The Cocktail Club Read Online Free PDF Page B

and I can read children pretty well. Here lately, he’s seemed very hostile. He’s on edge quite a bit, and it’s almost as if something drastic has happened. So, naturally, we try to reach out to mom and dad to see if there are any significant changes at home?”
    I scoffed inwardly. The hairs on my neck bristled on end as I listened to the man describe a stranger. It took a moment for me to grasp that there was a question in his statement.
    â€œOh, nothing has changed at home,” I said quickly, realizing how long the pause had been. He eyed me skeptically.
    â€œWe often see this sudden change when parents talk of divorce, or if a close relative dies suddenly.” He tried to lead me into a confession. I had nothing for him.
    I sat erect in the chair, my hands folded in my lap as he described a couple of other possible scenarios that could explain the change in my son’s behavior. Still, I felt lost. At home, Kevin Jr. seemed normal. I would notice the so-called change if it was as drastic as the principal described.
    Then, as if he had read my mind, he asked, “By chance, have you noticed any changes at home?”
    â€œNothing. This is all so strange to me.”
    â€œWell, we finally called when Kevin told Lucas that he’d slap the piss out of him the other day,” Principal Johnson said.
    â€œLucas Stevens?” My eyebrows probably touched my hairline.
    Lucas lived a few houses down, and the boys played together often, or at least they used to. I knew where my son had heard those words, and I prayed the principal didn’t question their origin, although I feared he already knew.
    â€œSo, again, this is completely unlike Kevin. We are at a loss.”
    The two swigs in the parking lot had definitely not been enough. I should’ve drained the flask, I thought as I stared blankly at Principal Johnson. I wasn’t sure what he wanted me to say.
    After a few additional moments of awkward and uncomfortable silence between us, he asked, “You do stay at home? I mean, you don’t work outside the home, correct?”
    It might have been the way he asked. I was instantly irritated.
    â€œThat is correct.”
    It never failed. Everyone thought that was supposed to make such an incredible difference. Right off the bat, I knew where his mind was. Of course my kid couldn’t act up. My perfectly manicured lawn, and leisure-by-day, laid-back lifestyle didn’t allow for such an abnormality.
    After all, I did stay at home! What in the hell was I doing with all of my free time? Was I too busy consuming bonbons and being pampered to notice that my perfect, suburban kid was morphing into a thug? He probably thought I had a gardener whose bedroom privileges blinded me to the chaos that had been brewing in my own damn house.
    Being under the principal’s scrutiny was no fun at all. I really needed to have a talk with my child, and then enjoy a stiff drink.

6
IVEE
    M y focus centered on the hairline crack that created a zigzag pattern on the wall near the clock. I was determined not to check the time again. It seemed as if the hands had started to taunt me long ago. Could they move any slower? Had they gone a few seconds backward? I sighed. When thoughts of what I would’ve rather been doing flashed through my mind, I shook them off. I shifted in the chair that was too hard for comfort, stifled another yawn with a forced, fake smile, and tried not to make my eye roll too obvious.
    Yes, I was bored, and beyond tired of work. I had to be present at my last meeting of the day. Or at least I thought I had to be there. It was clear that my client was in a mood, as Jessica had already warned. On top of that, I realized he was angry that I’d made him wait an entire day for the meeting. As I sat across from him, allowing his words to sink in, I wondered when the integrity in business had vanished. I had totally missed the memo on the new wave of business