secretive, about you, and no hidden agenda. There’s nothing I detest more and that is, lies and deceit, and my Gawd I’ve seen enough of that to last me a lifetime.”
“Well that’s just me. I hate that sort of thing, too.”
“Yeah, and I wish there were more like you, but sadly they are few and far between.”
“Stop it or you’ll give me a swelled head,” I said, smiling at her.
“No, Roland, I mean it, and you would be the best friend that I’ve ever had,” she said and squeezed my hand again, and I placed my other hand on top of hers.
“Yes, we’ve had some great times together.”
“And this was supposed to be your break and you’re out tomcatting all over the country side?”
“Well like I told you, it wasn’t planned to be like that.”
“And you’ll tell the twins about this? Presumably you’re still with them?”
“Yes I’ve already told Jane. I rang her from Barrickton, and she’ll tell Phyllis.”
“There you go…Mr. Honesty in person. You’re incredible.
“Yeah, Jane said she shouldn’t have let me out of my sight, but they know I would never leave them.”
“One of these days a woman is going to grab you, and nail you to the floor.”
“Maybe I already am, to a certain degree.”
I walked with Jenny back to her work after lunch and, on the way, she told me that she was now living in town. I asked why she wasn’t living with her parents because she had told me, the last time I saw her, they lived a few kilometres out of town. She explained that to country people a few kilometres out of town was anything up to a hundred and her parents were actually forty kilometres out. Not wanting to drive that far to work, and pay for a motel if she wanted to have a few drinks, and a dance, on a Friday night, when this flat became available in town. She took it, and she shared it with a girlfriend.
“Where will I meet you later?” I asked her, when we reached her workplace.
“I’ll meet you at the pub at six, and we can have a few drinks and a meal.”
With nothing better to do, and the library was on my way back to the motel, I decided to stop by the library, and see if they had a copy of Brian Curtin’s latest release. He had sent me a text message a few days ago, letting me know. I had met Brian sometime back, when we were at a Reader/Author get-together. He was only a budding writer, but a hell of a nice chap. We stayed in the same motel, and had a few drinks at the bar one night, and we kicked on until we were kicked out.
If it weren’t for Brian, I would have missed the first part of the next day’s meeting if he hadn’t almost banged my door down to wake me up.
“Oh, Mr. Singleton, you came back,” Justine said as she looked up, when I walked past the reception desk.
“Yes, I have a little time to spare so I came to browse,” I answered.
“Certainly. If I can help you at all, please let me know.”
“I will, thank you,” I replied, turning my head as I continued.
“You’re welcome.”
I could have asked her then, if they had the book, but I had decided earlier that it would kill more time if I looked for it myself, and besides, I might see something interesting that I could browse through, and also take up more time. If there’s one thing I hate, it’s waiting around, doing nothing. I like to occupy myself, so that the time seems to go faster.
As I was walking up and down the rows of books, looking for the Cs, I noticed Justine walking around talking to customers. I didn’t give that much credence at that time, but I found out why she was doing it, later.
I had just reached the C section, and found a book by a Brian Curtin, but not the Brian Curtin I know. This book was on medical procedures. Suddenly, I heard Justine’s voice behind me.
“Mr Singleton, may I interrupt you?”
“Call me Roland, please,” I answered turning to face her.
“Yes, of course,” she replied, blushing slightly. “You mentioned before, you had a little
Jennifer Pharr Davis, Pharr Davis