If Catfish Had Nine Lives(118)

            Esther had lied about who she was to Jake because it simply seemed like the best way to get more information about Astin Reagal and still maintain her privacy—something she thought was important after Vivienne told her the shocking news about Orly. Later, and when she realized she really liked Jake, she felt badly about the lie and wasn’t quite sure how to get out of it without looking deceitful at best, and somehow guilty about something at worst, considering all the violence that had been occurring at the convention.

            Esther had also made up the story about Astin helping deliver a baby. She just thought she needed to sound like she knew more about him than she truly did.

            Esther’s discussion with me at the fish fry was mostly fabrication, too. She wanted to do something to shine a light of suspicion on Vivienne without mentioning the true specifics of blackmail and potential murder. Esther suspected that Vivienne had had something to do with Norman’s murder, but she couldn’t prove it.

            The morning Vivienne shot Esther in the arm had started off with a friendly invitation. Vivienne asked Esther if she wanted to take a walk, maybe look at the Express station. Esther said that Vivienne actually apologized to her for bringing up the blackmail idea, that it had been wrong to even consider something so awful. Esther hadn’t even noticed the gun Vivienne had placed in the waist of her jeans that was hidden by a long T-shirt until they were inside the station, and for whatever reason Vivienne brought out the gun to show to Esther. Esther thinks the shooting was what Vivienne had said it was, an accident, but no one is completely sure, of course.

            Additionally, and much less important, Esther had never been romantically interested in anyone but Jake. Not even Teddy, even if she did think he was cute.

            Jezzie hadn’t been interested in anyone but her boyfriend back home. She was probably the happiest of anyone to get out of town, even if she had missed her family dinner with Cliff.

            Orly told me that he hadn’t had romantic thoughts for anyone since his wife had died, certainly not for anyone at a convention. He mentioned, however, that he sure hoped for the chance to know Gram a little better.

            No one has figured out how the snake got into the cooler full of fish. I think Vivienne was involved, but I can’t figure out why she’d do such a thing except that some people are just prone to mean and violent behavior, and she’s one of those people.

            It seemed that what I’d heard was going on at the convention had been misconstrued and misinterpreted. There’d been arguments and heated discussions, but Teddy hadn’t misbehaved and had actually attempted to help when he thought help was needed. It was easy to understand how the stories got jumbled, what with those lies mixed in with all that beautiful poetry and those moonlit nights.

            After Esther was shot, the convention came to a quick close and most everyone went home, except for Cody and Vivienne, who were both arrested.

            The biggest mistake Vivienne had made was that no matter how much research she did, she didn’t truly know Orly. She had no idea that he would have stepped up to the plate and made good in whatever way—financially included—that his biological children, or their biological mother, needed him to. He had already set plans in motion for Esther to meet his other two daughters.

            • • •

            Orly and Esther came through the front doors. Esther’s arm was in a sling, but she walked with a pep in her step and a smile on her face. She would recover fully.

            They joined us in the large round booth and we all ordered burgers and fries for lunch. Esther and Jake shared a smile, as Gram and Orly shared their own smile. I was a fifth wheel, and I was just fine with it.

            We replayed the whole story again, and Orly smiled at Esther. “Thing is, I’m tickled to my hairy toes to know this young gal’s my daughter, and I’m sorry as can be about Norman. I would have welcomed them both into my family. Shoot, I would have welcomed Vivienne, too, if she’d just come to talk to me and was straight about everything. The biological part wouldn’t have even mattered. I’ve got enough to share. I would have felt responsible for some of her and her mother’s hard times. My kids would have been okay, too. They’re a good group of people.”