“Mark, you didn’t let me go. I went.”
“Ouch! I think you just hurt my feelings,” he teased.
“Really, I didn’t think you cared.”
“Come on,” he tilted his head at her.
“Gary was interested in me and you were obviously not.”
“There it is. Exactly what I’m trying to tell you. I’m sorry that I wasn’t more obvious. I’ve been worried that I hurt your feelings,” he explained. “I do wish I’d been more obvious.”
“Wait,” she said, “was this all a set up tonight so that you could talk to me alone?”
“Hey, come on now. Think about it. I didn’t tell Diane to put Gary to work tonight. When I talked to Gary, he told me he was going to tell you to come on in. I didn’t talk him into sending you in here. I didn’t make all that happen!”
“You didn’t stop it either.”
“No, I didn’t. I’m not sorry that I got a chance to talk to you either.” Liz looked away and let out a deep sigh. “I’m sorry, I’ve made you feel awkward.”
“It’s okay,” she said. “You just confuse me!”
“Sorry,” he said.
“Please stop saying you’re sorry!”
“Sorry,” He squirmed with a grin. She shook her head and grinned back at him. He remained quiet, but studied her expression relentlessly. “I’m just glad you’re getting out there Liz. I’m glad you’re dating. I haven’t forgotten what you told me the first night I took you out for a drink. You need this. It’s good to see you in a relationship. I’m happy for you.”
“You know too much about me,” she said. “I told you too much.”
“I’ve been told I have that effect on woman,” he said.
“What effect?”
“They easily open up to me. They always say they tell me too much. Is that a bad thing?”
“I guess that depends on what you do with it. What about Shayla?” she asked.
“What about her?”
“Do you love her?”
“Love her?” he stared at his fork.
“Yes, are you in love with her? To be fair, maybe I should ask, are you falling in love with her?”
“Shayla has chased after me like a criminal running from the law.”
“You didn’t answer the question,” Liz said.
“She is chasing so hard and fast that I haven’t even had a chance to think about it. I have to sprint to keep ahead of her.”
“Why are you running?” Liz asked.
“I don’t know what else to do. I’ve never had a woman come after me that fast. Do you have any idea how frightening that can be?”
“Nope, I certainly don’t, but I do know that you are avoiding the question.”
“Not really. I’m not avoiding the question. I’m trying desperately to find a way to explain myself. Shayla is so busy chasing me I can’t even see her. I’m interested. Who wouldn’t be? Men are fascinated by speed. When things buzz around us quickly, they get our attention. So yes, she has my attention; no, she doesn’t have my heart. What about you?”
“Me? No, she doesn’t have my heart,” Liz said.
“Talk about avoiding the question!”
“Oh, were you talking about Gary?” Liz laughed. “Yes, he does. He has my heart.”
“Wow!” He dropped his head with disappointment, “He’s the luckiest man I know.”
His expression startled her. The intensity and sincerity of his slightly filled eyes was unexpected. She felt almost as if she was witnessing his super power. He could do things with his eyes that were unequalled to other men. Ask him, ask him why, the voice in her head insisted. She ignored it.
“Thank you,” she said as the waitress set a salad down in front of her. Safe subject she thought.“So, what do you think of the new Artistic Director?”
“How unlike you,” Mark replied. “Have I made you so uncomfortable that you would stoop below your standard of professional ethics and open a conversation that could potentially lead to an unprecedented and negative form of gossip?”
Liz erected her posture and dug a fork into her salad.
“I absolutely hate her!” he said. It was quiet for a moment, and Liz started to snicker. They both burst into laughter.
“Oh my Gosh, Mark. So do I!”
“Really?” he asked. “I thought it was just me.”
“No, I haven’t said anything to anyone. Well except Gary, he knows. I think she is cold and horrible!”
“I know she is cold and horrible,” he added.
“I miss Anna Marie! I keep trying to convince myself that it’s not Diane’s fault that I don’t like her. I want to believe that the problem is more about the fact that I miss Anna Marie. I’m beginning to believe that it’s not about Anna Marie at all.”
“It’s not,” Mark said, “Diane is the devil!”
“I don’t know if I would go so far as to call her that?
“I would, and I did. I know a mean woman when I meet one. That woman is the devil.”
Liz chuckled softly. It was quiet again. Mark was doing that thing with his eyes again. She looked away.
“I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. Forget what I said. I’m interested in Shayla. She turned my head the first day I met her. I knew I was in trouble when she leaned over the piano. I don’t deserve a woman like you. You were right to turn to Gary. I am happy for you both!”
“Thanks,” Liz said.
“But, if it doesn’t work out—I would like to find out what we had— have.”
He winked. Her heart fluttered. A text chimed from her cell phone. She quickly reached for it. “Gary,” she said. She read the text out loud. “Having fun?” She looked at Mark. He produced a jealous grin.
“Are you?” Mark asked.
“Are you?” Liz asked.
“I was,” Mark replied, “until your boyfriend interrupted.”
Liz buried her head into her phone, punched out a text and put it back in her purse.
“What did you say?” Mark asked.
“I said, I wish you were here.”
Mark buried his head into his lap and sighed. He lifted his face slowly and attempted to cast another spell, “Like I said, Gary is the luckiest man in the world.” He picked up his sandwich. He took a bite and chewed slowly, thoroughly without taking his eyes off of her.
20
The spare bedroom was originally intended to be used as an office space. Over the years, it evolved into a space that Anna Marie could dump Kevin’s mess into. She’d always been meticulous about her home. Kevin was the opposite. Rather than bicker and argue with him she found a way to survive their differences by allowing the office to be the one place in the house that didn’t matter. She could close the door and let it be. Even in letting go she’d still grown to hate the room and the mess that it had become.
She stood in the doorway, surveyed the clutter and asked herself—how was it that she’d grown to hate the mess and not the man that was responsible for it? Much like the rest of his life, his disregard for anything that wasn’t important to him at the moment was thrown into piles of chaos. The workout weights, jackets, motorcycle parts, sports equipment, paperwork, ridiculous looking trophies and knick-knacks were all randomly scattered about the room like the shattered pieces of his life. Her eyes continued to scan the room and she discovered an open bag of Doritos on the desk.
“Lord!” she said out loud.
Her cell phone rang from her purse in the living room. She rushed for it. It was her sister. She walked back to the office as she answered.
“Claire!” she said into the phone.
“Hello, Baby Sister! How are you? Florida misses you! You know you are a beeeeich girl.” She hung onto the word beach. It was a running joke between them. “Leave the cattle and the corn! Come back to the beeeeeich”
“Leave the cattle and the corn? Seriously, you did not just say that!” Anna Marie teased back.
“I did. Guilty as charged,” Claire replied
.
“There’s a lot more here than cattle and corn, Claire!”
“Oh, I forgot; there are pigs.”
“Claire, stop!”
“I wasn’t referring to the animals. I was referring to the men!”
“I’ll give you that,” Anna Marie sighed at the mess in front of her.
“I just had high hopes that you were going to move here. The sun shines brighter when you’re around.”
"I miss Florida too; especially at this moment. I’m standing here staring at the office. I’d like to say Kevin turned it into a man cave, but it isn’t worthy of the word. It’s like one of those closets you might see in a cartoon where you open the door and all the crap just comes flying out. Only it’s not a closet; it’s a whole room.”
“Come back,” Claire said, “we’ll drink wine on the beach and lick the salt off our arms.”
Anna Marie laughed, “I wish I could. I have to get this room ready for little Annie. They’re going to do a drop in home inspection in the next week or two. Why don’t you come here instead?”
“Actually, that is what I was calling about. I booked an entire wedding party on a cruise last year. I ended up with so many points from the travel agent that I have free tickets. I could come this weekend!”
Anna Marie screamed into the phone. “Are you serious?”
“You know I wouldn’t mess with you about that. I have to book the flight this week or I’ll lose my points. It was something I almost completely forgot about. I was going to ask you to come here. I didn’t think you would, so I thought I’d come to you? I know you are busy with the house. I thought I could help!”
“Yes!” she said. “That is perfect!”
“I’ll text you flight information later tonight! By the way, I’m bringing a surprise.”
“A surprise?” Anna Marie asked, “I hope it isn’t a puppy! I don’t have time for a dog right now, Claire!”
“No!” she said, “it isn’t a puppy. Oh, I have a client on the other line; I have to go! I’ll text you later.”
Anna Marie felt a wave of serenity move through her. Claire was her rock. She was the one soul on the planet that knew her more than anyone else. Somehow, just being in the same room with her gave her a sense of confidence and peace. Claire completed her.
Her mind began to wander as she started to empty the room. She picked up the bag of open Doritos and threw it in the trash. What was her sister bringing? She smiled at the thought. Could it be a key lime pie? It was a part of their sisterly tradition. Whenever she visited Florida, fetching a great key lime pie was always the first thing on the list. Of course, Claire would be looking for Kansas City barbecue. She knew just where she would take her. Claire would be the perfect distraction and a great help!
It was an emotional and draining process to remove what was left of Kevin’s life from the house. Being there alone was hard enough, and she didn’t want to lean on Bill. It didn’t feel right to move him into the position of her emotional void. Claire’s plan to visit couldn’t have come at a better time. She felt her spirits lifting. It was a welcomed change!
21
Mary pulled her chicken casserole out of the oven just as Verde rang the bell.
“It's open,” she hollered from the kitchen.
“Look who I brought,” she heard Verde call. Mary walked into the living room to greet her. Elsie stepped in behind Verde.
“Surprise!” Elsie said. “I was on the phone with Verde and she told me she was on her way over for game night. I told her Pete was about to turn on the game too. So, I said, ‘Pete, I’m heading over to Mary’s’. I don’t even know if he heard me. I left him a pizza coupon and a little pile of cash on the side table. He’ll figure it out sooner or later.”
“What a nice surprise,” Mary said.
“It smells wonderful in here,” Elsie paused. “Maybe we shouldn’t have surprised you. I didn’t realize you were making dinner. I should have brought something.”
“Don’t be silly. My chicken casserole has always been like Jesus’ loaves and fish—it just seems to multiply.”
“Wonderful! How about your wine? Does that multiply?” Elsie asked with a cackle.
“I haven’t figured that one out, yet. We’ll have to ask the Captain about that. He’s been in close contact with Jesus these past few days,” Mary shook her head.
“How is the old boy?” Verde asked. “Elsie told me he had a death near the experience.”
“It’s called a near death experience,” Elsie said.
“That is what I said. An experience near death,” Verde said. Elsie started to correct her again but rolled her eyes instead. “So, he is seeing things?” Verde asked Mary.
“He—” Mary started.
“He saw Jesus and he talks to him regular now,” Elsie answered over her.
“Elsie, please,” Mary said. “Let me explain. He is over medicated, and I’m worried about him, Verde. He’s been talking about how he met Jesus and he talks to dead people!”
“He talks to dead people?”
“He is talking to that man, Kevin,” Mary said.
“Kevin?” Verde repeated.
“Is that the man he killed?” Elsie squealed in horror.
“He didn’t kill him!” Mary replied. “He rushed the gun when that crazy lady pointed it at Anna Marie. The gun went off and Kevin jumped in front of the bullet to save Anna Marie.”
“Who was the lady with gun?” Verde asked.
“I thought you knew all this Verde!” Mary said.
“She got all mixed up because she went on that cruise. Remember, it all happened right after she finally had relations with her husband again after a twenty-year dry spell. It threw her mind off!” Elsie said.
“Elsie! That was private! And, it certainly wasn’t twenty years!”
“Are you and Joe doing okay, Verde?” Mary asked.
“Oh my lord have mercy, Elsie! Why did you have to go and shoot your big mouth off about my private business?”
“You have been waiting on that man hand and foot. You deserve someone to take care of you!” Mary said.
“Oh, he is taking care of her now and plenty good!” Elsie said.
“Elsie!” Verde said. “Enough! Finish what you were saying, Mary. Who was the woman with the gun?”
“It was Kevin’s second wife. That man Kevin married two women! They found out about each other and the one with the gun wanted Kevin to leave Anna Marie and run away with her and her child.”
“The woman with the gun had a child?” Verde asked.
“Yes, she did. And it was Kevin’s child.” Elsie added. “They named her Anna Marie too!”
“What?” Verde said.
“Kevin gave the child the same name as his first wife,” Elsie said.
“You are talking over me again,” Mary scolded Elsie.
“I’m sorry, but you’re not spitting it out fast enough. She has to hear things in large chunks or her mind wanders.” Both women glared at Elsie.
Mary tried again, “The woman with the gun went into the theatre and saw Kevin talking to Anna Marie. Kevin was trying to convince Anna Marie to run away with him and his child. Anna Marie couldn’t have children and when Kevin had an affair with Darci he had—”
Verde stopped her, “Wait who is Darci?”
“Darci is the other wife, the one with the gun!” Elsie interrupted again. Mary shot her a hard look. “I’m sorry, I told you she would get distracted if you slowed down,” she said to Mary. Elsie turned back to Verde and said, “I’m just trying to help you keep up, Verde!”
“I am doing just fine, Elsie!” Verde said.
Mary started again, “Darci and Anna Marie were both married to Kevin. He wanted his first wife Anna Marie to stay with him and he wanted her to accept his child as her own.”
“What did Anna Marie want?” Verde asked.
“She didn’t want his sorry self,” Elsie broke in again.
Mary took a long pause and held her eye
s firmly on Verde.
“Go on—” Verde said, “—go on! Darci, the wife with the child pointed the gun at Anna Marie, right? What did that have to do with the Captain?”
“The Captain, was in the bathroom. When he walked into the lobby, he saw Darci pointing the gun. He rushed the gun and knocked that Darci woman to the ground, but the gun went off in her hand. Kevin jumped in front of Anna Marie and took the bullet.”
“So, this Kevin is the dead man that Clifford is now seeing and speaking to?” Verde asked.
“Yes, Kevin is the man that Clifford killed,” Elsie said.
“He didn’t kill him!” Mary corrected her.
“Well, actually he kind of did,” Elsie said. “If he hadn’t rushed the gun, it wouldn’t have scared the woman to pull the trigger.”
Mary glared at her. “Never say that again. If you do, I’ll have to ask you to leave my house. The poor man feels terrible. He was doing his duty. They did an entire investigation. He acted as a hero if you ask me.”
“I didn’t mean anything by it.” Elsie said with humility. “I was just trying to help explain the situation. I know he is a hero. I’m sorry, Mary. I simply meant that—”
Mary tapped her hand, “I know, Elsie, you just have to be careful about how you say things—especially if you’re interrupting!”
“Maybe he has guilty feelings, Mary. I mean, we think he was heroic, but what if deep down he doesn’t feel like a hero. You said he feels terrible. He’s probably seeing Kevin because he has bad memories and guilty feelings about it all,” Verde suggested.
“No, that is not it at all. He’s seeing Kevin because he is seeing Kevin!”
“How could you know?” Verde asked.
“I know, because Kevin told him that the nurse lied to me about my pie. She told me they ate it all. I caught them a few minutes later with a half a pie! Just like he said!” Verde looked at Elsie, but neither dared to question her. “I just don’t like that hospital because they have him over doped,” Mary said.
“Well, let’s go get him,” Verde said. “They’ve had him long enough!”
The False Exit Page 9