octa2005mitsome

@@@@@ "I hadn't thought about itWhat's the deal, Tom? What exactly does she want?" He drank off half his beer, then put the glass on a bookshelf beside my half-assed sketchHis cheeks had flushed a dull brick red"She said she hopes it doesn't have to be meanShe said, 'I don't want to be rich, and I don't want a fightI just want him to be fair to me and the girls, the way he always was, will you tell him that?' So I am I got up, went to the big window between the living room and the porch, and looked out at the lakeSoon I would be able to go out into my very own "Florida room," whatever that was, and look out at the Gulf of MexicoI wondered if it would be any better, any different, than looking out at Lake PhalenI thought I would settle for different, at least to begin withDifferent would be a startWhen I turned back, Tom Riley didn't look himself at allAt first I thought he was 37 sick to his stomach, and then I realized he was struggling not to cry "Tom, what's the matter?" I asked He tried to speak and produced only a watery croak He cleared his throat and tried again"Boss, I can't get used to seeing you this way, with just the one arm It was artless, unrehearsed, and sweet: a straight shot to the heartI think there was a moment when we were both close to bawling, like a couple of Sensitive Guys on The Oprah Winfrey Show That idea helped me get myself under control again "I'm sorry, too," I said, "but I'm getting alongNow drink your damn beer before it goes flat He laughed and poured the rest of his Grain Belt into the glass "I'm going to give you an offer to take back to her," I said"If she likes it, we can hammer out the detail