Roger Zapman

Double marriage

CHAPTER ONE

Carol looked at the kitchen wall clock as she heard the door of Kit's Chevy slam. She was home a little earlier than usual…

Carol stared into the half finished salad as she put down her paring knife. She dreaded the coming session with her daughter, but there was no way to avoid it.

"Hi, Mom – what's for dinner?"

The cheery greeting made Carol smile as she turned to see her pretty blonde daughter. "Kit, you're as bad as a man. The first thing you're interested in when you get home from work is food."

The girl laughed. "I guess you're right. That's what Daddy always asked about first, wasn't it? Well, I don't blame him – what are we having?"

Carol pretended to be angry. "Hopeless. You're absolutely hopeless. I don't blame Jack for being disgusted with you. I can say one thing for your father – he was interested in food, but there was another subject that he was even more serious about…"

The mention of her boy friend's name made Kit suddenly serious. "Oh, Mom – let's don't even talk about Jack now. The more I think about it all the more I see that it wouldn't work. I guess I should feel lucky that I found out about his tastes before we got married. It would be terrible to have found it all out afterwards…"

Carol was displeased with herself; she had not intended to bring up that subject until after dinner. But suddenly she decided to go ahead with it. "Kit… honey, sit down for a minute while I finish this salad. I want to talk to you about something… about Jack. Maybe things are not nearly as bleak as they seem."

The young girl looked at her mother closely, puzzled by her words. "Oh, Mom – you just don't know. You weren't there. I haven't even told you everything he said – all the things he wanted to do. It was just awful. It still makes me shiver to think about the things he likes."

"Kit – sit down. There are some things we have to discuss. I had intended to do it later, but we may as well do it now. Sit down."