Joy and Sorrow Chapter 7 The Anniversary

Celeste walked at a glacial pace behind her husband. For a man of considerable build, Joel kept up a rapid pace, both in life and his gait.

She wore a silk scarf tied loosely around her neck and a mid - length, blue skirt that made her feel like a school girl. Which was a perfect feeling to have on one's eleventh wedding anniversary.

The two had become besotted with each other twelve years prior on a cruise ship. The soap opera Celeste had been starring on had killed off her character.The producers weren't sure if she would be resurrected for the third time or not.

Joel had been a freshly minted junior partner at a law firm. They were sitting on the deck, occupying chaise lounges, and reading the same novel. He noticed her book and asked for her opinion. Celeste had hated it and he had enjoyed every page. Afterwards, they were together forevermore.

And now they whiled away the afternoon hours eating and soaking up adult conversation. For their special day, neither had planned on venturing past the front door.

Their son,Sebastian was at summer camp for a couple of weeks, and Celeste and Joel were taking full advantage of his not being there. They'd unplugged phone, and Randy Travis asked "Darling, are we in trouble now ?" ,from the stereo.

They were interrupted by incessant pounding at the door. The noise was killing the mood, so Joel got up and threw his button down on. He had to see who the hell was ruining their early afternoon tryst.

He tore open the front door to find several middle aged couples in silly hats. Joel sighed, then went to tell Celeste and they decided to humor their friends and go. Making love could wait until later.

An unlit cigarette poised between her lips. Celeste searched for a lighter lost in the black hole that was her purse. The two known smokers in her party had wanted to use her lighter.

How did one go about asking a perfect stranger for use of their lighter? You never knew whose psyche would be bruised by your need for a nicotine fix.A normal individual might morph into one of those smug anti smoker's. The ones who sermonized cigarette lovers to death about the evils of tobacco, while their husbands waited impatiently in the car.

Celeste was about to waltz back inside and ask for matches, when several gunshots pierced the air. Blood splattered her sleeveless blouse. A spasmodic moan came out of her husband as he crashed on the pavement with a resounding thud. She had an animalistic urge to howl, but no sounds would materialize.

Poker faced Everett Reed, dialed 9-1-1 on his cell phone. But the connection failed. Undaunted, he sauntered over to a pay phone and took control of the situation.

Celeste eased her trembling body into a kneeling position besides her husband. He was shot once in the stomach and twice in the chest. A nanosecond before the ambulance arrived; Joel ceased to breathe all together. His massive frame became cold.