A Deep and Dark December by Beth Yarnall Page B

only she could feel the same. Maybe this vacation would be good for them. She tried to concentrate on the meal and the company, but by the time Keith looked up from his empty plate she’d only eaten half her food and couldn’t remember what it tasted like or what they’d been talking about.
    “Maybe we should skip that movie,” he said.
    “I’m sorry. I’m not very good company tonight.”
    He reached across the table and grabbed her hand, squeezed. “I’ve been trying to distract you, but I can see it’s not working.”
    “I know you have and I appreciate it.”
    “I really like you, Erin.”
    “I like you, too.”
    “Do you?”
    She put her other hand over his and tried for a smile. “Of course I do. I wouldn’t be going away with you if I didn’t.”
    He smiled, his shoulders sagging a little in relief.
    “I haven’t been a very good girlfriend lately, have I?”
    “You’ve been busy with your new job. I understand. And then with what happened today… You’ve been through a lot.”
    “Thanks again for coming to get me. That was very thoughtful of you.”
    “I’m always thinking of you.” He leaned in and gave her a kiss.
    “Tell me about your day.”
    “Nothing to tell.” He pulled his hand from hers and stood. “How about dessert? I got the last piece of butter cake from the Do or Dine.”
    She watched him walk to the refrigerator. He moved with a confident, long-legged grace that had attracted her from the start. He bent over to look into the refrigerator and she was hurled out of her kitchen and dropped into another kitchen. The walls were painted a sunny yellow with a sunflower border. Erin blinked in the sudden brightness. A blueberry pie cooled on the counter, so fresh out of the oven she could smell it.
    An older woman Erin recognized as Keith’s mother sat at the kitchen table, shucking peas. “I still don’t see why it matters. You should just go along as you have been.”
    Keith pulled his head out of the refrigerator with a can of soda in his hand. He was wearing his Lucky’s Bag N Save apron, white button-up shirt and black slacks. His hair was a little longer than it was now. “It’ll matter to Erin, so it matters to me.”
    “Your father isn’t going to like this.”
    “I know.”
    His mother sighed, took the bowl from her lap, and set it on the table with a thunk. “You’re going to be stubborn about this, I can see.”
    “As stubborn as you.”
    “Yes, well. You didn’t get all my best traits.” Keith’s mother wiped her hands on a kitchen towel, keeping her gaze on her task. “You’re sure you’re the responsible party?”
    Keith straightened from where he’d been slouching against the refrigerator. “What kind of thing is that to say?”
    “The smart thing.”
    He sat his soda on the counter. “I’m not listening to this.” He turned to leave, but his mother’s next words stopped him in the doorway.
    “I have proof.”
    He kept his feet planted and tilted his head back to look at the ceiling. “I don’t want to hear this.”
    “But you need to. Don’t be a fool.”
    “A fool?” He turned partially. “It’s too late for that.”
    “Betty saw her meeting another man.”
    “Mom, don’t.”
    “She didn’t see who, but the timing is right enough to give me doubts.”
    “I’m going to work,” Keith blurted. He started for the front door.
    His mother got up and followed. “I raised you to be smart, but since you weren’t smart enough stay away from that whore, I’m going to make sure you don’t make an even worse mistake.”
    “Don’t call her a whore!”
    “Women who sleep around and get pregnant by God knows who are whores. Before you throw away your life on her and her bastard child you’re going to ask for a paternity test.”
    Keith opened the front door and ran down the steps to his car.
    “You hear me?” his mother called after him.
    Keith jumped into his car, started it and peeled away from the curb, leaving his mother