Carver's Imitation

One afternoon Wes was in the yard pulling weeds when Chef drove up in front of the house. I was in the bathroom painting my nails when he came in through the front door. Wes I need you to come with me to Eureka for the night. I've got some bad news, My Ex- Wife, killed herself and the kids are a mess. Chefs kids were a little older than ours, maybe thirty or so, though he never mentioned his family much.
Once Wes told me that Chef's disappeared for months at a time while he was drinking and that his kids still resented that til this day. Nothing he could get around, Wes said. I walked into the living room to find Chef still in the doorway. I leaned against the front hall wall.
"Edna I hope you understand." Wes jogged into the bed room, I could hear him opening some drawers.
"Of course Chef, don't you worry about me, take care of yourself. Wes, I'll make you guys some sandwiches for the road." I looked down at my hands realizing my mistake. Chef caught on.
"Actually we don't have time for that right now Edna. We've got to get going so Michelle can go home before her night shift." Michelle was his daughter. He had a soon too. I think his name was Ted, but Chef never mentioned him. Perhaps he was dead or busy wishing Chef was dead. " Gee Chef, don't you think the Bar would give her some time off, I mean her mother just died, give her some time with you and her children. A confused look washed across his face. He furrowed his brow. He looked like he was searching for words as he drew in a breath, but Wes came back in the room a small suite case packed, cutting Chef off, Chef, I'm sorry about this, I sure am. Can we get you anything soda water, juice? Wes asked.
Um, no thank you. I'll just sit here until you're ready to go. Don't worry about me or the kids, for that matter, Edna. We'll take care. He closed his eyes, wiping the sweat off his forehead. You could tell he didn't believe the words coming out of his mouth. I wonder what happened. How she did it, why she did it, who found her. Chef sat down first, we talked some more about Michelle and how she was taking the news. I stood shaking my hands hoping my nails would dry, feeling as if they were such an embarrassing interruption of the real world. I'd have to repaint them anyway. They were smudged already, I don't know how. As he talked I could see his eyes moving back and forth between a stain on the carpet from a couple days ago when I had some red wine and some condensation on the table. My calves got tired and sat next to him on the couch. Chef Shifted in his seat, moving one knee across the other, within seconds,unsatisfied with his positioning he uncrossed his legs and bent forward folding his elbows. We sat in silence as Wes went into the bathroom to grab a toothbrush. I wondered what I should do tonight. Probably finish weeding the yard then Read, or maybe watch some T.V. or write to one of the kids tell them about Chef's new situation, but they wouldn't really care.