Chapter 44

“Yes.” She chuckled, a warm, pleasant sound.

“How…uh…how is Tom, Miss Abby?”

“He’s doing well, although for a time there he seemed pretty down. I thought it would be good for him to visit my daddy in Florida.” So that was why Jack hadn’t seen him. “I miss him, you know.” Her expression was sad. “He decided to stay, and so he transferred to Florida State University.”

“But…He only had a few more months. I thought he was going to get his chemistry degree at Pulaski and Jasper here in Savannah.”

“He changed his mind. Didn’t he tell y’all about it?”

“No, he didn’t.”

She gave him a look. “You’re his best friend, Jack.”

“I guess Tom didn’t tell you we…well, we kind of…” For some reason he wanted to say “broke up,” but they were two guys, and while Tom was gay, Jack was not. “We’re not friends anymore.”

“So that’s why…” Her mouth tightened and her eyes narrowed, and Jack felt about two inches tall. “I have to go now, Thaddeus.”