going to take a long time.”
“The game’s over,” Joe said as the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it.”
Without any sense of optimism, Judith stood next to
Renie as Aunt Deb picked up the phone on the first
ring.
“Hi, Mom,” Renie began. “I’ve got a question for
you . . . Well, yes, of course I want to know how you
are, but I talked to you this morning for at least twenty
minutes and . . . No kidding? How did your big toe get
stuck in the drain? . . . Thank goodness for Mrs. Parker
stopping by . . . I didn’t realize Auntie Vance and
Uncle Vince were coming down from the island . . .
No, I won’t tell Aunt Gertrude . . . Yes, I know how she
and Auntie Vance like to argue . . . No, I realize you
aren’t one to quarrel . . . Yes, Aunt Gertrude can be a
trial sometimes. You’re very patient with her . . . I’m
aware that she thinks she’s the one who’s being patient
with you . . . Certainly Auntie Vance can have a rough
tongue . . . She told you to put your big toe where? . . .
Well, that is kind of coarse, but you know what Auntie
Vance is like . . .”
Judith was distracted by the return of Joe with three
deliverymen carrying several cartons and portable
heating units. “Oh, dear,” she sighed. “I forgot about
the caterers.”
“I’ll handle it,” Joe said grimly.
As the deliverymen began to unload the order onto
the buffet, Renie eyed the food with longing. “I know
it’s foggy,” she said into the phone. “Yes, I’ll cover all
my orifices when I go outside so that the damp won’t
harm me . . . Of course I’m wearing sturdy shoes.” She
glanced down at her flimsy brown flats. “No, this pair
doesn’t lace up to my ankles. I haven’t worn those oxfords since I was twelve . . .”
Judith’s attention drifted to the buffet, where Joe
was ripping open boxes and dumping out heated bags.
The deliverymen had already skittered out of the house
after presenting an embarrassingly large bill.
Joe emptied a box of Wienie Wizards, dropping almost all of them on the floor. They bounced, but not
very high.
“Wait!” Judith cried. “Let me do that. You’re angry,
and you’re making a mess.”
Joe’s jaw jutted. “Do you know what all this crap
cost?”
“No, and I don’t want to know,” Judith shot back.
“Not now. Let me call Arlene on my cell phone and see
if she wants any of this food before you destroy it.”
