“There’s nothing to say.Look.”She holds the plastic container higher.
“I made some rice and beans.Are you hungry?”
“I don’t know.”
She takes his hand, pulls him out ofhis chair, and leads him to the relative neutrality ofthe kitchen.She seats him at the table, opens the con-tainer, and then finds a fork in the silverware drawer.She sits across from him, gestures for him to eat.
“I put a little extra hot sauce in it,”she says.“The way you like it.”
He tastes it.Its hotness feels cleansing.
”And hardly any salt,”she says.“I’ve noticed you never salt your food.”
He takes another bite.He hasn’t eaten since yesterday.He sees her glancing quickly at her watch.
“You have to leave?”he asks.
”No.Well, actually, soon.”She gets up, carries her chair next to his, and sits again.She runs her fingers through his hair.
“Who’s home?”he asks.
”I’ve got somebody new, a really sweet Jamaican lady named Sandra.”
She crosses her fingers.“Want to see something?”She stands, lifts her T-shirt, exposing her belly.“Look how fat I’m getting.”
“I don’t see it.You look the same.”
“Are you kidding? Look!”She grabs an inch ofskin, shakes it.“I might be pregnant.”
Daniel struggles to keep his expression detached.But he thinks
“That would be all we need, wouldn’t it?”says Iris.
”Do you really think you might be?”
“I don’t know.I sure feel bloated.Who knows? Maybe we can be one ofthose couples who think they can solve the world’s problems by cre-ating a new race, or a non-race, or whatever.”
“That might be a good idea.”
She smiles, shakes her head.“I actually have to go.I told Sandra I’d be right back.”
“How’s Hampton? Nelson?”
“Let’s not even talk about them.Can you do that?”
“I don’t know.”
“I have to leave, honey.I’m sorry.”
“Thanks for the food.”
“You were starved.”
“It’s good.Soul food.”
“Not really.There’s no ham hocks or any ofthat old-timey crap.”
“It’s still soul food.”
Iris kisses his forehead, strokes his hair again.
”Do you still love me?”
“Yes,”Daniel says.
”This is so hard.”
“I know.”
“Don’t you sometimes wish…?”
He reaches for her.“No,”he says.“It’s too late for that.There’s no turning back.”
