The last secret_ a novel - Mary McGarry Morris [92]
“Louis wants to take the rest of the term off to help.”
“Who?” Nora asks, pouring more wine, just a half glass. “Your mother?”
“No, me.” Kay's dark eyes shine. She puts down her fork and takes a deep breath. “Nora,” she whispers. “I had a lump. It's malignant.” She touches a spot above her left breast. “It's out now, but … my lymph nodes, they're … it's pretty well spread, the cancer.” She takes deep breaths.
“What can I do? Please, Kay. Anything.” Nora is devastated.
Kay shakes her head and tries to smile.
“You've got to let me. Please. Let me help you.”
“I will. I'm okay now. But I will. Chemo starts next week. Monday.”
“Then I'll drive you. Both ways, and that way I can wait there with you.”
“Thanks, hon. But you know me. Ever efficient. All arrangements made. Rides, wigs, best to keep busy. Same with Mom, all her details. Which reminds me.” She removes a pamphlet from her purse. “My big chance.” She points to a frosted blonde wig styled in a pageboy. “What do you think?”
“Yes! Go for it.” Nora's tears blur the picture.
“Deep down, there's always been a blonde in me. Crazy Kiki. Time to set her free, don't you think?”
Nora nods. “Kiki. Yeah, you're going to be all right. The two of you, I can tell. You are,” she insists.
“Well, we're sure as hell gonna try,” Kay says, dabbing her eyes with her napkin.
Also crying, Nora gestures to the waitress for the check. People watch, bewildered, as the sniffling women leave the dining room.
“You know what they're thinking, don't you?” Kay whispers as they put on their coats. “That we just broke up or something.”
“Oh God! That's all I need,” Nora groans, opening the door. She trips on the step and Kay grabs her arm. “This is bad,” Nora laughs, leaning against her. “This is so bad.”
“So what. Who cares? We're entitled,” Kay says, guiding her through the parking lot.
“Tonight, anyway,” Nora says, and starts crying all over again.
Kay's car is closer, so Nora gets in with her. They sit for a long time, talking, crying, laughing.
“I keep thinking how simple life seemed, and all the time …” Her voice drifts off. Sighing, she stares out the window.
“We thought we were happy. At least we had that.”
“No!” Nora looks at her. “What kind of life is that?”
“There's always something,” Kay says. “We just don't know what or when or where, but it's there.”
Waiting. Somewhere. Her eyes widen. How stupid of her. What was she thinking? The minute Eddie runs out of money he'll be back for more. She should have told Ken immediately. She still can, and will. Yes, soon, when things are more settled. She crosses her arms, hugging herself.
“I know,” she says quietly. “You're right, and that's what I keep trying to tell myself: that this is it. Right here. Now. In the moment, that's how we have to live.”
“Well, maybe. If you're a cat or a dog.” Kay sniffs, ever the realist.
“Or Robin Gendron,” Nora says, and they laugh.
“Which reminds me,” Kay says. “Guess who I saw again last week. Downtown. Coming out of the craft shop. Robin, and that friend of yours. That guy.”
Nora has no idea who she means.
“That time, the one we had lunch with. Remember?”
She manages to nod.
“Robin's latest admirer. Or, should I say, victim. From the looks of him.”
Nora's heart is racing. Even in here she feels it, foul, invasive, the poisonous seepage. Why with her, with Robin? She has to do something, but what? Go to the police, admit how she paid him to go away, and how he's not holding up his end of the agreement now. If there ever was an agreement. Did he ever even say he'd leave? She only assumed he was after money. What else could he possibly want? She never should have given him a cent. What was she thinking? Blackmail, she set herself up for it. Seeing how easily the money came, of course he'll want more. But why Robin?
She takes the long way home, turns slowly onto Dellmere Drive. Every light appears to be on inside the Gendrons'. No cars in front, just Clay's fallen bike, its icy pedal frozen into the lawn. Careless.