She dropped her pile of linens and embraced me. 'You come in here,' she said and led me back into the linen room. 'Sit down,' she ordered, forcing me to sit on a carton. 'Now stop wailing and tell me what happened.'
'Pierre's very bad,' I said after a deep breath. 'The doctor's aren't very encouraging.'
'Well, the doctors don't know everything, Pearl. I've seen old people on their deathbed snap their eyes open and start yelling at me for not bringing them their juice or tea fast enough. Why, once they pronounced a man dead and he got up and left the hospital, he was so mad.'
'No, they didn't,' I said, smiling through my tears.
'I swear,' she said holding up her hand. Then she laughed. 'I missed you, and a lot's happened here since you've been gone.'
'What's happened?' I wiped away the tears with the back of my hand.
'Dr. Weller was asked to leave,' she said in a hoarse whisper. 'He done something a doctor ain't supposed to do with a young lady patient. There was a big hullabaloo, but everyone tried to keep it squashed. Next thing I heard, he wasn't a doctor here no more.'
'What did he do to her?' I asked, holding my breath.
'Nothing much, except make her pregnant,' she said, and then her eyes widened. 'There's talk the hospital might be sued, too. Guess you're lucky you didn't become his study partner, huh?'
'Yes,' I said. 'But it's tragic for everyone.'
'My mama says you play, you pay. Just remember, I told her, I'm not getting pregnant until I'm married. You want to come with me and get some coffee or tea or juice?' she asked.
'No,' I said, standing. 'I'd better get back. My mother and father are going to need me more than ever,' I said. 'Pierre's going into a private room with private nurses.'
'I'll look in on him, too,' she said. 'And I'll say prayers for him and give a donation at the church.'
'Thank you, Sophie.'
We hugged, and I returned to the lounge where Mommy and Daddy were still waiting for Pierre to be moved. We saw him settled comfortably in his new bed, and Daddy and Mommy spoke with the private nurse who was going to take the first shift. Mommy insisted on remaining at Pierre's bedside for the remainder of the afternoon and relented only when Daddy said he was in too much pain to remain at the hospital.
'We all need some rest now, Ruby,' he said. 'Otherwise we won't be able to be with Pierre as much as we like.'
Reluctantly she agreed, and we went home. Mommy went right up to bed. She and Daddy had a light supper in their room. While I was eating, Aubrey came to tell me I had a phone call from a Monsieur Clovis. I left the table quickly.
'Jack!'
'I didn't want to call too soon. How are things?'
'Not good, Jack. Pierre is in a deep coma again, and the doctors are very pessimistic. They're not saying this in so many words, but I think it would take a miracle for him to recover.'
'I'm sorry. I'd like to come to New Orleans, but I don't want to come at the wrong time.'
'Any time you come will be the right time, Jack.'
'All right,' he said. 'I'll be there day after tomorrow. Can you recommend an inexpensive hotel?'
'You'll stay here, Jack.'
'I can't do that.'
'Of course you can, and of course you will,' I insisted. 'We have more room than we need. If I'm not at the house, I'll be at the hospital,' I said. There was a little pause before he spoke again.
'This may not be the proper time for me to say it,' he told me, 'but I miss you.'
'I miss you, too.'
I felt guilty .being happy when my parents were so sad, but I couldn't help feeling a surge of excitement when I thought about Jack coming to New Orleans. I had a better appetite when I returned to the dinner table and finished my supper. Afterward I thought about watching television or listening to some music, but decided instead to go up to my room to read for a while before going to sleep.
The lights were out in Mommy and Daddy's room, so I didn't bother them, but a little less than an hour after I had put out my own lights, I heard Mommy scream. I got up and rushed across the corridor. The lights were on, and they were both sitting up in bed. Daddy was embracing Mommy.
'What is it?' I asked, my heart pounding. hadn't heard the phone ring, but it could have. Was there bad news from the hospital?
'Your mother had a nightmare; it's all right,' Daddy said.
'No,' she cried pulling away from him. 'It's not all right.'
'Ruby!'
She shook her head vehemently and started to get out of bed.
'Where are you going, Mommy?' I asked as she reached for her clothing.
'I've got to go to Jean's grave,' she said.
'Now?' Daddy said, amazed. 'But it's nearly midnight, Ruby, and—'
