The Odds - Jeff Strand Page 0,8
the bank.”
Jenny smiled, but then she frowned again. Her face contorted as if she couldn’t decide on which expression to use. “That’s great! But...I’ll be honest, I don’t quite know how I should react to this. It’s bad. You have an addiction. I’m happy about the money, but I don’t know that I can be happy about...” She trailed off for a moment. “...the situation. Do you know what I mean?”
“I know exactly what you mean,” said Ethan. “Regardless of how it turned out, I’m ashamed of this. I’m physically ill over it. It was a terrible error in judgment and I now know that I absolutely cannot be in that environment. I swear to you it will never happen again.”
Jenny wiped a tear from her eye. “Okay.”
“That said, I did win fifty thousand dollars.”
“All in one jackpot?”
“It was a new game. Basically just spinning a wheel. The odds were overwhelmingly against me, but I got the big payout. I couldn’t believe it. We can put this money into a college fund for Tim and Patrick, and even splurge with some of it. Go to Europe. Buy a TV that takes up an entire wall. Get some really expensive chocolates.”
“No,” said Jenny.
“No to the chocolates?”
“All of the money goes into savings. Every single penny. We should not be rewarding ourselves with a TV because you succumbed to your gambling addiction.”
“You’re right,” said Ethan. “You’re absolutely right. Put it in savings. That’s what we’ll do.”
“Or maybe put most of it in savings and give part of it to charity.”
“I’m all for that, too.”
Jenny set her can of beer down on the coffee table, then leaned over and gave him a hug. “I’m sorry if I’m being a little bitchy about this.”
“What? Are you kidding? No, no, no, not at all. You have every right to be furious.”
“I’m not furious.”
“Whatever negative emotion you’re feeling about this is completely justified. I messed up in a big way. I could’ve just as easily come home and told you that we were fifty thousand dollars in debt. I put our family’s future at risk. I’m completely appalled at what I did. Like I said, I promise it will never happen again.”
“I believe you.”
They decided not to tell Tim or Patrick anything about this. The boys were way too young to be thinking seriously about college, so this was news that could wait until they were in high school. They didn’t know about Ethan’s problem, and Jenny couldn’t see any benefit to saying, “Hey, your dad won big in Vegas while he was away!”
Jenny didn’t bring it up the next day. She wasn’t acting weird or anything, so Ethan thought he may have dodged a bullet. Thank God.
On Friday nights they went out for dinner, with each family member getting a turn at choosing the place. After some discussion, Ethan and Jenny decided that despite being punished, Patrick would not lose his turn. He always picked the same restaurant, so it was time for some delicious barbecue.
As Ethan squirted some of the spicy barbecue sauce on his ribs, he noticed Rick sitting by himself at a corner table.
What the hell was he doing here?
Rick was wearing a white dress shirt, with a dark blue jacket draped over his chair. He was eating his meal and not looking away from his plate.
Ethan suddenly lost his appetite.
“Is something wrong?” Jenny asked.
“No, no, everything’s fine. One of my co-workers is here. I’m going to go say hi.”
Ethan got up and walked across the dining room over to Rick’s table. Rick remained focused on his dinner.
“Hi,” said Ethan.
Rick glanced up at him. “Oh, hello, Ethan. This is quite a coincidence, isn’t it?”
“What are you doing here?”
“I’m in town on business, so I thought I’d enjoy the famous Kansas City burnt ends.” He took a bite. “They live up to their reputation.”
Ethan pulled out the chair across from him and sat down. “Seriously, what are you doing here?”
“I’m sorry, did I not just answer that question?”
“Listen to me, asshole, I don’t believe for one second that it’s a coincidence that you’re here. No way did you just happen to be in Kansas City for work, and just happen to be at the restaurant where I’m having dinner. Tell me why you’re here.”
Rick glanced across the restaurant, looking over Ethan’s shoulder. “Is that your family?”
“None of your business.”
“I thought you said you didn’t have any kids.”
“Those aren’t my kids.”
“Nephews? Stepchildren? Random kids you paid to have dinner with you?”
“I may not have