Deadly Expectations (52 page)

“Kenny,” I sighed as I pushed the gun off the envelope, “I’m not sure why you would disrespect me by bringing a gun through my front door.”

I filled a cup for Kenny, just sugar I remembered, and took it to him.
 
His hands shook a bit as he took it.
 
Then I got coffee for the others before I took the envelope and opened it.
 
I had a small magnifying glass in a drawer so I took it out.
 
I opened the first passport and started examining it.

“Drink your coffee Kenny,” I said.
 
He looked at Denis who nodded so he drank.

“I see you fixed the problem with the
r’s
,” I told him.
 
Then I moved on to one of the driver’s licenses.
 
I was impressed.
 
They were good a few years ago but they were even better now.

“We’re not really here Kenny,” I told him.
 
“I’m in a bit of trouble.
 
The man next to you is Denis Martin,” I gestured to the table, “Ray Jackson,” and then tilted to Paul who still stood next to me, “and my husband Paul Richards.”

I had the driver’s licenses and passports out in pairs now double-checking the spelling and information on them.
 
When I was satisfied with the last one I put it down on the counter and walked up to Kenny.
 
Paul stayed where he was.

“You’re still standing.
 
You must have been completely kind and co-operative with my friend Denis.”
 
I looked over at Denis who nodded in agreement.

“As I said, we aren’t really here but that doesn’t mean that someone won’t think we are.
 
If anyone asks about us we would hope that in return for my hospitality and my forgiveness for your bringing a gun in my house you would let one of us know right away.
 
I would also see fit to
throwing
a big fat envelope your way.
 
And of course you wouldn’t remember us at all if you were asked.

“How does that sound?” I asked him.

“Good,” Kenny said.
 
He sounded relieved.

I took his empty cup.
 
“Did you bring the truck or do you have the trailer?”

“Truck,” Kenny said.

“Denis, would you return Kenny’s gun and help him load up his brother’s bike?
 
It’s in the shed in the back.”

“Sure,” Denis said.
 
“Come on Kenny.”

He gave Kenny back his gun and put the rounds in the envelope the ID had come in.
 
That he put in his own pocket.
 
Denis opened the door and stepped out of the way so Kenny could walk past.

“Mister Richards,” Kenny said, “don’t let her down.
 
She deserves the best.”
 
Then he disappeared out the door with Denis close behind.

“I know that,” Paul said when they were gone.

I clung to him relieved that it was over.

“You make a good
good
cop; A nice complement to Denis’ muscle.”

“Here Ray,” I passed him his new ID, then gave Paul his.

“I think he still loves you Kiddo,” Ray said.

“Kenny?” I asked.
 
Thanks for bringing that up, I thought.
 
“Yeah, I think you’re right.
 
He’s never figured out that I never felt the same way.”

“Never?”
Paul asked.
 
“It’s okay if you did.”

“Never, okay?” I snapped back at him.
 
“Had enough of my troubled past dragged up today thank you,” I grumbled as I stomped down the hall to my room and slammed the door.
 
Between my father showing up and moping all over my husband about how I was an irresponsible teenage drunk and Ray pronouncing Kenny still in love with me I felt like nearly everything I had run from stood naked in the kitchen with them.
 
Paul shouldn’t have even let my father through the door.
 
Now I felt like my past was a heavy anchor around my neck holding me back.
 

I curled up in the corner of the bed by the wall and pulled the blankets up over my head.
 
Enough had changed in the past few months for me that I didn’t need any of that any more.
 
Wasn’t it obvious that I had gotten on with things?
 
I sighed.
 
Could they try any harder to annoy me?

Paul quietly opened the door a few minutes later and I heard him laugh quietly at the lump under the blankets.

“Anna?
 
Anything I can do?”

I sighed.
 
You can piss off, I thought.
 
I felt like he could see all my faults even through the blanket.

“Are you sure?” he tried again.

“Paul, if I wasn’t so busy getting drunk and starting fights I probably would have been capable of loving someone but I was an angry kid.
 
I don’t know how many times Kenny got me out of trouble but he finally gave up waiting for me to return what he felt and turned on me.
 
Maybe I should have tried to pin the stolen car on him but I didn’t … maybe I felt like I had something to prove.
 
Maybe I did care about him then after all.
 
It doesn’t matter now.”

“Maybe it does matter,” he said cautiously, “if it’s still bothering you.”

“Maybe if you and Ray and my father weren’t trying extra hard to irritate me I wouldn’t have to hide in my own bedroom!
 
I think I was more than patient with you all ganging up on me!”
 
Oh, I was mad.

“Okay Sugar,” Paul sighed and patted my hip.

I stuck my tongue out at him under the blankets.
 
He went down the hall and I heard him talking to Ray.

“Sorry Ray … it appears we’ve all been out of line,” Paul said.

I could hear Ray laughing.
 
My temper was rising again if it had ever cooled off.
 
I quickly sat up and hurled a book out the open door into the hallway.
 
It flew through into the bathroom and banged into the accordion door for the laundry closet.
 
They ignored it.

“How is she sleeping Paul?”

“Not well.
 
The shouting we hear upstairs is nothing compared to being woken up by it.
 
The fire and Alina, telling me to get out from under the tree.
 
The worst is when she’s yelling about someone putting their fists on her sister.
 
I can hear the exhaustion in her when it’s over.
 
She doesn’t wake up … but most nights it goes on for a while.”

That was news to me.
 
I’d been having dreamless sleeps since we jumped here.
 
Woke up tired but I thought that was just part of being pregnant and starting to be uncomfortable.
 
I didn’t know I was keeping Paul up.
 
He should have said something.
 
I sat up in bed and crossed my arms.

“Why don’t you suggest something to help her sleep?
 
I have something safe she can have.
 
It’s for morning sickness but it will help her be drowsy.
 
She has a long way to go to be so tired already.”

Next I threw a glass.
 
It exploded against the wall.
 
Sleeping pill my Royal Canadian ass.
 
If I was going to have a lousy sleep then they could too.

“Jeez,” Paul said.

“Fantastic bad mood,” Ray laughed quietly.
 
“Try not to let the hormone attack get to you.
 
She doesn’t mean it … she’s just along for the ride.”

“Walk west ‘til your hat floats,” I yelled down the hall.
 
I’d feel better if I wasn’t out of dishes.

“Good luck,” Ray told Paul and left.
 
Hopefully in fear.
 
I sat in the middle of the bed waiting for Paul.
 
I saw him in the hall picking up glass but he didn’t look at me.
 
Then he ran the vacuum and I could hear him putting dishes into the dishwasher and turning it on.

Eventually he quietly came into the bedroom and sat down behind me.
 
He didn’t say anything and after a few minutes pulled my hair out of the way.
 
Then he started working the knots out of my neck and shoulders.
 
I sighed.
 
It felt good.
 
Like little electric pops in my brain erasing all the anger from my tantrum.
 
As he worked his way down my back he reached up my shirt and undid my bra then he helped me pull it off through my sleeves.

“Mmm,” I sighed, “I don’t remember any dreams Paul … I’m sorry for keeping you up.”

“Sshhh … think about Ray’s offer.
 
I can look after you but I can’t make you sleep.
 
You need your rest.”

“Mm hm.”
 
It was so hard to talk when his hands were on my back like that.
 
“Tell Ray I said okay … and sorry about the hat thing.”

“Okay Sugar,” he said.
 
“Lay down now and get some sleep.
 
I’ll stay with you.”

We lay still, Paul’s hand on my stomach.
 
She was moving for him as I fell asleep.

Chapter 41

Paul woke me quietly our first morning in
Edmonton
.
 
After making a slow trip across British Columbia we settled on the hotel in West Edmonton Mall for a couple of days before we would head south to Calgary then back to my place for Christmas.

He had pulled himself in close to me, a long jewellery box in his hand.

“Happy Birthday Anna,” he said softly.

First day in December.
 
I reached up and put my hand on the box but he didn’t let go.

“You can’t open it just yet.
 
I want to explain.”

“Okay,” I said tucking my head into his chest to listen.

“I know you’re not much for this kind of thing but it’s a traditional gift in the family … something we give our mates.
 
Like exchanging rings but longer term.
 
I got it when we were in
Reno
.
 
I brought it along thinking there might be an occasion I could give it to you.”

“Okay,” I said then I tilted my head up to his neck to put my lips on it.

“You can open it now,” he said.
 
Inside was a heavy gold necklace woven to look like a
ribbon.
 
The lamp light shimmered along its surface like it was alive.

“It’s really beautiful Paul,” I said softly.
 
It really was.
 
“Thank you.”

“You’ll wear it?”

“Of course,” I would be happy to.
 
He was pleased.

“Sit up,” he said, “I’ll help you put it on.”

I held my hair up out of the way and ran my finger along it, feeling how smooth it was as Paul closed it behind my neck.

“What’s the tradition behind giving it?” I asked.