The diagonal lines on the calendar magnetic to the fridge were very precise.
They had been given thought and care.
Brad pulled the pitcher of water from the fridge, the fancy kind Suzette made with the lemons and cucumbers and mint.
The first diagonal line was on the third of the month.
Brad counted nine days in a row, diagonal lines, corner to corner with no overlap, like they had been drawn with the aid of a ruler.
He and Suzette had played ping pong with the child talk. He thought they were leaning toward no.
He pulled a cucumber slice out of the pitcher with his fingers and bit it, decided to fold the thing over and eat it all, no use being gross and dainty at the same time.
Diagonal lines could be anything, he decided, but a missed period would be about the only thing he could think she would be secretive about.
They had met in kindergarten at St. Agatha, first kissed in fifth grade, went to prom. Separated briefly in community college while Brad tried unsuccessfully to be a playboy drag racer, wrecked at Milan, lost a pinkie finger, got a job at Mound Road Engine.
Suzette had picked up a clove cigarette habit and a miscarriage from some Britpop wanna-be with bad posture and great shoes and hair.
Brad and Suzette slept together for the first second time in a motel on Telegraph, Brad’s Grotto Blue ‘68 Chevelle parked over two spaces so no one would scratch it with a door.
The next morning, Brad opened the door to the Chevelle for Suzette and just knew. Told her he felt it in his gut.
They were gonna have a big wedding, then…
“Suzy Bear?”
There was no answer.
Brad knew she was in the small brick ranch somewhere.
“Suze?”
Brad walked around the corner. She was in the small office, book in her hand, highlighter in her mouth.
She was removing the highlighter when she saw him.
“Sorry, B. Whatta ya need?”
“You’re marking off days on the calendar. I just noticed.”
“Yeah, “ she said and smiled like she found a kitten in the bushes.
“Anything I should know?”
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