'Great.'
'Real great.' Her voice was tight.
Remembering the short-lived moment of tension last time I'd talked to her-the feeling that she was about to tell me something important-I said, 'Is there anything you want to discuss with me?'
She touched Cassie's hair. Cassie started to play with another drawing. 'No, I don't think so.'
Dr. Eves tells me y~~~~~ be going home 'That's what she says.' She adjusted Cassie's topknot. 'I'm sure looking forward to it.'
'Bet you are,' I said. 'No more doctors for a while.'
She looked at me. 'The doctors have been great. I know they're doing their best.'
'You've seen some of the best,' I agreed. 'Bogner, Torgeson, Macauley, Dawn Herbert.'
No reaction.
'Got anything planned when you get back home?'
'Just getting back to normal.'
Wondering what that meant, I said, 'I'd like to come out pretty soon.'
'Oh-of course. You can draw with Cassie at her play table. I'm sure we can find a chair to fit you-can't we, Cass?'
Fit.' 'Right! Fit.'
'Fip'
'Excellent, Cass. Do you want Dr. Delaware to draw with you at your little bear table?' When Cassie didn't answer she said, 'Draw? Draw pictures?' and made scrawling motions with one hand.
'Daw.'
'Yes, draw. With Dr. Delaware.'
Cassie looked at her, then me. Then she nodded. Then she smiled.
I stayed awhile, providing entertainment and looking for signs of post-seizural damage. Cassie seemed okay but I knew brain effects could be subtle. For the thousandth time I wondered what was going on in her little body.
Cindy was friendly enough, but I couldn't shake the feeling that her enthusiasm for my services had waned. She sat on the sleeper, brushing out her hair while scanning Tv' Guide. The hospital air was cool and dry and the hair crackled with each stroke. Northern light came in through the room's single window, a straw-colored beam that burned through the smog and burst against the fairy-tale wallpaper.
The lower edge of the beam touched upon the long dark strands, tracing a metallic streak through them.
It created an odd cosmetic effect and made her look beautiful.
I'd never thought of her as desirable-too busy wondering if she was a monster. But seeing her gilded that way made merealize how little she exploited her looks.
Before I could mull that any longer, the door swung open and Chip came in, carrying coffee. He had on navy sweats and running shoes and his hair looked freshly washed. A diamond sparkled in his ear.
His greeting was tavern-buddy friendly but a ribbon of steel ran through the amiability-resistance not unlike Cindy's. It made me wonder if the two of them had discussed me. When he sat down between Cassie and me I got up and said, 'See you later.'
No one argued, though Cassie kept looking at me. I smiled at her. She stared a while longer before shifting her attention to a drawing. I collected my stuff and headed for the door.
'Bye, Dr. Delaware,' said Cindy.
