The Cat, the Wife and the Weapon

living soul.”

Finn gently pulled away. “They’re just doing their job, Nana. I did have Nolan’s blood on my sweatshirt.”

Karen’s eyes widened. “Oh my. But you’re free? They didn’t arrest you?”

He smiled. “Nope.”

“How did you find out he was talking to the police?” Tom said.

“I had a visit from the last person on earth I thought I’d be talking to,” she said. “Your brother. He told me you were making calls to find an attorney for Finn and he thought I should know.”

Tom’s eyes hardened. “I wondered where Bob was going when I left for here. But of course he left his stuff, so I figured he’d be back—unfortunately.”

“Interesting how the son I haven’t heard from in years is the one who decided to inform me about what’s going on.” She stared at Tom, a look of disapproval I was certain he was familiar with.

“You’re making him sound heroic,” Tom said. “Bob wants something—what, I’m not sure yet. It will come out, though. He knows how much you care about Finn and he used it as an excuse to visit you.”

“You could be right, but he says he wants to apologize to his family,” Karen said. “I had to rush over here, but he’s waiting back at the house for my return. We can all go over to my home and talk.”

“No way,” Tom said.

Finn said, “How will you find out what Bob wants if you don’t talk to him?”

“He’s right,” I said.

Since we’d all ganged up on him, Tom reluctantly agreed to go to his mother’s house and we arrived five minutes later in our various vehicles.

Karen didn’t smile when she greeted Bob, just said, “Here we are. Time for you to own up, Robert.”

His crooked smile appeared. “I—I didn’t expect so many… well, everybody. Glad to see Finn isn’t in jail, though.” He held up his knuckles and he and Finn exchanged a fist bump. “They grill you, bro?” Bob said.

“It wasn’t like that. They’re trying hard to find out the truth.” Finn glanced around the room, avoiding Bob’s stare.

“I have more of the soda pop you like so much,” Karen said. “Come with me.”

She and Finn went to the kitchen.

I did not want to be left with these two men. The awkward silence now filling the space made me want to run out to my van and not come back until they’d settled their long-running differences. Wait. What made me think they could actually settle anything? A command from Karen to do so? Men resolved things so differently than women, after all.

“Well,” I said, clasping my hands and smiling. “Here we are.”

“Right where we don’t want to be,” Tom said.

His voice held a hint of futility and frustration. How could I help Tom? Especially now, with the events of the last few days weighing so heavily on him? I didn’t know what to do, so I said, “I’m hungry. Anyone else?”

A meal can unify people for a short time. I guess that’s part of why we celebrate Thanksgiving. But as we ate tuna salad sandwiches and homemade vegetable soup, I didn’t see much unification happening.

We sat without anyone saying a word and I was beginning to wonder if Karen regretted inviting Bob into her home.

When I could no longer stand the quiet, I said, “Is Ed at work?”

“Yes,” Karen said.

“Does he still collect stuff?” Finn asked.

“Too much stuff,” Karen said with a smile. At least one person in the room remained in Karen’s good graces.

“Why are you here, Bob?” Tom said, staring down at his soup.

At last the elephant of a question was finally addressed.

“Can’t a man visit his family?” Bob said.

“Oh sure. After five years you come to town and break into my house while I’m not there. Nice way to visit.” Tom still hadn’t looked at Bob.

“You broke into his house, Robert?” Karen said.

“I waited outside, but when he didn’t show for hours and hours, I needed the restroom—and something to eat,” Bob said. “Mom, this soup is awesome, by the way. Just like I remember.”

Tom set his spoon down and glared at Bob. “You could have gone into town, to a restaurant and—”

“I’m having a little cash flow problem,” Bob said.

Finn watched this exchange like he was at a tennis match, eyes wide with interest.

“You’ve had money problems your whole life. Why are you here now?” Tom said. “What’s the plan, Bob? Because you always have one.”

“I was expecting an apology,” Karen said.

“I’m sure you were. Answer me this, Mom,” Bob said, every drop of charisma evaporated. “If I were being intimidated by the cops, would you have left in a frantic rush to save me?”

Finn said, “I—I wasn’t really being intimidated.”

But Karen and Bob didn’t seem to hear him. Color blossomed on Karen’s cheeks. “You’re a grown man and yet you’re still stuck in the past, believing I favor—”

“You do favor. You favor Tom and you favor Finn. Me and Charlie? We’re just dirt on your shoe.” Bob looked at me. “I have a twin brother. Did anyone tell you about him?”

I didn’t get a chance to reply because Bob stood and threw his napkin on the table. “I only took what was rightfully mine.” He pointed at his mother. “I will again, too.”

“Rightfully yours?” Karen said, her anger building. “How can you say—”

Someone knocked.

Karen rose, but Bob made it to the door in a flash. My guess, he was relieved by the distraction. I feared Rory Gannon was about to make another appearance, but the voice I heard say, “Why, hello there,” was female.

Hilary Roth had arrived.

Karen hurried through the dining room and out to the small foyer to greet the new arrival.

Tom leaned back in his chair, his face to the ceiling. “More trouble,” he said. “Just what we need.”

“It’s my mother, isn’t it?” Finn said as the murmur of greetings spilled into the room. He stood. “I don’t want to talk to her.”

“I don’t either. That’s why you and I are heading out the back door and going to my house.” Tom looked at me. “Would you mind running interference?”

“Sure. Go on,” I said.

They disappeared through the kitchen and I went to the living room.

Bob was smiling broadly at Hilary, all the resentment from a few minutes ago gone.

“Finnian,” Karen called. “Your mother would like to talk to you.”

I motioned Karen aside as Bob and Hilary chatted. I whispered, “Finn isn’t quite ready to talk to his mother. He and Tom left.”

“Oh. I see.” She patted my arm. “It’s not your fault, so don’t look so guilty. Hilary is not the monster those two make her out to be. Please give her a chance by staying for a while and getting to know her. Maybe Finn and Tom will listen to you once you understand her better.”

“Sure. I can stay,” I said, forcing a smile. But I wanted to be home with my fur friends, not here playing a game of “Get to Know the Ex-wife.” I’d give Karen fifteen minutes and then I was out of here.

Karen said, “Can I fix you lunch, Hilary?”

Hilary wore a ruby-red sweater and black slacks, the colors complementing her dark beauty. “No thanks. I ate while I was trying to reach my attorney. Unfortunately, he cannot help Finn here in South Carolina.”

“Finn’s not in jail,” Bob said. “The way he talked, sounds like he might not need a lawyer after all.”

Hilary said, “The deputies told me he was gone when I went to the police station. That doesn’t mean he won’t need a lawyer in the future, though.”

“He’s not guilty of anything,” Karen said. “Not one thing.”

Hilary said, “Your belief in Finn warms my heart.” She turned to me. “They told me he left with Tom and with you, Jillian.”