Off Kilter by Glen Robins Read Free Book Online

seeing Emily at the funeral. Do you?”
    Henry stopped for a moment, scratching the whiskers on his chin. “No, as a matter of fact. I don’t believe I saw her there.”
    “I wonder why she didn’t come,” said Sarah. “Considering she’s the one that tracked us down in Alaska and told us about the accident, I find it very curious that she didn’t attend the funeral.”
    “There were so many people there, she very well could’ve gotten lost in the crowd. I’m sure she would not have wanted to make a scene or upset Collin,” Henry said.
    “You would think she would at least come and say hello,” said Sarah. She paused before continuing. “That’s in the past now, isn’t it? I guess the important thing here is that she and I are now Facebook friends. Isn’t that wonderful?”
    “Yes, dear, it is, I suppose. What now?”
    “What do you suggest? I don’t want to be too aggressive and scare her off, but I am dying to talk with her. I really want to find out how she knew about the accident.” Sarah remained quiet as she scrolled through photos and posts on Emily’s Facebook page. “I know she and Collin patched things up a year or two ago. I wonder if Collin has communicated with her since he left. If anyone could get through to him, it’s her. Don’t you agree?”
    “Yes, I agree on both accounts. We need her help, but we can’t risk pushing her away by being too eager. Why don’t you just invite her to lunch? That’s a natural thing to do.”
    “That’s a marvelous idea, Henry. I’ll do that.”
    “And while you’re at it, ask her what happened that night on the back patio.”
    “I’m sure that would be a fantastic way to start our first conversation in over a decade: ‘And why is it you broke my son’s heart after he spent all day cooking and decorating and setting up that special graduation celebration?’ She wouldn’t mind that question right off the bat.”
    Henry chuckled at her quick-witted response. “Yeah, but you’re aching to know, aren’t you?”
    “Darn right I am, but I’m going to be a little more subtle than that, I think.”
    “That’s a good idea. I still think its strange how everything changed so suddenly. The night of graduation they were so happy and playful, full of smiles and hugs. Then the next night, after all of Collin’s hard work, she dumps him and tears out of here without a word. I believe that’s the last time we saw her, isn’t it?”
    “Yes, it was, but the mother’s network has kept track of her, you know,” said Sarah with a gleam in her eye.
    “Oh, yeah? You’ve been stalking her, have you?”
    “I wouldn’t call it that, but I know she graduated top of her class from Johns Hopkins with a degree in Bio Medical Research and did her doctorate at Harvard. I also know she’s working at the Scripps Institute in San Diego doing cancer research.”
    “Wow, that mother’s network knows a lot.”
    “Well, the last part is right here on her Facebook profile. But Janice and Diane seem to always be in the know about that whole group of kids.”
    “Whatever happened to her parents? I always thought they were fairly pompous and high-minded,” said Henry.
    “Who knows? They never associated with us commoners. They were definitely the high society type, born with East Coast money. Wasn’t he a cardiologist? I think that’s right, from Harvard, and she was a socialite who liked to fundraise for the trendiest charities and attend all the elite galas,” Sarah said matter-of-factly. “I think Emily really looked up to her father but was controlled by her mother. If you ask me, that woman had more to do with her breaking up with Collin than Emily did.” Sarah’s voice was tinged with ire.
    Henry read a message from Emily that popped up. “Look, she’s asking how you’re doing. I think she wants to chat, so there you go. Just be yourself.”
    Sarah typed a quick response and opened a conversation that began the rebuilding of a relationship long