Chapter 9

Such a nauseating meeting. Uselessness.

* * * *

Aunt Ruby is in town and demands I do lunch with her at The Hoffstetter. She loves the restaurant’s crab cakes and triple chocolate, peanut butter pie. We sit in dim light with a view of the bar area. Frankie waits on two Russian men who look like thugs.

“I’m only in town for two days. If your mother isn’t going to call or visit me, I’ll visit her. Neverhas she been so distant.”

Ruby’s faux-golden hair is swirled on top of her head in a beehive. She wears gold, horn-rimmed eyeglasses, and her D-cup breasts are pressed in a forest green leather jacket that matches her miniskirt. She has green eye shadow on and sports pink lips. Everything about her screams of an older woman who acts and wants to be younger.

“Where are the three poodles?”

“George is watching them. You know how he loves animals.”

“I can’t see a retired veterinarian not liking animals, Aunt Ruby.”