Free Ring Around the Rosy by Roseanne Dowell Page B

the conversation. Not that she
could get a word in edgewise. Clare didn’t want advice. Apparently, her sister
just needed someone to listen.
    Susan remembered her surprise a
couple of weeks ago when Clare told everyone she had taken a job as an
accountant. Thinking back, Susan remembered the discontent Clare had expressed.
    Susan had never understood how
fun-loving Clare had been content not working. But she had seemed happy being
homemaker, wife, and mother. The PTA and volunteering more than satisfied her
need to socialize. Not Susan’s cup of tea, but to each his own.
    What could she say to her sister?
She didn’t have any experience in these things. Heck she didn’t even have any
experience in a relationship, serious or otherwise. Dave was the closest thing
to a boyfriend she ever had. The unexpected news of the fling confused her.
Especially since Clare said it was the main reason she had looked for a job.
Clare had kept it a secret a long time. Now lunch the other day made sense.
    “You did what?” Susan couldn’t
help it. What the heck was her sister thinking?
    “Look, Susan, I didn’t call to
have you criticize me. I called for your help. Why do you always have to be so
critical?”
    “Me, critical?”
    “Yeah, you.”
    “Excuse me, Miss Perfect...”
    Clare didn’t let Susan finish. “I
guess I was wrong. I shouldn’t have called you. I expected more sympathy. I’m
gonna go—”
    “Clare, wait. I’m sorry. You’re
right. I was being critical. But darn, girl, what were you thinking?” Susan
tried to smooth things over. “You have everything you ever dreamed of — a husband,
kids, a beautiful home.”
    “Oh yeah, I have it all. You’re
right. It’s all I ever dreamed of. But I didn’t have me. An identity of my own.
All I am is someone’s wife, someone’s mother. I need more than that.” Clare
took a breath, and went on before Susan could say anything else.
    Susan hated to hang up, her sister
sounded so upset, but she needed to finish dinner. “Okay, Clare, calm down. I
can’t talk right now, but I’ll get back to you,” she promised. “In the
meantime, try to relax and enjoy your new job.”
    Susan shook her head. Poor Clare.
She had no idea her sister felt that way. Clare always seemed so content — so
in-control and happy. Still, she couldn’t believe Clare had given into a whim.
She would have bet her life Clare had more control than that.
    Too bad Clare hadn’t found the job
before she gave in. Clare was right about one thing; Steve would never forgive
her if he found out.

 
 
 
 
 
 
    Chapter Seven

 
    Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a
pail of water. Jack fell down and broke his crown. And since Jill followed you
everywhere, she had to tumble after.

 
    Killing two proved a challenge.
But he liked challenges. Always had. The more challenging, the better. He knew
their routine and waited in the park. Every evening they walked together, hand-in-hand,
like lovers. It sickened him to watch them, so lovey-dovey. He had watched them
for weeks. Knew what time they went to work, to the grocery store. Every
evening proved the same. They left the kids with a neighbor and walked — just
the two of them. He followed them. They never changed their pattern — always
walked the same path.
    He rubbed his hands together. They
itched to begin. Itched to feel the life and breath go out of his victims.
Everything was ready. This time he’d get them.
    He didn’t have long to wait. He
knew he wouldn’t. Right on time, just like clockwork. He waited until they got
closer, and sprang out from behind the trees.
    Jill jumped back and screamed. He
knocked Jack to the ground, hit him on the head with a rock, and knocked him
out. Jill ran to her husband.
    He grabbed her, pulled her away
from Jack, put his hands around her slender neck, and squeezed. She tried to
fight him, but she was no match for his strength. It didn’t take long. The
dawning of her fate showed in her