Don't You Forget About Me Read Online Free PDF Page B

smart with her. She bristled at the memory of him standing in a bright-orange jumpsuit with his head bowed, listening to the judge read off the chargesagainst him and then, three days later, his sentencing. Now that they were alone, the torrent of words she had practiced throwing at him didn’t come. The only thing she could muster up was disgust. If their marriage could survive this, if there was a marriage left at all, he would have to make restitution to his sister-in-law. Anne tolerated her, and she loved Pam’s children, Lisa and Brent. Would they ever be able to forgive Bill for what he had done?
    They put their seat belts on, and Anne went to put the key in the ignition, when Bill reached over and put his hand over hers.
    “Not just yet, okay, Anne? Can we take a minute and talk before we head for home?”
    They didn’t move. She pitched forward slightly to reach the steering column; he turned toward her, holding on to her hand. She started to pull away, and he released his grip.
    “Look, let me try to explain.” He was beseeching her, trying to get her to look at him by hanging on to the steering wheel. “I won’t make excuses, but I do have an explanation.”
    Anne was incredulous. She turned to look at him with wide eyes. Finally, she spoke up. “I don’t think I want to hear what you have to say. I know we’re broke. Why I had to find out from the police is beyond me. I am not sure you can explain that away.” She turned from him, giving up. It’s hopeless , she thought to herself. He’s going to try to weasel his way out as he always does . And she would be paralyzed and unable to leave him.
    “I’m so sorry about it! I was too embarrassed to admit it to you. And then when that happened on the train, theredidn’t seem to be anything to say because he was going to save us. I never dreamed he was going to die! I thought he had just fainted! He promised me that he would help me. And then to go and die without having settled anything? Well, it just took me by surprise. I loved Jack! He was my big brother!” And for the first time since he had been shot by Pam, shot with a gun right in the elbow with a force that knocked him to the ground, he started to cry.
    It had the opposite effect on Anne, however. “Stop it, Bill! Crying is not going to help, and it will only make things worse for me. I’m pissed!” she yelled. “You are such a goddamned liar! Pam said you went to this Sandra girl’s apartment. Jack’s girlfriend. Why the hell would you do that? Why would you harass Pam when she had just lost her husband? Who are you, anyway? Jesus Christ! A butcher knife against her mother’s throat? You are so lucky you didn’t get an attempted murder charge! The only reason you didn’t is because Pam’s dating one of the detectives and he asked for leniency.”
    This news blew Bill Smith away. My brother has only been dead for a few weeks, and she’s dating already? Now it was his turn to be livid. “What the hell are you talking about?” he yelled at his wife. “She is an idiot! Goddamned Pam, dating a cop? Jack deserves better than that! I tell you he would kill her if he could!”
    Anne looked over at her husband like he had two heads. Who the hell is he kidding?
    “Do I have to remind you that that snake of a brother of yours was having an affair with someone half his age and that she is pregnant? She is practically living with your mother, I better tell you!” Anne had waited to use thatlittle juicy bit of gossip for just the right moment. Possibly, her timing was off. Bill was staring at her with bugged eyes, sweating, and mouth hanging open. Anne had to look away; she was afraid she would start laughing at the vision.
    “What the hell are you talking about?” he repeated, screaming. “Why would my mother let her in the house?”
    Anne may have misjudged her timing. She looked at him, concerned he was going to go crazy right in the car. It was too late to defuse the situation; he had