Chapter 4

The sixteenth of September. The old almanac called it a lucky day for weddings, for breaking ground, and for bringing in money.

The Carter yard was strung with lights and streamers, and thirty tables filled every inch of it. Red canopies ran edge to edge overhead, and the big loudspeaker blared "Celebration."

Every man, woman, and child in Millbrook had come. Hardly any of them were there to wish Gloria a happy birthday. Most had come for the free food and the chance to watch the show.

Gloria stood at the gate greeting guests in her tight red sequined cocktail dress, a string of pearls around her neck and her face flushed and beaming. Dale stood beside her in a crisp, sharp suit, a red "VIP" rosette pinned to his chest. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought it was their wedding day.

"Come on in, Uncle Dale! Best seat in the house!"

"Well, look at Old Man Hoffman! You'd think the mayor just showed up!"

The townsfolk said all the right things out loud, and their eyes traded the mockery everyone understood without a word.

And Frank?

He was in the back kitchen in his faded gray Sunday suit, an apron tied over it, sweating as he carried plates and washed vegetables.

Several rounds of drinks and dishes later, the emcee grabbed the microphone. "It's time, folks! Let's welcome our birthday girl, Mrs. Gloria Carter, to the stage! Next up, family and friends will present their gifts!"

Gloria swept onto the stage like a proud peacock, her face split by a wide smile.

Dale was the first on his feet. Holding a red velvet box, he strode up with long, confident steps.

"Gloria, today's your big day. We've been neighbors for decades, so please accept this little token!" He opened the box. Inside, a solid gold bracelet gleamed in the sunlight.

Gasps rose from the crowd.

"Whoa! That's gotta be worth five grand, easy!"

"Old Man Hoffman sure doesn't do anything small!"

Gloria was so excited her hands shook. She let Dale fasten the bracelet on her wrist himself, and the two of them traded flirty glances right there on stage, paying no mind at all to the whispers below.

Just then, the emcee called out, "And now, let's welcome Mrs. Gloria Carter's husband, Mr. Frank Carter, to present his gift!"

The whole yard went quiet.

Some people snickered. Others craned their necks, waiting to see what pathetic little thing the loser would come up with.

Frank untied his grease-stained apron, wiped his hands, and stepped out from backstage.

He walked slowly, yet his back was straighter than it had ever been. In his hands he held the red pine box. He was smiling, and the smile carried a lightness and a finality no one could read.

He reached the center of the stage and stood between Gloria and Dale.

Gloria shot him a disgusted look and hissed, "Hurry up, hand it over, and get lost. Don't hold up my toast with Dale."

Frank ignored her. He picked up the microphone and looked out at the hundreds of townsfolk below, his voice booming in a way that didn't sound like him at all.

"Friends and neighbors, thank you all for coming out today."

"Gloria and I have been married thirty years. In all that time, I never gave her much of a good life. I had to rely on our neighbor here, Old Man Hoffman, to help out." Frank put heavy weight on the word help.

Laughter rippled through the crowd, and Dale gave a smug little wave.

"For her sixtieth birthday, I couldn't afford a gold bracelet. But I've prepared a big gift for her. One I've been saving up for twenty-five years."

Frank turned and held the red wooden box out to Gloria with both hands, his gaze so tender it was unsettling. "Gloria, open it. You're going to love it."

Gloria took the box suspiciously, wondering what kind of trick the old fool was up to.

In front of the entire town, she flipped open the fine brass clasp with a click and lifted the lid.

In that instant, time seemed to stop.

The smile froze on Gloria's face. Even her thick layer of makeup couldn't hide how white she'd gone.

Her pupils shrank to pinpoints. Her hand jerked, and the box hit the floor with a loud thud.

What was inside tumbled out and spread across the center of the stage.

"This... this can't be!"

Gloria let out a shrill, piercing scream, like a chicken with someone's hand around its neck. She crumpled to the floor, pointing at Frank, her whole body shaking as if she'd been electrocuted. "You... how did you get this..."