Accidentally, On Purpose

A Romantic Comedy, Episode 7, Part 1

A tangled web of deception…

Jerry Bartleby looked at his friend. Beau was smiling ear to ear. “Well? What’s the news?”

Beau looked over his shoulder and watched his mother, Edna, walk out of the den. It was Sunday. Family day. He’d returned from church with his parents, stopping by Three Sister’s Diner on the way home for their pot roast special. There, Faith Louise, Hope Margaret, and Charity Rose had fussed over him, bragging to all their patrons that one of their beloved Canuck’s was eating among them. Hope Margaret had even pulled out her cell phone to take a selfie with him and her sisters. She promised to get the picture printed out and put up onto their wall of fame alongside the Canuck’s banner.

When he’d arrived home, Jerry called, saying he was in town, and wanted to come by. He was there within the hour, and now sat before Beau, concern written all over his face. The red-bearded man scowled, sitting forward. Beau watched him through his sunglasses. As soon as his mother rounded the corner and walked down the hall, he reached up, removing the shades.

With deliberation, he focused keenly on Jerry, his eyes following as the man tugged at his beard, a habit he had when thinking hard or deeply annoyed. Jerry noticed.

“Son of a–”

“Yep.” Beau cut him off.