Bygones by Lavyrle Spencer Read Free Book Online

a speaking relationship with him. But he’d left her for another woman-and a stunning beauty at that. The realization had galled Bess ever since.
    After she’d gotten her degree, one of the first things she did was to lay out three hundred dollars for a professional beauty make-over. She’d learned what colors and styles of clothing suited her best and what shades of makeup to wear. She’d had her hair color changed from muskrat brown to tawny blond, and kept her fingernails meticulously polished in a hue that matched her lipstick. When Michael Curran got a load of her tonight, there’d be no grease on her jabot and no hair out of place.
    She chose a red-and-black dinner suit with a straight skirt, and with it she wore oversized gold earrings that drew attention to her hair and her rather dramatic jawline . When the suit jacket was buttoned, she turned to view herself in the mirror, and she was satisfied with her efforts at grooming.
    She switched out her bedroom light and went down two flights to Randy’s room.
    When he was sixteen, he’d chosen to hole up in an unfinished room on the walkout level because it was twice as large as the upstairs bedrooms. His drums filled one corner, his prized set of Pearls-twelve pieces of gleaming stainless steel.
    The two concrete block walls behind the drums were painted black. Fanned on one were posters of his idols, Bon Jovi and Motley Crue . One of the two remaining walls was white; the other, covered with corkboard, was I hung with pictures of old girlfriends, band schedules, and prom garters. There was a compact disc player, a television, and a VCR. Among all these, the water bed-sporting disheveled leopard sheets-seemed almost incidental.
    When Bess came to the door, a Paula Abdul song was blasting from the CD player, and Randy was standing before his dresser adjusting the knot in a skinny gray leather tie. He was dressed in baggy, pleated trousers, a silvery-gray sport coat, and a plaid shirt in muted purple, gray, and white. Though he’d had his hair cut as promised, it still hung to his collar in natural ringlets.
    Coming upon Randy looking spiffy for once brought a catch to Bess’s heart. He was so good-looking, and bright, and charming when he wanted to be, but the path of resistance he’d chosen to take had put so many obstacles between them.
    She went to the CD player and turned it down.
    Randy’s eyes scanned her outfit. “ Lookin ’ vicious, Mom.”
    “Thank you. So are you. New clothes?” She touched his tie.
    “It’s a hot deal-the elder sister tying the big knot.”
    “Listen, I thought we could take my car and ride over together.”
    “Yeah, sure, whatever you say.”
    She let him drive, deriving a secret pleasure from being escorted by her full-grown son.
    The ride led them through snow-covered countryside. As they were approaching the city of White Bear Lake , Randy said, “That’s where the old man lives-in those condos.”
    Bess caught a glimpse of lights, tall trees, and an imposing building she’d often admired when driving past.
    “How do you know?”
    “Lisa told me.”
    The Padgetts lived on the west side of town in a residential neighborhood. Randy found the house, and they rang the bell.
    Mark and Lisa answered, followed by a short, brown-haired woman shaped like a chest of drawers. She had a smile that dimpled her cheeks and made her eyes all but disappear. Mark said simply, “This is my mom, Hildy .”
    And Lisa said, “This is my mom, Bess, and my brother, Randy.”
    “Glad to meet you,” Hildy Padgett said.
    They were joined by Mark’s father, Jake-straight, tall, thin haired, and smiling.
    Bess liked the Padgetts immediately.
    The living room stretched off to the left, filled with people. Standing near the door to the dining room was Michael Curran.
    Michael had watched Bess come in followed by Randy, looking surprisingly tall in an outsized overcoat with baggy shoulders and a turned-up collar.
    Lord, Randy had grown up! The