Page 66 of Small Town Beast 2: Saverin's Duet

“That’s Absalom’s wife, I hear,” Saverin pointed out the inebriated couple who stumbled into the room. The woman was short and heavy-set, drinking freely from an unlabeled bottle while another man of the same height and build had his arms around her neck. The pair romped all around the room to Merle Haggard’sI think I’ll Just Stay Here and Drink.

“She look familiar?” Saverin prompted.

“No, Saverin. I’ve never seen that woman in my life.”

“She was at Gwen’s this morning,” Saverin hinted.

It clicked and Tanya’s eyes shot open. “Don’t you owe her money?”

“Ha. Think she remembers?”

“Right now? I doubt.” Tanya pushed her lips to the side as the woman ran into a shelf and toppled a vase, to annoyed cries from many. “Absalom’swife?”

“Some idiotic Snatch Hill scheme,” said Saverin. “Christ, I never wanted to be back here, Tan. These people…this house…it belongs in the past. Buried.” His green eyes went hazy. “It was all so different. I was different.”

“I can’t believe Roman would just leave without a fight,” said Tanya. “He just let these people rampage all over his nice house. It’s crazy.”

Saverin shrugged. “Truth is that Roman’s got money all over the place. Offshore. He may have left the country. Maybe he won’t try to come back. Maybe he doesn’t even care about revenge— I could be wrong. Starting a family may have changed his priorities.” He looked down at Tanya. “I get it.”

Tanya took his arm. Absalom’s wife Dinah and her boyfriend (??) spun around the room, drunk as bees.

“And I hear she’s pregnant,” a woman said to another in disgust. “Drinking like that! The woman has a problem.”

“She’s also Hiram’s twin sister. From what I hear they hate each other,” Saverin added to Tanya in an undertone.

“Hm.” Tanya eyed the laden table regretfully. Much of the food was gone. Her throat stayed parched. She wished for a cup of juice, orsomething.

“It can’t be that bad if everybody’s eating it,” she whispered to Saverin, who shook his head.

“One bite, Saverin, come on. Everybody’s had some of that cornbread.”

“Don’t trust it,” said Saverin grimly.

“Be for real. I saw them bring it in from outside. Somebody cooked it. Somebody they obviously trust. I mean…It can’t be that bad.” Tanya fanned herself. “I’m about ready to faint.”

But Saverin still refused. “Give it a minute and if nobody drops dead we’ll eat some cornbread,” he amended. “But you heard what they said at the door. Don’t drink anything.” His eyes narrowed. “Something ain’t right.”

“Can you stop saying that? And look at those ham biscuits. Is that a honey mustard glaze?”

Saverin suddenly took her hand and squeezed it. “Tanya, forget the food for a second. I want to ask you something.”

“What?”

“It’s about your mother. Do you think that—”

“THERE HE IS!”

Crashing, hooting, and hollering, and Absalom walked into the room…followed by a doe-eyed mixed race girl Tanya didn’t recognize.But Saverin did.

“Smokes,” he said. “Is that Sweet Lorraine?”

“Who?”

“She used to sell candy at the Harvest. She’s withhim?”

Tanya squinted. “Is that a ring on her finger?”

“Just like a woman to notice.” Saverin rubbed his jaw. “Sweet Lorraine’s engaged? I wonder…”

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