Three Balconies (26 page)

Was it a relief to have him out of the way?

 

If his intention was to make us feel his absence, he succeeded brilliantly. Time and again, I feel myself being tugged in the direction of that cruel stretch of beach in front of Beau's cottage. I've driven past it more than once, thinking we did have some fun.

Helen and I had dinner at the steak house one night. It was her idea. She doesn't care much for meat, but her young mothers had told her that the fries were exceptional – and she was anxious to try them. There was a great fire going and it was just us and a local real estate man I knew who ate his dinner at a corner table, bitter and alone. Helen and I caught up on the previous week and talked about everything but Beau. It wasn't until I got behind the wheel and we had started back that I became emotional and pulled over to the side of the road. This had the advantage of showing my wife that I was a caring person after all; my reward was a kiss and an arm around my shoulder.

“You really loved him, didn't you.”

“I wouldn't go that far,” I said, although I no longer feared the word. “But I certainly do miss the sonofabitch.”

“The Secret Man” and “Fit As a Fiddle” were published in
Tri-Quarterly
. “The Convert,” “Neck and Neck” and “The Reversal” in
The Antioch Review
. “An Affair,” “Three Balconies,” and “A Pebble In His Shoe” in
Playboy
. “The Investigative Reporter,” “I Don't Want Her, You Can Have Her,” “Mr. Wimbledon,” and “Kneesocks” in
Hampton Shorts Magazine
. “Protect Yourself At All Times” in
The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
. “Joined at the Hip” in
Murdaland
.

Copyright © Bruce Jay Friedman, 2008

 

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friedman, Bruce Jay, 1930-

Three balconies : stories and a novella / Bruce Jay Friedman.

 

eISBN : 978-1-926-84536-4

 

I. Title.

 

PS3556.R5T47 2008

813'.54

C2008-904000-7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRINTED AND BOUND IN THE USA