A Farewell to Yarns

chivalry.
    “I’m afraid I have. It’s a long time and three children later.“
    “Two boys and a girl,“ Chet replied. “Mike, Todd, and—“
    “—Katie,“ she said, her voice quivering. How incredible that he would know and remember her children’s names. She embraced him. “Oh, Chet, I’m so sorry about Phyllis.“
    “At least she had you at the end. That means a lot to me. She was so fond of you,“ he said.
    “Phyllis was a dear, wonderful person,“ Jane said honestly. Pulling away, she blinked back tears and said, “Oh, I’m sorry. This is my friend Shelley Nowack. Shelley, this is Chet Wagner and his son. John, we came over to go through Phyllis’s belongings. They’re almost all packed.“
    “Keep them, Jane,“ Chet said.
    “Oh, no. I couldn’t do that.“
    “It’s what she’d want. It’s what I want.”
    Jane caught a glimpse of John Wagner’s surprised expression. Surprised and not at all pleased. “That’s very nice of you, Chet, but we can talk about it later. I think in the meantime John ought to take the suitcases to his house. Just until things are settled.”
    They were all still standing around in front of the door. Nobody knew quite what to do next. This was probably Chet’s house, legally, but he’d never been in it before. Shelley took things in hand. “I don’t know where Bobby’s gotten to. He was here when we came in. Why don’t we all sit down?“ Assuming the hostess role with a heavy-handed firmness, she shepherded everyone into the dining room, there still being no living room furniture. She and Jane hastily cleared away the rubble on the big table.
    They were barely seated when there was the sound of a door opening somewhere else in the house and a toilet flushing. The nasty jerk, Jane thought. He probably hadn’t even used the toilet, just flushed it to make a rude noise. A moment later, Bobby ambled into the room and stood leaning negligently against the dining room door frame. “Company’s come, huh? Hi, John. Hi, Chet.”
    There was a stunned silence for a minute, then Chet stood up. Color had come to his face, and he suddenly seemed the “leader of industry“ the press called him. Jane was astonished at the degree and suddenness of the change. “Don’t you ‘Chet’ me, boy,“ he said in a ringing tone that all but knocked Jane back in her chair. “I’m certainly not your friend, and you can no longer claim the most tenuous relationship with me or my family. I’m Mr. Wagner to you, you punk.”
    For once, Bobby seemed shaken out of his in-control, arrogant pose. “But Phyllis was my mother, Chet.“
    “A biological accident. Nothing more. You had no claim on her, and you most assuredly have none on me. The only time I ever want to hear about you again is when I read in the newspaper that you’ve been duly convicted of her murder.“
    “Me? Get off it, Chet. I seen the news tonight. You’re the one gonna fry for that.”
    John Wagner, silent until now, suddenly rose and, muttering incoherently, lunged at Bobby. But Chet was faster. He grabbed his son’s arm. “Don’t touch the slimy little bastard. We’ll just let the lawyers fuck him over. That’s what they’re paid for. Excuse me, ladies....”
    Jane had an hysterical urge to giggle at the absurd incongruity of his apologizing for his language under the circumstances. She was surprised that he even remembered she and Shelley were present. She was also quite appalled that they were present. Intellectual snooping was one thing, but they had no business in the middle of a private emotional crisis like this. Coming to this house had been one of her bigger mistakes. These men were on the brink of violence, and Jane was terrified of what might happen. For the first time, it really came home to her that it was very likely one of these men was a murderer. And she and Shelley were witnessing something they shouldn’t. But she was like an animal caught in the headlights of an oncoming car—horrified but unable to move.
    Bobby seemed to feel he’d gained the upper hand again. “We’ll see who’s fucked over when Phyl’s will turns up.“
    “Will? My wife’s will is in the safe deposit box with mine, and I can assure you it’s none of your concern,“ Chet said.
    “I don’t mean the old one. I mean the one she had made when we stopped off in New York the other day.“
    “You’re lying!“ John Wagner exclaimed.
    “We’ll see, won’t we? She hauled me along to meet some