The Deaths of Tao Read Free Page B

to this son of a bitch.” She swung a closed fist with a thumb extended out toward him.
    “Want me to get rid of her, handsome?” Amy asked. “Who is she anyway?”
    “She’s just some–” Roen said.
    “–wife,” Jill growled.
    And all the good will Roen had worked so hard to build here went up in a puff of smoke. Amy shot him a look that could kill a buffalo. “No good bastard swamp snake,” she hissed and poured Jill the shot of tequila. “Here you go, honey, this one’s on his tab.”
    Jill smiled sweetly at Amy, and the two shared a drink on Roen’s dime. The next hour went by awkwardly, the ladies lambasting him as if he weren’t there. When he shook his glass for another drink, Amy just shrugged and answered, “Pay your tab first, deadbeat,” and proceeded to pour Jill another shot.
    My advice is to run. I see no path to victory here.  
    “Thanks, Genghis. At this rate, I might have to start washing dishes if I’m going to cover this tab.”
    Amy even walked Jill out of the bar when she closed shop, going as far as hugging her and telling her to “take care of yourself, sweetheart, and watch out for the snakes that slither back into your life, you pretty little thing.”
    And then Jill and Roen were standing alone on the deserted gravel lot of Buck’s Bar. They walked toward her car in silence. “She’s sweet,” Jill smirked. “Now I understand why you left me.”
    “I left you?” Roen’s voice shot up two octaves.
    Steady. Do the countdown.  
    If Jill had been anyone else in the world, his fist of fury would be dropping bombs right now. Instead, he closed his eyes and counted down from fourteen, enunciating each syllable one by one. He used to count down from ten, but as the years went on and the situation worsened, a higher number became necessary. When he had calmed down, he opened his eyes slowly and studied her face. There were dark rings around her eyes and her usually straight brown hair was mussed up. Roen reached toward her and touched the cut on her cheek. “We need to get something on that, or it’ll scar. How are you?”
    She knocked his hand away. “I think what you meant to ask was how is our son?”
    “I’m not asking in the order of importance,” he ground his teeth. “How are you?”
    “Alive,” she shrugged, “for now.”
    “How is Cameron? Does he miss his father?”
    “He doesn’t know his father!” Jill snapped.
    “I’m not the one who forbade visits,” he snapped back. “Might I–”
    Stop.  
    “Tao, butt out.”
    Stop. Now. You dummies are quarreling in a parking lot at two in the morning off the side of a highway. You can go ahead and be stupid with each other, but at least have your shared idiocy some place safe where I am not endangered.  
    Roen sighed. “Come on, Jill, it’s late. We’ve both been drinking. Let’s talk at my place.”
    She narrowed her eyes and her mouth curved upward. For a second, the old mischievous Jill he remembered was back. “Inviting me over? That’s a bold move. Daddy’s been asking where in Africa you Fedexed yourself to. Now I get to save him from needing vaccination shots.”
    “How are Louis and Lee Ann?” Roen asked. No doubt both her parents wanted to string him up and use him as a piñata. It was really too bad. Roen had spent an inordinate amount of effort to get on Louis’ good side. At first, Louis didn’t think he was good enough for Jill, but he softened when he saw the engagement ring. Then he hardened up two minutes later when he found out it was going to be a shotgun wedding. He didn’t soften again until Cameron was born.
    “Busy taking care of your son,” Jill replied, deflating. “I just couldn’t do it. Couldn’t take care of my own son with all that’s going on. I’m a terrible mother.”
    Roen saw a tear sneak out of the corner of her eye and roll down her face. He reached over to embrace her. She socked him in the shoulder. Roen bit his lip and held his hands up in surrender.