Catalyst Read Online Free PDF Page A

Stein won't notice the
difference. Have a good evening, Renee."
    She turned and strutted out.
    ****
    As Renee drove north on I-5 from Mount Vernon, the
small city where she worked, her mind relived the situation.
    "Damn woman," she muttered as she headed inland up
the Shagit Valley. This latest episode was a pyrrhic victory with
Annette now openly hostile. William Senior was an enigma. He had
never helped her before and rarely said more than the casual
greeting on most days. A couple weeks earlier he'd forgotten her
name and referred to her as Jennifer, a girl in the typing
pool.
    It was after six when she arrived home at the
farmhouse she shared with her father. She parked in the barn, spent
a couple moments talking to Zona the dog and walked inside. The
modern open-space kitchen smelt of a cooking roast and a late
middle-aged man glanced back from stove to smile.
    "Hello, Renee," he said. "Was today any better?"
    "Different, Dad," she replied and gave him a kiss on
the cheek. "Old William stood up for me. Mind you, Annette isn't
going to improve." She sighed. "It's as if she purposely finds
fault in everything I do."
    "She's envious, perhaps even jealous, Sweetheart,"
Jack Bonnett said in a low voice. He shut the oven door and limped
across to her. She glanced up with empathy in her eyes. Dad tried
hard to lead a normal life but since the stroke last year that
paralyzed his left side, he found it difficult.
    "Jealous of me, Dad? But why?"
    "You're young with higher qualifications than her.
She's an old maid with little to look forward to except the silly
firm and rows with her lazy brother."
    Renee frowned and leaned forward. "How do you know,
Dad? I never told you anything about William Junior."
    "You didn't have to," Jack replied. "Not after that
staff party a few months back. I know the guy made a pass at
you."
    Renee flushed. "But how?"
    Jack Bonnett smiled that half smile caused by partly
immobile lips. "I also know you turned him down flat and came home
early. I wondered what brought on the tears that evening."
    "The sod has a young wife and two kids," Renee
retorted. She stopped and frowned. "Have you been spying on me,
Dad?"
    "Not at all." Jack changed the topic. "Will you take
the roast out of the oven, sweetheart? I'd hate to drop it."
    Renee glanced at the beautifully cooked meal, grabbed
the oven gloves, took the steaming food and set it on the stovetop.
"You've done enough, Dad. Sit down and I'll serve it."
    Jack sat in the chair his daughter vacated. "But I
enjoy doing it."
    He switched his attention to the news on a small
television in the corner, while Renee served out two generous
portions.
    Jack's eating was mainly one-handed but through sheer
willpower, he managed movement on his paralyzed side and insisted
on holding a knife between the curled fingers.
    "Can I cut your meat, Dad?"
    Jack glanced up and whispered, "Thanks, Sweetheart."
He used to argue and attempt the impossible himself but since
accepting his disability, he had made better progress. A few weeks
earlier he would have been unable to open the oven door, let alone
roast a meal.
    As they ate he began to talk. "I've never really
liked those business clubs, too snobbish for me but lately I've
found I enjoy the company of old guys like myself at The Puget
Sound Club in Mount Vernon. You know, we have a few beers, play
cards…"
    "I'm pleased. I'm glad you got into the habit of
going every Wednesday. That's what you need, rather than becoming a
hermit out here on the farm." She stopped and noticed her father's
coy expression. "Okay, what have you done, Dad?"
    "I was looking through the club's register a few
weeks ago and noticed William Usborne Senior was a member. I
introduced myself and let the old guy beat me at cribbage. Since
then we've become quite good friends. He plays lousy cards,
though."
    "Dad," Renee sputtered. "What did you say?"
    "Not a lot. I merely mentioned I was thinking of
transferring all my legal affairs to his firm because my