Cash Call, A Stan Turner Mystery Vol 5

  Chapter 22

  The Wedding

  We stopped by to see Don and Pam early Friday night. They were arguing. The conversation was so intense, neither noticed us enter the room. The argument was about Pam's refusal to leave the house. Even though it had been nearly two weeks since her arrest, she was only just beginning to venture out of the bedroom. Don was trying to coax her out to dinner and a movie, which was their usual Friday night routine.

  "'What's hiding out in the house going to accomplish?'" Don asked.

   "'If they don't see me, maybe they won't think about what happened. I couldn't bear to look into Melinda's eyes after what she witnessed. You don't know how women talk. . . . Maybe we should move.'"

   "'Move! We just bought this house less than two years ago. I love my job and the kids love it here.'"

   "'We could move to Garland or Plano.'"

   "'Honey, I think you underestimate your friends. They'll understand that you were the victim here. They won't hold it against you.'"

   "'Oh sure, they'll tell me how sorry they are, and what a terrible mistake it was, but when I'm not around, they'll laugh at me and wonder if I'm guilty. . . . I'm resigning as president of Junior League.'"

   "'Oh honey. You've worked so hard to get that job, and you love being Junior League president. You can't resign.'"

   "'It's too late. I already did. I sent a letter to the secretary this morning.'"

   "'That will just make them think that you are guilty.'"

   "'It doesn't matter if I'm guilty or not, the damage has been done. I'm ruined.'"

   Dad shook his head obviously exasperated. "'I think you're really overreacting here, honey. It's not the end of the world.'"

   Rob couldn't stand to hear them arguing so he coughed. Don looked over at him. "'Hi, Dad,'" he said.

   Don forced a smile. "'Oh. Hi, guys."

   Pam turned away and wiped her eyes with a tissue.

   "'Hello, Mrs. Blaylock, '" I said. "'Are you feeling any better at all?'"

   She turned back and smiled faintly. "'A little."

   "'Well, we came by to tell you the good news,'" Rob said.

   Don raised his eyebrows."'Good news? We could use some good news. What is it?'"

   Rob put his arm around me and gave me a squeeze. "'We got married.'"

   Dad frowned. "'Married?'"

   "'We probably should have told you, but with all that's been going on we just decided to do it. We just came from the Justice of the Peace.'"

   Mom, with a look of horror on her face, said, "'Why didn't you tell us? I can't believe I missed my son's wedding!'"

   "'With all the problems with the restaurant and everything, we didn't want you to have to spend money on a wedding,'" Don said.

   "'You have to get married in the church, it's not right to just go to a JP,'" Pam scolded. "'I can't believe this! . . . I might as well jump off a bridge. What's the use of living?'" Pam burst into tears.

   I began to cry too. "'I knew we should have told them. I'd told Rob that.'"

   "'It's my fault, Mom. Jennifer wanted to tell you guys and at least have a small wedding, but I talked her out of it. I just didn't want to be a burden right now. We can have a big wedding later, after all this mess is over.'"

   "'Okay, everybody calm down,'" Don said. "'We're happy you are married. It just wasn't the way we had planned it. Your mother is just disappointed. You know how women live for weddings.'"

   Mom suddenly turned and looked at Don. "'Look what you've done! You've ruined my life. Why did you have to make that God damned investment! We didn't need it. We were doing just fine. Damn it, Don! Why did you do it? I just want to die.'"

   Pam stormed off toward the bedroom. We heard the door slam. Don yelled, "'You can't blame this entire fiasco on me!'"

  He turned and glared at Rob. "'I'm not the only one around here who screwed up!'"

  We just stood there silently, dumbfounded at what was happening. Don jumped up abruptly knocking over his chair. "'I don't need this shit!'" he said, and stormed out the back door, slamming it behind him.