The Grove by John Rector

had always done the shopping, and I had no idea where to start. In the end, I went for what was easy: frozen dinners, macaroni and cheese, bologna, bread, and so on. I also picked up two bottles of wine and a bottle opener.
    When I’d finished, I pushed the cart up to the register and started unloading everything onto the conveyor belt.
    The kid behind the register didn’t look much older than sixteen or seventeen, and when he saw the wine he shook his head and said, “I’ll have to call a manager. I can’t sell alcohol.”
    While he picked up a phone and called for a manager, I reached for one of the gossip papers in the rack by the register and pretended to read about some stranger’s affair and impending divorce.
    When the manager showed up, the kid stepped aside. The manager ran my wine bottles over the scanner then stared at me for a moment and said, “Dex?”
    At first he didn’t look familiar, then it came to me.
    “Hey. Eddie Sears.”
    Eddie shook his head. “Goddamn, you’ve gotten old. How’ve you been?”
    “Been worse,” I said.
    Eddie laughed. “Haven’t we all.”
    At one time Eddie had been married to a girl named Mindy. She’d been a close friend of Liz’s from college, and they’d even come over to our house for dinner a few times when Clara was a baby. Nice couple.
    Eddie watched me for a moment then stepped aside and let the kid scan the rest of my groceries. “How’s Liz? You two holding up?”
    “By a string,” I said. “You and Mindy?”
    He shook his head. “Afraid not. I managed to drive that marriage into the dirt a long time ago. I take it Liz didn’t tell you.”
    “She might’ve. I don’t keep up.”
    Maybe Liz had said something about him losing their savings on the craps tables in the casinos across the river, but I wasn’t sure and didn’t want to say anything in case I was wrong.
    We were both quiet for a while, then Eddie said, “Listen, it was good seeing you.” He motioned toward the back of the store. “Have to get to work.”
    “Take care, Ed.”
    “Tell Liz I said hello, will ya?”
    I told him I would, and he disappeared between the aisles. I was never good at small talk, and the entire meeting gave me a sick feeling in the center of my chest.
    I wanted to leave.
    I thought about Jessica and about the Tolliver kid and wondered if he’d told anyone about her yet. It was a big secret, probably too big for him to keep to himself, and I was sure it would only be a matter of time before it came out.
    I felt helpless, knowing there was nothing I could do.
    Well, almost nothing.
    “That’s a lot of macaroni and cheese.” The kid finished bagging my groceries and smiled. “You must really like it.”
    I grunted at him and handed over my credit card. He took it and ran it through.
    “I’m the same way.” He returned my card. “I’d live off the stuff if I could.”
    I picked up my bags and muttered, “You’re a fucking liar.”
    I didn’t think I’d said it loud enough for him to hear, but I didn’t really care. I’d had enough. I wanted to get home.
    I walked out the front doors to the parking lot.
    When I got to my truck, I set the bags in the front seat and went around to the driver’s side. Someone had stuck one of Jessica’s flyers under my windshield wiper. I pulled it out and folded it in half. When I got in, I set it on the seat by the groceries and started the engine.

CHAPTER 21
     
    I wasn’t surprised when I turned up my driveway and saw Greg’s cruiser parked next to the house.
    I’d been expecting this.
    I stopped halfway, and for a moment the idea of turning around and going back was almost overpowering. If I’d wanted, I could’ve gone by the bank and cleaned out my savings account. There wasn’t much in there, but it would have been enough to get me a long way down the road.
    I glanced out toward the grove and wondered if he was out there right now and what I’d say to him when he came back.
    It wouldn’t matter. He