1
In the door of The Parakeet Lounge, Jack took a stool at the end of the bar. Cloth in hand, Michael wiped off the area in front of him even if it didn’t need it.
“Nice to see a familiar face,” Jack said.
“Where you been hiding?” Michael said.
“Here and there. I got back last week. Thought I’d stop by the old hood to see how it’s doing.”
“It’s hanging in.”
“Glad to hear it, I guess.”
“Visiting? Or you around for a while?”
“Longer than a while. Maybe for good. You may get tired of seeing me.”
“Never happened. You were one my best customers.”
“I did drop a few dimes in here.”
“All dressed up, you must have a job.”
“Was at the agencies downtown. Slim pickings out there. And by that, I mean there’s nothing.”
“Going to be a while before it comes back. Heard someone on the news say it might get worse before it picks up. That terrifies me.”
“How you been doing?”
“Man, I don’t know what’s what anymore. Business is half of what it was. I had to close the kitchen during the week and let people go. I’m down to three part-timers. The good news is, my place on the Lower East Side is going better.”
Jack looked around. Just six others were in there with him. That hour on a Friday he recalled a frenzy of activity. Folks done with work until Monday and others in for a drink before the night got going. The sports fans were present to watch the latest MLB news on the screens.
“Going with the IPA? We have a couple of good ones.”
“You remembered.”
“That was all you drank.”
“I cut back on those. The hard stuff too. They got me in a little trouble.”
“Nothing too bad, I hope.”
“My wife and kid live in Williamsburg. I’ll leave it there.”
“Sorry to hear it. Where you staying?”
“Found a sublet in L.I.C. It’s affordable. I’ll do the Pils.”
Michael served his draft then responded to a voice at the end of the bar wanting a refill. When he was back, Jack asked him about Jonathan, a regular he liked to talk to in those past days.
“He sold his place and moved upstate. Got out at the right time.”
“Lucky him.”
“Lucky him is right. I should have done that when I had the chance. I don’t know how much longer I can keep this place going.”
“Wish I could tell you something that would help.”
“I do too. I’m here seventy hours a week. I don’t see a time when that changes.”
“What about money from the gov?”
“I’d have to pay it back. It’s not like’20. They gave it away then.”
Jack finished the draft, said so long to Michael and left. Instead of going back to Long Island City, he walked south on Franklin Street. From there he went to Kent Ave into Williamsburg where he was glad to see the sidewalks were busier. A typical Friday night was underway. Near typical, he corrected himself. People continued to live life even after a crash the likes of which hadn’t been seen in a hundred years.
He turned off Kent to Wythe and kept walking. Further along, Common Man bar was closed. The storefront next to it was dark. The Poet’s Café had disappeared. A ten-story construction project sat incomplete. So much for the vision of unrestrained development that took Williamsburg from an industrial wasteland to an artist’s enclave to a home for the affluent to a destination for international travelers. Except for that single busy strip he passed through, it too felt hollowed out.
Stepping ahead, he remembered the expensive meals and bottles of wine, vacations to islands and countries he and Lucy, and then he, Lucy and Emily had never been to. All of it done in the spirit of a future that was sure to continue as the present. Until the boom went bust and the crypto currencies he invested too much money in collapsed. Half of his portfolio gone missing in a matter of days until the only thing left to do was get out before it all vanished and he had to answer for his failure to keep up with child support payments.
He was about to dig deeper into that when he came to a corner coffee shop where a man by the door held out a hand. He didn’t get what he said, but he was familiar with the request. There were more people in need than ever. Since he got back to New York, he hadn’t responded to any. This time he took out his wallet, squeezed a dollar from it and handed it to the man. He smiled and then, eluding the man’s eyes, he went off toward the L train.
2
The next morning, a Saturday, he woke early and went for a run up into Astoria and back. He talked to Lucy on the phone. Online he sent out feelers to two companies his skills might be needed at. The four-year gap in his employment record was a concern, he knew. Nothing he could do about it except to explain he went to live in Spain and did some remote contract work while he was there.
Six o’clock he went to Remnant to meet Lucy and Emily. Spotting him turning the corner, Emily ran a few steps and jumped at him.
“Here’s the bestest of all girls ever,” he said.
“Daddy.” She broke into a smile.
He took her in his arms and lifted her up. “You’ve gotten taller.”
“I’m supposed to,” she said. Her smile expanded some more.
He set her down and greeted Lucy, his voice pitched to conceal the stress he felt seeing her. Her own was unenthusiastic as she focused her attention on Emily.
“We should be back by eight or so,” he said.
“That’s fine, no hurry. Just keep me posted if there’s any delay.”
“Off to the gym I see.” She wore tight black leggings and Nike running shoes.
“While I can. Have a good time.”
Remnant was a casual spot, a mix of families and craft beer enthusiasts. It had been another hangout of his, where he met friends to drink and eat burgers and salads. On the way to their table, he nodded at a familiar face. A former bartender at Mug’s Ale House, he recalled, though the man’s name eluded him.
They sat by the windows.
“You’re the burger queen, I know. Is that what you’re having?”
“Yup, a smashburger. And tater tots.”
“Two smashburgers and tots it is. Should we split a salad? It’s good for us.”
“I don’t know.”
“I’ll order it, and you can have some if you want.”
“Can we pay for it? Mommy says you lost all your money.”
“Of course we can pay for it. I lost some. But I still have a lot.”
He waved at the waitress. She came by and he gave her their order.
“A pilsner draft and a sparkling lemonade with it.”
The waitress went off to the kitchen. Emily stared across the table at him.
He said, “You enjoyed your vacation. The beach was fun?”
“I love the beach.”
“What did you do today?”
“Went to the Ninja Park with mom and my friends.”
“What goes on there?”
“We play on the trampolines. Use the slide. Swing over stuff.”
“You’re a good athlete, I know. You got that from me.”
“That’s what mom says.”
“She does?”
“She says she was the education department you were the athletic department.”
“I recall hearing that a few times. Do you still like her boyfriend?”
William was his name. There was no escaping his presence. Back when, they knew each other through brief exchanges at gatherings and events. He was a founder of a cybersecurity company. A service that thrived through the crash.
“He’s okay. He’s nice to me. We go out sometimes. Sometimes they go out themselves and I have a babysitter.”
“Do mom and he get along?”
“Yeah.” She nodded. “He goes away for his job. Then he comes back.”
“Is he away now?”
“He went today.”
“Are they’re getting married?”
“Maybe.” She shrugged.
When he was living with them, he was the easy going one and Emily’s favorite. Or he thought that. Whatever, it was a point of contention with Lucy. She was stricter. Someone had to be, she said, and if not him, then it was her. He was sure that was still the case.
“Your report card was exceptional. Though I expect nothing but exceptional from you. You have the present I sent?”
“She’s at home resting.”
“Does she have name?”
“Elizabeth. I call her Liz.”
“That’s cool.”
“She’s cool.”
The waitress served their drinks. Their food followed a short time later.
Throughout the meal he was astonished how much Emily had changed since he last saw her seven months ago. He couldn’t decide if she was more like him or Lucy. It was fortunate she combined the traits of both.
“Do you want some salad?” he said. “It’s good, and good for you.”
“No, I have enough food,” she said.
When they were done, the waitress handed him a take home bag of leftovers and his card. On the way out the door he ran into Stephen. An old friend from the Y. A runner like him he shot hoop with when he was doing that.
Stephen put out his hand. “It’s been a while. A long while. And here you are?”
“I look the same. Or that’s what I tell myself.”
“I’m here to confirm you look just like the Jack Ferro I used to know. Or thought I did.”
“In for a pop or two, I see.”
“Once or twice a week. It’s the only place I go to these days.” He smiled at Emily. “And how are you?”
“I’m fine,” she said. She tugged at Jack’s jersey.
“We’re going for an ice cream, then back to her home,” he said.
Stephen stared at him. “I see. Well, sounds like fun. I’ll be here if you’re coming back.”
“Not tonight.”
“I understand. Another time. You around a while?”
“I am for the foreseeable future.”
“I always wondered how long the foreseeable future is. A month? A year? A decade?”
“We’ll have to leave that for the philosophers.”
“I get it.”
“We better get moving.”
“I’ll catch you around, I’m sure.”
A welcome encounter. He liked Stephen. He made a mental note to go back there some night to have a draft with him. He wanted to hear everything that had gone on since he decamped to Spain.
After the ice cream and a walk along the East River he called for a Lyft. As they rolled east then north, a sudden wave of protectiveness went over him. He wanted to be involved in Emily’s life more than he would be allowed to. He thought, I fucked up. I didn’t comprehend it. The days went by, then two years were gone. Then Lucy and Emily were gone too. Then I went to Spain with another woman. Now she’s gone.
On the sidewalk, he saw Emily was tired.
“You’ll have a good sleep,” he said.
“I will,” she said.
“You going to tell mom we had a good time?”
“We did, didn’t we?”
“We did.”
“I love you.”
“And I love you. Always always.”
“Will you come live here?”
“That’s not possible. You know that. As long as you’re fine, then everything’s good. Okay.”
“I don’t like it. It sucks.”
“I don’t either. Here’s mom.” He kissed Emily on the forehead.
Lucy came down the steps. “How did everything go?”
“In summary, we had smashburgers, an ice cream and a walk by the river,” he said.
“It was fun,” Emily said.
“I’m glad.” She set a hand on Emily’s shoulder.
“This is tomorrow’s lunch.” He gave the leftovers to Lucy. “See you soon,” he said to Emily.
“I’ll let you know,” Lucy said.
He waited until they were in the door. Then he went to the G train and back to Long Island City.
3
Eating a sandwich on his balcony the next day, Jack thought things would be okay. He saw he could live in New York again. He could be close to Emily. A few matters needed working out. At some point he would be employed. Until then, he had enough to keep up his monthly payments.
Then, just like that, he was despondent when he remembered how the plans he and Lucy had made were cut off with the swiftness of an executioner’s blade after The Affair; he saw the words in initial caps as if it was a movie title. Her name was Carolyn. They met at the midtown multinational he worked at before he moved on to the Financial District. She was a consultant, a member of an Upper West Side swim team. A high energy type who woke up at four-thirty to get to the pool before she went to the office.
From Boston as he was, that small, single fact opened a conversation that went off in many directions. One of which led to a Friday after work drink at a karaoke bar with co-workers and then to another Friday afternoon drink just the two of them. Occupying bar stools, on the third round, Carolyn confessed her marriage wasn’t going well. She and Don were growing apart. What to do? She didn’t know, and it wasn’t a thought of his again until, walking up Sixth Ave in search of lunch to take back to their desks, they approached a shop that sold sex gadgets. He resisted the urge to comment on the colorful, tubular devices displayed in the window in the shape of a starburst. Carolyn didn’t.
“I’ve been burning through a lot of batteries,” she said.
He laughed. Not a guffaw, but a single “hah” to recognize the comment.
Without looking at her, he said, “So now I know what to get you for Christmas. A twelve pack of double-As.”
“You see how easy I am to shop for.”
Over the next weeks there was more talk like that.
“You look fine, but you’re wearing out your boyfriend.”
“Cheers, this buzz is for you.”
He heard the tiny buzz of her silver vibrator for the first time on an afternoon her husband was out of town, her son at his after-school activity center, and they both found reasons to leave the office early. Which they did, a half hour apart. She opened the door of her eleventh-floor condo with a glass of red wine in her hand. Behind her, there was another on the living room table.
“A bit early, isn’t it?” he said.
“Says who,” she said, and smiled.
A cream-colored sheet was spread over the couch next to it. That was where their entanglement took place, a drawn-out involvement much like a sweaty, satisfying hour on the treadmill followed by a cooling down period. A second glass of wine before he left.
By the time Carolyn’s projects were done, and she moved on to others at another company they got together five more times, same place, same hour. After that, there were friendly emails and then not even those when she refused his request for another hookup.
Three years later they found themselves standing in line at the same Water Street lunch spot, a sushi bar he went to once a week. He waited for her outside and they walked a block to the East River to sit on a bench, eat and talk. A week later they resumed their clandestine goings on, keeping the same arrangement as before, at her place when the coast was clear. On a Saturday, he was in his home office when he opened her email wondering if he could he meet her the following Wednesday instead of Thursday. He was about to reply when he became distracted by the doorbell. Looking out the window, he saw the UPS delivery man at the door with a package. Back upstairs, he found Lucy in his office staring at the text on the screen. They waited until Emily was asleep. In the kitchen, he stood with his arms folded as Lucy went on.
“You know I won’t put up with it,” she said. “I ignored the drinking, but this changes everything.”
“I know what it means,” he said.
“So why?”
“I suppose it was new. Different. Dangerous.”
“Dangerous? S&M dangerous?”
“Nothing like that.”
“We have a child. She’s two. Or did you forget.”
“Of course I didn’t forget.”
“How long. Not that it matters.”
“Not long.”
“Where did you meet?”
“You read the email. Her place.”
“Every time?”
“Her husband goes out of town a lot.”
“I don’t want to know any more. Here I thought we were getting along. We were getting along. We had a life ahead of us.”
“Had?”
“That’s what I said. I don’t see how we continue this.”
It was all on him. His irresponsibility turned to disaster. In the moment he tried to picture how Carolyn appeared to him up at her place; even that was becoming routine. Yet, she was attractive. There was no doubt. Wild. Needy. In spite of it, he didn’t want to see her again no matter the outcome with Lucy, even as it was clear what it would be. He knew she meant what she said. There was no going back. Whatever they had was done.
“I’ll sleep in the parlor tonight,” he said.
4
On a warm, bright evening he walked across the Pulaski bridge to Franklin St. In the door at Remnant, he spotted Stephen at the bar, animated as he talked to the guy next to him.
“Mind if I join you?”
“We should move to a table,” Stephen said.
“I’m outta here soon as this is gone,” his neighbor said. He held up his glass to draw attention to the sip or two left in it.
He took a stool next to Stephen. Five minutes later it was the two of them.
“Nothing out there that I’m seeing,” he said.
“I stopped looking. I’ll get back in the full-time game when things pick up.”
“When do you think?”
“I’m afraid to say it might take another year to straighten out this mess. They fucked it up real good. Then it’s a matter of fighting everyone else for whatever’s out there.”
“We need to pick a better topic.”
“There’s always baseball, but I know how much you hate the Yanks.”
“Hate is a strong word. I just want them to lose every game.”
From there they bounced around topics until Jack went into a long recounting of his years in Sevilla and the woman he was with for most of it, their life in an apartment in the Santa Cruz district, what he did there, the soccer games he went to, the tapas bars he missed eating in.
At the end of that a familiar voice rose up behind him.
“There’s Daddy.”
He turned. In the door he spotted Emily with Lucy and William who stared at him without expression. Jack wasn’t sure how Lucy and he had hooked up. Was it at an event they were invited to? Did they run into each other on the street? However it was, by then he was sure William had heard the dirty details about him. And here they all were.
Emily waved as a waiter pointed out a table. William followed him that way while Emily and Lucy came over to say hello.
He greeted Lucy in a voice pitched to avoid either contrived enthusiasm or aversion.
He smiled at Emily, “Don’t say it. Smashburger?”
“Tater tots too. What are you going to eat?”
“I’m going somewhere else to eat. Right now, I’m talking to a friend.”
He couldn’t remember if Lucy and Stephen had ever met. If they had it was long ago, and he made the introduction.
Jack looked at Emily. “You had a good day?”
“Yup. Now I’m hungry.”
“Well, you should go order. I’ll see you soon.” He glanced over at William to see he was checking his phone.
“Catch you later.” He nodded at Lucy.
“Later.” She nodded back, and that was that. She and Emily went off to their table.
Facing the bar, he lifted his glass and said, “Sorry, I’m going to run after this.”
“I do understand,” Stephen said. “It must suck. Emily’s a sweetie.”
“I didn’t know they came here. Emily and I were in a couple of weeks ago. She didn’t mention it.”
“It makes sense. It’s a good place to bring kids.”
“You’re right. I’m always thinking subterfuge is involved. We got along, until I fucked it up. Thing is, I wanted to be there for Emily. After Lucy got custody, she didn’t want me around, so I went to Spain.”
“Happens to the best of us. Fortunately for me, we didn’t have kids.”
“I’m just paranoid. You want to go to The Parakeet Lounge. They need our business more than they do here.”
“I’m staying for one more. Maybe I’ll head over some night. I always liked Michael.”
5
The next morning, he filled the metal funnel of his stovetop coffee maker and put it over the flame. He went into the living room and sat on the couch, his ears anticipating the foamy hiss that would tell him it was ready.
His MacBook was on the coffee table. He logged on and brought up his email. When he noted the name of the sender of the item third from the top and the subject, “Important,” he opened it.
Jack,
I want to let you know now so you have time to talk things over with Emily. William and I moving to Massachusetts (Wellesley) on August 1. William’s company is merging offices there. It’s been in the works a while. I don’t think it’s necessary to tell you we have long term plans together.
William found a house. Emily will be comfortable in it. There’s plenty of room for her and her new friends. We’re going to take her up there next month to show it to her. We enrolled her in an excellent school. We told her all this last night. She’s sad to be leaving. She will miss you.
I’m sorry if this comes as a surprise. I know you were hoping to be a part of Emily’s life again. You have visiting rights, of course. We can work that out.
Emily looks forward to seeing you.
That’s all for now.
Lucy
His first reaction was annoyance. Why had she waited to tell him when she must have known months ago? Annoyance turned to despair when it kicked in Emily would live in another state. Wanting to be a part of her life again dissolved just like that. Instead, there would be no days with her. No meals, walks or visits to Van Leeuwen for a cone of pistachio, her favorite flavor. They would never be close the way they were supposed to be. One reckless act, or many of them with one person finished it.
Lucy won. Unintentional or not, she paid him back. Not with William. He or someone else was to be expected. But this. The timing seemed intentional. Or that’s what he thought.
He didn’t type a reply. No response would say what he wanted to. No matter what their situation, for Emily’s sake he and Lucy had to keep up a civil appearance. She was more important than their strained relations. In other words, he had to accept the inevitable. He was the culprit. He had the affair. Then, on a hunch, he invested in crypto, made millions and went off to Spain with an artist.
It was sure to be difficult from there. He was angry with himself more than he was with Lucy. Much as he didn’t want to admit it, Emily was in a good place. Lucy made a fine home for her. Now he supposed William was a positive addition to that. He knew Lucy wouldn’t have it otherwise.
6
Five o’clock he was glad to see The Parakeet Lounge busy. Busier than the last time he was in. Conversations went on. At one end of the bar a baseball game on the flat screen had the attention of a boisterous group. That was good too.
Michael finished with a customer and came over.
“In for my daily beer,” he said.
“That’s what we’re here for,” Michael said. “Let me set you up.”
He got his draft and stared at the screen. The Mets were playing Cincinnati. He watched for a while. He clicked around social media on his phone. He talked to his neighbor about the game.
“Lucy told me this was old haunt of yours. She wasn’t sure if it still was.”
He was surprised to hear William’s voice.
He turned. “What the heck brings you to these parts?”
“We expected you to call. When you didn’t get back to us the second time, we wanted to make sure everything was all right. We’re wondering what you’re thinking. We know it’s hard.”
“I didn’t realize it required an immediate response.” Jack looked around. “We should take this to a table.”
William ordered. When it came, they went to a table by the open door that let in the sounds of voices and cars on Manhattan Ave.
Once they settled, Jack said, “What do you want to know? It is what it is. You’re moving to Mass. I get it. It doesn’t need a lot of explanation.”
“It needs some.”
“What does she want to hear?” With that out, Jack reminded himself to be calm.
William picked up his glass, took the slightest sip and set it down. “We want you to continue to be part of her life. We…”
“She’s not your kid. She’s mine. So you don’t get to say what. How much I see her is up to Lucy. She has custody. As you know, I don’t.”
“We want to make sure it doesn’t impact Emily in any negative way. It was a blow to her. We want to do what’s best for her and we know you do too.”
“Is this necessary? I won’t be seeing her much, if at all.”
“When you were in Spain you saw her a few times a year. That’s it.”
“I expected to see her more. That’s why I’m back.”
“Is that right?”
“I don’t answer to you. Or Lucy. Or anyone.” Jack was going to say more but he cut it short.
William turned his head away. Jack thought he might get up and leave, but he stayed put.
“Lucy expects you to call often and visit as much as you can. We want to let you know. That’s it. That’s why I’m here.”
“Tell Emily I’ll call her tomorrow. Of course, I only want her to be happy.”
“Then that’s where we’ll leave it. If you’re up to it, we want you to come to dinner Sunday night.”
“What time?”
“Six o’clock.”
“I’ll be there.”
“We’ll expect to see you. Have a good rest of your day, Jack.”
“I’ll do that.”
William got up. “Guess I wasn’t thirsty.” He left his pint on the table and went out the door.
When he was gone the memory of his time with Lucy hit him all at once. The events they went to. The traveling they did. The people they knew. And here he was, back and planning to stay and that simple fact made him feel he messed up his life more than he knew.
He finished his beer and went back to the bar. There wasn’t much he could do now except talk to Emily tomorrow and tell her everything would be fine. Whatever that meant. Once she settled in her new house, got involved in school and made new friends, she would get over it sooner than he would.
“Yeah, I’ll do another, thanks,” he said to Michael.
7
Sunday afternoon he went to a toy store in Greenpoint and bought Emily a companion doll for Liz. They looked almost alike. Which meant they were sisters, he would say.
On the way to Williamsburg that evening, he bought a bottle of wine. In the door of the condo Lucy moved to after their divorce, he noticed the new flooring and windows, the upgraded furniture.
Emily came to him. She was teary but not crying. He hugged her and told her everything would be fine. They would see plenty of each other.
“You know that right?”
“Yeah, I do.”
He gave her the bag with her present. He was glad to see her delight as she opened it.
“Liz has a sister,” he said. “Now you have to give her a name.”
“Let me think. I’ll ask Liz.” She smiled and went off to her room.
Giving the wine to William, he got the feeling he was an irritating interloper who had to be tolerated.
“I should pour glasses,” William said. He raised the bag with the wine and went into the kitchen.
Lucy and he were alone for a moment.
“Emily wanted to see you. All day she was excited you were coming.”
“I was the same.”
“Some things are hard to get over.”
He had no answer for that. He wasn’t sure if it was meant for him or herself.
“You have a date set?”
“It looks like we’ll be ready to leave sooner than we thought. Selling this place is another thing. Our agent says if we don’t want to wait, we’ll have to take a lower number.”
Jack nodded. “Get out of Dodge fast as possible.”
“It’s not that. We need to get Emily settled. William needs to get his new office set up soon as possible.”
Back with Liz and her presumptive sister, Emily announced, “Liz and I decided. We’re going to call her Lily.”
“Liz and Lily. That’s cool.”
“Yep.” Emily smiled.
William was back with their glasses. “Shall we make a toast?” he said.
“To Emily,” Jack said. “And Liz, and Lily.”
From the couch, Emily laughed then continued the conversation with her dolls. It was a fine home. Emily was safe. The daily routines and needs of an eight-year-old were more important than anything else.
The doorbell buzzed. Another buzz followed.
“I’ll get that,” Lucy said. She went to the intercom.
“The other guests are here,” William said.
That came as a surprise to Jack. He wasn’t in the mood to put on a performance for outsiders. He expected a few hours with Emily and Lucy and that would be it.
Soon he heard voices from the past and then Lucy came in followed by old acquaintances Andrew, Isabel, and Etta. Exchanging hellos and handshakes, they were in an upbeat mood.
“You all know each other,” Lucy said.
“We do,” Andrew said. Looking to Jack, “We were glad to hear you’re back around. You look well.”
“I am well, and you seem to be doing fine yourself,” Jack said.
“We’re getting on in spite of the situation,” Andrew said.
“The people having a rough time of it are having a really rough time,” Isabel said. “We’re fortunate.”
Etta joined Emily on the couch. They fussed with the dolls, oblivious to the circumstances going on with the adults. An announcement from Emily that Etta was now their aunt. After that, they got up and went off to Emily’s room.
Lucy poured glasses of wine for Andrew and Isabel.
“You all sit,” she said. “I need to check the food.”
“Let me help you with that,” William said.
Jack sat in the armchair. All of a sudden, he was tense. He had no desire to engage in small talk.
Drinks in hand, Andrew and Isabel sat on the couch across from him with smiles on their faces. The conversation they fell into was trivial. It was obvious they knew of his travails and financial disappointments. They avoided the topics and so did he. Much as he wanted to leave, he was there for Emily. He had to stay. Nine-thirty. That would be it. That would be enough time to do what he was there to do.
Back in the room, Lucy said, “Dinner will be ready in a few. You should go to the dining room. Emily, Etta, we’re eating soon.”
Before Lucy went back to the kitchen, Jack caught her eye to show his disapproval. Had she told him he would have tried to talk her out of it. She knew that. It was safe to have others present, was what he suspected. Whatever her reason, it wasn’t necessary.
Dinner was pleasant enough. The conversation entertaining at times. Done with their food, Emily and Etta went off to be by themselves. The adults went back into the living room. He shook off another glass of wine and asked for water instead. Right at nine-thirty he announced he had to be up early.
“An appointment downtown,” he said when asked.
“Hope it works out for you,” William said.
He didn’t respond. Lucy called Emily out of her room.
“You having a good time with Etta?” he said.
“I am,” she said. “When are you coming back?”
“We’ll play this week,” he told her.
“Bye Daddy,” she said.
“Soon,” he said, and patted her head.
He shook hands around and went to the door.
“Let me know what’s up,” he said to Lucy in a voice that tried to show his support of a situation he wasn’t agreeable to.
Out on the street, he was distraught. He wanted to walk. He went to Bedford Ave, up to Manhattan Ave and into Greenpoint. The image of Emily he brought up was painful. She enjoyed being with him. He was sure she preferred him over William. That good feeling faded when he thought of Lucy. The woman he loved and who loved him until he decided an adventure would do no harm and he left Carolyn’s email open on the screen to get a delivery. He attempted to make it out as not much. Lucy wasn’t taking any excuses. There was no excuse just as there would be no reconciliation. He was out the door two days later. His estrangement from her and Emily began.
And then, as if guided by an internal GPS, he found himself approaching The Parakeet Lounge. It was ten o’clock, still some night left. That’s what he did. Went in the door and waved to Michael behind bar.
*****
Paul Perilli’s writing has appeared in numerous publications. His recent short fiction appears in L’Esprit Literary Review, Aethlon, Straylight Literary Magazine, Unlikely Stories, Fabula Argentea, and The Brussels Review. His story “Have a Nice Day” recently won Adelaide Literary Magazine’s short story contest. His website is: https://paulperilli.com/.
