Page 31 of Queen of Ruin

I lean forward and take a bite of the bacon from her hand as if I’m a dog getting a treat, my teeth gently grazing her fingers. “We should go,” I exclaim while chewing.

“Where?” she asks, while brushing the remnants of bacon off her hands and cleaning up the rest of our plates, apparently satisfied with what I’ve eaten.

“To Virginia, the lake house. We can have Thanksgiving there.” I never thought I’d be excited at the thought of going to my parent’s lake house, but the timing is right. “I think it’ll be good to get out of the city,” I beam, looking at her expectantly. “And I need to check on it before winter.” I scratch the back of my head.

Evangeline starts loading the dishwasher. “You know you don’t have to do that.” I gesture to the dirty dishes in the sink.

“I’m not leaving this for Lottie.” She bumps the door closed with her hip and stares at me.

“So, what’s your parents lake house like?” She leans against the counter, wiping her hands on a towel.

“It’s a log cabin in the woods near the lake. You’ll like it. Lots of open space. There’s a trail along the lake where you can run if the weather holds out long enough,” I explain.

“Sounds quaint,” she smiles, tossing the towel on the counter.

12

EVERYTHING IN DUE TIME

DARREN

“You didn’t tell me that Langley was presenting the plaque!” We pass the Quad into the heart of Georgetown University.

“I didn’t tell you because I knew you wouldn’t come,” Rausch grits his teeth.

“You’re fucking right I wouldn’t.”

“Keep your voice down, Darren,” he scolds me. “Sometimes you have to put your personal feelings aside for such an occasion.”

“My personal feelings? This isn’t a schoolyard tiff, Rausch.”

“He was your father’s friend, and a colleague in the Senate. The University asked him, and it would have raised questions if you refused,” Rausch explains.

“You know I don’t care about perception.”

“You don’t need to remind me of that,” Rausch groans behind a fake smile as the university president approaches us.

“Everything in due time, Darren,” Rausch laments in a low voice while plastering a smile on his face, and I do the same.

“We’re honored to have you here today.” The university president extends his hand for me to shake.

I never met him before. Georgetown wasn’t like boarding school where indiscretions warranted a trip to the Dean’s office.

“I was very sorry to hear about your parents passing.” He lets go of my hand while the courtyard begins to fill, and chatter echoes off the stone walkways.

“Thank you,” I say politely.

“The university thought this was the best way to honor both your father and mother, who were distinguished alumnus.” He gestures to the Law Alumni Lounge, which has been transformed into a non-profit law clinic bearing my last name: Walker Memorial Law Clinic. “Especially with such a large donation to the University,” he explains.

There is one thing my father was proud of, and that was his legacy – the work he did as a lawyer to help people. When I look at the clinic, I feel a lump in my throat, a feeling of immense pride that takes me by surprise.

I try to ignore the shame that blooms inside me as I look around at this University that I had taken advantage of, and dare I say… squandered.

I clear my throat. “I can speak for both of them when I say they would have been honored.”

When he starts to explain the sequence of events, the ceremony of cutting the ribbon, a commemorative plaque presentation – the mention of Jonathan Langley curdling my stomach – I tune him out, especially when I know Rausch is taking notes like a teacher’s pet.

In the distance I catch a glimpse of Evangeline, her attention focused on the expansive courtyard boxed in by buildings with stone paths weaving their way around campus.

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