Killer's Cousin by Nancy Werlin Read Free Book Online

and Lily up.”
    I wasn’t thrilled with the idea either; in truth I didn’t know whether I wanted them to come or not. But Vic looked as if the entire woodpile had fallen on him.
    â€œThey’d be staying with me, so if Julia …” I stopped. I couldn’t go any further. It would be presumptuous. In fact, the whole situation was ridiculous. Two or three frozen turkey dinners while watching football on TV—alone—was a far superior holiday plan. Except what if Vic and Julia then felt compelled to invite me to their table? “Anyway, she wondered what you’d think,” I finished.
    â€œOh,” said Vic. He cleared his throat. “Well. It wouldbe good for Lily to see her aunt and uncle. It’s been …” He set his jaw and continued. “Four years.”
    I nodded. I thought he was done. I opened my mouth—
    â€œFour years since Kathy died,” Vic said. His voice was unexpectedly loud, almost defiant. I realized this was the first time I’d heard him say her name since I’d moved in. Even Lily—on the one occasion she’d referred to Kathy—had said
she
. “It doesn’t seem so long, does it?” Vic said. He stood up straight, as if he expected a medal.
    And I felt myself tighten with anger. I knew this conversation was exactly what my mother wanted between Vic and me. I knew I ought to feel sympathy for him. For them all. I knew I ought to want to help.
    I just didn’t. What had happened in that family, what was happening now—it wasn’t my business and I didn’t want to be part of it. I had my own stuff.
    I didn’t answer. After a few uncomfortable moments, Vic went on. “Maybe I’ll call Eileen about Thanksgiving. Do you think that’s a good idea?”
    â€œWhy don’t you talk to your wife first?” I said nastily. Vic stared at me. “Oh, I don’t mean a
real
conversation. You can have Lily ask Julia about it, and then Julia can send Lily back to you with a reply.”
    â€œDavid—” Vic stopped. My words sat in the silence. I wasn’t sorry. For a long, long moment I wasn’t sorry at all. Then Vic turned away.
    â€œLook,” I said quickly. “I didn’t mean to say that. It’s not my business.” Vic turned back toward me, slowly.“Forget it,” I said. “I’ve gotta go do some work. See you later, Vic, okay?”
    I could feel Vic’s eyes following me as I disappeared around the side of the house. I was still angry, but at myself now, as well as at Vic.
    I went upstairs to the attic. After spending twenty minutes reading about the differences between Gothic and Byzantine cathedrals, I heard a loud knocking at the lower door. And a call: “David? Can I speak with you?”
    Vic. After a moment, I went down the stairs and opened the door. “I’m sorry about what I said before,” I said, blocking the doorway with my body. “But can we talk about it another time? I’m studying—”
    Vic waved a hand apologetically, but he didn’t move. “It won’t take long.” He looked off into space for a second. “Please.”
    I moved aside. We climbed the stairs, and Vic pulled out a dinette chair. He moved as if to sit down, but then changed his mind and instead stood awkwardly behind it, grasping the back. I stood a few feet away, unsure what to do.
    Not looking at me, Vic said, “About me and Julia. I realize it must seem strange to you …” He trailed off. Then: “I’ve never spoken about this before.”
    I wished he still wasn’t speaking about it. “There’s no need to explain anything to me.”
    Vic ignored me. “I didn’t want Eileen to know,” he said. “I can’t imagine what I was thinking. With you living here …”
    He took a deep breath. I looked at him. He releasedthe chair and pulled at his hair instead.