The Table - Part 4
Read Part 1, then Read Part 2, then Read Part 3!
I wavered for a moment as I stuffed Noreen's check in my back kilt pocket. I kept my ears wide open, tried to hear Trini or Noreen or any other occupant, but the closed door kept the noises locked inside. A hummingbird flew into the bird of paradise plant, hovered near the red orange flowers, and rose, flew over the stockade fence guarding Noreen's perfect sod. I started retracing my steps to the front yard, turned the corner, hitting the paving stones dead in the center with my worn flip-flops. I stopped in front of the tall window once more, stood on tiptoes and tried to catch another peek. I caught the back end of Trini's dress as she swished under the swinging light fixture, saw shadows dance across the wall, the silhouette of a tall man wearing dress clothes, his chest rising and falling in slow easy breaths against the sage-colored wall.
Trini passed into view again, carrying two martini glasses on a large silver platter. When she returned into my line of sight, the glasses were missing, and she held the platter dropped by her waist. She stopped for a moment, motioned toward the side of the room with her free hand, laughed, then continued out of sight. What was going on in there, I wondered. A dinner party? A secret movie premier? The shadow man lifted his glass, and like strange shadow anime, I watched the liquid pour into his throat, a tiny olive rolling into his lips. I heard the clink of a decanter against glass, and a small chorus of voices toast what sounded like "Oscar."
"Hey, you! You're the local Mary Kay lady, aren't ya?" A man poked his head over the fence behind me, and I slapped my heels to the ground in surprise. I nearly lost my balance. My backpack swayed behind me, threatened to topple me, but my feet kept their position.
"Avon Lady. Sorry. You caught me being a Peeping Tom! I'm sorry! I don't normally do this!" I squeaked my response, stared at his shock of blonde unruly surfer's hair and two blue eyes watching me from the yard next door. I couldn't see below the middle of his nose. His hands held two of the fence posts - hearty hands, full of calluses and sun spots. He wore a silver ring carved in the shape of a skull on his right middle finger.
"Hey, come over my house. I want to compare notes. I've been spying on that woman for nearly a year. I think I know what's going on."
To Be Continued....
11:53:29 AM 
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