Hank moved to the fridge because Elmer earned that beer. Vern’s cats were no joke and Elmer being able to wrangle them back home was a feat, a feat that earned him a cold one. “Thanks,” Hank said, as he handed him a bottle.
“Now that the asshole is here, what’s this meeting shit all about?” Sal asked the room as he shoved a leftover rib that Hya brought in his mouth, moaning around the goodness of it.
Elmer flicked his middle toward Sal and drifted his eyes to Hya where he winked.
“What was that?” Sal shouted his question.
“What?” Elmer bit out.
Sal pointed at Hya. “You winked at her?”
Hya didn’t meddle in the throwback and forth between Elmer and Sal, which gained her the attention of everyone in the room.
Elmer waved a hand in the air. “Your old fucking eyes are seeing shit, just gnaw on your rib, will ya.” Silence settled. They were here for one reason and one reason only.
Arissa looked around the room, knew once she shared why they’d been gathered it was going to cause a stir, but they needed answers and Hank was right, these people were the ones who’d have them if anyone did. “What can you tell us about…” She paused and threw a glance at Hank. He gave her a nod before she continued. “We want to know what you remember about Catherine and Henry when they were younger.”
Hya chimed in, her focus on Sal and Elmer. “You two geezers have been around the longest, we need you to fill in the blanks.”
Elmer and Sal shared a look before Elmer asked, “Why?”
“Just some holes that we need filled,” Arissa offered.
Elmer perked up. “No one said anything about holes needing filling. That’s more like it.”
Maureen shivered. “Could we not go there?”
“Dirty old man,” Hya said, but she didn’t sound disgusted by it.
Elmer took a long drag of his beer. “That’s asking a lot. Shit, I can’t remember what I ate for breakfast.”
“That’s bullshit,” Hya said, a gleam in her eye.
Elmer looked away, took another pull of his beer. “Well, I remember Hank was a little thing when they moved here. Couldn’t be more than a few months old. They weren’t out and about much in those days. Stayed home with Hank. Really I don’t think they started getting active in the town until Hank was about ready to start school.”
Sal nodded. “Yeah, that’s what I remember too. But once you did, your parents became immersed in the town, always volunteering for shit. Even just work, your dad being the handyman you called. And your mom…” Elmer patted his stomach. “Her cooking is what led to this.”
“And the fact that you drink your body weight in beer every day has nothing to do with it?” Hya remarked.
“More of me to love.”
“Oh dear, God,” Maureen muttered. “I’m eating.”
“Me too,” Millie groaned.
“Okay,” Hank said, interrupting the group. “What can you tell me about my school years?”
Sal put his beer on the table, drew his brows together and asked, “Boy, why you asking these questions?”
Hank leaned further against the island and looked at his crossed ankles then up at Arissa. When he spoke, he only held her eyes, needing that comfort…that connection. “Got a feeling snaking through my body something is up.” He looked at the table filled with the crazies of Summerville and added, “Not fucking liking it.”
Sal’s expression changed slightly before he said, “Well shit. Alright.”
Elmer chimed in, “Have you used that goggle search thingy?”
“Google you moron,” Millie said, before lifting her glass of wine to her lips.
“Goggles, Google, whatever.” Elmer waved a dismissive hand. “Did ya?”
It was Arissa who answered. “Yeah, tried that. Not a lot comes up but then his parents aren’t big on social media, so that’s not surprising.”
Sal lifted his hand as he practically knocked the chair over when he stood. “Wait, I’m remembering something.”
“Call the newspaper,” Hya muttered.
“There was that man…” He looked over at Elmer and Hya. “You remember the man who was visiting local towns asking questions about new folks moving into town. Showed up, I don’t know, maybe a year after your parents moved here.”
Maureen slammed her hand on the table. “I remember that!” She expressed loudly and kept on. “He was from the city, right?
“Yeah, that’s him. Never really did say what he was after. Just seemed to be prying into shit,” Sal added.
Maureen spoke. “Yeah, he had that lawyer vibe to him.”
Hank looked at Arissa at the same time she looked at him. He didn’t have to say anything as she read the words laying in his throat. She stood and went to retrieve the laptop from Hank’s office. She had it open, balancing it on her stomach as she typed on the keyboard. “I’m not finding anything,” she said, her eyes still trained to the screen as she sat back down.
“Ask Dollie at the town ledger. If he was looking for something, he may have gone to see her. They used to have a feature on the new folks in town, kind of the welcoming committee. And you know that old bird doesn’t throw shit away. She’s got boxes and boxes of shit, not to mention for a crypt keeper, she’s got a damn good memory,” Elmer suggested.
Hank looked at Millie. “Can you give her a call?”
Millie stood and went to her purse. “Sure thing, Sugar.” She pulled her cell out and walked outside for peace.
“Break time!” Elmer shouted, stood and said, “I need some air.” Then he walked out the back screen door.
“Good.” Maureen rose with her empty glass in hand. “I need a drink.”
Hya stood, stretched and glanced around the kitchen. I’m gonna check your plants, Honey,” she told Hank.
“I just watered them this morning,” Arissa informed her.
Hya waved her hand. “Not like a good southern woman can.” Then walked out the door leaving Arissa to look sideways at her before she turned her gaze on Hank. Crossing the room to him, she wrapped
