Secrets, part nine

Almost as thought it was a natural flow of their budding friendship, Leta and Mr. Leech Hoose began to meet for lunch on Wednesdays. They initially met at a speakeasy where Leta had been fleeing her husband Ora, began to visit with each other there regularly, and finally developed a casual friendship. The Wednesday lunch dates were a sign that the friendship was developing into even more intimate territory.

While Leech preferred Tuesdays, Leta had her longstanding weekly lunch date with her sister-in-law Florence and on occasion her sisters Nellie and Louise. If she wanted to alter that date, she would have to give Florence a complete explanation, and in this instance, that was something she could not do. Florence’s strict religiosity would not understand or condone Leta’s betrayal of her marriage vows.

Leta justified it for herself by noting that Ora was also failing their marriage. He was not a good husband, provider or even stepparent. With Leech, she was happy and relaxed. She began to take better care of herself and her appearance, as well as dress more fashionably. When she thought about him, she her countenance became more outgoing.

“What’s happening, Leta?” Florence asked during one of their weekly lunches.

“What do you mean?” Leta asked in return.

“I can’t figure out what, but you’ve been going through something lately,” Florence explained. “One day you’re as giggly as one of my girls, and then next you’re as irritable as ever I’ve seen you. At first, I thought you might be drinking in the morning—“

“What?” Leta interrupted, dropping her fork.

“—But then,” Florence continued, “I remembered you weren’t like that.”

“Damn right I’m not!”

“Leta!”

“Florence, you just accused me of being a drunk,” Leta charged.

“No,” Florence corrected, “I said I was concerned about your behavior.

“You said you thought I was drinking in the morning,” Leta returned.

“I said I didn’t think that was the reason, but even so, Leta, you are behaving quite oddly.”

“It’s a far cry from being irritable and angry all the time, as I have been for months, isn’t it?”

“Yes, of course,” Florence agreed. “It’s just a bit extreme, these mood swings. If I didn’t know better, I would say you were in love.”

Leta’s body tensed, and she quickly took a drink of water before she revealed to her sister-in-law too much. She was falling in love, but with a man who wasn’t her husband. Until that moment, she had not considered it.

“Really?” she choked out.

“Something very interesting must be going on with you and Ora,” Florence said. “I thought you were unhappy with him.”

“He just started a job,” Leta countered. “There is a man who owns a few duplexes in West Toledo that hired him and a couple of other fellows to paint all of his buildings.”

“That’s wonderful!” Florence exclaimed. “I must confess, Aaron and I have been worried. It’s been a few weeks since he’s had a job.”

“Me, too. But he gets his first paycheck on Friday, and then I can pay off some bills,” Leta agreed.

“How long do you expect him to be working?”

“Right now, it looks like three months,” Leta answered.

“This will help you financially quite a bit,” Florence noted.

“Yes,” Leta answered, but upon realizing that for the next several weeks life at home would be more pleasant, her countenance fell.

To be continued.