Read Online Meeting at Midnight by Eileen Wilks - Free Book Online Page A

“You’re right, Seely. He does look better. Hard to believe he’s actually been behaving.”
    â€œI don’t know why everyone thinks I’m incapable of taking care of myself. I’ve been doing it for a few years now.” Itook a sip of tea. “This is good. So, I guess the two of you have been, uh, getting acquainted?”
    Gwen shook her head, grinning. “The look on your face, Ben! It’s easy to see you think the two of us had nothing better to talk about than you. Shame on you.”
    â€œYou’ve been talking for over an hour. In my experience, that’s enough time for two women to exchange their life histories and get started on everyone else’s.”
    Seely laughed. The rocker creaked as she leaned forward to pat my knee. “Don’t worry. She didn’t spill the beans about your misspent youth.”
    Gwen frowned. “I don’t think Ben had a misspent youth. Or much of a youth at all, with the way he had to give up everything when…” Her voice trailed off. Maybe because of the look on my face.
    The rocking chair creaked again as Seely leaned back. “Actually, we talked about your house more than you. I love old houses.”
    â€œYeah?” I relaxed, pleased. “This one isn’t all that old compared to some back east. But around here, homes over fifty years old aren’t common.”
    â€œWhen was it built?”
    â€œIn 1935, but my grandfather used salvaged pieces from older houses where he could. That’s fashionable now, but not too many people were doing it back then. The wainscoting in the entry and the mantel in the living room are about 120 years old. Came from an old bawdy house.”
    She laughed. “Oh, that’s wonderful! And the staircase? That looks old.”
    â€œThe newel post is over a hundred years old.”
    â€œIt’s a grand old house.” She rocked gently a moment. “A pity it’s neglected, but I suppose that’s like the cobbler’s children going barefoot. You’re probably too busy building other people’s homes to have time for your own.”
    I sat up straight. “What the hell are you talking about? Everything’s in great shape!”
    â€œI’m sure it is. Maybe neglected was the wrong word. It just doesn’t look like anything has changed much in twenty years.”
    I had my mouth open, ready to blast her, when Zach came running up, chanting his mom-mom-mom mantra.
    â€œGood grief, you’re dirty,” Gwen said.
    â€œYeah. Come see the bug me an’ Doofus found. You, too, Seely,” he said, politely including her in the treat. He and she had settled it earlier that he was to use her first name. “It’s tre- men -duz.”
    Lots of things were tre- men -duz lately. I reached for my stick.
    Seely stood, put her hand on my good shoulder and asked, with one lifted eyebrow, if I was sure I ought to get up. I scowled at her, but stayed put. “The steps from the deck are tricky for me,” I told Zach. “I’ll sit this bug out.”
    Everyone else headed across the yard. Over by the rear gate, Doofus was barking at the pile of dirt he and Zach had created. I assume the bug was there. Seely grinned at Zach and said something I couldn’t make out. Zach giggled. Gwen smiled at him, then tilted her head to speak to Seely.
    Seen side by side, the two women couldn’t have looked more different. Gwen was a tidy little thing, her short hair pale and shiny in the sunlight. Seely was at least a head taller. More robust. Brighter, somehow.
    I frowned. More irritating, too. What was so great about changing stuff around, anyway? Everything worked. And it wasn’t as if I hadn’t done anything to the place for twenty years. The couch and area rug in the living room were onlyfive years old. Of course, it was Annie who’d nagged me into replacing them, but so what? And maybe they sat in exactly the