Page 24 of Nash Falls

This trip down memory lane had been a complete waste of time when he didn’t have time to waste. He drove across town to his gated community and walked in from the garage to receive an embrace from his wife.

“Look at these flowers, Walter. They’re from Rhett. Came this morning along with a wonderful sympathy card.” She pointed out a large glass vase full of red, yellow, and purple blossoms that were quite lovely.

“Yes, he mentioned to me that he was sending them. He apologized for missing the funeral. Some calendar mix-up.”

“I didn’t really think Rhett had that side to him. He’s handsome, and rich of course, with a certain charm. But there’s always been something about him. A level of—”

“—disingenuousness?” suggested Nash.

“Exactly.” She smiled. “Here I’m the English Lit person and you the business side, and you came up with exactly the right word.”

“That’s because some businesspeople are quite disingenuous.”

He again felt his gut burn.Just tell her, for God’s sake. You’ve never held anything of importance from this woman. You’ve made every major decision together.

But his abject fear simply would not let the necessary words form.

And what if the FBI lied to me? What if there is no proof of wrongdoing? How can I blow up my life for that? And Judith’s and Maggie’s?

Judith said, “Dinner will be ready shortly. Line-caught salmon in a nice white wine reduction sauce I’ve been itching to make, broccoli, couscous, and my summer starter special: feta, watermelon, arugula, and blueberries with lemon and olive oil dressing. Oh, did you talk to the lawyer, what’s-his-name?”

“Mort Dickey. Yes. We’re meeting tomorrow morning. I’m goingover to his office.” He added in a nervous tone, “I… I went by my old neighborhood today.”

She turned back from the stovetop, where she had multiple operations ongoing. “Feeling nostalgic after your father’s passing? That’s perfectly natural.”

“Dad’s house looks, well, like he put some real money into it.”

She glanced curiously at him. “Really? I didn’t think he had the funds to do that. Unless… you?”

“I helped Mom with funding maintenance and such, but nothing to do with renovating and fixing the home’s exterior—the roof and siding. That must have come from Dad.”

He perched on one of the stools set around the large granite-topped island. “I also… ran into Rosie Parker.”

“Who? Oh, your father’s…friend? Another odd bird, if you ask me.”

Nash decided not to tell her of theoddcircumstances of how they had met today; it might upset his wife to know that a stranger was inserting cryptic messages in his deli bill. “She said that Dad wanted her to be able to stay in the house.”

“Is she named in the will?”

He grabbed a handful of raw almonds from a bowl and popped one into his mouth. “Don’t know. I’ll find out tomorrow. She seemed pretty desperate. They met when he was at the VA hospital for treatment. She works there.”

Judith eyed him sharply. “How desperate?”

“I don’t think she has much.”

“Okay, but don’t get sucked in by some sob story, Walter. I know people look at you and see this hard-ass businessman. But I also know how kind and generous you are.”

“I don’t intend to get sucked in by anyone,” he said emphatically. And now he was not simply referring to Rosie Parker, but also FBI Special Agent Reed Morris.

After dinner he went to his study to finish reviewing some profitprojections, budget forecasts, and other essentials for his upcoming trip when there came a tap on his door.

Maggie poked her head in. “I got your text. So, you read it?”

He nodded and motioned her in. As she sat across from him he pulled out her proposal, which had his notes scribbled all over it. This had taken up a chunk of his afternoon because he knew it was important to her.

I really hoped it would be… better than it is. Well, here goes.

She smiled. “So what do you think? Be brutal, I can take it.”