J. Margos - Shattered Image

“They sound like such a happy family,” I remarked. “I wouldn’t have thought that Addie would run off with someone, the way you describe her.”

“Well, she and Dody only got along because Addie wouldn’t talk back to him. I think that’s one reason why Dody wanted to marry someone so young-so he wouldn’t be challenged. I tell you, I’d have never put up with his nonsense.”

“What do you mean?”

“He was unreasonable as he could be. Grumpy, just grumpy. Didn’t like anything anybody did or the way they did it. I think Addie met Doug and just saw her savior.”

“A way to get out of the relationship with Dody.”

“Right. And you know, Addie and Doug could never have had a relationship and stayed here.”

“So, she left her kids and everything?”

“Well, that kind of surprised me, but I reckon if she’d taken them with her and all, there would have been big problems. Living through a divorce like that in a small town like this…” Doris shuddered.

“Why are you so sure that they were actually having an affair? I mean, did people actually see them together?”

“I didn’t, but I heard that other people saw them talking and looking very secretive in their talk. Also, Doug came by the house when Dody wasn’t there. In fact, he never did come by at all if Dody was home.”

“Couldn’t just have been because Dody was so unpleasant?”

She turned up one corner of her mouth. “Well…I guess it could, but why would he be dropping by the house of a married woman like that? I don’t know…I suppose it could be like you say, but that just doesn’t make sense to me.”

“Yeah, I see what you mean. So, tell me more about Doug-what kind of guy was he?”

“He was a nice fella. I know his mama. You know Rock Hill is only about ten miles from here and it’s smaller than Viola. They don’t have no café over there.”

I nodded.

“Doug’s mother has always sworn that her son wouldn’t have had an affair with Addie. She always said that they were friends and she knew he wouldn’t do that, but you know, she’s his mother, so what would you think she’d say?”

“She would know him real well.”

“Well, I know, hon, but still she wouldn’t be wanting to think her boy would do something like that even if he was guilty of it, now, would she?”

“Did she have anything to back up what she said?”

“She claimed that Doug was just being friendly to Addie and all because he felt sorry for her-on account of Dody being so hard to live with. She said that Doug was sweet on some girl in Rock Hill-I forget her name now-but, anyway, none of us ever saw him with anybody, so I always just dismissed that as his mama’s wishful thinkin’.”

“Think he could have killed Addie?”

“Doug? Oh, my! I just don’t see that. I mean, I think Doug would have run off with her, but I just can’t imagine that he killed her.”

“So, what do you think happened?”

“Well, hon, I think maybe they broke up after they left here, and she just fell into the hands of the wrong person.”

“You don’t think Dody could have done it?”

“Well, I don’t know. If he did, he’d have had to kill both of them. I just can’t imagine Dody being a killer. He’s contrary and he’s kind of an oddball sometimes, but I think he’s basically harmless. I mean, he was always hard on Addie, but he never did lay hands on her-you know, hit her or anything. If he had, the whole town would have known about that. I mean, you can’t get a hangnail ’round here without everybody knowing.”

“I’ve heard that Doug’s mother hasn’t heard from him since the time he disappeared with Addie. Is that true?”

“Oh yes, that is true. I’ve often wondered about that myself. Perhaps he and Addie were both killed out on the road somewhere and we just haven’t found his bones yet.”

“Hmm. Perhaps.” We both paused for a few seconds. “So, what happened with Dody and the girls after she left?” I took another huge bite of pie.

“Oh well, he was never the same person again. That’s another reason I don’t think he could have killed them. When she ran off, he just kind of came apart. I mean, he was still negative and all, but he hardly ever talked to folks. He withdrew, kind of. Had a lot of stomach problems-ulcers, you know.” She looked at me knowingly and nodded.

“I see.”

“Yes,” she continued. “Ulcers and then with all his drinkin’-he started that after she run off-with all his drinkin’ on top of those ulcers…” She made a soft clicking noise with her tongue behind her teeth.

“Then he left about fourteen years ago?”

“Yes, to move to Manor, but those little girls spent most of their time with their grandmother anyway-Addie’s mama-Dody’s mama passed away some years ago.”

“Well, it just all seems so sad.”

“Yes, it does,” Doris sighed.

I paid her for the lunch and that awesome pie and headed back to Austin. On the way, I pondered everything I had seen and everything Doris had told me, and I wondered what had befallen Addie and Doug after they had left Viola, or if they had ever left Viola. I wanted to know if she had really been involved with Doug. I wanted to know what had really happened.

I was packing my clothes for the trip to Hawaii. All of my sculpture supplies were already packed in a case that I would carry with me on the trip. I was standing in the doorway to my closet trying to decide what final pieces of my wardrobe I would take with me, when I heard the front door open.

“Mom?”

“I’m back here-in my closet.”

I heard Mike’s heavy footsteps coming across the living room floor and then down the hallway. I looked up to see my son standing in the door to my room. He was wearing jeans and a golf shirt with the tail out.

“What are you doing here, son?”

“I came over to take you to the airport. You’re not through packing yet?”

“You don’t have to take me to the airport.”

“Of course I don’t, but that’s beside the point. I am taking you to the airport. Mom, your flight leaves in three hours. I thought you’d be done packing.”

“Thought wrong, but I am almost done. I just need to make a decision on one more thing…”

He sighed. It was one of those deep, male, “I totally don’t get this” kind of sighs. I finally selected one of my favorite sundresses. I removed it from the hanger, folded it neatly and placed it in my bag. Then I closed the top and zipped the bag up. I was done.

“There.”

“You’re done?”

“Yes. I told you I only needed one more thing.”

“So, your supplies are already packed? Please tell me that your supplies are already packed.”

“Yes, Michael. I packed those four days ago.”

“Good.”

“So, why did you decide you needed to take me to the airport?”

“For one thing, you don’t need to be leaving one of the cars out there for several days. Grandpa doesn’t need to be driving you out there either-the traffic is awful, and he gets hacked off with the way people drive. I’m off today, and what kind of a son would I be if I didn’t take my mom to the airport?”

I gave him one of my looks and raised my left eyebrow.

“You’re a lousy storyteller, Michael Sullivan.”

He looked down at his feet.

“I didn’t want to send you off to do something like this without moral support. I don’t want you coming back from this trip and having to drive yourself home alone either.”

I nodded.

“You’re a pretty decent son, Michael Sullivan.” I smiled and then patted him on the arm.

“Don’t go gettin’ mushy on me or anything, Mom.”

“Oh no, I wouldn’t dream of that.”