Chapters (46)
- COVER PAGE
- PRAISE
- DEDICATION
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
- ABOUT THE AUTHOR
- SNEAK PEEK: EXIT .45
Deborah said, ‘I told myself I wasn’t going to be dramatic. But it’s different when you see a person in … well, in person. I just … I suddenly realised how awful it is. No one should experience that.’ Pointing at Vincent now. ‘I spoke to you, too, didn’t I? On the phone yesterday.’
‘That’s right. I’m Vincent.’
She said, ‘Yes. You look like your voice.’ She shook her head, closed her eyes. She was sixtyish, Vincent figured. Hair in a bob, and her face showing fine lines as she tilted it back in the sunlight. She took a hit off the cigarette and then looked at it. ‘I hadn’t had one of these in thirty years. In fact …’ She looked away. ‘Longer. I remember, we were at the Masons’ one evening—friends of ours when we lived in Chicago—and the TV was showing footage of the wall coming down. The Berlin Wall. And I remember thinking: yep, things are going to change. And that was my last cigarette. I’m not even sure it was conscious, it was just the way it worked out. That’s how it goes, sometimes.’
The ember died, and she got it going again with the lighter, thumb working hard on the stiff wheel, and then she had it.
‘And how are you, Ms Jones? Are you doing okay?’
‘Call me Erin.’
Vincent was interested to hear the self-appraisal of her well-being, but there was a tinkle of ice as Rochelle came outside. She had a glass in each hand, and she set one down on the table in front of Vincent. ‘I’ve increased the mint content, and actually lowered the sugar a little.’
Vincent said, ‘Great, thank you.’
Rochelle reached across the table and touched her glass to his. ‘Cheers.’
She stepped back and said, ‘Now, we really should maintain this as a safe space.’ She gestured broadly as she sampled her iced tea. ‘We can’t be moving into areas where anyone feels vulnerable. Discussion can be a useful journey, but we should just touch the edges of a topic, and if everyone’s willing, we can move forward gently as one.’
Erin said, ‘Actually, I think I will have an iced tea. Is that all right?’
She waited until Rochelle was back inside, and then said, ‘We need to ask you about your husband.’