Free Secrets of the Spiral Tower by Joe Woods Page A

moved away.”
    “Do you know where they went?”
    “They moved to Oklahoma and Kansas, and became day laborers in the cattle feed lot business.”
    “When was the last time you spoke to them?”
    “Oh, it has been at least twenty years or more.”
    “Don’t you miss them?”
    “No, not really. If you will remember when your mama and daddy ‘adopted me’, they all turned against me and accused me of being a ‘gold digger’. They felt so inferior to me and refused to have anything to do with me. You remember when Mama and Daddy were killed in that head-on collision on I-20, none of them came to the funeral. That really hurt me and as they say, ‘that split the sheet’ as far as having anymore contact with them. I dropped them from my list of people I cared about.”
    “How often do you visit your parent’s grave?”
    “I always go on their birthdays, and at special times like Easter and Christmas.”
    “Are their graves well-tended?”
    “Pretty much. You know Mama loved flowers, so I put plastic flowers in the vases on their headstones. I wish I could put fresh flowers at their graves, especially during the spring. But, the cemetery rules don’t allow that. I know that is a good rule, but real flowers look so much better than the plastic ones.”
    “Connor, I feel the pain and sadness in your heart, and wish there was something I could do to help.”
    “Just by your being here and with the prospect you’re going to stay this time, brightens my life immensely.”
    “That is so good to hear. You don’t know this, but being gone for so long with both of us going in different directions; I was worried you might have had a change of heart about us. I know my flitting around for the most part of thirty years, not coming home very often, could have had a destructive impact on your feelings for me. I’m so glad you haven’t changed.”
    “That wine we’ve been drinking surely has had a confessional impact on us,” Connor said, laughing. “We had better call it a night before we say something that should go unspoken.” 

Chapter 7
     
     
    The rooster alarm clock, set by Connor the night before, woke him and Willow from a deep sleep. Connor moved slowly as the cock continued to crow.
    “Please turn that rooster off. He’s killing me.”
    Connor managed a slight chuckle.  “Bad head dear? I told you to take something before going to sleep. That would’ve minimized the impact of too much alcohol. But I guess the wine got the best of you.”
    “I’ll make a Bloody Mary. That always helps my head get better when I’ve acted so foolishly.”
    “Willow, what if I fix some scrambled eggs, grits, and dry toast?”
    “That would probably help settle my stomach if I can keep it down. I’ve got a full day planned with Daddy, so I need to get better soon.”
    “Get up—splash some cold water on your face while I fix breakfast. I’ll have the Bloody Mary sitting on the bar in a couple of minutes. I’m also going to fix a pot of coffee.”
     “I’m going to need a lot of help to get through the day,” she said, entering the kitchen. “The coffee surely smells good.”
    Connor handed Willow the Bloody Mary. “Drink up. Let it hit bottom first, then sip on the black coffee.”
    “This is really sweet of you, Connor. I’ll repay you later.”
    “If I receive any more pay, over last night’s payment, I would have to consider myself indebted to you,” Connor laughed. “Now, I don’t want that accounting mistake to take place. I’ve got to keep you indebted to me.”
    “I think you’re safe for a while, at least.”
    After finishing his eggs, grits, and toast, Connor said he wanted to take a shower.  “You just sit here and take it easy for a while.”
    “Oh, I intend to move slowly, but I’ll eventually get there.”
    Ten minutes after the shower turned off, Connor hurriedly walked down the steps, and  kissed Willow on top of her head.
    “I’m off to the office. I’ll see you there