Chapter 28

“Mom, there are twenty guests out front waiting for you and dad to make your grand entrance,” said Briana.

“Okay, okay, I’m coming,” said Riley.

“What are you two doing,” said Rodney, coming into the room.

“Go tell your brother and Lee Ann to get everybody together, we’ll be out in one minute,” said Riley. Briana didn’t quite run out of the room to do her duty. Horace followed a whole three seconds behind her.

He came to her and kissed her. “It’s his choice,” said Rodney. “If the man doesn’t want to come, well...”

“I know, I know. It’s time. We have to join the guests. Let’s go.”

“Yes,” he said.

“There you guys are,” said Horace, coming up to them as they finally appeared. “I thought you said that Adam and Willa would be coming.”

“Yes, well they were invited, but I guess they had something else to do that caused them to change their plans,” said Rodney.

“They still might come,” said Riley.

“Hmm,” said Horace.

“The party turned out to be good. We should do one every year,” said Rodney, as he stripped for bed.

Riley was already on the bed lying on her side in her slip. “Yes, but our man is clearly making a statement.”

“I guess, and it’s time we made ours. If and when he contacts us, like we’ve said a thousand times we’ll do what we can, so long as what he needs isn’t some crazy something or other,” he said.

“You mean like being locked in a cage for one or the other of us for say twenty years.”

“Okay, okay, point taken. It’s just that our anniversary...”

“Yes, yes, that was over the top. But I don’t think he meant it, his request, to make our evening together a bad thing. I think he really was trying to figure out stuff, and he just doesn’t know how.”

“Well, okay, you are probably right. We’ll give him some time. I think at some point Horace is planning on talking to the man; and getting the kids to help out, well...

He joined his wife on the bed and they held each other closer than usual, a lot closer than usual.

We did have a good time at the Hoarder. I know that’s true because I did and she said she did. Nevertheless, all of that being true, there was something under the surface. Something that I could not exactly identify. And then I could because she told me what it was: I was, as she blurted out, too much fixated on Riley Barnes and needed to get over her—”Please!”

“Adam it was two months ago. We haven’t heard from any of them since before Valentine’s Day. That tells me that they noticed our failure to appear at either event, and you are still bringing them up in conversation with me almost every other day. Really, Adam, get over her! We have us, and if necessary we can get a dog or a cat or an orangutan, something, to take their place in our personal universe. Please!” she said.

“Huh? I mean. Willa, I am so sorry. As of now, they, the both of them really are history. No more bringing them up for any reason, none of them. Like you say we haven’t heard from any of them, and hopefully that will continue and we can get on with our lives,” I said.

“Good. I know that you gave up a ton, for her especially. And you were robbed of your fatherhood; that had to be the worst. But that’s all history, there’s nothing we can realistically do about it. It is time to let it all go, especially her.”

“Yes, yes, and you are so right. Jesus, the last thing I ever wanted to do was make your life miserable. That will not be the case anymore.”

“All right. Time to get on with living. But really, I mean, do you think that an orangutan would be a little too much?” she said.

“Depends on how much he or she eats. I mean there are practical matters to consider.”

It was a Wednesday evening, and near the end of April; warmer weather was on the horizon. And I was just parking the car. It had been a long day on the job, and I was two hours later than usual getting home. His Mercedes pulled up beside my officially classic Buick. I got out. He got out. We stared at each other.

“Okay, so come in,” I said. “Thanks, I was going to ask if I might,” said Horace. I smirked; he followed me into my place. “Honey,” I called out. “Willa came in from the kitchen and saw we had a visitor. “Mister Hollins.” “Horace, please.” “Okay, yes. I was just surprised I guess,” she said. “Yes, I should have called, but the fact is it was kind of spur of the moment. I was actually just a short distance away and I have been planning on coming by, and well, I decided that this would be a good time. Hopefully I was not wrong,” he said. “No, no,” I said, “it’s all good.” The visitor was noticing the ring on the fourth finger of her left hand. “I guess, I’m the first to know?” said Horace. I kinda smiled, sort of. The word would be out now. Okay, and I was curious how the Scottsdale clan would be reacting. Did I actually care? I don’t think I did. “Yes, I guess you are,” I said. “Well congratulations. So Willa, you did decide to have mercy on our man then.” “Yes, well, he did save me from a life of boredom and aloneness,” she said. “Have a seat someplace,” I said. I went to build us martinis. “You too, honey?” I said. “Sure,” she said. So I’d be building three of them. I returned in a trice to the now settled in guest and my official fiancée. “So, how long?” he said. “Been a couple months now, I guess,” I said. “Horace, you need to find yourself a woman yourself.” He and I had talked about his lengthy singlehood more than once, but he’d always blown me off. He didn’t his time; he just shrugged—interesting. “The clan is wondering if you are angry or something—my words their meaning,” he said. “They’d kinda like to have the two of you visit.” “Hmm, on a scale of one to ten?” I said. He smirked. “Nine and a half,” he said. My turn to smirk. “So how have things been with you, Horace?” said Willa. “About the same, working, getting a little older. Nothing big.” “So, the man didn’t actually send you?” I said. “No. He has mentioned he’d like to see you guys when you can make time. She’s spoken to me about it too,” he said. “I’ll bet,” I said. “You know they really did expect you to show up at their anniversary soiree; they missed you.” “Hmm,” I said. “And how are the kids?” “Good. Of course I don’t see Briana as often as before; I mean she and Richard are busy being adults and married and all of that.” “Yes, I can imagine. We haven’t seen any of them either, not even James.” My mild sarcasm was not lost on the man. He knew the deal. “Yes, I’m aware. Don’t know why.” I nodded. “Let the kids know, I mean if you think of it, that we’d be pleased to have them drop by if and when...” I said. “I will,” he said. We talked for a while. The subject turned to his two save-ees: Leonard and the woman Parker. Margo also got a mention. I’d seen Leonard but twice since early February, but it wasn’t like before. He was still on parole and had been seen with me and it had been reported, but nothing had come of it: oh, the power of rich people; evidently Rodney had his back. Of course good ‘ole Rodney had my back too, but in my case it was to put a knife into; and if that seems a tad bitter in the saying, in spite of Willa’s commands not to be, well, what can I say. Two martinis sipped down to the olives each later, the man made his escape. I knew he’d be spreading the word and neither Willa nor I had asked him not to. I wondered if we’d be getting visits from the kids; I cared about that. The elders, not.