Read Online Five Days by Douglas Kennedy - Free Book Online Page B

it’s a
management
position.’
    â€˜In a stockroom.’
    â€˜Dan . . .’
    â€˜I know, I know. It will ease up so much for us.’
    â€˜And it will also lead to other things for you. I’m certain it’s just a temporary—’
    â€˜Please stop trying to make me feel better.’
    â€˜Should I try to make you feel rotten?’
    He smiled. I came over and put my arms around him and kissed him straight on the mouth and whispered:
    â€˜I love you.’
    Instead of kissing me back, he hung his head.
    â€˜That’s nice to hear,’ he finally said.
    I put my finger under his chin and tried to raise his head. But he shrugged me off.
    â€˜I need to check the potatoes,’ he said.
    I stood there, feeling numb.
Maybe I’m sending out the wrong signals. Maybe I’m telling him things subconsciously which he is interpreting as belittling or critical or . . .
    â€˜Have I done something to upset you?’ I heard myself asking out loud. Dan closed the oven door, stood up and regarded me with bemusement.
    â€˜Did I say that?’ he asked.
    â€˜Do you feel I am not supportive enough or am conveying some sort of negative—’
    â€˜Why are you bringing this up?’
    â€˜Because . . . because . . .’
    The words were catching in my throat, as they were being intertwined with a sob.
    â€˜Because . . . I’m lost.’
    What he said next was . . . well, ‘unbelievable’ was the only word that came to mind.
    â€˜That’s not my fault.’
    Now the sobs were no longer trapped in my throat. Now I was sitting down in a kitchen chair, crying. All that I had been repressing for weeks, months, suddenly cascaded out in heaving sobs.
    Then Sally wandered in.
    â€˜Another happy night at home,’ she said.
    â€˜I’m fine, I’m fine,’ I said, forcing myself to stop sobbing.
    â€˜Sure you are. And Dad’s fine too. And we all love each other. And everything is just great. And, by the way, I’m skipping dinner.’
    â€˜But your father’s prepared a wonderful meatloaf.’
    â€˜Since when was meatloaf ever “wonderful”? Anyway, just got a call from Brad. His parents have decided to eat at Solo Bistro down in Bath tonight and asked if I wanted to come along.’
    â€˜It’s a little late for that,’ Dan said.
    â€˜And why?’ Sally asked.
    â€˜Because your dinner is in the oven.’
    â€˜I’ll eat the leftovers tomorrow.’
    â€˜Sorry,’ Dan said, ‘but I’m not allowing it.’
    â€˜That’s unfair,’ Sally said.
    â€˜Too bad you think that.’
    â€˜Come on, Dad – Solo Bistro is a great restaurant . . .’
    â€˜Can’t say I’ve ever eaten there.’
    â€˜That’s because you’ve been out of work and miserable for the last year and a half.’
    â€˜Sally . . .’ I said.
    â€˜Well, it’s the truth – and you know it, Mom.’
    Silence.
    Dan slowly bent down and put the potatoes back in the oven. Then, standing up again, he turned away from his daughter as he said:
    â€˜You want to eat with those people, off you go.’
    Sally looked at me for confirmation. I nodded and she ran off out the door.
    I heard a car pull up outside – and glanced out the window to see Sally heading towards Brad’s silver Mini convertible. He got out to greet her and give her a very full kiss right on the lips. She didn’t hold back either. At that moment I was absolutely certain that they were sleeping together. Not that this had come as a shock, as I was pretty sure this had been going on for a year. Just as I also knew that she had asked for an appointment with my gynecologist six months ago and just said it was ‘routine stuff’. Did that mean my daughter was on the pill or had been fitted for a diaphragm? Either way I suppose it was better than