“I’ve done a lot of things,” he said evasively, and couldn’t think of anything to add that didn’t sound lame or self-defensive.
Shelby rescued him. “Jay’s passion is owning a quality restaurant. We did own one, as a matter of fact, for three years in Morgan Hill. Macklin’s Grotto. Seafood specialties.”
“What happened?”
“The same thing that happens to a lot of good restaurants these days. Too much expense and not enough customers.”
Talking about the restaurant—thinking about it—was still painful. To change the subject Macklin said, “Shelby’s the breadwinner now. She’s an EMT.”
“You mean a paramedic?” Claire said. “Oh, that’s interesting. I know there are women who do that work, but I’ve never met one. It must be rewarding to help people who … people in trouble.”
“Yes,” Shelby said.
“But stressful, too. Do you work long hours?”
“Sometimes. Nights as well as days.”
“Must play hell with your love life,” Decker said.
Another brief, awkward silence. Paula broke it by saying, “What’s it like to
“If you weren’t an ice maiden, maybe you’d find out.”
“Damn you, Gene! That’s a lie and you know it.”
Lomax said angrily, “You two make me sick.” Knots of muscle bulged on the twin points of his jawline. He stalked across to the fireplace, keeping his back turned to the rest of them; pitched another log atop the burning stack, then used a poker to jab it into place.
Macklin had had enough. “I think we’d better be going.” He looked at Shelby as he said it, hoping she wouldn’t offer any argument. She didn’t; she sat silently looking into her almost empty glass.
“Oh, no, please,” Claire said, “don’t leave yet.”
“We need to unpack, get settled.”
“It’s only eight thirty. We haven’t eaten yet—you’re welcome to stay for dinner. Aren’t they, Brian?”
“No,” Lomax said.
“Brian …”
“I said no.” He jabbed harder at the fire, sending up sparks and glowing embers. “No means no this time.”
Macklin said quickly, “We couldn’t stay anyway. We … brought a casserole from home.”
“But you can’t cook it with the power out.”
“It’s the kind you can eat cold.”
Lomax lowered the poker, clattered it into its holder. His squarish face still showed anger when he turned. “They’re ready to leave, Claire. Go get the matches they asked for.”
“The master has spoken,” Decker said. “Always obey the master.”
Claire snapped at him, “Gene,
“You bet he does,” Paula said. “It’s the only other thing he’s good at besides infidelity.”
“You’re as bad as he is. For God’s sake.”
They were all on their feet now. Claire fetched a box of long safety matches from a wood box on the hearth. Macklin said he’d replace them tomorrow, she said that wasn’t necessary. Into the vestibule then, into his and Shelby’s coats. Pleasure to meet you all, thanks for the matches and the drinks, hope to see you again. Claire shook hands with them; none of the other three bothered. And finally he and Shelby were outside and on their way to the car.
Still raining and blowing hard. Macklin barely noticed. The only thing on his mind right then was being out of that house, away from the palpable enmity among those four strangers.
F O U R
IN THE CAR JAY said, “Christ, that was unpleasant.”
“You think so?”
“Don’t you?”
“At least it was warm in there.”
“Don’t tell me you liked that bunch?”
“I didn’t say that. No.”
“I wish you hadn’t agreed to drink with them.”
“One drink, which I needed. The fire, too.”
“I was uncomfortable the whole damn time.”
Of course you were, Shelby thought. All kinds of people made him uncomfortable, strangers in particular. He hadn’t always been like that. Once he’d been a people person, or tried to be even if he hadn’t always been successful. Now he shied away at every opportunity, made excuses to avoid contact with anyone except old friends like Ben Coulter. Afraid of being hurt, which in her mind translated to being afraid of living. She was just the opposite. She liked people for the most part. Found even the odd ones like the Lomaxes and the Deckers interesting, not that she’d want to spend any more time in their company. It
Jay was backing out of the driveway onto the lane. “The way they kept sniping at each other,” he said. “You could’ve cut the tension with a knife.”
“The storm, strangers showing up. Too much to drink and getting on each other’s nerves.”
“And Lomax with that gun. Who did he think we were, home invaders?”
“He didn’t threaten us with it, did he?”
“You know how I feel about guns.”
“Yes,” she said, “I know.”
“The only half normal one was Claire,” he said. “But she didn’t really give a damn about getting to know us. Buffers. That’s why she invited us to stay.”
“Buffers?”
“Afraid something ugly, maybe violent was going to happen and us being there would diffuse it.”
“You’re exaggerating, Jay.”
“No. I’m not.”
“All right. Whatever.”
He eased the car along the rainswept lane. The wiper on the passenger’s side of the windshield seemed to have gone out of whack; it arced in little stuttering jerks, smearing more than clearing the glass. Another thing to be fixed, Shelby thought, another drain on their finances. Like the dryer that was about to give out, and the sink drain that kept clogging up, and the automatic garage door opener that no longer worked, and all the other little things that kept going wrong.
Their situation wouldn’t have gotten so bad if Jay had been able to find work. It wasn’t that he hadn’t tried; it was the lousy economy and the fact that he was either overqualified for this job or underqualified for that one. Worst time of year to be looking, too; even the minimum-wage jobs were taken. His unemployment insurance would run out in another six months or so, and then what would they do? She made a decent salary, but she was already putting in maximum overtime, working the graveyard shift whenever she could for the extra pay. It was enough to keep them afloat, but without some additional income …
Jay said musingly, “I wonder what Paula meant.”
“Meant about what?”
“After we sat down. She said something about wackos on the loose inside and out. Inside, yes, but why ‘out’?”
“Smart-ass remark. She and her husband made a lot of them.”
“Didn’t sound like wisecracking to me.”
“Well, she wasn’t being cryptic, either, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
