Ray Gorham - 77 Days in September

“Carol!” Jennifer called out. “Mind if I walk with you?”

“Sure,” said Carol. “That would be nice.”

Jennifer grabbed her bag and dashed out the door, catching a glimpse of Doug visiting with Gabe, unaware of her hasty departure.

“So,” Carol said as Jennifer caught up with her, “how are you guys dealing with all of this?”

Jennifer filled Carol in on her family’s routine, and soon the two women were chatting like old friends.

As they walked, Jennifer glanced back regularly to see if Doug was following them, but he was nowhere to be seen. The longer they walked, the more she relaxed, and by the time they arrived at Carol’s house, her anxiety was mostly gone. The two women chatted easily at the end of Carol’s driveway for twenty minutes, then bid farewell.

The day was warm and sunny, and after two days of cold, windy weather, Jennifer enjoyed the change. She walked with the sun on her face, and her mind shifted from worrying about Doug to worrying about Kyle to worrying about to how she and the kids were going to handle the coming winter. Extra shirts and socks at night had worked so far, but when winter hit, she knew there would be some major adjustments.

Jennifer turned the corner onto her street and stopped to visit with a neighbor who was trying to alleviate his boredom by cutting his grass with hedge trimmers. After a short visit, she continued on to her house.

When she walked through her door, David was in the kitchen, searching for something to eat. “Hey guys! I’m home. How is everyone?” she asked as Spencer’s laughter drifted in from the living room.

“Hi, Mom. We’re good, but we’ve got company,” David said, motioning with his head towards the living room.

Jennifer gave him a curious look and stepped around the corner. Sitting on the couch, with one arm perched casually across the back, was Doug. She noticed dark patches of sweat in his armpits, along with a half-dozen white rings where sweat had previously dried since the last time he’d washed his uniform. The sight of Doug sitting in her living room, smelly, unwashed, and playing with her son, made Jennifer sick to her stomach.

“Hi, Jenn,” Doug said, a big smile on his face. “I missed you after the meeting. Figured I had better stop by and see how things were.” He reached out and grabbed for Spencer, who giggled loudly as he dodged Doug’s hand.

Spencer was thrilled that someone was willing to play with him and made repeated feints towards Doug before darting out of reach and laughing hysterically.

“I appreciate the concern,” Jennifer replied dryly. “We’re doing just fine. Thanks for stopping by.”

“Glad to hear it,” said Doug. “It sure makes my job easier when things run smoothly.” He paused and looked around, while Jennifer just stared at him. She wasn’t sure how to deal with the situation. She had never allowed him to come so far into her house, and she certainly didn’t want to do anything to make him feel welcome.

“Say, would it be possible to get a glass of water?” he asked. “My throat’s a little dry.”

“Just a minute,” Jennifer replied. She walked into the kitchen where David was still searching for food. “How long has he been here?” she asked under her breath.

“I don’t know, about fifteen minutes. Not too long, why?”

She avoided answering with a shake of her head, then grabbed a worn paper cup from a stack on the counter and the jug of drinking water out of the fridge, which no longer worked but was a handy place to store food and keep it away from the flies.

She filled the cup and returned to the living room. “Here you go,” she said, handing it to him.

Doug drained the cup in three loud swallows, then crushed and set it beside him on the couch as he wiped a drop of water from his chin with the back of his hand. “Are you avoiding me?” he asked, his eyes locked onto hers.

Jennifer was startled by the bluntness of his question and struggled to gather her thoughts. “I, uh, I think ‘avoiding’ sounds a little strong,” she answered, her voice wavering a little.

“Then what do you call it?” Doug asked, hurling the words at her.

The situation felt like an interrogation and Jennifer forced herself to stay calm. “I don’t know that I call it anything,” she replied. “I guess I’m just trying not to do anything that makes you think we’re more than just acquaintances.”

From across the room Spencer darted towards Doug, continuing the game they had been playing when Jennifer got home. Doug stuck out his arm to stop Spencer but sent him tumbling to the floor. Jennifer could see that her son was stunned and struggling not to cry.

Doug ignored Spencer and stared at Jennifer, his face expressionless. “Why don’t you like me?” he demanded.

“I don’t want what you want, Doug,” Jennifer said, gathering her courage. “Like I’ve told you, I’m not looking for a relationship. I’m married. I have three kids. I’m waiting for my husband to get back. Our world has been turned upside down, and I’ve got more important things to think about. I don’t even know if I’ll have enough food for us to get through the winter, and you want me to have some relationship with you? Why are you doing this to me?”

“I offer to be around for you and help with stuff, and now it’s me who’s doing something to you?” he shot back at her.

“It’s not the help that I have the issue with, Doug. It’s what you expect in return. Everyone needs help, myself included. I just don’t want to sleep with you for it. Is that clear enough?”

Doug glared at her, his jaw muscles working, but he didn’t say anything. His eyes drifted from her face and slowly scanned down her body. The t-shirt and blue jeans she wore were certainly nothing that made her feel alluring, but it didn’t seem to matter. Jennifer crossed her arms in front of her chest and turned to block his gaze. Doug ignored her attempt to shield herself, and continued to leer at her.

Spencer, having recovered from his tumble, resumed his game, darting towards Doug again and grasping Doug’s arm in a wrestling hold. Doug shifted his attention from Jennifer and grabbed Spencer just above the elbow, holding him out at arms length. Spencer laughed and pried at Doug’s fingers, trying to break free.

Jennifer could see the muscles in Doug’s forearm tighten, and Spencer’s laugh changed to a whimper, his mouth open in a silent cry, but Doug didn’t let go.

“Mom?” Spencer managed to say, his eyes pleading for her help.

“Let go of him, Doug!” Jennifer ordered. “He’s four years old, for heaven’s sake.”

Doug’s face was filled with contempt, and he gave Spencer a hard shove towards Jennifer.

Spencer’s legs tangled as he lunged for his mother, and he fell in a heap at her feet. He immediately started to cry. Jennifer scooped him up and put his head on her shoulder. “You need to leave,” she said. “We have nothing else to talk about.”

Doug looked at her, an arrogant smirk on his face. “It doesn’t need to be so difficult. Most women find me quite likable.”

“Then go find some other woman,” Jennifer snapped. She lay Spencer down on the love seat and stepped to the side to allow Doug to pass.

Doug stood, smiling like he had been when she’d gotten home. He spread his arms out, as if to give her a hug. “Let’s be friends,” he said and stepped towards her.

Jennifer took a step back and stuck out her hand. “No. But if you want to just be friends,” she emphasized the word just, “I’ll shake on that.”

“I’d rather hug. It’s so much more enjoyable,” Doug said as he reluctantly took her hand in his, his eyes drifting down her body again.

Jennifer jerked her hand away, wishing she could run and wash it. Doug stopped in front of her and put his hand on her shoulder. She could tell he was trying to come up with something to say. “A guy’s got needs, you know,” he said at last.