Page 67 of Southern Comfort
“No problem! We won’t be sleeping much anyway,” Bing adds.
“Also, I don’t want you bringing kids there. Go to their houses.”
“Sure. We can live with that.”
“How close are we to the lake?” Bing asks.
“It’s just down a path. Walking distance. I have a wave runner you’re welcome to use if you know how to take care of it.”
“Alright!”
Red walks through the door alone. That is odd. Where’s Bill?
“I’ve got to go guys. We’ll talk in a few days. Set up our plans.”
“Okay, thanks.”
“Bye.”
I disconnect.
“Hey, Red. This is early. You flying solo today?”
I come around the bar, as he slides onto the stool he has slid onto a thousand times. But it is a different man today. His shoulders drop as he looks up. Tears well in tired bloodshot eyes.
“What’s up?”
“Sally Sunshine died.”
He barely gets the words out. Even if the tears weren’t running down his face, he looks defeated. I touch his hand because the guy looks like he’s about to pass out.
“You’re okay. Just relax for a minute. Tell me what happened.”
As if I don’t know. He reaches for a yellowed but perfectly pressed handkerchief and blows his red nose.
“Bill went over to her place last night. He had a bag of food and a heating pad, cause she had taken a fall. But he couldn’t get her to answer the…”
The rest of the thought is dropped, like the end of a life.
“I’m really sorry. Hell, I know how much she meant to you both. What about Bill? How’s he doing?”
“Not good. He wants to bury her somewhere nice, or scatter the ashes, but Sally didn’t have any money and neither do we. I don’t know what will happen. Who will claim her?”
Pouring us a shot, I tell myself not to say anything. Not until I know if anybody would be interested in pitching in. Shit. I’m bleeding money.
He lifts a shaky hand. “Sally Sunshine. I loved you, honey.”
“Sally Sunshine.”
We down the drink.
“Let’s have some coffee. You need to be clearheaded for Bill, right?”
But the death is the only thing on his mind.
“She was doing pretty good. I mean she drank too much, but she could get around.”
I pour two cups of the steaming, strong java.
