The Education of Sebastian Read Online Free PDF Page B

There was a brief pause, then he added, “The guy’s an asshole.”
    I exhaled slowly, forcing some of the tension and irritation from my body in one long breath.
    “Yes, he is, but don’t worry about it.”
    He looked at me hopefully. “So, will you help me with my Italian? We could…”
    “Sebastian, no. I don’t think that would be a good idea.”
    “Why not?”
    “It just isn’t.”
    We sat mutely for several more minutes before he said softly, “I had fun today.”
    So did I .
    But I didn’t reply.
     
    *  *  *  *
     
    I dropped Sebastian off near his house and drove home, feeling irritated and petulant.
    I stomped around, finding places for the final pieces of detritus from our marriage; items that didn’t seem to fit were unceremoniously shoved into a closet in the spare room, metaphorically as well as literally.
    Out of some guilty urge, I fixed David his favorite meal: lasagna and green salad, with a heavy dessert of apple pie and ice cream that he’d have to eat alone. I sat on the porch facing out into the yard and stared moodily at the yellowing grass. It needed watering; another chore. It was one of those days when I wished I’d taken up smoking years ago just to have something meaningful to do with my hands – and a purpose for being outside.
    What was it about that boy? He really got under my skin. It had been simple when he was a child, and I’d enjoyed his uncomplicated company. Things had certainly changed. I’d enjoyed his company today, until Jack showed up. The thought was unwelcome.
    When I heard David’s Camaro outside, I pushed all thoughts of Sebastian Hunter from my mind.
    “Mmm… something smells good.”
    “Lasagna and apple pie.”
    David looked pleased. “It was the right decision coming out here again, Caroline.”
    If you say so .
    “So what did you do with your day?”
    “Puttered, mostly. Finished putting things away. I thought I might see if I could get some work – maybe writing; I’d like to use my degree. There’s a cool, local newspaper, City Beat; maybe I…”
    “Good girl. Well done.”
    And that was the end of the conversation about me. Instead, I listened to a blow-by-blow description of his day at the hospital. Despite his snide comment about making life and death decisions while I played the little woman, most of his work was with orthopedic medicine.
    After the meal, he leaned back in his chair and folded his hands over his stomach.
    “I was talking to Donald Hunter today. Seems that son of his is running with a bad crowd.”
    “Sebastian? Is that likely? He seems such a nice boy.”
    David frowned. He didn’t like having his story interrupted. I stood up quickly to clear the dishes: I didn’t have the energy for either a fight or a lecture.
    “He’s spending all his time at the beach, surfing.” He sneered the last word. “He’s wearing his hair long, and Donald thinks he’s probably smoking pot: he caught him with a lighter.”
    I hid a smile. Didn’t most high-schoolers do things like that? It hardly seemed the crime of the century. But David’s mantra was that rules were to be obeyed. I preferred my papa’s version: ‘rules are for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men’. A version which covered a multitude of small sins.
    “He says he’ll have to put his foot down.”
    “What does that mean?”
    “He wants him to enlist: sooner rather than later. I think it’s a good idea: a young man out of control – he needs some discipline. It made a man out of me.”
    I didn’t want to start an argument so I stayed quiet, for a moment, seething inside. “Oh, I got the impression Estelle wanted him to go to college first.”
    David’s frown deepened. “Well, Donald’s the one paying the bills, so he’s the one calling the shots.”
    And this was what it always came down to. I became even more determined to get some work – writing, if possible. I wouldn’t mind serving in a shop or a bar, but David would never