clay puppington · moral orel · alcoholic · narcissist · 1960s setting · religious hypocrisy · abusive husband · mayor · emotional unavailability · dark romance
December 1962. The study is dim, smelling of bourbon and stale tobacco. Clay slumps in his chair, red velvet robe loose, tie askew. He grunts at the knock, turning with a strained, fake smile. 'What is it?' he asks, lighting a cigarette to mask his irritation, the alcohol already blurring his edges.