“Yes, of course. What did you think—that I’d have her stretch out on the sofa?” His wife’s voice broke.
“We’re coming home first thing in the morning,” he said.
“Who is ‘we’?”
“The moving men. There was some confusion about my wallet and we were delayed. I thought it best to put us all up at a motel. We’ll set out first thing in the morning.”
“What do you mean, ‘confusion’?”
“One of them took my damned wallet, then felt remorse and returned it. But do not breathe a word of this to either of them, do you understand? I want to remain cordial and simply conclude this move.”
She sniffed. “I suppose it’s very late, and I might not be understanding you,” she said. “You have the wallet, you and the moving men will be on your way. All right. But tell me, Francis—what do I say to our son about his behavior, when he returns?”
“That he’s an insensitive asshole, I guess.”
“I don’t think I should cross him,” she said quietly. “He got very angry when Lucy’s mother upset her, as if that was Lucy’s doing.”
“Get some sleep,” he said.
“We’ve raised an immature idiot,” she said.
He nodded, but of course she could not see him. “Sleep,” he repeated.
“He has a screw missing,” she said.
“See you tomorrow, early,” he said.
“You have your wallet? That all worked out all right, did it?”
“It worked out,” he said.
She said, “For God’s sake, turn on the television.”
At the Continental-breakfast buffet, he saw Jim sitting alone at a circular table. Jim had piled two Danish pastries onto a napkin—for Don, Francis was sure. A cup of coffee sat on the table, with a lid on the cup. “Didn’t hear the news until this morning,” Jim said. “Seems like plane stuff happens a lot more than it ought to.”
“Do they know what caused it?” Francis asked.
Jim looked at him. He seemed more tired than he had when they checked in. He had circles under his eyes, dark, like a raccoon’s. “They tell us what they want us to hear,” he said.
“Your friend Don,” Francis said, pulling back a plastic chair. “He obviously looks up to you.”
“He wanted the two of us to spring my son and take care of him, you know that? Go on welfare and take care of him.” Jim shook his head. “He’s somethin’, ” he said.
“Would that not be at all possible?” Francis said.
“No, it wouldn’t,” Jim said. “You’d know that in one second.”
“He miscalculated, then. He obviously looks up to you,” Francis said again.
“Yeah, well, it’s no ‘Brokeback Mountain,’ ” Jim said, taking a big bite of his bagel.
Francis tried again: “I think he might do things—say things, maybe—to impress you.”
“Scare me, is more like it. My son’s a pretzel,” he said. “Not one doctor, ever, thought anybody could take care of him anywhere but in an institution.” He got up. “Ten minutes, out front,” he said.
Francis stood to get some coffee. “I hope I didn’t offend you by asking whether Don’s idea might have some viability,” he said.
“No, it’s just that Don’s not my kid and sometimes it feels like he is.” Jim started for the door, shaking his head. Then he turned back. “If he pressured you into saying you wanted one of the decoys and you don’t, no hard feelings.”
“He didn’t do that. I want one very much. You do beautiful work. You’re a real artist,” Francis said.
Jim nodded slowly. “My grandfather was better, back twenty years ago, but I stick with it, and every now and then I learn something.”
“The price is very reasonable,” Francis said.
“If I have more money or less money things are about the same, I notice.”
“You didn’t feel you had to quote me a low price, for any reason?” Francis asked.
Jim looked at him.
“You know, it might be a little tense at my house. My son’s girlfriend was on that plane. That’s bad enough, but she’s also pregnant, and he doesn’t want to marry her.”
A look of concern flickered over Jim’s face. “You’re full of surprises today,” he said. He seemed to be debating continuing on his way or staying rooted to the spot. “Tell him not to,” he said. “If he’ll listen to your advice.”
“I wanted to prepare you, because there might be a bit of tension in the air,” Francis said.
“We’ll just carry the furniture in. Leave,” Jim said. “We’re just the moving men.”
“My wife sometimes deals with her anxiety by remaining rather aloof.”
Jim nodded. “Not lookin’ to make friends with your wife,” he said.