Folly Beach - Dorothea Benton Frank [128]
“How far along is she?” I said.
“Seven weeks,” he said. “That’s a lot, huh?”
“Russ? You want to know the secret of how to get through this pregnancy?”
“The flower aisle at the Piggly Wiggly?”
“My genius son. Yes. We’re going to get you on Jeopardy!”
“You know, you were right about bringing her flowers and telling her she was beautiful.”
“Well, son? Think about it. She needs to hear it. Her entire body is working so hard to produce and support another life. Every hormone she’s got is like a whirling dervish. So until she gets to about her seventh month, she’s going to be a little extra touchy.”
“You mean, I’ve got five more months of this?”
“No, my precious heart, if you’re lucky you’ve got another fifty years.”
“Oh, man.”
“Listen to me, sweetheart, your life is about to change for the better in so many ways you can’t even imagine. You’re going to have a child! Your very own child to love and cherish and believe me, there is nothing in this world that can happen to you that will bring you greater happiness. Nothing.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Really.”
“Yeah, I know. I guess. It’s what everyone tells me. But it’s a little scary, you know?”
“I’m right here for you, son, anytime you need me. I’m not going anywhere. You’d be a moron if you weren’t a little nervous but don’t let the changes in Alice throw you. This is the time for you to be the man, Russ. You know, the protector? If you think about it, she’s going through this for you and for all of us. What more important contribution can a woman make to a family than a life? Try to be extra understanding and realize however quirky she might seem right now, it isn’t you and it isn’t her, it’s her body sending her all kinds of messages she’s never heard before.”
“Like to start eating like a wolf?”
“Yes.”
“Like to fall asleep all the time?”
“Yes, like the only time she’s not talking about being tired is when she’s asleep?”
“Exactly. What causes that?”
“I have no earthly idea. Ask the doctor. I’m sure there’s a new study that says it’s a vitamin deficiency or something. Anyway . . .”
I thanked him for seeing about Ella and I promised him I would take Alice out to lunch or for a manicure or for a walk on the beach and that I’d talk to her and more important, I’d listen to her.
“I love you, Mom.”
“And, my darling boy? You’re going to realize for the first time how much I love you when you hold your own child.”
I could almost feel him blush, just thinking about his own little baby.
We hung up and John called just a few minutes later.
“Hey,” he said. “How was your day?”
“Good!”
“How’s Miss Daisy?”
“She’s doing just great, thanks. Probably coming home tomorrow. How about you? How was your day?”
“Well, I got a really disturbing phone call from Camp Lisa. I don’t want to . . . but well, the truth is I need to tell someone.”
Camp Lisa was how he referred to the institution where his estranged insane wife resided.
“You tell me, John. It’s fine to tell me anything. You know that.” I thought, given Lisa’s history, she probably tried to stab someone again.
“Turns out she’s got Stage Four pancreatic cancer.”
“Oh John. That’s awful.” It was about the last thing in the world I expected him to say.
“Yeah, she’s going. I mean, you know, it’s not as if I’ve had a thought, not a single thought of ever getting back together with her, because I knew there were absolutely no drugs or therapies out there that could cure her. And besides, I was all done with her the last time she laced my juice. How can you love someone who wants to kill you?”
“No, I know. I know all that. But still. What a shock.”
“They wanted to know if I wanted to see her one last time and if not, what did I want them to do with her remains? Her remains. Gee, God. What a question. Anyway, she’s only expected to live for a few weeks. At most.”
“Jesus, John. That’s a helluva phone call to get.”
“Yeah, it was. I was sitting at my desk grading papers. Hopefully