Sigh almost long enough for me to recite the alphabet. “Good as can be.”
“How’s Mr. Overstreet?”
“Well… we’re all praying and hoping for the best, Doc. How’s things in L.A.? Haven’t been there in years. I bet everything’s bigger and faster and noisier and whatever- that’s the way life always seems to go, doesn’t it? You should see Dallas and Houston, and down here, too, though not as much down here- we got a ways to go before our troubles get really big.”
Word assault. Feeling as if I’d been hit hard in the end zone, I said, “Life goes on.”
“If you’re lucky, it does.” Sigh. “But anyway, enough philosophizing- that isn’t gonna help anyone or anything. I expect yew’ll be wanting to talk to Linda.”
“If she’s available.”
“That’s all she is, sir. Available. Poor thang never leaves the house, though I keep telling her it’s not natural for a girl her age to be just sittin’ around, playing nursie, getting all gloomy with no letup. Not that I’m suggesting, mind you, that she go out and live the high life every night, what with her daddy being the way he is, no telling what could happen at any minute. So she daren’t do anything she might feel regretful for later, mind you. But all this sitting can’t bring good to anyone. To herself, especially. If you catch what I mean.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Gotta figure it this way: tapioca pudding that doesn’t get eaten develops a skin and turns hard and crusty around the edges and soon it’s no good for anyone. Same for a woman. That’s as true as the Pledge of Allegiance, believe me.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Anyway… I’ll go get her, tell her you’re calling long distance.”
Clunk.
Shouts over the network babble:
“
Footsteps, then a harried voice: “Let me take this in another room.”
A few moments later: “Okay- one second- I’ve got it. Hang up, Dolores!”
Hesitation. Click. Demise of the laugh-track.
Sigh.
“Hi, Alex.”
“Hi.”
“That
“Let’s see,” I said. “Part of one lobe’s gone.”
She laughed without heart. “It’s amazing I’ve got any of mine left. Amazing Daddy hasn’t… So… how are you?”
“Fine. How is he?”
“Up and down. One day he looks fine; the next he can’t get out of bed. The surgeon says he definitely needs the operation but is too weak to go through it right now- too congestive, and they’re still not sure how many arteries are involved. They’re trying to stabilize him with rest and medicine, get him strong enough for more tests. I don’t know… What can you do? That’s the way things go. So… how are you? I already asked you that, didn’t I?”
“Keeping busy.”
“That’s good, Alex.”
“The koi spawned.”
“Pardon?”
“The koi- the fish in the pond- are laying eggs. First time they’ve ever done it.”
“How nice,” she said. “So now you’ll be a daddy.”
“Yup.”
“Ready for the responsibility?”
“I don’t know,” I said. “We’re talking multiple births.” If any.
She said, “Well, look at it this way. At least there’ll be no diapers to deal with.”
Both of us laughed, said “So…” at the same time, and laughed again. Synchrony. But stilted. Like bad summer- stock theater.
She said, “Been down to the school?”
“Last week. Everything seems to be going well.”
“Real well, from what I hear. I spoke to Ben a couple of days ago. He’s turned out to be a bang-up principal.”
“He’s a nice guy,” I said. “Organized, too. You made a good recommendation.”
“Yeah, he is. Very organized.” She gave another heartless chuckle. “Wonder if I’ll have a job when I get back.”
“I’m sure you will. Made any plans, yet- in terms of getting back?”
“No,” she said sharply. “How in the world can I?”
I was silent.
She said, “I didn’t mean to snap, Alex. It’s just been hell… waiting. Sometimes I think waiting’s the hardest thing in the world. Even worse than… Anyway, no sense obsessing on it. It’s all part of growing up and being a big girl and facing reality, isn’t it?”
“I’d say you’ve had more than your share of reality lately.”
“Yeah,” she said. “Good for toughening up the old hide.”
“I kind of like your hide the way it is.”
Pause. “Alex, thanks for coming out last month. The three days you spent out here were the best days I’ve had.”
“Want me to come out again?”
“I wish I could say yes, but I’d be no good to you.”
“You don’t have to be good.”
“That’s sweet of you to say but… no- it just wouldn’t work out. I need to… be with him. Make sure he gets good care.”
“I take it Dolores hasn’t become much of a nurse?”
“You take it correctly. She’s the original Helpless Hannah- a broken nail’s a major tragedy. Till now she’s been one of those lucky idiots, never had to deal with anything like this. But the sicker he gets, the more
I said, “I know. I got caught in the downpour.”
“Poor you.”
“I’ll survive.”
Silence. I tried to conjure her face- blond hair against my chest. The feel of our bodies… The images wouldn’t come.
“Anyway,” she said, sounding very tired.
“Is there anything I can do for you long distance?”
“Thanks, but I can’t think of anything, Alex. Just think good thoughts about me. And take care of yourself.”
“You, too, Linda.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“I know you will.”
She said, “I think I hear him coughing… Yeah, I sure do. Got to be going.”
“Bye.”
“Bye.”
