Spring Fever

“Sounds like you won’t be spending much time in Passcoe,” A

“I’ve been thinking about it for a long time. And now, since I don’t have any ties to Quixie, well, there’s really no reason to stay around here. This house is beyond depressing. I’m only sixty-six, did you know that, A

“Go for it,” A

“I put the Viagra bottle on the bathroom counter, right beside his shaving kit, and then I waited for him to wake up and find it,” Sallie said. “He came downstairs, still in his bathrobe. Gle

“I remember, Pokey always had to get dressed before she came downstairs, even on Saturday mornings,” A

“I should have known he wasn’t feeling well,” Sallie said. “But I was so angry!”

“Did you confront him about the Viagra? About the woman he’d been with?”

“Eva. Her name was Eva,” Sallie said. “He said it was just a … mild flirtation. We had a fight. I told him I wouldn’t stand for being humiliated anymore. I asked him if he wanted a divorce, and he said no, of course not. He apologized, and I left shortly after that, to go to the country club for my bridge date. And when I got home,” she said, biting her lip. “He was on the floor, unconscious.” She opened a cookie jar on the counter and brought out yet another pack of cigarettes and a lighter. She lit a cigarette with trembling hands and blinked back tears.

“That’s a nice story,” A

“You’re calling me a liar?” Sallie asked, her face deadpan.

“I guess I am,” A

54

Sallie flicked her cigarette into the sink, then turned on the tap to wash away the telltale ashes. She regarded A

“Why don’t you tell me what you think happened?”

“I know for a fact that Gle

“Did she now?” Sallie asked.

“Even she could tell, just from his voice on the phone, that he was having problems breathing. He admitted that he wasn’t feeling well. Voncile begged him to call his cardiologist or to go to the emergency room, but he told her you were right there, taking good care of him.”

“Cardiologist?” Sallie said. “I wasn’t aware at the time that he had a cardiologist. Just one of the many secrets Gle

“You’re a liar,” A

“Who said he was having problems in bed?” Sallie asked. “Didn’t your mother ever tell you to have respect for your elders?” She tsk-tsked. “This is really not a topic for polite conversation, A

“I’m tired of polite conversation,” A

“Oh, please do,” Sallie said.

“Voncile talked to Gle

“Absurd,” Sallie said. “Gle

“The Carolina game? At noon? Really?” A

“It was some football game,” Sallie said. “I was so mad; I was distracted. But I do know that Gle

“Voncile told me she tried to call Gle

“It was an awful day. My husband died that day, remember?”

“Voncile remembers it, because she was so worried about Gle

“I just told her that to get her off the phone. He was watching the game!” Sallie repeated. “Gle

A

She stood inches away from Sallie, whose back was to the sink. “Did he ask you to get his heart meds, Sallie?”

“No!”

“Did he ask you to call 911?”

“No!”

“Did you stand there and watch him dying? Was he already unconscious when you left to go play bridge at the country club? Were you surprised to come home that afternoon and find him still alive? Is that why you called 911 when you did? Because you knew it was already too late?”

Sallie stubbed her cigarette out in the sink and turned on the tap and then the garbage disposal. The metallic rattling filled the room until she switched it off. She washed her hands, dried them, then carefully applied moisturizing cream to each of her elegantly manicured hands.

“I loved my husband,” she said calmly. “I took care of him until the very end. And you can’t prove otherwise.”

“You’re right. I can’t prove a thing,” A

A

55

Mason pulled around to the front of the Pinecone Motor Lodge and parked in front of A

“Who is it?” she called.

“It’s the big bad wolf,” Mason answered. “Open up, or I’ll huff and I’ll puff…”

The door swung open. A

He smiled and tugged her by the hand. “Come on,” he said. “There’s something I want you to see.”

“Right now?” she protested. “Mason, I’ve got stuff to do. I told you that earlier today. I’ll come over in the morning, and we’ll fix bacon and pancakes for Sophie, but right now…”

“Right now, you’re coming with me,” he said. “Please?”

“Just let me change,” A

“You’re fine the way you are. In fact, perfect. Now let’s go.”

She finally managed to talk him into letting her put on a pair of sneakers and grab her phone, but five minutes later they were rolling through town in the Chevelle with the roof down, Journey blasting on the tape player.