Recap of Chapter 8: The family speculated as to the reason for Frank, Jr. and Charlotte’s conspicuous absence at the monthly family dinner. Miriam finagled some answers when she cornered some of the women in the kitchen. Troy raised eyebrows by attending his ex-wife’s family dinner, but he enjoyed himself and triumphed by getting back into Miriam’s good graces. Meanwhile, Frank arrived at his sister-in-law’s house only to learn that Charlotte had gone home.
After hearing the crushing news that Charlotte was no longer at her sister’s house, Frank was desperate to get ahold of her. Sharon put her hand on his arm. “Frank, can I give you some advice?” He stopped dialing and looked up. She tipped her head toward the couch. “Let’s sit down.”
Once settled, Sharon took a deep breath and turned toward Frank. “Why do you think Charlotte came here?”
“I don’t know,” he began, speaking rapidly. “She didn’t leave a note or anything. I’ve been out of my mind.”
“I’m sure you have. But be honest with me. Why do you think she would leave her house—and you—and not tell you where she was going? Why, really?”
Frank ran his hands over his face. The scotch he drank was beginning to take effect, mellowing his demeanor and loosening his inhibitions. Sharon watched him as he thought about her question. She believed he knew the answer and would normally claim ignorance or try to spin it, but delaying might mean she’d get a different answer from her brother-in-law. She noticed the change in his posture and in the way he stopped bouncing his leg. “The truth, Frank,” she prompted.
He turned to Sharon, took a deep breath and said, “I suspect she learned… ” he paused to gather courage. “I suspect she found out about the affair.”
Josie was sitting up in bed next to her husband. The bedside lamp glowed and the late-night news was on. She turned down the volume. “What do you think about Charlotte’s disappearing act?”
Bob shrugged, “I’m guessing they had a fight and she took off to cool down.”
“That’s what you think? Seriously?”
“Yeah. Why do you think she took off?”
“I think he did something and she found out.”
“Did something. Like what?”
“Like had an affair. I don’t know. It’s just so out of character for her to disappear like that. What else could it be?”
Bob turned to her. “Maybe he left the toilet seat up one too many times or insulted her cooking. Something like that. Or, maybe she’s the one having an affair and she ran out to be with her boyfriend. Have you thought about that?”
“I hadn’t thought about that,” she admitted. “I guess it’s possible.”
“Anything is possible, Babe. We’re just over here guessing and unless someone tells you straight up, you’ll never know the truth.”
Josie agreed. After a few minutes, she asked, “Bob, what would you do if you came home and I was nowhere to be found?”
“I’d call Marianne ’cause you two magpies tell each other everything. If she didn’t know, I’d call the police.” He caught Josie’s expression and hastily added, “I meant that I’d call the police after I cried my eyes out pining for you.” Josie knew he was teasing but smiled sweetly anyway and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “That’s better.”
Bob pulled her against him and kissed the top of her head. “Seriously, though, Babe, you never know what goes on behind closed doors. Whatever is going on in their marriage is their business. We should just stay out of it.” Josie thought it was just the sort of wise advice Bob would give. She also knew that there was no way in hell she would just drop it. She would dig until she got to the bottom of it. So, while he watched the news, she laid her head against his chest and plotted how to go about getting to the bottom of her brother’s troubled marriage.
After the successful family dinner, Troy dropped off the boys at Beau Jo’s, where they were meeting friends, and headed home. While waiting at the intersection, Troy was singing loudly along to the radio and feeling good about life. He looked left, in the direction he’d take to get home, and right, which was on the way to Callie’s house. When the light turned green, he found himself turning the wheel right. Minutes later, from the kitchen window, Callie saw Troy pull into the driveway. She watched as he stepped out of the vehicle, jumped to swat the basketball net in the driveway, as always, and then turned toward the house. A sly smile curled Callie’s lips as she reached for a bottle of wine and two glasses and aimed for the front door. Before she opened it, she slipped her sweater from one shoulder and fluffed her hair. She opened the door before Troy could knock. Leaning seductively against the door jam, she said, “Now, what could you possibly be doing on my front porch at this hour?” Smiling wickedly, he took two strides toward her and wrapped her tightly into his arms, lifting her off her feet. It took her breath away and she gasped before he covered her mouth with a passionate kiss, his fingers bunching the material of her dress. Locked in that embrace, he walked her backward into the foyer, kissing her neck while she giggled. Suddenly, he scooped her up to carry her into the bedroom. “Wait!” she said. “The wine!” He twirled her around to reach the side table where she grabbed the bottle and glasses. “Okay, now go. Go! Take me, you animal!” she said, in a comically husky voice. It was a fun, playful moment. He kissed her again—a preview of what was to come—and then climbed the stairs with Callie in his arms.
Charlotte noticed that Frank’s vehicle was not in the garage when she pulled in, and the house was dark. She cautiously walked into the house, dropping her keys in the bowl. “Hello?” she called out. “Anyone here?” When she flipped on the kitchen light, the first thing that struck her was the orchid plant on the counter had not been watered. Leaves were drooping and brown and a blossom lay on the counter. She quickly grabbed the crystal spray bottle and doused it with water. “Damn it, Frank!” she said under her breath. She glanced around the room for a note and found nothing. She checked her phone messages. It looked like he had called a few hours earlier, but didn’t leave a message. “Okay,” she said to the empty house, “I guess whatever was going to happen is not happening tonight.” Somewhat relieved and suddenly tired, she picked up her suitcase and headed up the stairs.
