“This is a good time. As good as any, I suppose.” What excuse was there for keeping him, all of them, away while their father dozed through whatever time remained to him, even though the old man himself did not ask her to send for them? Teddy could have blamed her for letting things get worse without calling him. It was pride, or it was shame that had made her hope Jack would recover himself enough to let the others see that things had been good between them. Though there was their father, too. But she saw nothing of anger or accusation in Teddy’s manner. A calm, affable man who went about his doctoring with scrupulous detachment and a heavy heart, he saw enough misery in the ordinary course of his life to avoid adding to it, except when compelled to on medical grounds.
“Is he here?”
She said, “He’s upstairs.”
“Would he mind if I said hello to him?”
She said, “Why should he mind?” and they laughed, ruefully. “I’ll tell him you’re here.”
JACK WAS LYING ON HIS BACK WITH AN ARM ACROSS HIS face, to shield his eyes from the light that came through the drawn blinds. When he heard her at the door he rolled away from her.
“What,” he said. “What is it.”
“Teddy’s here.”
He laughed. “I wondered when you were going to get around to that. Calling Teddy.”
“I didn’t ask him to come. He just came on his own, as far as I know.”
He turned to look at her. “You’re whispering. So he must be downstairs.”
“Yes.”
“I didn’t hear his car. I guess I was asleep.”
“Well, he’d like to see you.”
“Have you told him?”
“No. Should I?”
“Please don’t. Don’t, Glory. It will never happen again, I swear.” He rubbed his face. “I’ll have to wash up. I shouldn’t have slept in this shirt. I could use an aspirin.” He swung his legs over the side of the bed and sat up. “Where did I leave my shoes?” He rubbed his eyes. “Teddy,” he said. “That’s just what I need right now.”
She brought him the bottle of aspirin and a glass of water. Then she brought him a washcloth and a towel.
“Thanks,” he said.
“I’ll tell him you’ll be down in a few minutes. I’ll start some coffee.”
“Yes, coffee,” he said, scrubbing his face and his neck, then his face again. “Sorry,” he said. “Sorry about all this.”
She went down to the kitchen. Teddy was standing in the porch looking out at the garden. “You’ve been busy,” he said.
“Jack did most of it.”
He looked at her, to gauge the ratio of truth to loyalty in what she said, ready to be pleased with either of them, just wanting the information. “Then he must be doing all right.”
“He was for a while.”
“I see.” Teddy with his crisp hair and his groomed hands, his soft brown sweater and his tortoiseshell glasses. He was mild and reassuring in every way he could be, by nature, habit, and intention. There was something of the scent of rubbing alcohol about him, so faint that he must have known it suggested illness or emergency and have scrubbed it off as carefully as he could. That would account for the cologne he wore, his only departure from decorous simplicity. After a few minutes he said, “I can leave, if that’s what he wants. I knew he wouldn’t be too happy to see me. You can tell him I won’t stay long.”
“Give him a few more minutes. He’ll be down. He probably wanted to clean up a little.”
Teddy laughed. “And polish his shoes, I suppose. Has he changed a lot?”
“I didn’t know him as well as you did. He’s still Jack.”
“Dad told me you and he get along. He worried about that.”
Jack came down the stairs in his stocking feet, wearing one of his own shirts, still trying to button a sleeve. He stopped by the door, glanced at Glory, and smiled. He folded the cuff over twice, then unbuttoned the other sleeve and rolled it up, too.
His brother said, “Jack.”
Jack said, “Teddy.”
“How are you, Jack? It’s good to see you.”
Jack propped himself against the counter and folded his arms. It was fairly obvious how he was. Still, Glory wished he were not so thin, that he’d put on a better shirt, that it was not so hard for him to raise his eyes. “I’m all right,” he said. He smiled and shrugged. “I’ve been looking for work.”
Teddy drew a breath. He said, “I’m your brother, Jack! Jesus Christ!”
Jack laughed.
“I mean, it’s fine if you’re looking for work. But it’s none of my business, is it.” Then he said, “Hey, Jack. Can we shake hands, at least?”
Jack shrugged. “Of course.”
Teddy went to his brother and took Jack’s hand in both his hands and held it. “So it’s true. You’re really here. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. I’ve hardly been able to believe it.”
Jack laughed. “I could show you the wound in my side if you like.” Then, “Sorry.” And his head fell, and it was real regret. He was so tired of himself.
