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  Glistening Haven

  Chapter One Susan Monroe

  May 14th, Monday Morning

  The Monroe Home: 15 Candy Cane Lane

  Susan Monroe wasn’t ready to face the world. Dreams lingered in her head as she lay cocooned inside her thick comforter. She was aware of Jeff’s warm body beside her as his calloused fingers found her hips and rocked her backwards.

  A playful smile curled her lips. She murmured as she tilted back so their open mouths could greet. Jeff tasted as salty as last night’s dinner, and her heart quickened as his lips massaged hers.

  Hungrily, her teeth pulled on his skin and she felt his desire heighten against her hip. His arms tightened around her small frame and his hands cupped her breasts beneath her nightgown. Susan’s skin tingled and a long breath expelled from her lungs. Jeff kissed the nape of her neck, softly laughing against her skin.

  “You’re awake now, I bet.” His hot breath tickled her earlobe until she could barely stand it.

  Susan moaned, catching a small glimpse of her sexy husband. They were no longer newlyweds, but he could still make her feel like one sometimes. “In a dreamlike state, but I’m managing so far.”

  Outside the bedroom came the sound of heavy footsteps. Susan knew what was coming next and wanted to pull the covers over their heads. “Mom!” yelled Marie, their teenage daughter. “Jake is hogging the remote again!”

  Another set of footsteps pounded outside. “You know Happy Days is only on before school. I didn’t want to miss my favorite episode.” Jake was a year older than his sister, but they were often mistaken for twins.

  “You’re going to be late for the bus, so please hightail it downstairs and eat your breakfast, the both of you,” Jeff said, waiting for whining and clumping footsteps to follow. He laughed and smoothed his wife’s hair back. They shared another kiss. “Welcome to the real world.”

  “That’s for sure,” Susan sighed. “Why was it we wanted to have two?”

  “So Jake would have someone to be friends with,” Jeff reminded her and they both chuckled.

  For a moment Susan laid against him, her head on his shoulder. He rubbed her arm and kissed her forehead. With great reluctance, she pulled herself out of bed and dressed for another busy day in New Haven 56.

  Susan had adjusted to life there pretty well over the last eighteen years. It was where she met Jeff. Without the project, she knew she likely would have ended up dead.

  Susan was a striking woman with tight skin, long brown hair and almond-shaped eyes. She dressed in a long blue pencil skirt and a white blouse, accenting her look with pearls and a pair of heels that matched her skirt. Her hair was spiraled into a French twist, and she put a final coat of red lipstick against her pouty mouth. An expert time manager, her look was complete in less than twenty minutes.

  She arrived in the kitchen on schedule. It was spacious and looked just like most of the kitchens on the block, but Susan liked how it faced the morning sun. She made it her own, thanks to her handmade flower decorations. She bustled among the framed photos of special memories and Christmas holidays while Jeff dressed to open Dusty’s restaurant and pub.

  Susan made the kids’ lunches, stowed them in their steel lunchboxes, and lined them up on the counter. “Kids, your lunches are ready!” She poured herself a cup of coffee and placed the cereal bowls in the dishwasher.

  Jeff was huddled over the New Haven Chronicle, reading the editorial section. Susan rubbed his shoulder while she peered at the headline: Local Glistening Stirs Up Trouble With Protests. As she read it, Susan’s stomach tightened and her coffee was no longer appealing. She placed the cup on the yellow laid-tile island. “He’s going to get us all in trouble.”

  Jeff folded the newspaper and threw a glance back. “Relax, babe. It’s no different than it was last week and the week before. We’ll keep our heads down and we’ll be fine.” He rubbed her arm and accepted the kiss she gave him. “Got any big plans for today?”

  “Nothing out of the ordinary. I might steam the rugs.”

  “They certainly could use it. Harvey keeps using them as his litter box.”

  Didn’t Susan know it? “Kids!” She bellowed once more and this time was greeted with the rushing of feet. She inspected her children as they entered the kitchen. Both appeared well-groomed. Marie had long brown hair tied back with a pink scarf that matched her long hemmed poodle skirt and shoes. Jake was a good-looking seventeen-year-old with rosy cheeks. Since he became captain of New Haven’s football team, he was rarely seen without his jersey. “Well,” Susan said proudly, “don’t you two clean up nice?”

  “You’d rarely suspect them as ours.” Jeff agreed with a sip of Susan’s coffee.

  “Stop teasing us,” Marie said with a roll of her eyes. “We know Jake doesn’t clean up well at all.”

  Susan tried not to giggle while Jake’s cheeks flushed and his nose turned up like a pig’s. “You’re going to let her talk to me like that?”

  “It was a joke.” Marie folded her arms in front of her. “Tell him, Mom.”

  “It was a joke,” Susan brushed off Jake’s shoulders. “And you look handsome as ever.” Her smile glowed and inside a well of pride sprung a leak.

  Jake’s expression softened. “Thanks, Mom.”

  “Now off to school.” Susan headed to the counter as Marie picked up her lunch, but Jake stepped forward. He fiddled with his jacket and his face turned down while he chewed on his lip. “Mom.” There was a tremor to his voice. “We’re out of eggs and milk. I was wondering when you were going to get new rations.”

  Jeff cast him a stern look. “If there aren’t eggs and milk, eat something else. You think it’s easy running a house with four mouths to feed?”

  Marie’s nose turned up. “You always eat more than your share. It’s not fair to the rest of us, you know.”

  “Stop it, kids. No fighting.” Susan sighed. “I’m heading to the market today to pick up a few more rations, but it’ll have to hold us until the end of the week. We’ve almost used up all of our monthly spending points.”

  “We could eat out,” Jake suggested.

  “That takes money and you know there isn’t enough to go around. You like this house heated and with cable TV? You like those stylish clothes on your back?” Jeff stood and shoved his bar stool into the kitchen island.

  The teenagers eyed the rocking bar stool as the air in the room thickened. “He doesn’t mean it, Daddy. Do you?” Marie turned toward her brother, her ponytail lashing at the back of her neck.

  “No.” Jake said quietly. His cheeks reddened. “I’m happy to eat whatever Mom can cook up.”

  Susan patted his cheek. “Good boy. Better get off to school. The bus will be outside any moment.” She kissed each of their cheeks and handed Jake his lunch. “No trading at the lunch table again, understand?” The front door latched and Susan pivoted, placing her hands on her hips.

  “What
?” Jeff asked, placing her drained coffee mug in the dishwasher. “He’s insensitive and selfish.”

  “In other words,” Susan said, grinning, “a teenager.”

  “Well, I don’t have to like it.” Jeff huffed. His shoulders relaxed when Susan kissed his cheek.

  “He’ll be our boy again once he’s through this phase. He’s a good kid, you know that.”

  “I know, I know. I guess I just remember being him, before I moved here. What a dope I was to both my parents.” Jeff shook his head.

  Susan rarely heard him talk about his time before New Haven, and she tried to pretend such times never existed. Her fingers twisted together and spun her wedding ring while her shoulders inched up her ears. “Speaking of your parents, we’re going to meet them this Sunday for some bingo after church service. I’m making an upside down pineapple cake.”

  “Not more bingo.” He sighed. “Can’t we just serve the cake here?”

  “I love bingo and you love me, so therefore…” Something on the counter caught Susan’s attention; it was Marie’s metal thermos. Eyes wide, Susan snatched it and charged out the front door. She sprinted down the street and over the residential hill. At the corner stood a group of students. The girls were dressed in proper skirts and high heels, while the boys wore pressed shirts and khaki pants.

  “Marie!” Susan called as the bus squealed to a stop beside them.

  Marie glanced up with surprise, clutching her lunchbox in one hand and her school books in another.

  “Sweetheart, you forgot your liquefied organ juice!”

  Marie grinned and kissed Susan’s cheek. “Thanks, Mom! I don’t know what I’d do without you!”

  Susan strolled up the concrete walkway as Jeff headed to the car. They shared a parting embrace. “Have a good day at the restaurant, sweetheart.”

  “I’ll be home for dinner tonight.” Jeff kissed her chin, his fingers gliding across her cheek.

  “I can’t wait.” Susan’s eyes sparkled with mischief and he smacked her backside. Despite how red it made her cheeks, inside her soul soared. After a final wave, she headed inside to start the morning’s duties.

  Susan picked the cat off the counter. She sat him down on the floor and dangled a piece of yarn in front of his paws. A cute fluffy black cat, he immediately took delight in the game, patting at it with his wide paw until the phone rang and Susan’s attention was distracted.

  She removed one earring and put the phone to her ear. Harvey circled around her, swatting at the hem of her skirt to get her attention. When that didn’t work, he meowed a pitiful sound, as if being flogged.

  “Susan Marie here.”

  “Susan, hello! I have news. Are you listening?”

  “I just said hello, didn’t I?” Susan almost rolled her eyes, despite her disgust at such a childlike expression.

  “I just needed to make sure. I have big news.”

  “Jonathan?” Susan asked. Jonathan was Megan’s son and the same age as Marie. Secretly, if not exactly discreetly, the two women hoped their children would court each other so they might marry, have children, and link their families together forever.

  “No, no,” Megan’s tone was impatient. “Two blocks away from you. A new family just moved in.”

  “Brand new?” Susan twirled the phone cord around her finger and held her breath.

  “Brand new. Not from any of the New Havens. We can tell from their tags. You must head over there and see what you can find out. They’ve just begun to unload their truck!”

  “I will, I will! Are they nice? What are they like?” She knew she was prattling, but was too excited to care.

  “Oh, they seem nice. Husband, pretty wife, and two small children. Remember when we were young and used to bring our kids to the park? That young.”

  “And they’ve been living on the outside all this time?” Susan asked. She couldn’t imagine living on the outside with small children, always looking over her back to make sure the New Haven police hadn’t caught their scent. How could anyone eat or sleep under those conditions?

  “Isn’t it delish? You have to find out more. See what it’s been like for them. We have got to know. Lawrence Stark will kill for this kind of information, especially about someone so close to you, dear.”

  “Megan,” Susan hissed, holding the receiver close to her mouth. She spun, as if to hide her conversation from an unseen watcher. “Don’t tell me that you’ve been talking to Lawrence Stark?”

  “Well…”

  “Do not well me, young lady! You know very well that all those uprisings are his fault. I saw talk of his protests today in the paper. You’re going to get yourself in hot water if you keep this up. Promise me you’ll keep your distance.”

  Megan sighed, “Susan—”

  “Promise me,” she insisted with a stomp of her foot.

  “Fine, fine, I promise, but only after you go and greet the family. We can meet at Pete’s Soda Jerk this afternoon.”

  Susan glanced at her watch. “What time? Remember, I have to have dinner on the table by six.”

  “Three p.m. Let’s synchronize our watches.”

  Chapter Two Susan Monroe

  Susan baked half a dozen blueberry and coffee cake muffins. Each was topped with crusted sugar and cinnamon crumble. Their sweet smell carried through the house and despite her diet plans, Susan found herself munching on crumbs.

  She crafted a perfect welcome basket that sat on a blue and white plaid napkin with muffins. Inside she tucked a few pamphlets she made up years ago that explained the rationing system, and a hand-drawn map of New Haven 56. In the back she tucked the drive-in schedule of movies for the month and a coupon book to her husband’s restaurant.

  She wrapped the handle in a blue bow and set off in her sedan. While Megan hadn’t given her address, it wasn’t hard to find. Other residents loitered a few blocks away, huddled together, and talked out of their corner of their mouths, buzzing with excitement.

  In the small driveway was a white van. Three movers in brown uniforms bustled with cardboard boxes full of items from the starting package provided by New Haven 56.

  Susan parked along the curb, and after a check on her hair, stepped out with basket in hand. The lawn was still overgrown with dead stems in a pot that were once beautiful flowers. This place needed a lot of work. Susan wondered who lived here before and then she remembered.

  She shuddered with the memory of her old friends, now lost to the system—to New Haven, but she couldn’t think about that. No. Wouldn’t think about that.

  With a deep breath, she rang the doorbell and waited with a smile.

  A woman answered, dressed in a simple checkered dress. Her eyes were pale blue and hidden behind a pair of horn-rimmed glasses.

  “Yes?” Her voice was a whisper, and Susan could see her eyes were glassy, her cheeks flushed, and her hands quivered.

  She offered her new neighbor a grand smile while inside her stomach clenched with nerves “I’m Susan Monroe, and I’ve come to welcome you to the neighborhood. I hope you like muffins.” Susan held out the basket.

  “Diane.” Her eyes studied the basket before her hands took it. “That’s…very kind of you.”

  “Well, I know how stressful a move to a new city can be on you and especially the children. You’ll have to make sure they’re okay with the process, won’t you?”

  Diane nodded, tears glistening in her eyes.

  “New job? Is that why you moved here?” Susan asked with an edge in her voice, leading Diane to the correct answer

  Startled, Diane blinked her eyes. “Moved here? Moved here? Don’t you know? Don’t you know what this place is?”

  Susan’s smile stretched like an elastic band and her heartbeat quickened. “Of course I do. It’s a great community. We have friends, families, jobs. Every weekend there’s a sock hop downtown. Our children can grow, thrive. So now you go on and tell me, why did you move here?”

  Diane swallowed, glancing down. “So my children could
grow up safe.”

  Susan squeezed the woman’s wrist. She wore the same bracelet that Susan wore, that they all wore. “Why don’t you invite me inside and I can start to show you the ropes, okay? I’ll explain a few things to you. Trust me, there’s a lot of misinformation out there.”

  “I could put on some water for tea.” Diane said and pattered inside, leaving Susan to step in and close the door behind her.

  Susan adjusted her skirt and heard the sound of playing coming from the living room. Peeking her head around the corner, she saw a sofa and furnishings already in place, with cardboard boxes stacked against the wall. The two boys playing on the beige rug were four and five, or thereabouts. Cute children, Susan thought. Each had thick blond hair, with bracelets on their wrists. Around their necks, Susan saw red marks.

  She gulped down a quick breath of air. How horrid the process was, just horrid.

  Susan’s shoes clicked down the hall and found the kitchen. Diane sat at the table beside a window that overlooked a small cramped yard. If it was big enough for a barbecue grill, Susan would have been surprised. Diane and her husband were quiet, holding each other’s hands while their eyes were somewhere else. Susan knew what it was like. She knew exactly what they were going through.

  She sat beside them and outreached her hand on top of theirs. “It’ll be all right.” Susan said softly. “You’ll get through this fine. In a few weeks, you’ll begin to feel better, fit in.”

  The husband glanced at Susan for the first time. His deep brown eyes held a palpable sadness.. “We were living in Ohio. The kids just started school. We weren’t hurting anyone.”

  Susan knew. She understood. “This is the way things are. It can be a good life if you accept it.”

  “And if you don’t?” he asked quietly, angrily.

  “You’ll go away,” Susan said. “And those children, those beautiful children will grow up without a father. If they grow up at all.”