Read Online Hair of the Dog by Susan Slater - Free Book Online Page B

Even a gynecologist warning women to insist upon protection. To not take for granted that just because they might be too old to get pregnant that there weren’t some other worries out there.
    Still it was a little tough to accept…his mother and all. The caption under the picture of a golf cart heading away from the photographer, the woman’s arms around the driver—“sex on wheels.” Another article, presumably more of a sales pitch, headlined—“If you weren’t ‘lucky’ in high school, get ‘lucky’ now!”
    Dan closed the laptop.
    â€œDo you think she has any idea?” Elaine was placing the toaster next to a coffee grinder on the counter.
    â€œI would doubt it. I think we need to check it out first. I can’t believe the articles were telling the truth. Just more sensationalism, I hope.”
    â€œAre you suggesting a road trip?”
    â€œWhy not? I’d feel better if I could talk about the place objectively. I’m sure there are other places in Florida to live. We could look into one of those seaside communities. A condo in Ormond Beach, maybe—they’re advertised everywhere.”
    â€œI think we should. I don’t see the attraction of a community that’s landlocked. Unless Stanley plays golf?”
    â€œDon’t ask me but I’d guess he does. The word ‘duffer’ comes to mind when I think of him.”
    â€œDan, be nice. This is your mother’s life and if she’s happy with Stanley, then we should be, too.”
    Dan wasn’t sure about that line of reasoning but he had to hand it to his mother; at seventy-four (or was she only admitting to seventy-two?), she was out having fun. How many cruises had she taken last year alone? He should be thankful he wasn’t visiting or supporting her in a nursing home. And Stanley? Well, he just wouldn’t spend a lot of time thinking about that.
    â€œDo we have a date of arrival?”
    â€œMom said they were hoping to be here this week.”
    â€œSo soon?”
    â€œI think they’ve been planning this for awhile. Our being here just seems to have hastened the decision.”
    â€œHow sweet. You should be flattered.”
    Maggie Mahoney had never struck him as “sweet” and had never needed backup to make up her mind. There was something odd about wanting him involved. Guess he’d find out why quickly enough.
    ***
    â€œYou know what? This is Disneyland for adults.” Dan braked quickly for a golf cart that careened into his path. “The area is beautiful—I have to give it that. Lake Sumter, inland canals…” He’d turned onto the main boulevard that led to the center of the “town.” So this was the infamous Villages. He kept looking but he didn’t see a bicycle or anyone walking and he didn’t see an animal on a leash—no one out for a stroll with the family Yorkie or French Bulldog. In fact, there weren’t any animals, on a leash or off. No errant squirrel or rabbit dashing across the road in front of him, and he hadn’t seen a bird in five miles. Roadkill? What was that? The place was clean. Amend that, sterile would be a better word. God forbid he should see a little graffiti. That was probably a hanging offense.
    They seemed to have arrived at Lake Sumter Landing Market Square. That alone was a mouthful. Brightly colored storefronts, hanging pots of flowers, scrubbed sidewalks, and not one place to park. Some parking spots held three golf carts all lined up. He continued driving block after block, thinking that the public parking lots would have room—but no. Frustrating. And all the time he had to be on the lookout for golf carts. They were everywhere.
    Dan idly wondered if they held recreational events with the ubiquitous carts—some form of chariot racing in a coliseum on weekends, maybe. Okay, now he was just letting his imagination run wild, but the generation