Digging to China

By Louise Corum

Sometimes the ties that bind are also the ties that can break a person.

John Cashman lives a double life. By day, he is the prominent owner of a successful factory. By night, he is the caretaker of his invalid and, quite literally, insane sister, Elka.

In other words, John Cashman is a very miserable man.

However, hope arrives in the form of a new secretary, Kathleen Meredith. Soon, John is in love and begins to envision a future that includes happiness and a family. A future that, perhaps, does not include his sister.

Digging to China is a Southern Gothic story of suspense that details what happens when one man's newfound happiness is threatened by secrets that are better left buried. It is the second novel from Louise Corum.
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• Language: English
• Publisher: New Tradition Books
• Release date: Sep 3, 2012
• ISBN: 9781938107221

Book preview

DIGGING TO CHINA

ALSO BY LOUISE CORUM

Any Man: A Fictionalized Account of a Mysterious Disappearance

DIGGING TO CHINA

Louise Corum

Reverberator Books

Digging to China. Copyright © 2012 by Louise Corum.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the publisher. For more information, email [e-mail].

Published by Reverberator Books.

eBook ISBN–13: 978-1-938107-22-1

eBook ISBN–10: 1-938107-22-5

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead is entirely coincidental.

For the lonely.

Contents

A Secret Buried in the Backyard

Years Earlier

A Life of Nothing

Someone New

New Love

Take Your Medicine

At Peace

Over the Next Few Years

The Knock at the Door

Would You Like to Know What Happened?

What Happened

A Secret Buried in the Backyard

Maybe he would wake up and it would have all just been a dream. Maybe he would open his eyes—any second now—and the police would simply disappear. He blinked but they were still there swarming in and out of the kitchen and into the backyard. Several of them were bent over the deep hole, the shallow grave he’d dug so long ago it had almost escaped his memory.

They weren’t going away, it seemed. He took a deep breath and turned to study his wife, her reaction to the unfolding events. How was she going to take this? What would she say? How would she feel? What would she think about him? He wanted to tell her so desperately that it was all just an accident, that he’d done it for her, even. However, none of the words he wished to convey would come and he stood mute, even when she turned to him and asked the question he’d been dreading since the day he’d dug the grave years ago.

She stared at his handsome face and asked, Is it true, John?

He struggled to answer her, but the words would not leave his mouth. His mouth was so dry his throat began to ache for water. He went to the tap and grabbed a glass and, with shaking hands, held it under the stream. He got a little in it, downed it, and then went for more. But he couldn’t swallow it and instead threw up in the sink. The sickness just came out of him and, afterwards, he was ashamed of it.

Are you okay, honey? she asked and rushed over to him, touching his arm.

He shook his head and stared at her, at her pretty face and petite body. There she was, his wife, the woman he’d longed to have for so long, though now he’d have to give her up. She’d leave him when she found out what he’d done.

John? she asked and squeezed his arm. Tell me, honey. Is it true?

He nodded feebly and again tried to speak but nothing would come out his mouth. Was this his punishment? This inability to defend himself? He didn’t know but it seemed almost impossible to express himself.

She let out a sob that came from deep inside and held her fist to her mouth to stifle more coming out. She stared up at him in disbelief and then her shoulders dropped. She’d accepted the truth, just like that, with no fight, with no argument. He was responsible for this big mess. But, as she stared at him, the wheels in her mind seemed to turn and something changed in her expression. She was now starting to question everything. Everything about him, that is.

Why? she screeched, overcome with emotion. Why?

Why? He couldn’t tell her why, could he? He couldn’t tell her he’d done it for her, for them. He couldn’t tell her he had done it because he loved her, that her love meant more to him than anything. Could he? Could he tell her that? Yes, but he doubted that she’d believe him.

I just don’t believe it, she said but backed away from him, taking in this new John, this John with a past, with a secret buried in the backyard. I don’t believe you’d do anything like that.

Kathleen— he began but suddenly she screeched and ran from the room. He started to follow her but a policeman grabbed his arm and shook his head.

You need to stay right here, sir, he told him.

So he did, even though he could still hear her shrieks as she ran up the stairs.

All of a sudden there was a move towards the backyard and much commotion. He went to the window and saw that not only had they dug her out of the ground but they had almost unearthed something else.

There’s more than one body! someone yelled.

He gulped. He’d only buried one.

Years Earlier

The dread always began about two in the afternoon. The dread of going home, the dread of dinner, the dread of her.

Mr. Cashman, his secretary said. Mr. Cashman?

Yes? he asked and his head jerked up.

You need to sign these invoices, sir, she said and handed them to him.

Of course, he replied and opened the folder.

She started to back out of the room but hesitated. Mr. Cashman?

He was getting agitated but he held it back. Yes, Lois?

Is there anything bothering you, sir?

He stared at her and wished, oh how he wished her could tell her. But he couldn’t. He couldn’t confide in anyone.

It’s just you’ve been a little tense lately, sir, she said. And I was wondering if it was anything I’ve been doing? You know, to upset you.

No, Lois, he said, staring at her rather plain face. You’ve done nothing to upset me. I’m just a little tired, that’s all.

She nodded. Very well, sir. Just let me know when you finish those.

He nodded and she left his office. He stared at the invoices for some time, then bit the bullet and started signing them, scanning them for any discrepancies as he went along. In about thirty minutes he was finished and he was back to thinking about going home.

The truth was he wasn’t dreading going home to a nagging wife who complained about cooking his dinner. He wasn’t dreading going home to hollering children and he certainly wasn’t dreading going home because there was no one there. There were no kids and she wasn’t his wife. She was his sister and he dreaded seeing her today as he had for everyday of his life since their mother had passed away years and years ago. And he especially dreaded that he would inevitably end up fixing dinner. He shuddered at the thought.

Lois knocked on the door and stuck her head in. All done, sir?

He nodded and she retrieved the invoices and started out, but paused and turned to him. He sighed and said, Yes?

I just want to make sure you’re not upset with me.

I’m not upset, Lois.

I know it’s short notice, Mr. Cashman, she said and seemed near tears. But I have to do this, you know? I think it’s for the best.

He nodded and said, It is, Lois. You should stay home now that you’re expecting a baby. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

She smiled a little. It’s just that I’ve so enjoyed working for you, sir. I would love if I could keep working, but then I… I got this little surprise.

He stared at her and wanted to tell her how lucky she was that she was getting the hell out of his company, the same company his father had built and then chained him to. He wished he was the one moving on with his life. He wished he had a spouse who wanted him home to care for things. He wished he had just a tad bit of normalcy in his life, but he just didn’t.

He stood and grabbed his hat off the coat rack beside his desk, put it on and said, Lois, I am very happy for you. I hope that you have a wonderful life. I don’t want you to think that I would have you stay in a job when you are needed at home.

She nodded a little and said, Early day today, sir?

Yes, I think so, he replied and then started out the door.

Oh, sir, she called after him. I’ll be sure to find my replacement so you’re not without help.

Without turning around, he said, Thank you, Lois. I appreciate that.

Yes, she said. I just wanted you to know that I’ve enjoyed working for you for all these years. I just… I just hate to give this job up, you know? It’s so hard for a woman to find good work here in Knoxville.

I know, he said. Perhaps one day you might be able to come back and work for me. You know, when your baby is bigger and all.

Her whole face lit up. Yes, maybe I could do that. Maybe even after I get him or her in school or even if I could find a good babysitter when it gets older.

He almost smiled at her, then stopped himself. He didn’t smile much. He didn’t know why he was so stingy with his smiles but he didn’t like to waste them. I’ll be going then, he said and left.

Well, have a good afternoon, sir, she called.

You too, he muttered and made his way out of the office, then out of the factory, ignoring the machines which were new and the best 1957 could offer. He ignored the workers. He ignored everything and went straight to his car and got in. He peeled out and headed down the street to the seedy bar he often frequented and had two shots of whiskey and several cigarettes. The bartender nodded once at him as he served him but they didn’t engage in conversation. They never did and John had been coming to this place for years. He walked in, sat down, had his drinks, his cigarettes, then he left a few bills on the bar before going home.

What an awful thought that was, going home. He put his head