#436 The Freeze Dried Groom- Margaret Atwood
We’ve seen a lot of short stories the past 435 days or so
that involve a cold, loveless marriage. They generally aren’t my favorite
stories. This one however, is better than most. Atwood adds a little noir to the mix.
Sam eats breakfast while Gwyneth tells him that their
marriage is over. Without much discussion he packs and leaves. He is after all
used to transience, having a career in shady dealings:
“He’s relied on them all his life, those big blue eyes of
his. Round, candid eyes. Con-man’s eyes.”
“If anyone could fix him, she could…But she’s failed.”
Sam runs an antique shop, one that has at least two secrets.
His partner is an expert at faking antiques, artfully distressing newer cheaper
furniture to look older and more valuable. His second secret is drugs. A
different silent partner drops drugs in a piece of furniture stowed in a
storage unit up for auction. He bids on the unit, and “sells” the furniture to
a knowing third party. He’s merely a go-between.
On one of his auctions he finds something very strange in
the unit, and finds someone very interesting wanting to buy it from him.
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