Chapter 18

 

There were more than just a few people at Ashley’s house, which surprised me. I thought she would be living in a temporary apartment, but here she was, mistress of a three-bedroom, almost new home. And well appointed too. Maybe from a divorce? There was a mystery here, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to know. She introduced me around to various locals, and again I was surprised at how many people she knew. I caught her in the kitchen cutting more cheese. “How did you meet all these people so soon?”

“Oh, the Internet. It’s a local club. You know, singles and young marrieds. I just met most of them last week. I decided to make this my coming out party. It’s going well don’t you think?”

I had to agree that it was. Soon she would know everybody in town that was good for her politics. What that might be I had no idea. I left her cutting cheese and made for a corner in the living room where a phone resided.

“Leo?” 

“Hi, sweetheart, it’s me,” I said, just as someone let out a big “har, har.”

“Where . . . where are you?”

“I went to a basketball game tonight, and then Ashley came up and asked me over with a few friends.” I winced as I told this little lie, but I felt I knew what I was doing. After all, didn’t I have to get to know members of the community? 

“How’s things going there?” I asked.

“Oh, okay.”

“That doesn’t sound all that great.”

“Jimmy came in drunk today.”

My heart fell clear down to my toes. Jimmy was the one kid that I absolutely knew could make something of himself.

“Oh no,” I said. There was a moment’s pause, while I tried to immerse myself back into the village away from the loud laughter and the one-up-man-ship going on in the room. 

“Was this a first time?” 

“I’m not sure.”

“Well, you tell that young man that when I come home, he and I are going to have a heart-to-heart talk,” I said. There was another, “har, har,” from one of the party types. It was no good, talking to her now. 

“Look, Hon, I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”

“All right, Leo. Be careful . . . husband.”

I hung up, wishing I were elsewhere. 

“Everything okay, Leo?”

It was Ashley. She probably had seen the furrows on my forehead. 

I shook my head slowly and attempted a smile. “Problems in the village. A young friend of mine was seen drunk today. I don’t want him to go down the same road as his mother.”

“It hurts when people don’t live up to our expectations, doesn’t it, Leo?” she said, and handed me a drink.

I nodded. “Yes, yes, it does.”

“Talk to you later,” she said, and moved on to talk to a city councilman. I watched as she walked away, thinking how shrewd she was. I hoped the city councilman would be left with a good impression of the Postal Service. But then, with Ashley’s charm, how could he not? Without thinking, my hand propelled the drink up to my lips and I took a big jolt. God almighty, it tasted good. Jack Daniel’s too. How did Ashley know Jack Daniel’s was my downfall? But maybe it was coincidence, right? Yeah, that’s it, a happenstance. I closed my eyes. I should not be doing what I was doing. 

That little rascal, Jimmy. I’d give him a good talking to when I got back. I gulped another mouthful and let it swirl around in my mouth for a moment. God, it was good. I glanced around to see what was going on. People were starting to leave. Good, so would I. It would be a shame, though, to waste such good whiskey. Might as well finish it. Hmm . . . I was feeling a little dizzy. I decided to sit down.

I sat down on a nearby sofa and tried to keep my eyes open. I was still conscious enough to be able to smile and nod my head. I worried a bit about being perceived as antisocial. All the while, I wondered what was in my drink. I hadn’t drunk more than a fourth of a water glass. I shouldn’t be that dizzy. Oh well, there’s always a first time. Good thing there was a side table close by with a coaster. I very gingerly set my drink down, still wondering what the hell was going on. I forced myself to stay awake until I was dimly conscious of the last guest leaving. Then I could fight it no longer, and knew nothing but blackness and a voice.

“Is he out?”