Straightjacket Read Online Free PDF Page A

startled eyes met his as he sat down, but she darted her gaze away quickly. She watched herself twist a plain silver ring around and around her finger.
    Once everyone was sitting, one of the attendants came over. “And what will we be having this evening?” he said in a mocking tone, focusing on anything except the four sitting at the table. Caleb scanned the five choices on his menu. The grilled rib-eye steak in mushroom sauce with caramelized onions and roasted thyme potatoes was the only thing that sounded semi-appetizing. He couldn’t help the scornful smile that appeared on his face; no matter how hard they tried to dress up the food with fancy words, it was still disgusting.
    He and Gertrude ordered the steak. He ignored Ethan but caught Anna muttering the words, “Thai chicken.” The attendant scribbled down the orders on a spiral notepad and turned toward the kitchen without a word.
    The four sat in silence, going through the appropriate motions that had long ago been ingrained in them—placing the napkins on their laps, straightening their silverware, taking small sips from their water glasses. Caleb tried not to stare, but his attention kept returning to Anna. It was like being in a field and forcing yourself to look away from the one flower that was surrounded by a million dull weeds trying to choke it.
    “Why are you always staring at me?” she said suddenly. “What’s your problem?”
    Caleb didn’t mind that she was hostile. He just liked that she was talking to him.
    “Why are you always staring at me ?” He grinned. “Don’t think I don’t notice.”
    Her cheeks flushed, and she began twisting her ring around and around again. Gertrude ignored the two as she rooted through her purse, but Ethan was interested. He shot a glance over at Caleb, then Anna, then back to Caleb again, waiting to hear how it would all play out.
    “Do I bother you?” he asked.
    “Yeah, you do when you stare at me. Please stop.”
    “It is creepy,” Ethan piped up.
    “Thanks,” Caleb practically growled. “I’ll remember that the next time you’re telling us the guy from Saw is after you.”
    “Screw you.” Ethan took to eavesdropping on another table.
    Caleb, trying to soothe his own temper, picked up again with Anna. “So, did you like your first group?” Even though he tried to keep his voice even, he couldn’t completely hide his irritation with Ethan, which insisted on lingering.
    “No.” She took a sip of water.
    “It’s not my favorite part of the week either.”
    She didn’t answer. He wanted to keep her talking. “Do you believe me?” he blurted out.
    “Yeah,” she answered, annoyed. “I don’t know why anyone would like talking about themselves in front of a group of strangers.”
    “No, I mean, do you believe what I said before, about being an angel?” Her face changed as soon as he said it. First she squinted at him, as if to ask, Are you kidding me? Then she shook her head. “No, I don’t.”
    Caleb tried not to smile, but he couldn’t help but be a little amused.
    “Well, it’s true.”
    “Whatever.”
    He could tell she was holding back. Surely she wanted to say more.
    After a few seconds, she did. “If it’s true, why tell everyone so that you end up here?” She took a sweeping glance across the room as if to strengthen her argument.
    “Because I have nothing to hide.”
    Just then, the attendant came back, balancing a large tray full of food on his shoulder. He set it down and placed each plate on the table, serving the women first. He handed only Gertrude and Caleb each a dull knife. Instead of retreating into the kitchen, he backed up a few feet and stood with his arms folded, his eagle eyes fixed on the two steak eaters and their knives. Caleb knew right away he was going to be watched until it was time to clear the plates, and he gave the man a nasty glare tinged with angry embarrassment.
    The food in front of him took away his appetite. The promised steak was