and that means Neil. Pat and Carl?"
"Sure. If they want to. Let's have hamburgers. I'll bring beer. See you about, when. Six?"
"Fine." I hung up. I needed to follow my nose toward the coffee while I contemplated my now full day. Beer? That’s all he was bringing? Beer?
Bless Susannah. The coffee pot was almost full and there was a note on the table. "See you at Irma's at 1:00. Don't forget." As if I could, I thought as I sipped.
I’d been both looking forward to and dreading this afternoon's appointment. Irma Long owned an eighty-acre ranch not too far outside of town. Actually, it was two adjacent forty-acre pieces. Irma lived on the back parcel, where she maintained
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