Read Online The Kindness of Strangers (Skip Langdon Mystery #6) (The Skip Langdon Series) by Julie Smith - Free Book Online Page B

experience. She wasn’t trained for a damned thing except loading dishwashers and making sandwiches.
    She picked up the phone again. “Homelife Insurance.” She tried to give her voice a lilt. Feigning cheerfulness was harder and harder these days. “Oh. Wilson. It’s you.”
    “Don’t sound so thrilled,” said her ex.
    She said nothing, hoping her silence was eloquent.
    “Look, you’re the one who called me. If you’re going to talk, talk.”
    “You know what I called about. The same thing I call about every month.”
    He didn’t answer.
    “I need my support check, Wilson.”
    “Look, I’ve had a lot of unexpected expenses. I just don’t know if I’m going to be able to…”
    “You don’t know if you’re going to be able to! On your goddamn corporate lawyer’s salary. Do you know Torian had to go back to school with three T-shirts and one new pair of jeans? That was it, Wilson! That’s all she had.”
    “So? What else does she need?”
    “How can you be like that? Just tell me—how can one man be so goddamn selfish?”
    “‘Torian could have gotten a summer job. You spoil the kid rotten, and she’s getting worse every day.”
    “She looked for a summer job. Nobody would hire her.”
    “You’re telling me she couldn’t have gotten a job at McDonald’s? Her grades, and McDonald’s wouldn’t hire her?”
    “Wilson, I am not going to discuss this matter with you. I’m telling you now we’re eating beans.”
    “Best diet there is. Beans and rice. What are you complaining about?”
    She couldn’t keep the tears out of her voice. “I’m begging you. I’m begging you.”
    He couldn’t keep the hostility out of his. “I’ll do the best I can, Lise.” He hung up.
    Lise closed her eyes. She thought, Thank God I’m seeing Charles tonight.
    Charles was a contractor, a little rough around the edges, a bit of the good ol’ boy about him, but he had a sweetness that Lise had seen right away and realized she craved after sixteen years with a well-educated asshole.
    Charles had gone two years to LSU and flunked out. That was the extent of his formal education, but he did okay; he had a little shotgun in the Bywater, which was more than she could say for herself. True, it was a bit run-down and needed paint, and the backyard was full of old lumber and rusting tools, but Charles had never been married. He wasn’t domesticated, but he was such a sweetie-pie he’d probably catch on quick, Lise thought.
    She thought that sometimes. Other times she thought, What kind of life can Charles give Torian and me? I ought to dump him and find someone with some money.
    And then she would think: But they’re all such assholes.
    Charles was about fifty pounds overweight and had sandy hair that showed streaks of head underneath when he combed it back. His neck and belly were too large, and he had more sagging flesh under his chin than Lise really cared for. But he was tall, and Lise loved to wrap her legs around his thick body. She even loved the soreness the next morning in her inner thighs, which she would feel all day and sometimes part of the next, a reminder of their passion. Passion with Wilson had died before Torian entered kindergarten.
    She called Torian. “You doing okay?”
    “That depends.”
    “Don’t be surly, Torian. What have I done to piss you off? I haven’t said a word yet.”
    Silence.
    “Did you remember I’m going out with Charles tonight?”
    “Yes.” The word was more or less spat at her.
    “Well, darling, sweetheart, honeydew, what is there to eat at home?”
    “What do you care? You’re going out.”
    “I’m your mother, remember?”
    “Oh, yeah. I remember.”
    “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    “Mom, could you cut to the chase?”
    “I’m checking on your welfare. I’m calling to make sure you’re fine and you have enough to eat.”
    “Thanks a lot.”
    Lise made her tone severe. “If you don’t like anything in the house, you can order from the Verti