“Why don’t you get one of your own? That thing’s too big for her. Can’t water-ski with it. Can’t even dock it in the town. They have to leave it in one place and get in another little boat just to land.”
“Why should I buy her a boat and let it sit ten months out of a year? If those nitwits don’t mind her using theirs, it’s fine with me.”
“Maybe she’d stay the whole year if she had one.”
“Not likely. And I prefer she should stay because her husband’s here, not because a boat is. Anyway, tell Ondine not to serve them anymore.”
“No good?”
“One of the worst things about being old is eating. First you have to find something you can eat and second you have to try not to drop it all over yourself.”
“I wouldn’t know about that.”
“Of course not. You’re fifteen minutes younger than I am. Nevertheless, tell Ondine no more of these. Too flaky. They fly all over no matter what you do.”
“Croissant supposed to be flaky. That’s as short a dough as you can make.”
“Just tell her, Sydney.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And find out if the boy can straighten those bricks. They are popping up all over the place.”
“He needs cement he said.”
“No. No cement. He’s to pack them down properly. The soil will hold them if he does it right.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Mrs. Street awake?”
“I believe so. Anything else special you going to want for the holidays?”
“No. Just the geese. I won’t be able to eat a bit of it, but I want to see it on the table anyway. And some more thalomide.”
“You want Yardman to bring you thalomide? He can’t even pronounce it.”
“Write a note. Tell him to give it to Dr. Michelin.”
“All right.”
“And tell Ondine that half Postum and half coffee is revolting. Worse than Postum alone.”
“Okay. Okay. She thought it would help.”
“I know what she thought, but the help is worse than the problem.”
“That might not be what the trouble is, you know.”
“You are determined to make me have an ulcer. I don’t have an ulcer. You have an ulcer. I have occasional irregularity.”
“I
“I’m delighted. Did you say she was awake?”
“She was. Could have gone back to sleep, though.”
“What did she want?”
“Want?”
“Yes. Want. The only way you could know she was awake is if she rang you up there. What did she want?”
“Towels, fresh towels.”
“Sydney.”
“She did. Ondine forgot to—”
“What were the towels wrapped around?”
“Why you keep thinking that? Everything she drinks you see her drink. A little dinner wine, that’s all and hardly more than a glass of that. She never was a drinker. You the one. Why you always trying to make her into one?”
“I’ll speak to Jade.”
“What could Jade know that I don’t?”
“Nothing, but she’s as honest as they come.”
“Come on, now, Mr. Street. It’s the truth.”
Valerian held a pineapple quarter with his fork and began cutting small regular pieces from it.
“All right,” said Sydney, “I’ll tell you. She wanted Yardman to stop by the airport before he comes Thursday.”
“What for, pray?”
