"But-" "We'll be fine Rubbing his back with her... 525
"But-"
"We'll be fine Rubbing his back with her gnarled
fingersRubbing it with infinite tenderness
"Wireman will push me inside
Won't you, Wireman?"
He nodded against her breast without lifting his
head or making a sound
I thought it over and decided to do what she
wanted
The walker was the kind equipped with a shelf
Jack put the flashlight on it, glanced at Wireman
- still standing with his face hidden against the
old woman's bosom - and then walked to the open
passenger door of my car
"Goodnight, young manYou are an impatient
Parcheesi player, but you show promiseAnd
Edgar?" She looked calmly back at me over
Wireman's bent head, his heaving back"The water
runs faster nowDo you chanel earrings logo feel
that?"
437
"Yes," I saidI didn't know what she was talking
aboutI did know what she was talking aboutPlease stay on the Key, no matter what
happensI need you, and Duma Key
needs youRemember I said that, when I slip away
again
"Look for Nan Melda's picnic basketIt's in the
attic, I'm quite sure
"What would that be, Elizabeth?"
She nodded
And as simply as that, I knew the slipping-away
had begun once moreBut Wireman would get her
insideWireman would take care of herBut until
he was able to, she would take care of them both
I left them standing on the cobbles beneath the
gate arch, between the walker and the wheelchair,
she with her arms around him, he with his head on
her breast
x
438
I was exhausted from chanel handbags collection the stress of driving - I
think from spending the day among so many people
after being alone for so long, too - but the
thought of lying down, let alone going to sleep,
was out of the questionI checked my e-mail and
found communiqu?s from both my daughtersMelinda
had come down with strep in Paris and was taking
it as she always took illness - personallyIlse
had sent a link to the Asheville, North Carolina,
Citizen-TimesI clicked on it and found a
terrific review of The Hummingbirds, who had
appeared at the First Baptist Church and had had
the faithful shouting hallelujahThere was also a
picture of Carson Jones and a very good-looking
blonde standing in front of the rest of the group,
their mouths chanel devil wears prada necklace open in song, their eyes locked
Carson Jones and Bridget Andreisson duet on "How
Great Thou Art," read the captionMy If-So-
Girl had written, "I'm not a bit jealous
I made myself a bologna and cheese sandwich (three
months on Duma Key and I was still a go for
bologna), then went upstairsLooked at the Girl
and Ship paintings that were really Ilse and Ship
439
Thought of Wireman asking me what I was painting
these daysThought of the long message Elizabeth
had left on my answering machineThe anxiety in
her voiceShe'd said that I must take precautions
I came to a sudden decision and went back
downstairs, going as fast as I could without
falling
xi
Unlike Wireman, I don't lug my old swollen Lord
Buxton louis vuitton mahina around with me; I usually tuck one credit
card, my driver's license, and a little fold of
cash into my front pocket and call it goodThe
wallet was locked in a living room desk drawerI
took it out, thumbed through the business cards,
and found the one with SCOTO GALLERY printed on it
in raised gold lettersI got the after-hours
recording I had expectedWhen Dario Nannuzzi had
finished his little spiel and the beep had beeped,
I said: "Hello, MrNannuzzi, this is Edgar
Freemantle from Duma Key I paused
briefly, wanting to say guy and knowing that
wasn't what I was to him"I'm the artist who does
440
the sunsets with the big shells and plants and
things sitting on themYou spoke about possibly
showing my chanel cambon handbag
