realized I may have spoken too soon. Halfway up the block, we saw Sal Provenza parked in his yellow Cadillac, taking up two spaces in Maddies driveway.
Maddie couldnt get out of her Volvo fast enough. She was beside the drivers side door of Sals Cadillac before Id even unhinged my aching body from her passenger seat.
Our mothers boyfriend looked up, cigar in hand and a guilty look on his face. Maddie was so mad, she didnt know which of Sals sins to seek vengeance for first.
I cant believe you have the nerve to come here, stinking up my driveway with that cigar, after you framed Mama for murder and nearly killed my sister, Mace.
That just about covered everything, I thought.
Sal stubbed out the cigar in his ashtray and gave Maddie a long, hard look. My sister held his stare without so much as a flinch. He patted at his perfect hair. I dont have any idea what youre talking about, Maddie. But I dont like the way it sounds. Harder people than you have tried over the years to accuse me of things. None of them has hurt me as much as hearing you say I could harm your mother. Mudder. I love Rosie.
He looked past my sister to watch me as, wincing, I lifted first one, then the other of my aching legs over the border of Chinese juniper that lined Maddies driveway. Sal must be a good actor, because a look of complete surprise flickered across his face as he absorbed my sorry state. Moving quickly for such a big man, he jumped from his car. The heavy drivers door pushed Maddie out of the way.
Sal offered his arm for support. If your sister wasnt so busy attacking me, she might have realized you could use some help. He leaned me against the wide expanse of his Cadillacs hood. Whatd Maddie mean, I tried to kill you? What in the hell happened, Mace?
Someone ran me off the road last night, out near the golf course. Remember the golf course, Sal? I slipped into using his given name. If someone has conspired to murder you, it seems a tad formal to call him Mister.
I continued, Thats where you called me to come all the way out there to meet you, and then conveniently disappeared before I got there.
What are you suggesting? I set you up? Sal looked at me like the creature from the Alien movie was burrowing out of my body. I had a good reason for rushing out of there.
Yeah? What?
I got a call on my cell phone yesterday that your mother had suffered a heart attack at the jail.
Maddie gasped and grabbed my hand. My own heart started racing. Then I remembered, wed already heard from Henry this morning that Mama was fine, on her way to freedom.
Our mothers heart is okay, Sal, I said.
But I didnt know that then. I ran out of the pro shop so fast my shoes were smoking. I tried to call you again at the park office, but you must have already left work. I didnt have your cell number. Besides, I figured if I was getting news of Rosalee taking ill, then you and your sisters must have heard about it, too. I knew Id see you at the jail, or maybe at the hospital.
He twisted a heavy gold bracelet around his wrist, gaze fixed on the engraving that said Sal. I didnt even want to think about my worst fear: that the next time Id see you girls would be at Rosies funeral.
He pulled out an oversized white handkerchief with deep red the initials SFP. He blew his nose, loud. Sorry, he said, blowing again. Thinking about losing her still upsets me.
His hands were shaking. I almost felt sorry for him.
Heart attack or not, youve already lost our mother. Maddies voice was as cruel as a Christmas Eve burglar. Mama believes, as do we, that you killed Jim Albert. We think you put his body in her big trunk, and then let her take the blame. Maddie crossed her arms over her chest, purse tucked in tight, and waited for his response.
Sal carefully folded and refolded his handkerchief. He looked at the ground, and then raised his face to Maddie. There was no sadness now; just a tic
Maddie couldnt get out of her Volvo fast enough. She was beside the drivers side door of Sals Cadillac before Id even unhinged my aching body from her passenger seat.
Our mothers boyfriend looked up, cigar in hand and a guilty look on his face. Maddie was so mad, she didnt know which of Sals sins to seek vengeance for first.
I cant believe you have the nerve to come here, stinking up my driveway with that cigar, after you framed Mama for murder and nearly killed my sister, Mace.
That just about covered everything, I thought.
Sal stubbed out the cigar in his ashtray and gave Maddie a long, hard look. My sister held his stare without so much as a flinch. He patted at his perfect hair. I dont have any idea what youre talking about, Maddie. But I dont like the way it sounds. Harder people than you have tried over the years to accuse me of things. None of them has hurt me as much as hearing you say I could harm your mother. Mudder. I love Rosie.
He looked past my sister to watch me as, wincing, I lifted first one, then the other of my aching legs over the border of Chinese juniper that lined Maddies driveway. Sal must be a good actor, because a look of complete surprise flickered across his face as he absorbed my sorry state. Moving quickly for such a big man, he jumped from his car. The heavy drivers door pushed Maddie out of the way.
Sal offered his arm for support. If your sister wasnt so busy attacking me, she might have realized you could use some help. He leaned me against the wide expanse of his Cadillacs hood. Whatd Maddie mean, I tried to kill you? What in the hell happened, Mace?
Someone ran me off the road last night, out near the golf course. Remember the golf course, Sal? I slipped into using his given name. If someone has conspired to murder you, it seems a tad formal to call him Mister.
I continued, Thats where you called me to come all the way out there to meet you, and then conveniently disappeared before I got there.
What are you suggesting? I set you up? Sal looked at me like the creature from the Alien movie was burrowing out of my body. I had a good reason for rushing out of there.
Yeah? What?
I got a call on my cell phone yesterday that your mother had suffered a heart attack at the jail.
Maddie gasped and grabbed my hand. My own heart started racing. Then I remembered, wed already heard from Henry this morning that Mama was fine, on her way to freedom.
Our mothers heart is okay, Sal, I said.
But I didnt know that then. I ran out of the pro shop so fast my shoes were smoking. I tried to call you again at the park office, but you must have already left work. I didnt have your cell number. Besides, I figured if I was getting news of Rosalee taking ill, then you and your sisters must have heard about it, too. I knew Id see you at the jail, or maybe at the hospital.
He twisted a heavy gold bracelet around his wrist, gaze fixed on the engraving that said Sal. I didnt even want to think about my worst fear: that the next time Id see you girls would be at Rosies funeral.
He pulled out an oversized white handkerchief with deep red the initials SFP. He blew his nose, loud. Sorry, he said, blowing again. Thinking about losing her still upsets me.
His hands were shaking. I almost felt sorry for him.
Heart attack or not, youve already lost our mother. Maddies voice was as cruel as a Christmas Eve burglar. Mama believes, as do we, that you killed Jim Albert. We think you put his body in her big trunk, and then let her take the blame. Maddie crossed her arms over her chest, purse tucked in tight, and waited for his response.
Sal carefully folded and refolded his handkerchief. He looked at the ground, and then raised his face to Maddie. There was no sadness now; just a tic
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