Scott Wittenburg - The May Day Murders

“That’s great! When does the semester end?”

Christmas break, December 20, I believe.”

“Think we can wait until then?”

“We’ll have to, unfortunately, but we’ve always got the weekends in the meantime.”

“I guess that will have to do.”

“Do you have a stove in that bungalow of yours, Sam? For a turkey?”

“Uh, yeah. It’s not too big but it should be able to accommodate a fair sized bird.”

“That’s good,” Ann said, a trace of disappointment in her voice.

Sam knew what was eating her: the reality of the three of them living in this tiny house in the boondocks. He already had an answer for that.

“By the way, I forgot to tell you,” he said. “I was at the bank a few days ago and ran into Paul Malone. It seems that he’s getting transferred to Columbus at the beginning of the year.”

“You’re kidding!” Ann cried. “So he’s moving his family up here?”

“Yup.”

“And the house?”

“Putting it up for sale next week.”

“Oh God, Sam. I don’t believe it! Is there any way-”

“That we could get our old house back?” Sam finished the sentence for her. “That shouldn’t be a problem, if that’s what you want to do.”

“Oh Sam, yes! Let’s do it!”

“Consider it done.”

“Wait until Amy hears this! She’s almost missed that house as much as I have. She bitches about this place all the time. God Sam, you’re wonderful! I love you so much!”

“That goes for me, too. And tell that kid of mine the same, okay?”

“I will. I’d better go now. I think I’ll take a walk and try to come back down to earth, I’m so excited now, I’m almost sick!”

“I know what you mean. I’ll call you tomorrow, honey. We’ve got a lot of planning to do.”

“Okay. Love you, dear!”

“Love you, too.”

Sam was grinning ear to ear as he hung up the phone. He breathed a deep sigh, slid a fresh sheet of paper into the carrier and hit the keys with a flourish: