by G M Barlean
“As a matter of fact, I’d really like to hear more about the story, and a lot more about you.” His gaze searched her eyes, holding her in the moment.
“I’d like it very much.” She moistened her lips. Oh, what the heck. If you want to kiss me, who am I to stand in the way?
“Tomorrow night open for you?” he asked—his low voice sending a shiver up the back of her neck.
She nodded. They still hadn’t broken the connection with their eyes. Now she was trying to will him to kiss her. Kiss me. Kiss me now.
“Be at your house at seven?” His fingers reached out and took her hand. Vibrations ran up her arm.
“Mmmhmmm.” She smiled like a mesmerized dork.
But he was smiling, too. “You know what I’d really like to do right now?”
She swallowed an amazingly large lump in her throat. “What?” she squeaked.
“Kiss you.” He squeezed her hand. “But I’m not going to.”
Her heart fell and her face did too. So close.
“Because, you know, it’s broad daylight and everything, and I think it wouldn’t take long for it to become the hottest news in town.” He nodded his head toward the diner.
Gloria looked over and saw a small group of folks—Delbert being one of them. She already knew she’d be answering questions during coffee at the old-man table next week.
Their hands fell apart and the world returned to normal, but a bit of magic lingered.
From her car she watched Ronnie drive away. It occurred to her she hadn’t felt this good in a long time and she was enjoying it.
Her attention returned to the people standing outside the diner, specifically Delbert. He was the one who hadn’t been as wholehearted in his opinion the women were innocent of foul play. Foul play or not, this was going to be a great book.
No matter how caught up she might get in potential romance, a decent story would always be her first love.
Chapter 24
Jumbled thoughts clouded Gloria’s mind as she drove to Meadowbrook. Her cell phone rang, jarring her out of her reverie. She checked—it was her mother.
She had too much on her mind and didn’t want to answer all the questions her mother was sure to have, so she decided not to take the call and let it go to voice mail.
Gloria loved her mother, but talking with her about these women felt like she was cheating on her mother with a bunch of other potential mothers. Maybe that was exactly what she was doing. She knew she was going to have to talk to her mother soon. It had been a while. What must she think? Gloria knew she was worrying about her. Maybe she’d call her tonight. But in the meantime, her thoughts strayed back to today’s interview with the women.
On her last visit, Tanya had told about how she’d been fired and escorted from the bank like a common criminal. It sounded, based on Gloria’s conversation with Ronnie, like Naomi had played too rough. No big surprise there.
Gloria tried to imagine the humiliation Tanya must have felt. How she was able to hold her head up in a small town after such a thing was a mystery.
But could the humiliation drive Tanya to murder?
She also thought about Ronnie. Tomorrow night they’d have their second date. The idea made the hairs on her arms stand up in a good way.
“Look what the cat dragged in,” Debbie announced when Gloria entered the sunroom. Then she blew a smoke ring.
“Hello to you, too.” Gloria pulled up her chair.
“You look different,” Josie noted as she looked her over. “Did you change your hair?”
“Her hair is the same. It’s her smile. It looks a little naughty.” Debbie raised an eyebrow.
“Well, you’d know naughty.” Josie crossed her arms.
“My guess is she had her date with the fellow she told us about.” Betty smiled.
Gloria didn’t figure she’d get out of it, so she went ahead and told them all about Ronnie. The ladies nodded with approval as they listened with curiosity in their eyes. “So, anyway, enough about me. Tell me more of your story.”
Tanya cleared her throat. “Well then. Let’s get started.”
Tanya Needs a Drink—1974
After being escorted out of the bank, I drove around the block and down the street. Like a magnet, I was drawn to Sully’s Bar. At 9:22 in the morning, the signs in the dark front window blinked. Miller High Life. Pabst Blue Ribbon. Open. Open. Open.
With my head leaned back on the headrest, I stared at the ripped cloth ceiling, then looked up and down the block. Where in the hell would I get a job in this town? The grocery store? Maybe at the Pizza Hut that recently opened out on the highway? Or the factory?
I poked my finger through the rip in the cloth and touched the rusty metal above. No way could we afford a new car now.
The Post Toasties I’d had for breakfast did a dance up my esophagus. I clutched the door handle of the car, thinking I would throw up, but I held it down. Then I thought about having to go home and tell Rusty and pushed the door open, leaned out, and retched into the gutter. Damn weak stomach.
Stepping far over the mess I’d made, I left the car and went to stand in the shade under Sully’s awning. My stomach began to settle, but a breeze would have helped. The Open sign still blinked at me. I looked left, then right, checking to see if I knew anyone on the street. No one. So I went into the air-conditioned darkness for a drink to calm my nerves.
One old man sat at the far end of the bar. He and Sully glanced my way. They appeared blinded by the light from the doorway, but I could see them clear enough. They looked like permanent fixtures—part of the decor.
At first I hesitated, then figured what the hell. The day couldn’t get any worse. I had six hours to kill before Rusty came home from work. I might as well hide here where no one would suspect where I’d be. It would give me time to think.
I chose a table by the wall, across from the bar. There was no place to sit that I couldn’t be seen from the front door. Not that anyone I knew would come in.
Sully came over and stared at me for a moment, a quizzical expression on his face. “Tanya.” He nodded.
I couldn’t make eye contact. My hand wiped at the table and I swallowed hard. Sully’s kid had been in my daughter’s class through school. I’d waited on Sully at the bank many times. He was a scruffy fellow with a protruding belly. The top three buttons of his shirt should have been hooked, but they weren’t, and his chest hairs and gold chain were on full display. I glanced up and caught the one-sided grin he wore.
“Day off from the bank?” He chuckled.
I should leave. I should absolutely leave.
“Just teasin’. What can I getcha?” Sully shifted his ample weight from one foot to the other.
“Whiskey.” I didn’t even recognize my own voice. It sounded like some desperate, frightened bum.
“Really?” Sully asked. “Straight?” His voice cracked in surprise.
“Uh… whatever… or you can mix it with something. You decide,” I muttered. The one time I’d drank whiskey had been at Debbie’s. It was the only time I’d had anything stronger than beer. I never even drank beer to speak of. I just knew I needed something strong. Something to kill the embarrassment, the humiliation, the shame, and whatever other unsavory crap would happen to me that day. I was tired of behaving like a good girl and being penalized for it.
Sully shuffled off. I hoped he’d come back soon with the drink.
He pulled down levers, poured things in a glass, brought it over, and set it down in front of me. “Whiskey and Coke.” He smiled. “You’ll like it.”
The dark brown liquid and ice shined in the short glass. I picked it up and took a sip. Cola with a biting taste of whiskey… the taste I remembered, but better. I downed the entire glass.
“I’ll have two more.” I pushed the glass to him. “Should I pay you now? How does this work?”
Sully picked up the glass in his stubby fingers with their long nails and turned to go. “I’ll run a tab. Don’t worry ab
out it right now.”
The warmth of the drink blanketed me. I could feel the ugly edge of the morning begin to glow.
Sully brought over two more glasses and set them down. I pulled them in front of me and ran my fingers down the condensation of their sides.
“Might want to drink those slower than the first one,” he offered.
“Okay.”
I didn’t bother to look away from my drinks. They were my promise of relief, and if these didn’t work I’d have some more.
The door of the bar opened and light pierced through the dark room. I turned and stared into the same blinding glare I had cast five minutes earlier. A man entered, and as the door shut, my eyes adjusted. I recognized the new patron as he took a stool at the bar—Naomi’s son, Doug Junior.
Sully put a drink in front of him before he even asked. He must be what they called a regular. He looked like he’d been up all night. Maybe this was his breakfast.
The rumors about him floated through my fuzzy head. I’d drunk half of another glass of whiskey and cola and the world around me became a soft-edged and slightly shaky movie reel.
Douglas Junior never so much as looked at the rest of us in the bar. I studied him in silence and wondered if he hated his mother as much as I did. I couldn’t imagine anyone liking Naomi—even her own blood. I even considered asking him. Instead, I finished the second glass of whiskey and cola and pushed it away. Sully came by and scooped it up.
“Want another?”
I nodded and sucked at the little straw in my third drink.
“Slow down. I mean it. You’ll be sick.” Sully warned me with a low grumble of a voice.
“Okay,” I said again, but the drinks tasted too good. I wanted to make this day disappear fast.
Chapter 25
The idea of Tanya in a bar drinking her troubles away caught Gloria off guard. Yet the weight of the world had been on the woman’s shoulders. The idea of such a nonconfrontational person dealing with so much hostility—Gloria could see how it could drive someone over the edge. Not to mention the financial burden looming over her.
Betty rubbed Tanya’s shoulder. “But Naomi was only warming up. It was as though after the chief of police visited with her, she sat down and plotted war against all of us. Tanya was the first battle, but Josie and I were next in line to come under fire.” Betty sighed.
Betty Hears the Rumor—1974
Hank came to work in a rare mood, his eye still sporting a hint of greenish purple. Then Naomi showed up for a visit. Then all hell broke loose. I could never have even imagined what was about to go down.
The two stood in the hallway whispering. Naomi glanced over her shoulder at me for effect. I heard snippets. “Tanya” one moment. More whispers. “Chief” the next moment. More whispers. Then the word lesbian hit the air and I straightened in my chair and raised an eyebrow.
That was odd.
More whispers ensued, then the couple disappeared into Hank’s office.
I thought I’d better figure out what was going on. I called the bank to talk to Tanya. “Hi, may I talk to Tanya Gunderson?”
The woman on the other end of the line stammered. “Uh, she’s not here.” The voice sounded wobbly, then I could hear the mouthpiece being covered and muffled voices. “Who’s calling?” the voice came back to ask.
“Betty over at Meyer’s Law Office.” I waited. Usually the mention of a call from a law office received quick attention. Not today.
More muffled discussion.
“She’s not here.” The voice came back, but with no new information.
I was about to question why they were behaving so clandestinely when I heard someone pick up. Either Hank or someone else at the bank was now listening in.
“Thank you,” I said and hung up. I drummed my fingers on the desk.
What’s going on here?
The door to Hank’s office clicked open and Naomi appeared from the shadows of the hallway. Normally she sauntered right past my desk, but this time she stopped to talk to me.
“You’re friends with Tanya Gunderson, aren’t you?” Naomi pulled a mirror and lipstick from her purse and began to apply a fresh coat of paint.
“You know I am, Naomi.” I glared at the woman.
“Too bad I had to let her go this morning. You know, one can’t have slanderers in their employ.” She smiled and locked eyes with me.
I refused to show emotion. It’s what she wanted.
“Say, it occurs to me. You hang out with Tanya, Debbie, and Josie. Now, Tanya is married and Debbie once was, but Josie. Hmmm. She never has been, and nor have you. Interesting.” She tapped her finger on her chin as if pondering life’s mysteries.
“What are you getting at, Naomi? Spit it out.” I’d had enough of this game.
“Oh nothing. Just the rumor mill is grinding away. I’m sure you’ll hear about it soon enough. Never mind. I don’t want to upset you.” Then she whisked out of the office.
What in the hell is going on in this town?
I’d stood to go to Hank’s office so I could get to the bottom of things when the front door flew open. Josie burst in, her eyes swollen from crying and her face wet with tears.
I hurried over to her. “What’s wrong?” I couldn’t imagine what could drive Josie to such sobbing, but since Mari had been killed, it seemed the worst wasn’t out of the question.
“My contract has been terminated!” Josie wailed as she wiped at her eyes with her handkerchief.
I put my arm around her and rubbed her shoulder as she cried.
From behind me, I heard Hank say, “Dear God, not in the front office.”
We parted and stared at him, dumbfounded.
“If you girls want to do that kind of thing in public, you need to move to a big city. Folks around here aren’t going to tolerate it.”
“What in the hell are you talking about, Hank?” I was at the end of my rope. Tanya fired. Josie crying. Naomi talking about rumors… such ugly rumors… they had to be about… “Shit.” I saw the signs in Hank’s raised eyebrow.
I turned back to Josie, my hands still on her shoulders. I pulled my hand away and asked, “Why were you fired?”
Through heavy sobs, Josie wailed, “Sexual misconduct. They think I’m a lesbian!”
“Oh, good Lord. Of all things. This is ridiculous.” I slapped my palm to my head. Filthy lying bitch, Naomi.
“You can’t blame the school board,” Hank said. “She interacts with children, after all.”
Josie cried louder. I had thought it couldn’t be possible. “Hank, I don’t know what rumors you’ve listened to, but they aren’t true. Shame on you for believing them.”
“Well, from where I’m standing they look pretty believable.” He crossed his arms.
All of those years working together and he was so quick to believe a rumor. It sickened me. “That’s it. I’m out of here. My friends need me, and if I stay here another minute, I’m going to take your head off.”
I left Josie’s side and went to grab my purse. If Hank responded, I didn’t care. We left the law office and I slammed the door behind us.
I wrapped my arm around Josie’s shoulder and led her to the car. As we walked down the sidewalk, I saw people stare, even whisper. Had this town lost it’s ever-lovin’ mind? Then I noticed Tanya’s car in front of Sully’s.
“Wait here,” I told Josie. I wanted a stiff drink right about then, but what were the odds Tanya would actually be in the bar? I opened the door and peered in. There she sat, and it looked like she’d been there for a while.
Chapter 26
Gloria suspected that in 1974 accusing someone of being a lesbian was like calling them a unicorn—an unreal concept in a small town of the time. And losing a job over it… what a blow it had to have been.
Could it be a reason for a woman to give a child up for adoption? Moreover, could it be a reason to murder someone? Gloria didn’t get much time to ponder the concept.
Debbie stubbed out her
cigarette, took a sip of water, then said, “I’ll take it from here.”
Debbie Gets a Letter—1974
I walked out to the end of my driveway. It was going to be one of those days, I could tell. The bird shit splattered on the top of the mailbox confirmed it.
On my walk back to the house, I rifled through the bills and saw the copy of Playboy. Bud’s subscription. I’d never had the heart to cancel it. It was one more thing to remind me of him. I dropped it in the trashcan by the front door and said what I always used to say to Bud when I found one of his naughty magazines. “Buddy… what am I going to do with you?” I shook my head with sad nostalgia.
The rest of the mail I threw on the kitchen table and out from the middle slid a handwritten envelope. A twinge in my gut drew me to it. I plopped down into the chair and sliced it open with my knife.
You’re a white-trash rat and your mother was a drunk. You and your friends have gone too far. And you will have to pay.
No signature.
Coward.
I tossed it onto the table. I knew exactly who sent it. Time to go talk to Betty. We had to figure out what to do about this thorn in our side.
When I pulled in front of the law office, I noticed Josie and Tanya’s cars also parked on the block. I got out and began to walk toward the door to Meyer’s Law Office, but my attention was drawn back to their cars. Josie and Tanya should be at work, so why would they be parked here?
I walked along the sidewalk, peering inside the windows of the storefronts along the way. I didn’t see Josie or Tanya in the pharmacy or the hardware store. The next place was Sully’s.
Surely not Sully’s.
I opened the door and my jaw dropped. The girls all turned to look, then waved me in.
“Well, now I’ve seen everything.” I approached the table. No one looked happy, or sober. “How much of this pity party have I missed?”
