“He’s spending all his time at the beach, surfing.” He sneered the last word. “He’s wearing his hair long, and Donald thinks he’s probably smoking pot: he caught him with a lighter.”
I hid a smile. Didn’t most high-schoolers do things like that? It hardly seemed the crime of the century. But David’s mantra was that rules were to be obeyed. I preferred my papa’s version: ‘rules are for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men’. A version which covered a multitude of small sins.
“He says he’ll have to put his foot down.”
“What does that mean?”
“He wants him to enlist: sooner rather than later. I think it’s a good idea: a young man out of control – he needs some discipline. It made a man out of me.”
I didn’t want to start an argument so I stayed quiet, for a moment, seething inside. “Oh, I got the impression Estelle wanted him to go to college first.”
David’s frown deepened. “Well, Donald’s the one paying the bills, so he’s the one calling the shots.”
And this was what it always came down to. I became even more determined to get some work – writing, if possible. I wouldn’t mind serving in a shop or a bar, but David would never allow that. Pursuing my writing was acceptable; a suitable hobby for an officer’s wife.
I loaded the dirty dishes into the machine and stacked the pans by the sink. I liked doing the dishes; it meant I could stay busy while David filled me in on more of the dull trivia that completed his day. I’d have washed the plates, too, except then he’d complain about me not using the household appliances properly.
I felt sorry for Sebastian; he’d seemed so happy and carefree as we’d wandered through Little Italy. It must be awful living with a controlling bastard like Donald Hunter – and Estelle, so cold and heartless. Well, I didn’t have to guess how it felt to have a mother like that: I knew exactly.
Perhaps it would be a good thing if he enlisted, if only to get away from his damn parents.
I realized I was spending way too much time thinking about Sebastian; and I had enough concerns of my own. I resolved to get my résumé up-to-date, and to contact City Beat in the morning. And then I had an idea: it was something that might help Sebastian – and it would definitely wind up his father at the same time. Undoubtedly it would irritate David, too; that was practically a given.
Pleased with my idea, I finished up in the kitchen and hunted down my notepad. I wanted to sketch out my thoughts while they were still fresh in my mind.
I sat cross-legged on the bed and began to make some notes. I really needed internet access, but we hadn’t yet got around to hooking up DSL. David expected me to take care of things like that; for once I was in agreement with him. In the meantime, I’d have to find a café with Wi-Fi, or head to the library.
“What are you doing?”
Sometimes I wondered if it would be simpler if I just gave David an itinerary of my day rather than answer his endless questions on how every hour had been spent, or was going to be spent.
“Just jotting down some notes; I had an idea for an article.”
“You look tan; it suits you.”
I looked up, recognizing the tone in David’s voice: he wanted sex.
He took the notepad and pencil out of my hands and tossed them on the floor.
“Come here.”
Dutifully, I stood up and went to him. He unzipped my dress and lifted it over my head, dropping it on top of my notepad.
I started to unbutton his shirt, but he brushed my hands away.
“Turn round.”
I followed his instruction and he unhooked my bra, then briskly yanked my panties down.
“Lie on the bed. No, face down. You really have gotten some nice color today; I can see your tan lines.”
I felt the bed shift as he lay down next to me.
“I’ve always liked you with a tan, Caroline.”
He ran his hand down my spine and stroked my ass several times. I heard him undo his zipper and I rolled onto my side as he stroked himself, steadily encouraging his erection.
“Do you want me to do that?”
“Okay.”
I carried on, watching his eyes close and his mouth slacken.