by Glen Ebisch
His hopes were shattered when the first thing that confronted him as he walked in the front door was a large box.
“The boys’ toys,” Amy said apologetically when he gave it a long look. “There’s no way around it.”
“What about that stuff?” he asked, pointing to half a dozen plastic garbage bags.
“Clothes. You’d be surprised how much space coats, pants, hats, and shirts can take up.” She grinned. “There’s also a few of my own things.”
“I bet,” he said, returning the grin.
“I’m also taking all the financial stuff. Jack left the checkbook behind, and I’ve been paying all the bills for the house.”
“Is he still putting money in the account?”
She nodded. “Most of his paycheck is direct deposited.”
“Good. We’ll have to talk to the lawyer about that when we get one.”
There was a great clattering on the stairs and the boys ran into the livingroom and hugged Charles. The oldest boy was named Jack, just like his father and grandfather. That probably made him Jack III at least. Charles quickly found imself studying the boy to see if he had picked up any traits from his namesakes. Maybe it was just as well that the boys were being removed from their father’s baleful influence. Kevin, the younger, kept asking if Charles had any horses on his farm, having somehow gotten it into his head that Charles was a rancher. Charles said that although he didn’t personally have any, there were plenty of stables in the area.
“But we aren’t going to be out there very long, are we?” Jack III asked, a note of concern in his voice.
“Probably not very long, sweetheart,” Amy said.
Jack gave her a look as if he knew evasion when he heard it.
Before more awkward questions could be asked, Charles mobilized everyone into loading the cars. It took a while because the boys kept remembering items that they wanted added, and they got into prolonged negotiations with their mother. It was over an hour before Jack finally got behind the wheel of his car and got ready to back out of the driveway to head home. Just as he was putting the car in gear, a large vehicle pulled up, blocking the end of the driveway. Charles slowly got out.
“Stay in the car,” he said to Amy, who was starting to climb out. “And keep the boys in there, too.”
Charles slowly walked down to the end of the driveway where Jack stood leaning against the side of his SUV.
“Hello, Jack,” Charles said, “I’m afraid your car is in my way.”
“You’re not going anywhere with my family.”
“They’re just coming out for a visit,” Charles lied, hoping to defuse the situation.
“I don’t believe that for a moment,” the man said, proving that his son wasn’t the only one who was hard to deceive.
Charles glanced up and down the street. “How did you know we were going?”
Jack smirked. “I pay a retired neighbor to keep an eye on things. Now that Amy’s living here alone, I don’t want her getting up to something that the boys shouldn’t see.”
“Like what?”
“Like having another man in the house,” Jack shouted, pointing a finger at Amy’s car. Charles noted with quiet satisfaction that the finger was in a sturdy splint.
Charles nodded. “Move the car, Jack.”
Jack smugly folded his arms and leaned against the vehicle as if he had all the time in the world.
Charles went back to his car, and pulled his Dad’s baseball bat off the seat. He then walked down the driveway. The smug expression left Jack’s face, and he pushed off the car.
“You better not do anything to my car. I’ll sue,” he shouted.
“I think blocking me in amounts to unlawful imprisonment or something like that, anyway. Now move your car.”
“I don’t think you’ve got the nerve to do it, old man.”
Charle walked up to the left headlight. A short hard swing of the bat caused the light to explode into a satisfying cloud of plastic and glass.
“Now you have no left headlight, Jack. I believe in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that makes it illegal for you to drive a night. Shall I move on to the right one?”
“You’re crazy. You’re going to live to regret that.”
“I doubt it,” Charles said, as he remained standing by the right headlight. “Now are you going to move your car?”
Jack hopped in behind the wheel and backed up his car. Charles walked to where Amy was sitting with the car window open and her mouth agape.
“I’ll back out first and stay in front of Jack. You take the lead.” She looked pale, but she nodded.
“Why did you break Dad’s headlight?” Jack asked from the backseat.
“Your father didn’t think I could swing the bat hard enough to do it. It was just a bet.”
“Well, I’ll bet he’s mad now,” the boy said in an awstruck voice.
“Wow!” little Kevin added.
Charles thought that just about summed it up.
Chapter 27
By the time they got home, it was almost dark. The boys spent most of their time scurrying around the unfamiliar house, explorers getting a feel for a new territory, while Charles and Amy unloaded the car. The two adults had agreed that Amy would return to her old room, which hadn’t been changed much since she left home, and the boys would occupy the guest room which already had twin beds. By the time everything was moved into the house, and, if not unpacked, at least placed in the proper room, everyone was too tired to think about cooking. Charles suggested having pizza delivered, which was greeted with applause by adults and children alike. After dinner, the boys soon announced that they were tired and retreated to their bedroom. While Charles cleaned up the kitchen, Amy got the boys settled into bed. By the time she returned, Charles was in his study with a scotch in his hand.
“Would you like one?” he asked, raising his drink toward Amy, who rarely drank.
“You know, tonight I think I’ll make an exception and have one.”
Charles poured her drink and handed it to her.
“Well, the worst of it is over,” he said, settling back in his chair.
He was surprised at how tired he felt. Part of it was no doubt due to the long drive, but some was the result of his confrontation with Jack. Charles wasn’t sure he had handled it well, but he couldn’t think of an alternative that would have achieved the same result.
“Do you really think so?” Amy said. “Do you think Jack and his father are going to give up without a fight?”
“Probably not, but at least the fight will be on our home ground and not theirs.”
Amy sighed. “I’ve been trying to imagine what the future will be like. I’ll have to get a full time job to support the boys, and eventually we’ll have to find our own place to stay.”
“Let’s not anticipate too much until we’ve talked with a lawyer. Jack will have to pay some child support, so you may not have to work full time. By the way, are you going to keep your job in Boston?”
“I only do one interview a week, so I guess I’ll just drive in for that. If I leave early in the morning, I can do my interview and be back by dinner time. Whatever I write can be sent in by e-mail. On those days you might have to pick the boys up from school, once they start out here.”
Charles nodded, ashamed that he was already starting to resent giving up his time.
“We’ll work it out,” he said.
Amy frowned. “I’ll call Roger Mornington in the mornng and find out if he handles divorces. If he does, I’ll set up an appointment for as soon as possible. I’m starting to think that a separation is a waste of time. The way Jack is acting, I don’t think I’d ever trust him if we did get back together again. He’d probably use it as some kind of a ploy to get the boys away from me.”
“He probably would if he’s half the man his father is,” Charles agreed.
“You sure having us here won’t be too much for you? After all, you’ve been living alone ever since Mom died.”
“I’ll adjust. And if it should get to be too much, I’ll spend a few nights with Joanna.”
Amy grinned. “So it’s moved on to that stage, has it? You sly old dog.”
“I’m trying not to feel too guilty at moving on.”
“You shouldn’t,” Amy said, suddenly turning serious. “I know I’ve sometimes criticised you for not being more involved in the family when I was growing up, but you’ve always been a good person and an understanding father. And it was Mom who really moved on rather than yourself.”
“My indifference probably forced her into it.”
“She wasn’t forced into it. She chose it. I’m not saying she was completely wrong, but she was at least as much to blame as you. I don’t think you have anything to feel guilty about.”
Charles sighed. “I’m beyond allocating blame. That’s all in the past. I’m focusing on the future.”
“So am I,” Amy said, finishing her drink. “And that means that tomorrow is another busy day, so I’d better be going to bed.”
“Since the room hasn’t been changed since you left home, I’m sure you’ll know where everything is.”
Amy walked across the room to Charles and bent over to kiss him on the cheek.
“Thanks again, Dad.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Charles picked up the phone when Amy went up the stairs and called Joanna. She was home and wanted to hear all about the events of his day, so he gave her the literal blow-by-blow account.
“Charles, you are turning into a real man of action. I wish I’d been there to see the expression on Jack the Philistine’s face when you broke the headlight on his precious Lexus.”
“It wasn’t pretty, but I have to admit it was rather satisfying.”
“Do you think he’ll leave it at that, and let the lawyers handle things from here on out?”
“I don’t know. I tried to make Amy think so, but I’m not certain. Jack strikes me as being a bit unbalanced, and he might want revenge. Plus losing control over his family is a real blow to his manhood, and I’m sure he blames that on me.”
“I’ll see that the patrol in your area makes a point of going past your house a bit more often and paying particular attention, as of tonight.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
“Do you think we can get together next weekend?” asked Joanna.
“I hope so.”
“Of course, I could come to your house and have dinner with your family if you think that would be more prudent. We needn’t reveal to them that we’ve gotten down and dirty.”
“That would be nice, but I’ve made Amy aware that our relationship goes beyond mere companionship.”
“How did she react to that?”
“She’s delighted.”
“Good. I was afraid she might be more possessive or feel that you were in some way betraying her mother.”
“When it comes to that, she’s far more sensible than I am.”
“Do you feel you’re betraying Barbara?” asked Joanna in a concerned voice.
“Not at all. But I have been slow to break away from my married life, as is shown by my living in a virtual museum. I’ve become a curator of my past.”
Joanna laughed. “Well, I guess it’s time for you to make some new acquisitions, and begin building a different collection.”
“A wise idea, but now I think I have to get some sleep. It’s been an eventful day.”
“I’ll make a point of talking to you tomorrow.”
“I’ll look forward to it.”
Chapter 28
The next morning around nine Charles was sitting in his office savoring the silence. Breakfast with two active boys at the table was nothing like his normal meditative reading of the New York Times over a cup of coffee. He had finished his cereal and toast in record time. Amy had smiled when he bolted for the stairs, saying that he had to get ready for work, even though his class wasn’t until the afternoon. Amy had plans to take the boys out to a park where he hoped they would run around until they burned off all their excess energy. He was already wondering whether he could talk Joanna into letting him stay with her for a few days each week. It would be a big imposition, but he was hoping she might volunteer, if he made his plight sound pathetic enough. A man in his sunset years shouldn’t have to be exposed to so much early morning enthusiasm.
There was a knock on his doorframe.
“Do you have a few minutes?” Tori Locke asked.
I have hours, Charles thought, but he merely motioned for her to come in and sit down.
“Did my mother come to see you about looking after me?”
Charles smiled. “She didn’t put it exactly that way.”
“Well, sorry about that. But the way things have been she’s gotten all mother-bear protective.”
“That’s only understandable. How have your classes been going?”
“Biology and math are kinda hard. I enjoy your class a lot, and I like history, despite my father’s issues with Professor Carlson.”
“Is he treating you all right?”
“Yes. Everything is fine. Actually I think he’s a little afraid of me.”
Not surprising, Charles thought, since you’ve been peripherally involved in two murders.
“But actually there is something I wanted to talk with you about.”
“What’s that?”
“I turned eighteen a month ago, which means, according to Mom’s lawyer, that I can inherit outright my father’s portion of the business once his will is settled. Uncle Reggie has said that if I don’t want to hang onto the shares, he will buy them from me at a good price. That would give me plenty of money, so Jason and I could afford to get an apartment and live together off campus.”
“I see. Have you discussed this with your mother?”
Tori grinned. “You can imagine she wasn’t very happy with the idea. She thinks I should hang onto the shares because the business is doing well, and they’ll only get more valuable as time goes by. That’s what she says, but deep down I think it’s more about my living with Jason than selling the stock. She doesn’t think I’m ready to get that serious about a boy.”
“What do you think?”
Charles expected her to scoff at her mother’s concerns, but instead, she looked more reflective.
“I’m not sure. I care a lot for Jason, and I think he feels the same way about me. But I’m not sure I want to tie myself down to one person when I’m only eighteen. I haven’t even picked a major course of study yet, so I’m hardly ready to choose a husband. I have no idea where my life will lead, you know.”
Charles nodded. “I think that’s very wise. What does Jason think?”
“He’s pretty much leaving it up to me. I wish he would express more of an opinion.” She paused. “You know this sounds pretty terrible, but I’m starting to think my father did make a good point about him, he really isn’t very strong. He doesn’t seem to have opinions about things.”
On the other hand, you’re your father’s child, Charles thought, and have opinions about everything.
“Another thing my father said has been on my mind.”
“What’s that?”
“That last time when we had dinner together, he said that he wished he’d been more involved in the business when he was younger.”
“Didn’t he work for his father?”
“Oh, yeah, but he was just going through the motions. He was saying that he wished he’d paid more attention and really helped guide the business like Uncle Reggie did. He told me that he planned to start paying more attention now. That got me thinking that maybe I could sort of carry on where he left off, and become more involved in what the business does. I mentioned that to Uncle Reggie, and he said there would always be a job for me there once I graduated from college.”
“Are you thinking about doing that?”
She grinned. “I don’t know anything about commercial real estate, but I’m sure that I could figure i
t out.”
“I’m sure you could.”
Tori stood up. “Well, thanks for your time. That really helped a lot. Who are we going on to study next in our course?”
“Edgar Allan Poe.”
“The mystery writer?”
“Actually, the father of the mystery story and of the horror story. Also he was a poet. He was really quite an amazing but troubled man.”
“Sounds good.”
“I hope the horror and suspense won’t be disturbing to you, given what’s been happening.”
She gave a weak smile. “Nothing in a story could be worse than real life. I think I can take it.”
Charles nodded his agreement.
The phone rang a few minutes after Tori left the office. It was Amy.
“I called the lawyer, Mornington, he said that he does handle divorces, and he’d be happy to take my case. I told him about the other lawyer refusing to represent me, and he was outraged. He said neither his father nor grandfather before him had ever refused to take a case out of fear.”
“Not to question his courage, but it also doesn’t hurt that he’s over a hundred and fifty miles away from the sphere of Jack Senior’s influence.”
“True. He also told me that by leaving the house Jack had severely weakened his case for even joint custody. No judge was going to be very impressed by a man who went running home to his parents after a marital squabble. By continuing to pay the bills, Jack also showed he could afford alimony. In other words, Mornington thought we were in a strong position.”
“What about whether to have a trial separation or a divorce?”
“He said that’s up to me. It’s a matter of whether I think we can work out our differences.”
“What do you think the chances are of that?” asked Charles.
“I don’t want to quit on our marriage, but the way Jack has been acting lately makes me wonder if I ever really knew him. He’s just so angry and violent. I never thought I’d see him act that way.”
“How soon do you have to decide what to do?”
