***
A mile away from Travis and Sue—down on the inlet—Dr. Sacks finally came home. Leah had taken Calvin to her mother’s in Raleigh. On the kitchen counter was a note written in her hand.
WENT TO A MOVIE WITH CAL. DINNER IS IN THE FRIDGE. HEAT IT IN THE MICROWAVE. HOPE YOU HAD FUN GOLFING. HOME AT EIGHT. SEE YOU SOON. L
Underneath, she had drawn a pair of hearts and a smiley face. He opened the fridge and pulled out a beer and the sealed Tupperware container. His mind was on Rebecca, the nurse he was fucking on the pier. His mind was on her breasts, on her lips, on the way she felt when he entered her, on the way she moaned and on the way she kissed him in places his wife hadn’t kissed in almost a decade. On the way she smelled.
He thought there had to be a way to make Leah have an accident as he pushed three minutes on the microwave timer and hit the start button.
Sipping the beer, he rubbed his swelling erection. Something else he hadn’t had in a while. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d thought about Leah and gotten hard. Worthless bitch. Once Calvin turned sixteen, he was done with her. If Rebecca was still willing, he might take up with her, or he might find another young, hot thing to take care of his needs. Needs that were fulfilled that morning in front of God and anyone else who was lucky enough to be watching. He was a doctor and women liked doctors.
The microwave beeped and he pulled the plate out, popped off the lid and looked at the lump of casserole, spoonful of green beans from a can and piece of bread. He tossed the bread into the disposal side of the sink.
“She can’t even cook worth a shit.”
He forked a bite of the casserole and blew the steam off of it, then stuck it into his mouth, sucking in to cool it. A swallow of beer made it chewable, palatable. He looked at the clock again. 6:35 pm.
“Home at eight?” he said, looking back at the note on the table and shoving another forkful of food into his face.
His thumb found the wheel on his phone and he scrolled through the contacts list to Rebecca’s name and number. He pressed send and it started to ring.
I have plenty of time for another slice of that. This time on the kitchen table, or maybe on Leah’s vanity. Maybe I’ll just wait until she gets home so she can watch what fucking is really like. What a better woman is like. Maybe then I’ll just kill her. Her and the boy. I don’t need them.
Another bite of casserole and some green beans. Bitter. Swimming.
“Hello, doc,” Rebecca said. “Didn’t you get enough of me earlier?”
“No, he said. Come to the house. I have a surprise for you.”
There was a pause on the line before Rebecca responded. “The house? Isn’t that risky? I don’t…”
“Just do it.”
You’ll do what I say or I’ll find someone else. Maybe I’ll kill you, too.
“But, doc…” she said, shyly.
“It will be fine. They are gone.”
There was another pause on the phone, then a slight giggle, sultry and somewhat goofy. “Okay,” she said. “I’ll be there in five minutes. I hope you’re well rested.”
He hung up and took another bite of his food and swallowed more beer. Bitter. Something was bitter inside. Like the smell outside. Bitter. Like his wife. Like his life.
“Lousy cook,” he said. He was all finished with Leah. He was all done with Calvin. He was done with everyone.