Crystal Lies - Melody Carlson [88]
I was about to go back inside when I got a whiff of cigarette smoke. I turned and was shocked to see Sherry standing by a fire exit with her back to me, and she was smoking.
“Sherry?” I said as I walked over to her.
Without turning around, she dropped her cigarette, crushed it beneath her shoe, then turned to see me. “Glennis, what are you doing out here?”
I smiled sheepishly at her. I could tell she was embarrassed, but then so was I. “Sorry to interrupt,” I said. “I didn’t know you smoked.”
She squirted some breath spray in her mouth, then tucked it back into her purse. “I used to smoke, back in my college days and up until the boys were born. Don’t ask me why, but I took it up again the day after Matthew died.” She shook her head. “I know it’s totally crazy. I can’t even explain it myself. But it’s like I needed to do it.”
I put my arm around her and gave her a squeeze. “I think I understand.”
“Really?” she looked skeptical.
I nodded. “How are you doing?”
She shrugged. “As well as can be expected.”
I could see, even beyond the dark glasses, that her eyes were still puffy. “This is so hard,” I said.
“Yes, especially when everyone keeps coming up and saying something really sweet about Matthew. It’s like I just couldn’t take it anymore. I know that’s horrible. They’re only trying to help. But I really needed a break.” She glanced over her shoulder. “I can’t believe I sneaked outside the church to smoke. My reputation will be shot.”
I smiled. “I don’t think anyone saw you.”
“What’re you doing out here?”
“I was just calling Hope’s Wings.” I tried to suppress my happiness over Jacob’s sudden turn of heart. “He’s decided to go in, Sherry,” I told her. “I made an appointment for tomorrow morning.”
She hugged me. “That’s wonderful, Glennis.”
“Well, tomorrow’s still a ways off. And remember what happened last time.”
“I’ll be praying especially for him.” She sighed. “If God had to take my son, the least he can do is give you back yours.”
I felt that familiar stab of guilt again. “Oh, its not really like that, Sherry.”
She waved her hand. “I know. But I guess it’s just starting to sink in, Glennis. I mean the way that Matthew died. At first, I couldn’t understand how Rod was so focused on the kids who took Matthew to the bar that night and how they bought him those drinks. But now I do. Now I’m really getting angry. Bitter even. Rod is talking about getting a lawyer and seeking some kind of murder charges.”
“Really?”
“Yes, and maybe against the bar, too.” She made a fist and shook it. “I mean what kind of place allows stupid young kids to buy twenty-one shots for one person to consume? Bartenders are supposed to be trained to know that half that amount can seriously hurt someone. It was irresponsible.”
I nodded. “You’re right.”
“And according to Brent, Matthew’s roommate at college, Matthew hadn’t been into the party scene at all this year. So his body wouldn’t have been accustomed to alcohol. Our family doctor said that Matthew was probably legally drunk after just a few drinks and that as a result he wouldn’t have been thinking clearly when he consumed the others. Rod says it must at least be a clear-cut case of manslaughter if not second-degree murder.”
“Oh, Sherry, that’s so sad.”
“Sad and wrong.” She was pulling out her package of cigarettes now. “Do you mind?”
“Not at all.”
She held the red and white package out to me. “Want to try one?” I studied the pack of Marlboros and inwardly cringed. Smoking had never appealed to me. But then I decided, I can do this for Sherry. So I took one. And feeling like a delinquent junior high girl, I glanced both ways as I waited for her to first light hers, then mine. I took a tentative puff, then immediately began coughing and sputtering uncontrollably.
“Shh,” she warned me, looking over her shoulder to see if anyone was around.
I regained my composure but decided that smoking was probably not going to solve any of my problems. Even so, I pretended to smoke