Freeman was the final guest to arrive at the party. As he and Selma walked into the living room, everybody stared at him. They all knew who he was.
“Hi,” he said. Carter could tell he felt uncomfortable.
He and Selma walked into the kitchen. Carter had a feeling he would just stay in there the entire party.
Carter sat on the couch with Kathleen, who was talking to Mary. The two of them were getting along well together.
“Randy and I hope to go to Montana again next summer,” Mary said. “We had such a great time.”
“You’re so lucky,” Kathleen said. “I’ve never even left the state before.”
At that point, Mary’s grandchildren both hopped on the couch and sat in her lap. Mary placed her arms around them.
“Billy and Dominique are very attached to us. All of our grandchildren are.”
“You have more children?” Kathleen asked.
Mary nodded. “Victor’s the oldest. Our second oldest is our daughter, Haley. She moved to England a while back. That’s where she met her husband, Anthony Brewster. They have three girls.”
Kathleen nodded. Carter kept an eye on the kitchen.
“Todd is the third oldest,” Mary continued. “He and his wife live in Kentucky. They have two children. And our youngest is Johnny. He is currently in the marines. We think about him everyday, hoping he is safe.”
“I hope so, too,” Kathleen said. “I have always been a supporter for the U.S. Army.”
“Johnny is engaged right now,” Mary said. “We haven’t yet met his fiancé. Although, Randy has a feeling that he isn’t going to like her very much.”
“How old are they?” Kathleen asked, pointing to Billy and Dominique.
“They’re both four,” Mary said. “They’re twins. You’ll see them playing with each other quite often. It’s very cute to watch.”
Freeman walked out of the kitchen and sat on the dining room table, where nobody was. He placed his hand on his face and leaned over.
“Excuse me,” Carter said. He walked over to the dining room and sat down next to Freeman. Freeman looked at him.
“Hey,” he said.
“What’s the matter?” Carter asked.
Freeman looked around the house. “It’s the guests. I already know some of them. And that is not a good thing.”
“What do you mean?”
“So many of the people at this party hate me severely.”
“Who?”
“James Stewart. He’s one of the main ones. Two years ago, I bought this boat from him, but I never paid him. I am trying to save up money to pay for it, but I just keep spending the money on other things. He consistently reminds me about it. These reminders are not too friendly.”
Carter was reminded of Anderson.
“Last month,” Freeman continued. “He called me on the phone and told me specifically: ‘If I don’t have my money soon, things are going to get very ugly.”
“Oh, man,” Carter said.
“Michael Cruz really doesn’t like me. About six years ago, when I worked at the coffee shop, I started taking those…those drugs while on my shift. I suddenly became…inhuman. I started to pace around the shop, not really knowing where I was going. I bumped into Cruz, who accidentally spilled his coffee on me. In rage, I…I beat the snot out of him. I not only lost the job, but I lost his respect as well.”
“Oh, man,” Carter said again.
“Then there is Jason Sullivan,” Freeman said. “I work with him at the hotel. Last year, I tried to steal from him. It was closing time, the manager left, and I thought I was all alone. I then noticed Sullivan’s paycheck on the counter. I really needed extra money to pay for Stewart’s boat, so I decided to take it. I picked it up, but the instant that I was about to stick it in my pocket, he walked in. It was crystal clear to him what I was doing.”
“Did you get in trouble?”
“He never told the manager. I guess he had a conscious or something. But he no longer trusts me. He never speaks to me or even acknowledges me. And he no longer leaves his paychecks lying around.”
“Hmm.”
“Randy Jenkins. I’ve worked with him before as well. You know that he is a mechanic. All I ever did was clean the garage. And wouldn’t you know it; I was on drugs at the time.
“One day, the boss had to leave for the evening. All of the workers, including Jenkins, made a drink for themselves. They left the drinks on a table for a minute, and I, being the idiot I was, placed ecstasy in each of their drinks. To make a long story short, things went wild.”
“Oh, no.”
“It wasn’t pretty when the boss found us all sleeping in the garage the next morning. Out of guilt, I confessed. I was fired, of course. Jenkins and the other mechanics did not lose their jobs, but Jenkins lost the opportunity to receive a promotion that he wanted. He despises me because of that.”
“That’s terrible.” Carter had already known all of the stories of Freeman’s past antics, but he never knew what specific people were involved.
“And don’t even get me started on Kevin Howard,” Freeman went on. “You see, before me and Selma met, he was her boyfriend.”
“Really?”
Freeman nodded. “Selma started doing drugs while with him. He was the one who put her in rehabilitation. That’s when she met me. She instantly fell in love with me and then realized that she never really liked Howard. The day she got out, she broke up with him. And, according to her, he didn’t take it well.”
Carter remembered what Howard had told him: “I am not married, but I hope to be someday.” He probably was hoping to get married to Selma. Carter actually felt quite bad for him.
“And, of course, there’s Anderson,” Freeman said. “I’m sure you already know why he would like to gut me with a pitchfork.”
“Yeah, I do.”
Everybody in Dallas knew the story of Freeman’s unfriendly encounter with Anderson. About four years after the Andersons became married, Freeman arrived at their house late at night, claiming to be some sort of relative. He, of course, was on drugs. Only Nadia was home, as her husband had to work late.
For some strange reason, Nadia invited Freeman inside the house. Things got out of hand fast. Anderson arrived home at about midnight. He then discovered his wife sleeping with Freeman in his own bed.
After receiving a broken nose, Freeman was arrested for trespassing and drug usage. Luckily for him, no rape charges were file.
After that day, Freeman became one of Anderson’s worst enemies. He did forgive his wife, as she claimed to have accidentally taken ecstasy that Freeman had given her while he was on drugs. But Freeman stated that this was not true.
“She wasn’t on drugs,” he had said before. “She’s just a slut.”
Carter wasn’t sure who to agree with. But he was sure that Freeman, having been a former drug addict, knew for sure when a person was on drugs.
“To sum it up,” Freeman continued. “There are people at this party who hate me, and the rest of them have heard the stories about me. Nobody here has any respect for me.”
Carter put his arm around Freeman’s shoulder.
“I do,” he said. “So does Elliott, and so does Kathleen.”
Freeman shook his head. “I may not stay here for long.”
Carter stood up and said: “You’re a good man.”
And then he walked back into the living room.
Elliott was talking to Stewart on one of the couches; they each held a glass of wine.
“That’s the last time Blount ever came to my house,” Stewart was saying. “I don’t really blame him, though.”
Carter sat on the couch with them.
“Hey, Carter!” Elliott said. “You enjoying the party?”
“It’s going fine.”
“I’m surprised I’m not on the floor by now,” Stewart said. “That normally happens after about five minutes.”
Stewart had a pretty good sense of humor. He didn’t seem like the type of guy who would become furious about payments for a boat.
Anderson walked over and sat in a chair close by them.
“Who the hell invited Freeman?” he asked, bitterly.
“I did,” Elliott answered. “I know you have a problem with him, but I do not. And I never have.”
“Hmm,” Anderson said. “‘Have a problem with him’ is quite an understatement to be perfectly honest."
“I agree,” Stewart said. “I still haven’t got my payments for that boat I sold him.”
“Give him a break,” Carter said. “He’s trying.”
“I’d love to give him a break,” Stewart said, sipping his wine. “A break in his leg.”
“Guys!” Elliott said. “We’re men, here. Let’s act like that.”
“Believe me,” Stewart said. “I do act like a man. You should see me on weekends.”
“Thanks for the vital info,” Anderson said. He didn’t sound amused.
“You sound peeved,” Stewart said. “What’s up with you?”
“I’m fine.” Anderson said, angrily. “I’m just wondering if you are.”
“Do I sound peeved to you? Unless we run out of chili, then I won’t be.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“What’d you mean, then? Are you asking if I’m high?”
Anderson placed his hand on his face. “Never mind.”
Stewart took another drink and stood up.
“I need some more wine,” he said. He walked to the kitchen.
“I don’t like that guy,” Anderson said.631Please respect copyright.PENANAo2DsrTyy2A