Free Dark Waters by Susan Rogers Cooper Page B

down.
    â€˜This is the first moment I’ve had alone since we came aboard,’ Rose said.
    â€˜Ah, Rose, you’re not alone now,’ I said.
    The women laughed. ‘We know what she means,’ Lucy said. ‘Alone in this instance means sans child.’
    â€˜And in-laws,’ Rose said.
    â€˜Yeah, Rose, how is that?’ Esther asked. ‘Vacationing with your in-laws? And your husband got out of it?’
    Rose’s face got a pinkish tinge to it. ‘My husband died in a car wreck three years ago – with no insurance. I’ve gone back to school to get a degree so I can get a job. Meanwhile, the boys and I are living with Mr and Mrs Connelly.’
    â€˜I’m so sorry,’ Esther said, putting her hand atop Rose’s. ‘But that really sucks – having to live with them. Mr Connelly seems like a—’
    â€˜Bit of a control freak?’ Rose supplied.
    â€˜I was going to say asshole,’ Esther said.
    Rose laughed. ‘Right on both counts. Thirty years in the air force, last ten as a colonel, makes for a tight ship. Did I mix a metaphor there?’
    â€˜No,’ Lucy said. ‘Only one metaphor. Just seemed like it because you mentioned the air force, then a navy metaphor.’
    â€˜Right,’ Rose said, giving Lucy ‘the obvious’ Tulia a look.
    â€˜Hey,’ Mike said, ‘don’t mind her. She’s a teacher. And when she drinks she gets even worse! After two beers she not only corrects my grammar, she cuts my meat up for me.’
    Lucy hit him on the shoulder. ‘I have to!’ she told the rest of us. ‘His grammar is atrocious. And I’m sorry about the metaphor, Rose!’
    Rose laughed. ‘Don’t worry about it. But,’ she said, turning to Esther, ‘speaking of husbands, where’s yours?’
    â€˜Never had one,’ she said. ‘Met a gorgeous guy at a bar one night,’ she said, glancing at Lance who sat beside her and slipping her arm into the crook of his. ‘I figured I had the smarts, he had the looks, we’d make a great baby. I was right about that – she’s smart
and
beautiful. The guy doesn’t know though. Never got his last name!’ She laughed and finished off the Scotch in front of her. ‘God, I can’t believe I just said that to you guys! I mean, you’re my best friends, and all, but you’re still perfect strangers!’ And she got a good case of the giggles.
    We all laughed with her. ‘I know. I can’t believe what I said about my in-laws,’ Rose said.
    â€˜Your mother-in-law seems OK,’ Lucy said.
    â€˜Have you ever read that book,
The Stepford Wives
?’ Rose asked.
    â€˜Oh!’ we almost all said in unison.
    â€˜Is this what y’all do when you get together? And by y’all, I mean you hens. Just sit around and talk bad about people?’ Mike said.
    â€˜Ah, honey, if only you weren’t here!’ Lucy said and laughed.
    â€˜By the way, Mike, I’m gonna get an earful about your use of the word “hens” when we get back to our cabin,’ I said.
    He doffed an imaginary cap. ‘My apologies, ladies. I’m sorry I called all you bitches hens.’
    â€˜Now, that’s more like it,’ my wife said.

FOUR
Johnny Mac – Day Three
    â€˜ Y ou did what?’ Joshua said, grabbing Johnny Mac by the arm.
    â€˜I told her to pick us up at one o’clock,’ Johnny Mac said, a little afraid of this big boy with the stranglehold on his arm.
    â€˜You stupid shit! The children’s pavilion closes at ten!’
    â€˜But it’s after midnight now –’ Johnny Mac said, tears stinging his eyes. Don’t cry, he told himself. Don’t let this bully see you cry!
    â€˜And I coulda told them some story! Now we’re in big trouble!’ Joshua tossed Johnny Mac and his arm aside and paced the emptying pool area. ‘So the rest of you,