Read Online Breakwater Beach by Carole Ann Moleti - Free Book Online
Authors: Carole Ann Moleti
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the night. He stumbled back to the road, mounted his horse, and headed back to London. Memories of his boyhood, of his family, of his father being the man of the house, and a devoted husband surfaced. His brother had taken over and followed in Papa’s footsteps.
There is a small church near our farmhouse in Berkshire. It’s long past time to pay a visit to my brother and finally take some of his advice.
Chapter 7
March 2009
Boston, Massachusetts
Liz ignored the red stick figure flashing ‘Don’t Walk’ and raced across the street into the office building. She stopped to trace Gerry’s name engraved on a plaque by the elevator, with the years 1960-2008 after it. He was still a partner, and she’d get a percentage of his income even though he was dead. He really had thought of everything.
People streamed off the elevator. Liz got in and punched the button for the fifth floor. The door closed, blocking out the happy sounds of workers going home to their families. How many times had she met Gerry here and headed out, just like them, for a pleasant evening? Tonight, she rode alone in the tomblike marble and chrome car as it ascended, still fantasizing this was all a bad dream and her husband would be there waiting for her.
Jay’s early decision acceptance to Columbia University in New York City had come, and he’d soon be moving on. Plans to restore the beautiful Queen Anne Victorian that sat, mysterious and empty, on a hill overlooking Cape Cod Bay gave her something real to look forward to. It didn’t matter how many people told her she was making the biggest mistake of her life.
The day she’d spent house hunting in the damp chill had centered her. Despite the deserted summer cottages and boarded-up clam shacks, tromping through partially frozen mud had reminded her of the chocolate frappes she loved to have in the summertime. She’d stood at Paine’s Creek, looking out at the vista, the bay, hearing the gulls, imagining the warm sunshine and the happy voices of children splashing, even as the wind had frozen her breath and turned her scarf into an icy necklace.
She hadn’t been into the office since Gerry got sick. Tanya, their secretary, had packed up all Gerry’s personal effects and papers and brought them to the house. He'd organized his affairs, reassigned his cases, and never come back. Liz hadn’t seen Bill since the memorial service, and hadn’t met the new partner. Even when Gerry was alive, interacting with Bill and the society circle around the law practice had been unpleasant. This meeting would be as well. The tension in her jaws had already spawned a headache and it was hard to catch her breath.
Bill was part of the life Liz no longer led, but Gerry had entrusted him to handle the complicated finances of his estate and partnership, and to advise Liz on the best investments. She’d never forgiven Bill after he divorced Ann and overheard a joke that he’d traded in one forty for two twenties. Liz had politely declined all the recent invitations to dinner parties, political, and charity events. No one would miss the widow, just as no one cared when ex-wives like Ann Jeffers disappeared, married someone else, and joined another circle. Why get all done up in fancy clothes to be a fifth wheel circling among the too young trophies? The generous check was all that really mattered in that world.
Tanya, still at her desk when Liz summoned the courage to open the door, ran to hug her. Warm welcome flowed through her arms. “How are you?” She dabbed at her eyes with a crumpled tissue.
“All right, I guess.” Liz looked past the open door of what used to be Gerry’s office. A young man, his feet up on the desk, chatted on the phone. The nameplate now read ‘Brian Salzman, Esq.’
“Jeffers, Levine, and Salzman.” Tanya tucked the phone’s receiver under her chin while she wiggled into her coat.
Wow, it was already five p.m. It had taken a long time to get here in rush-hour
There is a small church near our farmhouse in Berkshire. It’s long past time to pay a visit to my brother and finally take some of his advice.
Chapter 7
March 2009
Boston, Massachusetts
Liz ignored the red stick figure flashing ‘Don’t Walk’ and raced across the street into the office building. She stopped to trace Gerry’s name engraved on a plaque by the elevator, with the years 1960-2008 after it. He was still a partner, and she’d get a percentage of his income even though he was dead. He really had thought of everything.
People streamed off the elevator. Liz got in and punched the button for the fifth floor. The door closed, blocking out the happy sounds of workers going home to their families. How many times had she met Gerry here and headed out, just like them, for a pleasant evening? Tonight, she rode alone in the tomblike marble and chrome car as it ascended, still fantasizing this was all a bad dream and her husband would be there waiting for her.
Jay’s early decision acceptance to Columbia University in New York City had come, and he’d soon be moving on. Plans to restore the beautiful Queen Anne Victorian that sat, mysterious and empty, on a hill overlooking Cape Cod Bay gave her something real to look forward to. It didn’t matter how many people told her she was making the biggest mistake of her life.
The day she’d spent house hunting in the damp chill had centered her. Despite the deserted summer cottages and boarded-up clam shacks, tromping through partially frozen mud had reminded her of the chocolate frappes she loved to have in the summertime. She’d stood at Paine’s Creek, looking out at the vista, the bay, hearing the gulls, imagining the warm sunshine and the happy voices of children splashing, even as the wind had frozen her breath and turned her scarf into an icy necklace.
She hadn’t been into the office since Gerry got sick. Tanya, their secretary, had packed up all Gerry’s personal effects and papers and brought them to the house. He'd organized his affairs, reassigned his cases, and never come back. Liz hadn’t seen Bill since the memorial service, and hadn’t met the new partner. Even when Gerry was alive, interacting with Bill and the society circle around the law practice had been unpleasant. This meeting would be as well. The tension in her jaws had already spawned a headache and it was hard to catch her breath.
Bill was part of the life Liz no longer led, but Gerry had entrusted him to handle the complicated finances of his estate and partnership, and to advise Liz on the best investments. She’d never forgiven Bill after he divorced Ann and overheard a joke that he’d traded in one forty for two twenties. Liz had politely declined all the recent invitations to dinner parties, political, and charity events. No one would miss the widow, just as no one cared when ex-wives like Ann Jeffers disappeared, married someone else, and joined another circle. Why get all done up in fancy clothes to be a fifth wheel circling among the too young trophies? The generous check was all that really mattered in that world.
Tanya, still at her desk when Liz summoned the courage to open the door, ran to hug her. Warm welcome flowed through her arms. “How are you?” She dabbed at her eyes with a crumpled tissue.
“All right, I guess.” Liz looked past the open door of what used to be Gerry’s office. A young man, his feet up on the desk, chatted on the phone. The nameplate now read ‘Brian Salzman, Esq.’
“Jeffers, Levine, and Salzman.” Tanya tucked the phone’s receiver under her chin while she wiggled into her coat.
Wow, it was already five p.m. It had taken a long time to get here in rush-hour
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