Somewhere Between Black and White Read Free Page A

“Well, I gotta get this drink over to Edward.”
    As
she passed her mother, they exchanged meaningful glances. Abby approached her
son-in-law to attempt her turn at friendly dialogue. Maybe she would have
better luck than Sophie.
    Later that evening, Sophie sat with
Lisa, her friend and fellow teacher, as she picked at a bowl of Chex Mix.
    “Come on. It’ll be fun,” Lisa persuaded.
“I’ve been married five years, and I still get out more than you do.”
    “So what? Why is it so important that I
get out more?”
    “Well. . . .” Lisa hemmed and hawed. “Jerry
has a friend I want you to meet.”
    Sophie ended her search for melba toast
in the Chex Mix and gave Lisa an annoyed sigh.
    “Just agree to meet him,” Lisa added.
“He’s a cool guy.”
    “I’ll go, but only if you promise not to
fix me up,” Sophie insisted. What was it about married people and their deep-seated
desire to pair up their single friends?
    “You haven’t dated anyone for at least
six months,” Lisa pointed out, as if it were some atrocity.
    “Lisa, I’m tired. I think you’ve
forgotten what it’s like, and the last thing I want to do is meet some guy in a
bar.”
    “Oh, give me a break! You’re not going
to be meeting some
guy in
a bar. It will be someone that Jerry and I know, and it will be at Murphy’s. Remember
Murphy’s?” Lisa jibed, poking her in the ribs. “We used to go there all the
time when we were in college.”
    “ Ughhh ,” Sophie groaned. “No set
ups. It has to be casual.”
    “They’ve got Karaoke now,” Lisa said in
a sing-song voice.
    “Is that supposed to entice me, or make
me run away screaming?”
    “Okay, no set ups. Some others from work
will be there too, so it will be very casual.”
    Sophie sipped her drink and watched Evie
approach Christian across the room. He looked nauseated, stressed and
self-conscious. Evelyn reached up and lovingly straightened his collar as if he
were a little boy, and then said something that seemed to put him at ease. He
grinned stiffly and put his arms around her.
    Sophie was fascinated by their dynamic,
wanting to be a fly on the wall to their conversation. Anything to understand
why her sister stayed in this relationship.
    Evie cocked her head and gazed up into
Christian’s face, asking him something. His smile disappeared, and so did he as
he retreated to the bedroom. Evie nervously skimmed the room and when her gaze
met Sophie’s, Sophie averted her eyes, pretending to be ignorant of the
exchange.
    Christian wasn’t seen for the rest of
the evening.
    ***
    Hours later, Abby and Sophie remained
after the party to help Evelyn clean up.
    “The party was just lovely, girls. Thank
you so much!” Abby said, blowing out the candles on the dining table.
    “It did turn out really nice, Evie,”
Sophie added, bringing serving trays to the kitchen sink.
    “It did, didn’t it?”
    “So, what’s up with Christian?” Sophie
asked. “Why did he leave the party?”
    Abby lowered her eyes and continued
putting things away.
    “Oh, that. . . .” Evelyn waved off her
question. “He was just having some stomach problems is all.” She bent down to
pick some popcorn off the floor.
    “Are you sure?” Sophie pressed. Their
mother gave Sophie a drop it
signal,
which Evelyn noticed.
    “I’m sure. Look, why don’t you guys head
home.” Evie tossed the popcorn into the waste basket. “Everything’s pretty much
cleaned up anyway, and I’m beat.”
    “Sweetie, why don’t you go on to bed,
and Sophie and I can finish cleaning up,” Abby said, rubbing Evie’s back.
    “Thanks, Mom, but it’s fine. I’ll get
the last little bit tomorrow.”
    “I’ll come by in the morning and help
you,” Sophie offered.
    “No. Don’t.” Evie held up her hands. “Just
. . . it’s fine. Okay? You two go on home and get some rest.”
    Sophie
and her mother shared another glance. “Okay, sweetie,” Abby said as she
gathered her purse and headed for the door. Sophie stayed