Page 66 of Small Town Beast

“Can we drive past her place?” Tanya got that wrinkle in between her eyes he knew all too well. “It’s just not like Bee to lie to me on a Tuesday.”

“Does she lie on a Wednesday?”

“Tuesday isour day,” Tanya informed him.

Since it meant so much to her he could only agree, but privately Saverin hoped Bee was taking some personal time and would tell Tanya to get lost. On the short drive he suggested listening to country radio. Tanya disagreed that Hank Williams was the ‘best to ever do it’ and took advantage of his old truck’s CD player to slip in a copy ofThe Velvet Ropeshe was going to return to Bee. Saverin had to admit it was some damned fine music if a little feminine, but nothing on Hank Williams.

“A black man taught Hank Williams guitar anyway,” said Tanya. “You can look it up. My granddaddy knew the man– I swear to God.”

“Bullshit,” declared Saverin.

“You’ll see,” said Tanya with such confidence he made a note to check later. Well, did anything surprise him anymore?

They pulled up to Bee’s spot. This ‘Durk’ person’s car wasn’t in the driveway, but Bee was clearly home. Her kitchen window was open and the lights were on. The soft notes of Motown music drifted into the street, mingled with laughter.

A man’s laughter.

“Maybe it’s her husband,” Suggested Saverin reasonably, since Tanya looked ready to jump out of the truck and kick down the front door.

“Durk doesn’t laugh about anything.” Tanya squinted as if she could X-ray through the curtains. “I wonder who it is. That wasdefinitelya man.”

“Brother?”

“She’s an only child.”

“Father?”

“Dead.”

“Maybe she doesn’t want you to know, nosy.”

“Damn,” said Tanya, putting it together like a church gossip. “I wonder if it’s her neighbor. That preacher.”

At that moment her stomach growled loudly. Saverin seized the moment. “How about dinner?” he suggested.

“Alright…”

A loud female cackle came from the window. “I guess she’s okay,” said Tanya. She looked back at the small tidy house as Saverin pulled away, clearly disturbed.

“It’s good that you care, Tanya, but you got to let folks do their own thing sometimes.”

“Bee is like a sister to me. You know if she never brought me out that night we never would have met?”

“Hmph.”

“Aren’t you glad we met?”

He liked when Tanya teased him, but she was mistaken to think he’d celebrate some hussy that had supported her in that reckless decision. He said as much. “She enabled you to whore yourself out, I’m not so sure this girl is the friend you think she is.” He tried to soften his words but failed. “You shouldn’t hold company with jezebels.”

To his annoyance Tanya burst out laughing.

“What?”

“Bee isn’t a jezebel. She’s a Christian.”

“That dog ain’t a dog, it’s a canine.”

“You’rewrongfor that,” said Tanya, not laughing anymore.

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