A serial fiction story for your enjoyment
written by James Rada, Jr.
T h e C a t o c t i n B a n n e r b r i n g s y o u . . .
10: A Night on the Town
Stacy Lawrence had reluctantly allowed her ex-husband, Jack, to stay with her and their son, Peter, in the small cottage on Bobby Hennessey’s farm on Catoctin Mountain.
She felt a twinge of nostalgia as she watched him play with their son, Peter, in the yard. But she made it clear that he would have to earn his keep during his stay. She was more than a bit surprised that he agreed.
She put him to work on the farm. However, she quickly realized that he was putting on an act to get out of work—something he had always been good at. She didn’t let him off easy, though, assigning him the dirtiest tasks like mucking out the horse stalls.
One particular incident had Stacy trying hard not to burst into laughter as she watched Jack step into a pile of manure and then flail around in frustration as he tried to clean his shoe.
As evening approached and Jack finished his chores for the day, he strolled confidently into Stacy’s bedroom wearing nothing but boxers. She shot him a disapproving look and handed him a pillow and blanket. “The couch is your bed,” she told him firmly.
Jack pouted playfully and stretched out his arms, attempting to show off his toned figure. “Don’t trust yourself around me?” he smirked.
“I don’t trust you,” Stacy retorted without missing a beat. “And let me warn you, I sleep with a taser within reach.”
Jack chuckled and shook his head. “Well, can’t blame a guy for trying. How about Petey switches rooms with me?”
“Why should he? This is his room, and he didn’t invite you here.” A glint of annoyance flashed in Stacy’s eyes as she added sarcastically, “Oh wait! You invited yourself.”
Jack stayed up late, watching videos on his phone. The next morning, he dragged himself out of bed, his body heavy and sluggish, despite the strong aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air. The caffeine may have helped others wake up, but for Jack, it was no match for his sleep-deprived state.
Sadly, Jack settled in and even began to put in an honest effort at learning his new job on the farm. And, to Stacy’s surprise—though she would never admit it—it almost felt like a family again with Peter working alongside his father.
Stacy still met with Bobby regularly, discussing her progress and ideas for the small farm. She had started selling eggs locally and had even planted a garden to grow fresh vegetables. It wasn’t bringing in much income, but it was a start, and Bobby never complained.
She couldn’t help but notice that he had been leaving more frequently in the evenings lately, wondering if he had found someone else. But she quickly brushed off the thought—it was none of her business.
Bobby walked into the tavern on East Main Street and was greeted by a round of “Hellos.” He sat down at the bar, and Kevin Poland, the tavern owner, brought him a Cherry Seven-Up. Bobby stayed away from booze. It wasn’t that he was an alcoholic, but drinking stirred up a lot of memories he would rather forget.
“How’s Stacy doing on the farm?” Kevin asked.
“She’s doing great. Works harder than I ever did,” Bobby replied with a hint of pride in his voice.
“Tell her I said hi and I miss her,” Kevin said with a smile.
Bobby nodded and took a sip of his soda before turning around to survey the tavern. The jukebox played modern songs instead of records now, filling the room with music. Locals chatted and laughed at the tables and bar, a few waving at him as he looked around.
As he sat down, Jack caught sight of Bobby across the room. A small smirk formed on his lips as he stood up and walked over to join him. “Didn’t think I’d see you here,” Jack said with a chuckle.
“I could say the same,” Bobby replied coolly.
“I needed to blow off some steam and have some fun. Been working for two weeks straight up on that mountain,” Jack explained, gesturing towards the nearby hills. “Don’t know how you do it on your farm all the time.”
“Obviously, I don’t. I’m here now,” Bobby stated, taking a sip of his soda.
Jack’s grin widened. “Well, let me buy you a drink as thanks for letting me crash at your place. What are you drinking?”
“Cherry Seven-Up,” Bobby answered.
Jack raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Soda? Who comes into a bar for a soda?”
“Someone who enjoys the company of others,” Bobby countered.
“Hey, I like ‘em too,” Jack responded, pointing over to his table. “See that sweet thing over there? Her name’s Tricia.”
“What’s her last name?” Bobby asked out of curiosity.
Jack shrugged nonchalantly. “I don’t know, and I don’t really care.”
“Well, with that red hair, she might be a Gifford. That family has a lot of redheads,” Bobby remarked slyly.
“I don’t give a damn about ancestry,” Jack declared, his eyes firmly fixed on Tricia.
“So, what happened to the woman who dropped you off?” Bobby asked, changing the subject.
“Gwen? She’s back in Gaithersburg,” Jack replied with a dismissive wave of his hand.
“I take it things weren’t too serious between you two, then?” Bobby prodded.
“Serious? You mean sleeping together? Oh, we are, and if I’m lucky tonight, Tricia, whose last name doesn’t matter, and I will be very serious,” Jack stated boldly.
Bobby simply shook his head in response. “What? You disapprove?”
“Not my place to approve or disapprove. I’m just curious about what you and Stacy had in common,” Bobby replied honestly, his eyes narrowed in thought.
Jack snorted at Bobby’s response. “You think she’s such an angel? Let me tell you something about her.”
Bobby’s grip tightened on his glass as he braced for whatever gossip Jack was about to divulge. “Not if you want to stay on my farm,” he warned, his voice low and stern.
Jack shrugged nonchalantly, but there was a hint of mischief in his eyes. “Fine.” He started to walk back to his table, but he turned back to Bobby with a sly smile and said, “Let’s just say that we might need you to watch Petey one night.”
A look of concern crossed over Bobby’s face. He turned back to the bar, suddenly feeling uneasy. The lively atmosphere around him seemed to dull as he ordered himself a beer. So much for his enjoyable evening out.
His mind now filled with worries, doubts, and an image of Stacy and Jack together.
