Families are messy - 6

“A little mystery is good for the soul, and safer for a single woman,” Marcia said, turning serious for a moment.

“I can see your point. I won’t pry any more about that.” He started walking again, slowly, wondering if she’d keep pace with him. She did and he smiled to himself.

“Question, Miss Mysterious,” he said, “Are you a waitress by desire, as a stop-gap between other jobs, or as a second job?”

“It’s the last more than anything else, though unfortunately it’s more of a first job because I’m an underemployed actress.”

“Lack of jobs or talent?” He watched her face, which was a very nice one he had decided, wondering if she’d get angry at his way of phrasing the question.

She didn’t. Instead she chuckled. “You’re nothing if not blunt. I consider myself a fairly good actress and I’ve got the reviews to back me up.”

“Would I have seen you in something?”

“Only if you’ve been in Omaha, or Grand Island. I’ve only recently returned here and haven’t yet convinced the theater powers-that-be in the city that they’re desperate for me to be in one of their shows.”

“You’re a Winterfield native?” Casey asked.

“Born and bred and escaped. But when it came right down to it I missed the slower pace here. Not that it’s a cow town by any stretch of the imagination but it’s not the...“ Marcia made quotation marks with her fingers, “big city.”

“No it’s not, thank goodness,” he replied with conviction.

Marcia laughed. “Not into lots of people who don’t even know your name?”

“I don’t care if they don’t know my name, but I like being able to have my own private space when I need it.”

She nodded in agreement. “I’ve got a small house that I inherited from my folks, well got from them when they moved down to Florida. I love being able to go home and just kick back and forget the worries of the day for a while.”

Casey stopped walking, causing her to do the same as she looked up at him. “I’m boring you, aren’t I? You’re ready to head home and I’m keeping you from doing that.”

“Not at all.” He pointed to a small bar that he knew was relatively quiet as bars went. “I just wondered if you’d like something to drink. And if you’re not into bars there’s a coffee shop around the corner.”

She surveyed him carefully while she seemed to consider his offer. “One beer.”

“Sounds good to me.” When they reached the front door he held it for her and then asked when they were inside, “Table or rough it and sit at the bar?”

“Oh the bar, definitely. You can see much more there.”

“Ahh, a student of human nature huh?” He led her over to two vacant stools at the end.

She grinned. “I’m an actress, of course I am.”

Once their beers were sitting in front of them there was that kind of pause that happens between two people who might actually be interested in each other but don’t know quite what to say next.

Marcia broke the silence first, saying, “Lamberti” When he cocked an eyebrow she explained. “My last name, you did ask.”

“Well darn, now I can’t keep calling you Miss Mysterious.”

“Sorry about that, though you can if you want to. It’s sort of cute.”

“Like you,” Casey said without thinking.

Marcia rolled her eyes. “I hope I’m a bit more than cute. That’s for kids and girls you pick up in... Oh well I guess you sort of did pick me up, or I picked you up.”

“We’ll call it a draw, since we both kept the conversation going,” he told her with a laugh. “You’re Italian? You don’t look it.”

“My father is; my mother’s pure Midwestern German stock, thus the blonde hair, which,” she grinned, “is natural.”

“Just as mine is naturally black,” he replied with a laugh.

There was another moment of silence where anyone had been reading their minds might have heard, ‘Prove it. Umm, not saying that out loud.’ from both of them. 

Then they both laughed self-consciously and Casey hurriedly changed the subject. “Are you going to try out for the next show coming up at the theater, or whatever they call it?”

“Audition, and yes I am. Friday night actually.”

“Would it bother you if I came and watched or isn’t that allowed?”

Marcia chewed her lip then nodded. “It’s allowed because they’ll probably think you’re there for the same thing. Just sit at the back of the theater once you’re in.”

“I can do that.” Casey glanced at his watch then slugged down the rest of his beer. “I hate to do this but I have a dog at home that is probably walking cross-legged by now.”

With a peal of laughter, Marcia told him, “Go rescue the poor thing. I should get home too and study the script.” She stood, leaving the rest of her beer un-drunk. “I’ll see you Friday then?”

“You can count on it,” he told her with a smile.

Families are messy - 5

It was later than he’d planned when Casey finally finished his lunch/dinner. So instead of going back to work he called Thomas to tell him he’d see him in the morning. Then he decided, since the day was so pleasant, to take a walk before heading home.

He did a bit of window shopping as he strolled along, checking out one of his competitor’s displays, mentally rearranging how they’d set up their window to make it more attractive. Ahead of him was one of his favorite men’s clothing stores and he debated stopping to see what had come in since he’d last been there and then decided he wasn’t in the mood to shop at the moment.

The sidewalk started getting more crowded as office workers poured out of the building on their way home from work. Casey chuckled to himself as he watched a gaggle of girls and their male companions sprint across the street toward the nearest bar, stopping traffic and earning a few blaring horns as a result.

“Damn, was I ever that young and eager?” he said under his breath. He supposed he had been, once.

“Now you’re archaic,” a cheerful voice said from beside him.

He glanced over in surprise to find a pretty woman of, he’d guess, about his age walking beside him.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt your reverie,” she told him, grinning. “But it was there and needed to be said.”

“That I’m archaic?” he asked in amusement.

“Well, no, because you’re not, but it did fit.” She stopped walking, holding out her hand. “I’m Marcia and I know you from somewhere but I can’t figure out where.”

“Casey,” he replied, shaking her hand. “Wherever it was I must not have seen you or I’d definitely remember it.”

She smiled. “Aren’t you the charmer. Damn, I wish I knew why you look familiar. Are you famous or something?”

“Only in my own mind.” He grinned, enjoying this bit of by-play.

“I think we all are, there, but...“ She studied him for a minute, oblivious to the fact that they were impeding traffic. “The theater, the opera? No wait, a charity gala. That’s it. You were there with your wife.”

“My soon to be ex-wife.”

“Oh dear, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be, I’m not,” he replied with smile.  “So, Marcia, do you have a last name?”

“Of course, do you?”

Casey snorted in amusement. “Yes, it’s Rothem.”

“As in the jewelry shop, Rothem Galleria?”

“One in the same. I’m the owner.”

“Whoa, no wonder you do the charity galas. I bet they love having you there.”

“They love my money, yes. How about you? After all you said you saw me at one so you must go to them too.”

“As a waitress for the catering company I work for.”

“Ahh. An honorable and much underrated profession.”

“Tell that to my ex-boyfriend. He thought I was lowering myself, doing that.”

Casey nodded. “Now we have two things in common, Miss...“ He left that hanging, hoping she’d reveal her last name.

“Good try.” She grinned at him. “But I guess we do, galas and ex’s.”

“So you’re not going to tell me who you are?”

Families are messy - 4

“Thank you again Mr. De Klerk, I’ll be getting in touch with you soon.” Casey shook the man’s hand before escorting him out of his office.

Moments later Thomas came in, asking as he sat down, “Are we going to deal with him?”

“All the diamonds he had with him were GIA certified, but I still want you to run a check on him. I won’t buy from anyone who handles conflict diamonds.”

“Very good. I’ll start immediately.” Thomas paused before asking, “How was your weekend? Did you get to unwind at all?”

“Other than the few minutes after some damned fool hunter thought I was a deer and took a shot at me, I did indeed.”

“Oh my God, did you get…“ Then Thomas shook his head, slightly amused at himself for what he almost asked although he still looked shocked. “No I guess he missed you.”

“Thank goodness. He missed me and Duke. But it did make for a bit of an adrenaline rush.”

“I can well imagine. You do look more rested though so all in all it was good for you to get away.” Thomas stood then, saying, “And I should get back to business and run a check on Mr. De Klerk even though he does come well recommended or I wouldn’t have suggested that you meet with him.”

Casey smiled. “I’m sure he’ll pass with flying colors.”

Once Thomas had left Casey got down to the day to day business of running his company. He worked through lunch hour, stopping only long enough to go to the showroom to assist a long time customer in making a decision about a fiftieth wedding anniversary gift for his wife.

By mid-afternoon he realized he was hungry and decided to go to his favorite near-by restaurant for a lunch, or probably more a very early dinner. After letting Thomas know he’d be gone for an hour he took the elevator down to the lobby, waving to the security guard who was manning the front desk, and then went outside where he was greeting by bright sunlight and a sidewalk full of pedestrians enjoying the day.

He reached the restaurant and almost turned away when he saw Darla entering on the arm of a twenty-something young man dressed in torn jeans and a tight T-shirt. Then he thought better of it and continued inside. If nothing else, he figured, it should be interesting watching them deal with the maitre d'.

Casey had called it correctly, the maitre d' of the restaurant was trying in vain to let the young man with Darla understand that he was not properly dressed to dine there. Darla was in full pout when Casey came into view.

“Casey,” she cried out, totally oblivious to the small scene she and her companion were making, “tell this stuffed shirt that Skull has as much right to eat here as...as you do.”

“Skull?” Casey had to clamp his mouth closed before he laughed out loud. Then, for whatever reason he took pity on his sister and her ‘friend’, telling the maitre d’ that they were his guests. The man scowled before pasting on a smile as he led the trio to a corner table well away from the majority of the diners.

“So, Skull, if I’m not being too inquisitive, what do you do for a living?” Casey asked once they were seated. He was tempted to add, ‘Besides sponging off my sister,’ but decided not to go there, yet.

“I’m a CPA,” Skull replied, causing Casey’s eyebrows to rise in surprise. Skull chuckled. “I wouldn’t be dressed like this but I’m also a part-time model and Darla just picked me up from a shoot.”

“Alright, I guess that makes sense.” Casey turned to Darla, asking politely, “How are you doing?”

“I’d be better if you moved to another table and left us alone.”

“Darla,” Skull said in disapproval.

“It’s alright, she and I may be related but we’re hardly the poster children for happy sibling love,” Casey told him with a laugh. He stood, waving the approaching waiter to his side. “I have to leave but you are to treat this couple as if they were your best customers, if you please.”

“Yes sir, Mr. Rothem,” the waiter replied, pocketing the two twenties Casey slipped into his hand.

With that taken care of, and not really wanting to stay in the proximity of his spoiled younger sister, Casey left and headed down the block to find somewhere else to eat.

Families are messy - 3

The Mill Creek cabin was just as Casey had left it, even though it had been at least two years since he’d been there. Cabin was probably a misnomer as it had three rooms plus a full bath, but it was rustic and standing as it did in a large stand of trees just outside the National forest the exterior melded into the surrounding scenery.

Duke bayed in excitement when he was let out of the SUV, bouncing about like the puppy he’d been a good four years before. Casey watched in amusement before unloading everything he’d brought with him, toting it into the cabin. The electricity was on, thanks to a call to the man who checked on the cabin weekly to make certain no vandals had decided to play games there.

After putting the perishable food in the refrigerator and the rest on the shelves in the kitchen, Casey went into the bedroom to unpack. When he’d finished he changed into comfortably worn jeans and a flannel shirt and then went out to see what mischief Duke was getting into. Apparently he’d decided to behave for the time being because he was flopped down on the front porch just watching as a couple of chipmunks capered around the small grassy area in front of the cabin.

Deciding that a quick lunch was in order, Casey threw together a couple of sandwiches, munching on one as he gathered together his fishing gear which was stored in one of the closets in the main room. He finished part of the second one, went out onto the porch to toss the rest to Duke, and then gear in hand and the bag slung over his shoulder he headed down to the creek with Duke capering along beside him.

They walked along the creek until Casey found the spot he’d been looking for. Depositing his gear on the edge of the high bank, he readied his pole and cast the line into the slow-moving water. Then he leaned back against the tree behind him, just relaxing as he watched the bobber float.

“This is the life, boy,” he said when Duke settled down, leaning against his thigh. “No problems, no worries, just you, me and the open air.”

As he leaned over to get a bottle of water from his bag a shot rang out and pieces of bark flew from the tree right where his head had been resting seconds before.

“What the fucking hell,” he cried out, jumping to his feet. “Hey, idiot, watch where you’re shooting. I’m a human, the brown animal is a dog, and damn it it’s not hunting season!”

Duke bayed loudly, his head swinging around as he tried to locate the scent of the shooter. Casey grabbed his collar, ordering him to stay. “I don’t want the fool taking another shot, thinking your God only knows what.” Duke quieted down and Casey listened to see if he could hear the shooter. There was a brief rustling in the brush well off to the east of them and then silence.

“Well that was fun, not,” Casey muttered as he debated staying or returning to the cabin. “The hell with it, he’s probably long gone by now,” he told Duke, the decision made. Settling back down against the tree again he picked up the fallen pole and did his best to relax and enjoy the rest of the afternoon.

* * * *

“And that was the sum extent of the excitement,” Casey said in conclusion as he handed Bing a fresh beer. “Other than that I did nothing but not catch fish and sleep and hike.”

“Sounds like a perfect time to me, well except for the stupid hunter, or poacher probably, although why he’d be doing that in broad daylight is a mystery.”

“Probably figured no one was around, or it was just some kid testing out his new gun.” Casey took a long pull on his beer. “Guess I should thank my lucky stars I moved when I did.”

Bing nodded in agreement before asking, “Any word from Kathy?”

“From her lawyer you mean? Not that I’ve been notified about. The only message I’ve gotten on the legal front was my lawyer’s telling me my new will was ready to be signed.”

“Writing Kathy out?” Bing asked, grinning widely.

“You bet.”

“Better be careful,” Bing told him, chuckling, “that will make the rest of us a lot richer if you were to die suddenly.”

“Hey, I’m hardly a billionaire. Alma’s got more money than I do considering who she’s married to.”

“Good point. Hell none of us is hurting when it comes down to it. We might not be wealthy but we’re not going to the poorhouse any time soon either.”

Casey nodded in agreement and yawned prodigiously.

“You, brother, had better get to bed,” Bing said, finishing off the last of his beer.

“Planning on it, as soon as I take Duke for his walk. I have to be bright and chipper in the morning for a meeting with a diamond dealer from out of town.”

“Sounds like your sort of fun. I’ll stick with what I know best, sporting goods. I should get moving anyway. Sammy’s probably wondering if I ran off with some twink from the local bar.”

“As if,” Casey said with a laugh. “I’ve never seen a more devoted couple than the two of you. Tell him I said ‘Hi’.”

“Will do.”

As soon as his brother had left Casey whistled for Duke and they set off on their last walk of the day. Then he collapsed into bed and fell into a dreamless sleep.

* * * *

Out today - Mélange 

https://spsilverpublishing.com/

Families are messy - 2

“Bet you’re glad to get us out of your house,” Casey said to Bing, laughing.

“You, I can deal with. Duke however...“ Bing reached down to pat the bloodhound’s head, adroitly avoiding getting drooled on.

They were standing in the living room of a house on the east side of Winterfield. It was in a middle-class neighborhood and much smaller than the one Casey had vacated a week earlier. Not that he gave a damn. It suited him perfectly and had a nice large backyard that Duke had already happily made his own.

“Now all you need is some furniture,” Bing pointed out.

“It’s coming later today, which, of course, took some more money out of my bank account. I just wish...“

“What?”

Casey shrugged. “I hate acting like such an ass but she did ask for it. At least the pre-nup made my company untouchable.” Pacing across to look out the large front window he sighed, then turned around, saying, “Enough moaning. Are you hungry?”

“When am I not,” Bing replied with a grin. “Go out or order in and have a picnic on the floor?”

“Order in, just in case the furniture arrives sooner than expected.”

Bing snorted. “That would be a miracle.” Taking out his cell he asked, “What are you in the mood for?”

“Food.”

“Wiseass. Okay, I’ll make the decision.” He scrolled through his address book and punched in a number.

Twenty minutes later the two brothers were sitting cross-legged on the hardwood floor eating Italian while Duke sat at attention waiting for his share.

“So what’s next on your agenda?” Bing asked once he’d made a dent in his meal.

“Nothing terribly exciting. I might take a couple of days off and go up to Mill Creek for some fishing. Get away from all this for a while.”

“And leave Thomas in charge?”

“Of course, why not?”

“No reason I guess. I just don’t like the man.”

“He’s good at what he does, and he knows quality. And,” Casey added, “he is honest which in my business is a definite plus.”

“True that.” Bing looked at the remains on his plate and then slid it over to Duke.

Casey hastily snagged the plate before the dog attacked it, picked up his own plate and took both of them outside to the back porch. “Clean up after you’re finished,” he said, patting Duke on the head.

“That’s a dog, Casey, not a kid,” Bing said with a laugh.

“I know, but it doesn’t hurt to tell him that anyway. Maybe someday he’ll get it.”

* * * *

“How are you doing?” Thomas asked as soon as Casey walked through the front door into the well-appointed showroom of the Rothem’s Galleria.

The two other employees, who were standing behind the cases, dusting and straightening them before the store opened, looked up, interested to hear his reply.

Casey shrugged. “I’m fully moved in now, have furniture and I slept like a baby last night. So I’m doing very well, thank you.” He headed towards his office, beckoning for Thomas to follow.

“So how are you really doing?” Thomas settled primly on one of the mahogany armchairs while Casey took his seat behind the large matching desk.

“Kathy’s lawyer had the divorce papers delivered, which I promptly handed over to my lawyer. Until I talk to him I won’t know where I stand. So, I’m going to take a long weekend off and get out of the city.”

“That bad huh?” Thomas smiled slightly at his boss. “When are you leaving?”

“Tomorrow morning, which means I need to fill you in on some things before I go.”

The two men spent the next hour going over details that Thomas would need to know during Casey’s absence. Just as they’d finished Casey’s secretary rang through to tell him his sister Alma was on the line. He rolled his eyes, waited until Thomas had left, and then picked up the phone.

“Good afternoon, Alma. To what do I owe the honor of this call?” His tone was rather snide but then it usually was when he talked to her. Snide or angry. He listened for a minute and then cut her off.

“My life is none of your business, Alma. Kathy and I don’t see eye to eye any more, not that we ever really did. As a result she’s filed for divorce. Unless she decided to be very antagonistic I don’t intend to fight her.”

There was another long pause on his end while his oldest sister berated him up, down and sideways for being a fool and an idiot and several other things that he blocked out. Selective hearing was a necessity for him while talking to her.

Finally she wound down enough for him to tell her he wouldn’t be in town for the next three days which set her off again. With a sigh he broke in, told her he had a business to run, and hung up before she could protest.

Two minutes later his youngest sister was on the line, whining that he couldn’t leave Kathy because then she wouldn’t be invited to her ‘fabulous’ parties.

“Tell you what,” he barked out sarcastically, “I’ll make it part of the divorce decree that you have to be at everyone. Now, Darla, if you don’t mind I have more important things to do than talk to you at the moment. Call me tonight if you want to continue this. And just for your information I’m going up to the Mill Creek cabin over the weekend and my cell will be turned off. Goodbye.”

Hanging up, he muttered, “God save me from my sisters,” before getting down to work.