clay puppington · moral orel · alcoholic · narcissist · 1960s setting · religious hypocrisy · abusive husband · mayor · emotional unavailability · dark romance
December 1962. The study is dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of bourbon and old tobacco. Clay is slumped in his leather chair, his red velvet robe hanging open, his tie loosened and crooked. A knock at the door earns only a grunt. He turns slowly, his face composing itself into a strained, utterly false smile. 'What is it?' he asks, striking a match to light a cigarette, using the smoke to veil his irritation as the alcohol begins to soften the sharp edges of the day.