Worse Than Being Alone (8 page)

“
Strange,” I said. “He got drunk.
Apparently, he’s into a lot of S&M type of stuff.”

“
You mean like whips and
leather?”

“
Yeah, he swears it’s all totally
innocent,” I said. “I’m telling you, Roni, there’s a whole world of
freakish sex going on out there that we’re not a part
of.”

“
Count me happily unaware. Do I
want to know what happened after dinner?”

“
I pumped him for info until he
had that last apple martini,” I said. “He was so drunk by that time
several waiters had to help me stuff him into a cab. Seemed like
old times with James. Maybe I should consider becoming a lesbian.
Honestly, I like woman better anyway.”

“
Yeah, if it weren’t for that
whole sex thing it might work out OK.”

“
There is that,” I said. “You
know, the truth is, I’m not sure that what I’m looking for is a
relationship.”

“
What do you mean?”

“
Well,” I said. “I’m certainly
aware the conventional wisdom is that you’re not complete unless
you have a significant other. I’m not sure I need that. I’m OK
being alone. I don’t have to worry about always considering another
person if I want to do something. I don’t have to accommodate
someone else.”

“
I know what you’re talking about.
That’s always the struggle in a relationship. Making sure the real
you doesn’t get lost.”

“
Exactly,” I said. “How do you and
Harley handle that?”

“
Well, sometimes, I tell him this
is the way it’s going to be. You can’t always give up or give in.
Of course, sometimes, he tells me the same thing so we just agree
to disagree.”

“
I’ll probably keep trying to meet
men,” I said. “It’s kind of entertaining. I guess I haven’t totally
given up on meeting someone special, but there’s no pressure like I
can’t be happy without a man.”

“
Good place to be.”

“
It is,” I said. “Besides, I have
a new passion that takes up most of my free time.”

“
I’m afraid to ask.”

“
It’s very innocent,” I said. “I
started writing when I went to Alaska. Just a diary at first to
kind of ease into it. Then I wrote short stories. Now, I think I’m
ready to tackle a book. I guess I’d rather write then go out with
most of the guys I’ve run into lately.”

“
I had no idea you were a writer.
I guess I’d better be careful about what I say around you. My life
might become fodder for your book.”

“
See, that’s why I don’t tell
anyone,” I said. “People start worrying they might be that
character in Chapter Ten. How will I get fodder if everyone clams
up?”

“
I get your point,” Roni said,
laughing. “It’s really cool. Any ideas for a book?”

“
I’m kind of working on one now,”
I said. “I’ll let you know if it pans out.”

Roni paused when her cell phone chirped. “Roni
Edelin. Ok, Jennifer. Slow down, hon.”

Roni looked pensive as she listened to Jennifer
Henry voice her concerns about her paraplegic husband, Brad. Roni
decided to let her finish venting before speaking again. Finally,
Jennifer seemed to run out of steam.

“
No, actually I agree with you,”
Roni said. “Let me check it out, and I’ll get back to
you.”

“
What’s up?” I asked as Roni
closed the flap on her cell phone.

“
That was Jennifer Henry,” Roni
said. “My paraplegic client’s wife. She thinks he’s depressed. I
noticed that yesterday when I went to see him. He seems to be kind
of slipping away to some secret place in his mind.”

“
That doesn’t sound good,” I said.
“I’m sure the adjuster is going to be thrilled when you tell her he
needs a psyche consult.”

“
Too bad,” Roni said. “This is one
of those injuries where I think it’s a given. You know, if Brad
doesn’t snap out of this I’ll also go see my friend David
Weller.”

“
He’s that quad I met last year,
right?” I asked.

“
Yeah, I’ll give Brad a couple of
weeks to shape up. If things don’t get better, I’ll ask David to
visit Brad. He’s certainly proof there’s life after a horrible
injury.”

“
There’s Ho,” I said as the slight
woman jumped out of the black Mustang and entered the rehab
facility. “Strange how that car is spotless except for the mud on
the license plate, isn’t it?”

“
We’d better split up now. She
might leave early.”

“
Sounds like a plan,” I said as I
opened the side door and headed for my car, which was parked across
the street. Our strategy called for Roni to follow Ho for a few
blocks when she left therapy and then fall back while I took up the
pursuit.

Twenty minutes later, Ho burst out of the doors and
stood by the curb. The black Mustang, tires screeching as it barely
stopped at the curb, pulled away quickly after the woman literally
jumped in.

Roni pulled out of her parking
spot in pursuit. Careening out of the lot, the driver of the black
Mustang clipped the front of an oncoming vehicle, which then
swerved and smashed into the front of Harley’s van. I debated
following Ho by myself, but I was concerned Roni might be injured,
so I pulled over and called her on my cell instead.

“
Damn,” Roni said after she
answered. “I think that driver caused the accident on
purpose.”

“
Are you OK, Roni?” I
asked.

“
Yeah, I’m fine,” Roni said. “It’s
like they knew we were here.”

“
I know,” I said. “We’re going to
need multiple cars and a couple more drivers if we’re going to
catch Ho. I think there’s more going on here than just comp
fraud.”

“
What do you mean?”

“
I’m not sure exactly,” I said.
“Let’s face it, Roni. Most of the people we tail are dumb and they
don’t expect to be followed. These people are pros. There’s
something more than just a comp claim they’re
protecting.”

Chapter Fourteen

A sudden summer thunderstorm pelted my little red
car with hail as I drove to Alton to attend Billy and Marian’s
wedding. It had been two months since the dinner fiasco that
apparently led to Billy’s sudden proposal and fast track
wedding.

As with all good deeds, I am being blamed and
punished for overdoing it at the dinner party and causing the pity
marriage. I distinctly remembered expressing reservations about
even attending the damn thing and giving up my date to boot, but
all that had been forgotten. Even the cows avoided any of the
blame. My only surprise was that I hadn’t been banned from the
wedding.

Roni decided to accept Billy’s
decision without a whimper, convinced she should let Billy have a
shot at happiness instead of making everything more difficult.
Harley had put forth some folksy version of winning the battle but
losing the war. I’m not sure exactly how he phrased it, but
Harleyisms are hard to fight.

I had been asked not to do anything to inflame the
situation, whatever that meant. I had decided not to come but
changed my mind at the last minute. Despite Roni’s decision to
accept Marian and the wedding, I guess I’m worried. There’s
something about Marian that creeps me out.

I always liked Billy and, of course, I loved Roni,
Harley and the rest of her family. Maybe in some strange way I felt
like I needed to protect them from some undefined peril. Whatever
it was, I was going to watch Marian carefully. I was also curious
about her two grown children. Maybe they would unwittingly provide
a window into Marian’s soul.

The sun came out, glistening on
the river as I crossed the Alton Bridge. Everything seemed clean
again, ready for Billy and Marian’s new beginning. As usual, I was
running a little late. Thank God the GPS was guiding me to the
Church or I’m sure I’d have been even later. A series of quick
lefts and a final right turn on Church Street did the trick. I
parked in the crowded lot and ran up the stairs to the massive
front doors of St. Joseph’s.

I grabbed the ornate gold handle of the huge cherry
door and heaved it open. Still blinded by the bright sunshine, it
took a few moments for my eyes to adjust to the darker confines of
the Church. Billy and Marian were already standing in front,
holding hands, and apparently exchanging vows. The pews on the
left, the traditional bride’s side, were sparsely populated.

Billy’s side was filled almost to capacity. I slid
into a pew in the back on Billy’s side and watched the show. Marian
wore a white suit with another trademark white big-brimmed hat.
Even in this setting, the hat seemed out of place. Billy seemed
nervous while Marian looked at him with puppy dog eyes, or at least
that was my impression.

My eyes were drawn to the man and
woman sitting together on Marian’s side in the front pew. I
remembered Roni telling me Marian’s children’s names were Murray
and Vickie. Roni hadn’t offered much else about them even when I
pressed her for more information. An assortment of couples occupied
the second and third pews and that was it. A very small family, but
my perception was probably distorted by the fact I came from a
gigantic family that easily would fill up the entire
church.

When the minister got to the part about anyone
objecting or forever holding their peace, I expected to see someone
jump up, and I guess I was a little disappointed that nothing
happened. Billy dutifully kissed the bride when prompted by the
minister and they walked down the aisle arm in arm. Marian spotted
me as they reached the back and the look of absolute victory and
defiance she flashed in my direction stunned me. I waited for the
front pews to empty and then ducked out the side entrance. I didn’t
want to be forced to congratulate Billy or watch anymore gratuitous
gloating by Marian so I headed for the reception.

The Club had valet parking and I took advantage,
watching as my little red car disappeared. I entered the Blue room
and grabbed a glass of champagne as the waiter walked by with a
full tray. When I spotted Roni, Harley, and their brood I headed
for their table. It had been awhile since I had seen her children.
I suddenly realized how much I had missed them.

“
Kitty,” they yelled as we all had
a group hug.

“
I’m really glad you came, Aunt
Kitty,” Sara, the youngest and my unabashed favorite said as she
continued to stand next to me with her arm around my
waist.

“
I didn’t want to miss Billy’s
wedding,” I said, hugging her back.

“
Grandpa kissed Marian,” she said.
“Ooh.”

“
I couldn’t agree more,” I said as
Roni raised her eyebrows at me.

The bride and groom entered the room as the
bandleader announced their arrival and the music started. Waiters
carrying trays of food suddenly appeared as everyone took their
seats. Rubbery chicken parts disguised as Modiga and vegetables
steamed so long that no vitamins could have possibly survived were
the centerpiece of a disappointing dinner. After the meal, Roni
made a gracious toast while a slightly tipsy Murray gave a
rambling, slobbering tribute to his wonderful mother and new
dad.

Marian and Billy cut the cake, which was the best
part of dinner. The band started playing in earnest. A whole bunch
of liquored up people flocked to the dance floor to provide
absolute proof white people can’t dance. Harley was happy to shed
his suit coat and roll up his sleeves so he could boogy with
Roni.

I was still sitting at the table with Sara when I
spotted Murray making the rounds at each table. Sara made a gesture
with her hand that Murray might have tipped a few too many glasses
of liquor. Murray finally made it our table, totally ignoring Sara
as he asked me to dance. Sara tried to hide a smile as she urged me
to go for it. I agreed mostly because I thought it might be a good
opportunity to pump Murray for information, but apparently he had
other ideas.

“
I hear you’re quite the
troublemaker,” Murray said as we went to the back of the dance
floor and began moving with the music. It was a slow song and
Murray kept trying to pull me closer.

“
I think you should back off and
stay out of this,” he said as a blast of stale liquor breath
assaulted me.

“
And if I don’t?” I
asked.

“
You want Billy and Roni to have a
relationship, don’t you?” he whispered in my ear.

Hunching my shoulders back, I gave him my best
incredulous stare, but I knew it was the wrong move when he grabbed
my ass and pulled me closer.

“
Now be a good girl and back off,”
he said as the music changed to a faster beat.

I shoved Murray away and backed up, taking his hand
as if we were going to continue dancing. I reeled him in and then
landed a knee to his groin. It was more of a reflex than anything
else although my next feeling wasn’t remorse. Because I had seven
brothers, my nuclear family reaction to physical attack always had
been a well-placed knee.

Murray grabbed his private parts and started moving
toward the exit as if he wanted to collect himself outside. Harley
must have been looking in our direction because he gave me a
strange look as he closed the distance.

“
What was that about?” Harley
asked as he watched Murray’s retreat.

“
Dance with me and look innocent,”
I said as I grabbed Harley’s hand. “That pig grabbed my ass and
told me to back off.”