Read Online An Appointment With Murder by Jennifer L. Jennings;John Simon - Free Book Online

couldn’t suppress a giggle. “Aren’t you a little young to remember that show? You weren’t even alive in the seventies,” I said, immediately regretting opening the Pandora’s box of the age thing.
    “Well, you’re not much older than me, Sarah,” he said, raising one eyebrow.
    “Ha, you’re funny.”
    “What? How old are you?”
    “You know it’s not polite to ask a woman her age, but I’ll tell you anyway. I’m forty-two.” I smiled at his seemingly genuine look of surprise.
    “Well, you look great,” he said, elevating his wine glass and winking.
    “So what kind of dog is Marsha Brady?” I asked, trying to ignore his flattery.
    “She’s an English Bulldog, and the love of my life.”
    “Oh God,” I said, rolling my eyes. “You’re one of those.”
    After dinner, Max announced that he and Brian would clean up. Max refilled my wine glass and told me to sit back and relax. I didn’t object. In fact, I took great pride in watching my son doing chores.
    They were just about finished when the phone rang. I ignored it, but Brian ran over and answered it.
    “Hi Dad,” he said, taking it into the other room.
    Max looked over at me and gave me a look I couldn’t quite read. He wiped his hands on a dishtowel and joined me at the kitchen table.
    “So, can I ask you a personal question?” he asked, and blinked at me.
    “Sure.”
    “Are you happily married?”
    I was hoping the topic wouldn’t come up, but I’d stalled as long as I could.
    “Wow. That’s a loaded question,” I said. “You want the long or short version?”
    “It’s a simple yes or no.”
    “I wish it were simple, but it isn’t.” I dropped my eyes but could feel his burning a hole in my forehead.
    “So how long have you been unhappy?” he asked, not missing a beat.
    “Things haven’t been good for years. He’s a good dad, you know, but when it comes to me I feel like he always has something better to do.”
    “He doesn’t appreciate you?”
    “That’s how I feel, but maybe I expect too much.”
    “What do you expect?”
    It was the same question I’d asked myself for years.
    “I need friendship and mutual respect, at least. I just want us to be silly and laugh together. I don’t need flowers or even hot sex, just someone I can really relate to.” Having said much more than I intended, I took another sip of wine, listened to see if I could hear Brian still talking to his dad.
    “I imagine you want to talk with him,” Max said quietly. “I don’t mind waiting.” He extended a hand as if to say go ahead.
    Sighing audibly, I nodded and went into the living room. Finding Brian sitting on the couch, I gestured to him and he said good-bye to his dad and handed me the phone.
    “Hey, there. How’s Miami?” I asked.
    “Busy,” he said. “You know how it is. Jerry is being a royal pain in the ass. I might have to stay a few days longer than expected.”
    “I understand.” I wondered if he detected my lack of disappointment, or lack of interest in his lack of any real explanation.
    “It’s not too late for you to come down. It’s eighty degrees. How can you pass that up?” I heard an earnestness in his voice that nearly broke my heart. Maybe he really was starting to make an effort with us.
    “I have to go back to work tomorrow, and I have a lot to catch up on at the office,” I said, trying to think of another excuse, but Daniel saved me the effort.
    “I figured as much. But you can’t fault me for trying, right?”
    “I’m glad you understand, Dan. Maybe Brian and I can tag along on your next business trip,” I said, knowing full well how nearly impossible it would be to pry Brian away from his friends for even one day.
    “Okay, then, I’ll let you go for now. Goodnight.”
    In typical Daniel fashion, he neglected to ask how my life was going. Hadn’t even waited for my goodnight. I wondered if he even remembered Beth’s service. Then again, who was I to complain? Hadn’t I just