Man, woman, and child(40)

leant let go.



V^HILDHOOD HAD ABRUPTLY ENDED FOR JeSSICA AND

Paula.

As she stood at the top of the stairway, Sheila could hear them talking to one another.

"He's never gonna come back to this house," Paula insisted. ''Never, never, never."

Jessie's tone of voice sounded strangely less agitated. "That's really up to Mom," she said.

There was a pause while Paula considered this.

"How could she even talk to him after what he's done?" she asked.

"I don't know," Jessie answered. "I just hope they don't really—you know—split. I mean, kids from broken homes are always screwed up."

Another silence while Paula tried to ponder the grown-up realities.

"Oh, Jessie, I'm so scared. Everything's different/'

"Don't worry. I'll take care of you."

Yet another pause.

"But who'll take care of Mom?"

Sheila knocked, and opened the door. She found Jessie with her arms around Paula. They both looked relieved to see her. She sat down on the bed.

145



"Well, if s been quite a day, hasn't it?'' And she made an effort to smile.

"What's gonna happen, Mom?" asked Paula anxiously.

"Well, Daddy will be back soon," she replied, "and we'll start to pick up the pieces."

"Are we ever gonna be happy again?" Paula asked. Nothing in her world seemed sure now.

"Of course we will. Look, the most painful part of growing up is discovering that nobody's perfect Not even your parents."

"You are," said Paula.

"Nobody is," Sheila insisted.

Jessie looked at her mother's eyes. "You still love Daddy, don't you?"

Sheila nodded. "Jess, weVe been happy for nearly twenty years. Happier than almost anyone." She hesitated and then let slip, "Almost perfect."

"God, Mom," Jessie said painfully. "Life's crappy."

Sheila weighed this judgment for a moment.

"Yes, darling," she acknowledged. "Sometimes it is."

Just then the doorbell rang. Could it be Bob already? The girls were certainly not prepared to face him. She wasn't even sure she was.

"I'll get it," she said.

He's trying to be considerate, she thought as she started downstairs. Instead of just barging in, he rang to warn us.

Sheila opened the door.

It was Gavin Wilson. She was speechless.

"Forgive me for intruding, Sheila," he said, looking ill at ease, "but you sounded a bit strange on the phone. I was rather concerned. Are you quite certain everything is all right?"



*'Oh, yes. It's just that when you called, the children were . . ." She groped for a plausible excuse.

'Tes. Quite/' he said, agreeing with her incompleted thoughts.

They were both a trifle awkward, standing there on the porch, not knowing quite what to say next.

"Aren't you supposed to be in Washington?" she asked, thinking, God, I must look a mess.

''It can do without me for another day, I think."

Oh.

"Would you—uh—like to come in?" she asked. But Gavin sensed that she really did not want him to.

"Well, Fm afraid Fve been presumptuous in rushing down. But I'm glad everything's all right. Look, I'm staying at the Inn. If I can—you know —be of help in any way, just ring. On the other hand, don't feel obliged to."

Shut up, Gavin, you're burbling again.

"That's very kind of you," said Sheila. And then added vaguely, "My husband ought to be back soon. He had to go to the airport."

"Oh?" said Gavin. "Some sort of emergency?"

"You might say so."

"Oh," said Gavin again.

To which Sheila replied, "I'm very touched by your thoughtfulness."

"Yes. Well. Uh—you know where to reach me, then," he answered shyly. He then turned and started back toward his rented car.

"Gavin," Sheila called. He stopped about ten yards from the porch.

"Yes?"

"Would you like to join us for a drink this evening—say, nine-thirty or so?"

"That would be splendid. Should I call and check first?"



*'No, no. Just come by. Bob will be glad to meet you."

"Fine. Well, till then." He waved in a kind of half salute, turned and walked to his car.

How nice he is, thought Sheila. Going to all this trouble. Just for me.

Sheila and the girls were having dinner when the phone rang.

"Sheila?"

"Bob—is everything okay?"

"Uh—yes and no. We ran into an incredible traffic jam. We're still not at Logan and the flight's already taken off."

"Oh."

'^Listen," he said, "there's only one sensible solution. We should stay over in Lexington so he can take the flight tomorrow. Don't you agree?"