Sweet Mercy by Ann Tatlock

me now. The girl she’d called the “luckless wench” had finally stumbled upon a bit of handsome luck! I had a date with Marcus Wiant and that meant, at least for the moment, I wasn’t alone. That was the amazing thing. The familiar sense of loneliness was missing as I walked through the hours with Marcus. Instead, I was surprised by a sense of satisfaction.
    And that too brought me around to Cassandra. For the first time in my life, I stood with my eye to a peephole into my sister’s existence, and I understood that maybe this was why she had relentlessly run with the wrong crowd—to dance halls, to speakeasies, to parties. She’d yearned for this very feeling, this sense of connectedness, however fragile and brief, a blessed reprieve from solitude. It was lovely being outside of oneself, lovelier than I might have imagined.
    While Marcus and Jimmy went for hot dogs and drinks, Marlene and I sat down at a picnic table to wait for them. She leaned forward on her elbows and winked. “I didn’t do too bad a job at matchmaking, did I? You like Marcus, don’t you?”
    I nodded shyly. “He’s wonderful, Marlene.”
    â€œGood. I’m glad you like him because he obviously likes you.”
    â€œDo you really think so?”
    She looked at me askance. “Really, Eve? Is the Pope Catholic?”
    I couldn’t help smiling. “But,” I asked, “how come he doesn’t already have a girl? I mean, a guy like Marcus ought to have plenty of girls after him.”
    Marlene adjusted her hat and applied fresh lipstick from a tube plucked out of her dainty handbag. “Listen,” she said, “there’s something you have to understand about Marcus.He’s a looker but he doesn’t have a clue. He’s way too shy. I mean, yeah, he’s had a girl or two, but nothing serious. I think it’s because his father’s the sheriff.”
    I frowned at her. “What’s that got to do with anything?”
    â€œOh, just that Sheriff Wiant thinks he’s the most important man in Warren County. Maybe even Ohio. He expects so much of Marcus, and Marcus never seems able to live up. There’s a couple of daughters in the family, but Marcus is the only son. It’s a tough break.”
    â€œBut I don’t get it. Marcus is going to college on an athletic scholarship! What else does his father want?”
    â€œA full scholarship, I suppose, instead of a partial.”
    â€œBut some kids don’t get anything!”
    Marlene shrugged. “Like I said, nothing’s ever good enough for Sheriff Wiant. I think he’s also disappointed Marcus has a mind of his own and wants to be something other than the next sheriff. I’m telling you, Eve, the man’s a real creep. He swaggers around with his guns on his hips like he’s Wild Bill Hickok or something. On top of that, he’s just plain mean. Like Jimmy’s dad, only Jimmy’s dad is even worse.”
    â€œHe is?” I hadn’t formally met Calvin Fludd myself, but he didn’t seem like such a bad fellow to me. I’d seen him at the lodge several times, leaning his greasy elbows on the front desk while talking with Uncle Cy. Their conversation was always punctuated by hearty laughter that could be heard as far away as the kitchen. I know, because Annie always appeared with a glass of iced tea for Mr. Fludd and another for Uncle Cy. Surely if my uncle and Annie Tweed approved of the man, he had to be a good guy.
    â€œLet me put it this way, Eve,” Marlene said. Her eyes narrowed and her mouth grew small. “I hate Calvin Fludd andI hate that he’s going to be my father-in-law. But like I said, it’s not as though Jimmy and I are going to hang around Mercy once we’re married. No sir. Get me in front of the JP and then we’re gone for good.”
    â€œReally? Do you—” I wanted to know more, but the boys showed up