Slow Dancing In The Kitchen
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
She exhaled her final breath in Barton's face and settled back into the large, white pillow, her eyes not quite closed. Barton closed the still lids with a careful forefinger and asked God to watch over his love. He pledged to join her in the afterworld, where they would be together to eternity. He cried while Carol, the gifted caregiver, called the doctor, then the undertaker. Laura was cremated, buried in her lover's family plot, in midtown. Peter was among the few, including four AA members, to attend the graveside service. None of Laura's family was there. He was surprised to see Tony Trevesano standing across from him, on the opposite side of the open grave - a small deep square hole, really-peering down at the brass ash vessel, holding a stemmed glass of what appeared to be white wine. As the short service ended, Tony raised the wineglass in a toast to the urn, then slowly poured the liquid in a thin stream onto the container, then dropped the glass into the hole. Peter alone took note of the unusual token - of course - for a fellow alcoholic. It was no token of respect, Peter knew."What was in the glass?" Peter asked a hour later."Orina, Piscio. . . Piss." Tony hissed the last word and did not engage Peter's eyes.
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
Slow Dancing in the Kitchen Peter Wallace is, to all appearances, a success. Handsome, intelligent, educated, and talented. He is the quintessential success story: vice president and genius-in-residence for the biggest ad agency in town. But in the shadow of this facade is a haunted house of insecurity. A detractor calls him "the quintessential cliché." Peter's marriage is dysfunctional for some reasons he doesn't comprehend and for others he knows well. His fragile self-esteem had always forced him to seek the affections of women. Now, with his marriage crumbling, what had been recreational becomes nearly a clinical necessity. Laura is a beautiful, Southern country girl; a fashion model. Her good looks and apparent attraction to Peter create a scenario in which Peter doesn't love her, but becomes addicted to her beauty and her sometimes-trashy ways. He views her as a bauble to be worn until he becomes bored. His wife Katherine is aware of the affair and has a college friend move him from the house in a violent but humorous scene. The friend, while somewhat foppish, is better-looking and stronger than Peter. The court stuns Peter by imposing huge alimony payments and child support. He marries Laura to fulfill his need to be worshiped, but the two are left with little. He faces the necessity of selling his prized possession, his boat. This seems superficial, but Peter measures his own worth by status and possessions. While he temporarily savors his freedom from Katherine, he mourns the loss of his two children. Myrna Jacobi, his attorney, counsels him to clear his mind and to find himself. She recounts her own breakup, telling Peter that she found herself dancing alone in the kitchen one evening and knew then that she had discovered the answer. Find out who you are, she counsels. Katherine is murdered. It is assumed that her new lover, an alcoholic, Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer, did it in a fit of anger.
About the Author
The author's writing career spans more than 35 years. As a newspaper reporter, editor and columnist, he also served as a Time Magazine correspondent for Upstate New York. He has been a speech writer for political figures and the CEOs of Eastman Kodak Company, Borg-Warner Corporation and other FORTUNE "500" firms. As a corporate executive his responsibilities included worldwide communications for a $3.5 billion international firm. Sam is the recipient of the prestigious CINE "Golden Eagle award for the best international business motion picture of the year. The author also teaches part-time at Empire State College, New York. He is a graduate of Syracuse University and received a Master's Degree from the Maxwell School at Syracuse U. He and his wife, Elissa, live in the lakes region of Maine.