So Amy was pregnant. What did that mean? I had expected some word from Jennifer and Jake. But it did not happen.
CONSIDERING MURDER
Part 8
Three days passed and not a word from
Jennifer or Jake. My spirits were up and down. Equally absent were the local
law authorities. Then the persistent, approaching violent, pounding interrupted
my shower—my first in three days despite the hot humid weather. Wrapped in a towel
I peered out the window. Jennifer—her car was next to mine in the driveway. The
pounding continued. “Connie, I know you’re in there. Answer the door.”
I opened the door just enough to peer out. “God,
I’m in a towel. You yanked me from the shower. Ever think of using the phone? You
could have come a little later.”
“Later smater, open up. I assure I have
seen scantily clad men before. And we both know you are not averse to being scantily
clad. I promise I will not take advantage of you or take you to court like
somebody we know. Now open up.”
It was obvious Jennifer had no intention of
leaving. If the truth be known I was glad she had come. I opened the door and
stepped back. Barely inside the door she said, “Get dressed.”
“Yes Ma’am. Whatever you say. You seem to
be in a fine mood. Back in a sec.”
She was at my dining table when I returned
dressed in a tee short and shorts. “Now what the Hell is up?”
“Jake is pissed with me. Says he doesn’t
care a fig – that’s his word- if you rot and me with you.” She drummed her
fingers on the table.
“I thought you said the jealously was all
over. And I didn’t see any of it.” Her fingers
were drumming the table faster and harder. “And for god’s sake stop that
drumming. You’ll break a finger or put a hole in the table. So if Jake is not
jealous—“
Mid sentence I was interrupted. “He is over
the jealously – at least as far as you are concerned. He’s mad at me—and this
whole mess. Says I’m over involved.” She brushed the hair hanging over face
back. “And you’re a wimpy wuss.” She brushed the fallen hair again. “It’s my
own damned fault.”
“And what did you do?” I asked as I poured
her a cup of coffee.
“Accused him of lying or at least of
withholding information.” Her sigh approached a squeal. “I asked him why he
didn’t tell us Amy was pregnant. He said he didn’t know. I called him a liar—said
he talked to the sheriff who talked to the autopsy people. Anyway when I
finally stopped my railing, he was so pissed he just left.” She fell silent. I had the good sense to say
nothing. Finally she continued. “Oh he came back. But we’re still not talking.”
My own plight seemed less as I watched her –
near tears—near yelling—near what can only be called ‘falling apart’. “Fix it, Jennifer.”
“Fix it how?”
“Apologize—crawl if you have to. Jake’s a
good guy. No Jakes’s a great guy. And
you were wrong.”
Well past dinnertime Jake and Jennifer were
at my door. “We’re ok now,” she said. “And yes I groveled.”
“And she’s quite good at it,” Jake said. “The
sheriff did not tell me little Amy was pregnant. Why I don’t know. We’ve been
friends before we could walk or talk. But for whatever reason he didn’t tell
me.”
Jennifer had not let go of Jennifer’s hand.
Looking up at Jake she said quietly and shyly, “Maybe there are things we don’t
know. Like maybe it’s not Harold’s baby.”
Jake dropped her hand, slapped his hand
against his head. “For Christ’s sake, Jen. Let’s not go off half cocked again.”
She shrugged. “Ok, just a notion.”
“A wild notion.” Jake said in a low contemptuous
voice.
Jennifer’s down turned mouth and teary eyes
compelled me to say, “Well, you did say Harold is gone for days on end with his
trucking job. It must get lonely for her. Out here away from people. By herself
so much. She is young and pretty and – “
“Thank you, Connie.” She took Jake’s hand
again. “Jake, what harm could come from – maybe looking into it?”
“Just how do you suggest we do that?”
“Act like Scarlett O’Hara and think about
it tomorrow. Right now let’s do something escapist.” Jennifer without asking
turned on the television and began surfing for something to watch.
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