Circle of Stones Read Online Free PDF Page A

table. “Maybe she’s breaking up with him. I mean, things can’t be going well if he had to absolutely leave in such a hurry.”
    â€œOh dear, I certainly hope not. He adores her.” I beam, thinking about young love and my grandson deep in it. “You should have seen him when he talked about her. I want to meet her.”
    Annette leans back in her chair and gazes out the window at the sea view. “Meh. Nik’s young, attractive, he’ll have lots of other girlfriends, bounce back. That’s what men do.” Annette gulps her ice wine then stares into her empty glass. “Better than disappointment and divorce. Then more disappointment.”
    I pause to straighten the coaster, but my trembling hands nearly knock my glass over. “I would like to see some of Nikky’s newer art soon.” I place my hands on my lap.
    When Nikky was in high school he painted a cityscape that reminded me of Montreal, even though he’d never been there. Annette raved about one Nikky did of the trees around her house, but I found that painting oppressive. The cluster of tall, stalwart evergreens looked like a small, green army, complete with cedar generals.
    â€œLet me make you some lunch, Annette,” I say. In the kitchen, I fret about Nikky while chopping the ingredients for a small niçoise salad. I hear the door open, followed by heavy footsteps in the hall. I grab a towel to dry my hands, and turn, hoping to see my grandson.
    Annette groans. Her hunched shoulders sink farther. Geoff clears his throat noisily and glares at Annette. My hands find their way toward my mouth. I stop myself in a half-gasp and straighten the collar of my blouse. Being in the same room as Annette makes Geoff irrationally angry.
    â€œHello, Geoff.” I try to make myself appear as tall as possible. Not that it gives me much authority. Not anymore.
    â€œWhat’s she doing here?” Geoff looms like one of the stern, military evergreens in Nik’s disagreeable painting.
    â€œI’m making lunch, dear.” I gesture at the dining table. The room seems smaller, darker, and stuffier with my son in it. “You can eat with us or you can wait in the living room.”
    Annette’s chair hits the wall with a clunk and startles me. “Sorry, Hélène.” Annette rubs the mark on the wall with her finger. “It’s nothing. Not even a dent. Just a bit of dust. There. It’s gone. Sorry.”
    Then, to my surprise, Annette steps in front of me. I wonder how many times Annette has placed herself protectively between Nikky and his father.
    â€œMa’s got a doc appointment.” Geoff’s voice booms in comparison to the ticking of the clock, the whir and hum of the condo heating. He leans past Annette to peer at me. “Ma, what are you doing? It’s appointment day. Let’s go.”
    I drop the tea towel, flustered. I hadn’t forgotten Geoff was coming today, I forgot it was Wednesday. I have a medical appointment every second Wednesday afternoon, so the doctor can monitor my medications and change them, if necessary. I would have warned Annette that Geoff was coming, had I remembered.
    I rest my hand on Annette’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, dear, there seems to have been a little mix-up. Will you please take the salad with you in a nice container? You should have a nice lunch.”
    Annette doesn’t answer. Geoff picks up one of the bottles of ice wine. He studies the label then jabs his ex-wife in the arm with the stab point of his index finger. I grip Annette’s shoulder, attempting to soften the jolt.
    â€œAre you serious?” Geoff waves his arm and slams the bottle back down with a clunk. “I told you to quit doing this, Annette. I told you a long time ago.”
    I let go of Annette’s shoulder and step around her. “Annette brought me a lovely ice wine to try. It was kind of her.” Geoff stares at me. I’ve