Jailhouse Visit, Part I

"I think this is deja vu," Moses observed coolly, watching his ex-wife enter the visitation area.

"Indeed," Elizabeth said.

"What's the special occasion?"

"My father died," Elizabeth said sadly.

"Ah. That old cracker wasn't so bad," Moses said. Elizabeth smiled wanly.

"Well, you'd have been better off if you'd never crossed paths with him."

"Or with you," Moses rejoined.

"Or that," Elizabeth agreed. "I thought you'd like an update on the children you fathered. I'll be heading back to the Midwest soon enough to get back to my husband."

"The peckerwood?" Moses said, eyes gleaming.

"God no," Elizabeth said, chuckling. "You fixed that part real good."

"Well, at least I did one thing right," Moses said. "I'm sorry, you know. Hubris is a helluva drug."

"Tell me about it," Elizabeth nodded. And then they discussed their kids, the only tether remaining between them.