by Nancy Thayer
“Hey, babe, you okay?” Sonny crouched next to her, trying to peer into her face.
Beth sniffed back her tears. The others soared away over the ice. In the silence, Beth confessed, “I feel like an idiot.”
Sonny laughed. “Oh, it happens to us all. Just part of the learning experience. You know, you were doing great. It’s my fault, I should have taught you how to stop.” Extending a hand, he yanked her up onto her feet. “Come on, I’ll help you work on it.”
A hot pain shot up her ankle. “Ouch!” She couldn’t stand on her right foot without wanting to shriek. “I think I twisted my ankle.”
“Here, lean on me and I’ll take you back to the log.”
Sonny put his arm around her, leading her as she limped off the ice.
“Do you think it’s broken?” he asked, looking worried.
“No, no, I think I just twisted it.” Plopping down on the log, she bent over her skates, undid the laces, and rubbed her sore ankle. “Go back and skate, Sonny. I’ll be fine. Really.”
“Want to go to the car to keep warm?”
“No, no, I’m warm enough here.” She might not be able to skate, but she didn’t want to deprive him of his pleasure, and she could tell by his face as he returned to the ice how much he enjoyed skating.
Leaning back to catch her breath, she watched the others fly over the ice. They were all so athletic, nimble, and swift, while she was as athletic as a damp dishcloth. Beth gave herself a mental shaking. Toughen up, you wimp! When she took off the skate, she saw that her ankle was swelling.
Bobbie came duck-walking on the points of her skates and hunkered down on the log next to Beth. “How are you?”
“Twisted my ankle.” Beth couldn’t look up at the other woman, afraid she might see triumph in her eyes. “Just a little.”
“That’s too bad.” Bobbie looked genuinely concerned. “Want to go home?”
“No, I’m fine,” lied Beth.
“Well, I’ll drive you home when you’re ready.” Bobbie gave Beth’s knee a sympathetic pat. “We don’t want you catching cold out here, and the others will be skating for a long while yet.”
Beth looked out at the pond in time to see Robin glide up to Sonny, taking his arm. They skated side by side for a few moments, then Robin skated backward, holding Sonny’s hands in hers, and they went into a waltzlike routine of figure eights and twirls and spins that flowed as easily between the two of them as music.
“They look good together, don’t they?” Bobbie’s voice was warm.
Beth couldn’t deny it.
“Well, they both like skating, so they make a real good team.” Bobbie sighed. “They just fit together perfectly.”
Now Merle, Mark, and Barbie sped up to link hands with Sonny and Robin as they whizzed over the ice, playing crack the whip, the colors of their scarves, sweaters, and gloves as dazzling as their laughter.
“I’ll drive you home,” Bobbie offered. “You should probably put that ankle up and get some ice on it.”
Beth couldn’t get her boot over her ankle. “You’re right,” she conceded.
“Want some help?”
“No, thanks.” Awkwardly, Beth stood, the pair of skates dangling from her hand as white and grounded as a downed gull. She took one look back at the pond. “I’m sorry to take you away from the skating.”
“That’s all right,” Bobbie said. “They won’t miss us.”
——————————
Julia and Belinda were making sugar cookies when the knock came on the front door.
“Goodness!” Julia exclaimed, opening the door to find a scarlet-faced, swollen-eyed Beth leaning there, her mouth screwed up in pain.
“Are you busy? I should have called, but Bobbie just drove me home, and I’m so upset, I knew I just couldn’t stay there all alone!” She started off brightly enough, but the last few words came out wobbly.
Julia pulled the door wider and ushered Beth in. “Hey, what happened to you? You’re limping!”
Julia’s sympathetic tones made Beth’s lower lip quiver. “I twisted my ankle ice skating with Sonny and the rest of that hypersteroid circus troupe!”
Eyes wide, Belinda tugged on Julia’s black trousers.
“No, honey.” Julia smiled down at her stepdaughter. “Beth hasn’t really been with a circus.”
Beth sucked back her tears, arranged her face in a smile, and squatted to Belinda’s level. “Hello, Belinda, I’m Beth.”
Belinda scrutinized Beth carefully in silence. The child’s winsome face, sprinkled with pale freckles, nudged some of the black ice from Beth’s heart.
“Oh, my gosh.” Beth touched Belinda’s curls. “You are the prettiest little girl I’ve ever seen! Look at your beautiful hair!”
Belinda smiled shyly, exposing a gap where her first baby tooth had been just days before.
“We’re making cookies,” Julia told Beth. “Come in the kitchen and I’ll brew some tea.”
“Sounds wonderful.” As Beth made a move to rise from her crouching position, a hot pain clamped her back, paralyzing her. “Oh!” she cried. “I can’t stand up!” Quickly, she reassured Belinda, “Don’t worry, I’m okay. I just fell while ice skating. Hurt my back. I’ll be okay in just a minute.” The pain made her pant.
“Let’s help her,” Julia told Belinda. “You take that arm, I’ll take this one. On the count of three, heave ho!”
Julia’s strong grip hoisted Beth’s shoulders while Belinda, trying to help, clutched her chubby little hands around Beth’s arm. Beth staggered to her feet, doing her best to stifle a groan, but pain dropped her stomach down an elevator shaft and discharged pinwheels of color before her eyes. “You know, I think I’d better just go home.”
Julia shook her head. “I’m not letting you drive when you can hardly stand. You’re getting into bed with a heating pad, aspirin, and lots of TLC.”
“I can’t do that!” Beth protested weakly.
“Of course you can. Tim’s at a dental conference in New York. Belinda and I are all alone and terribly bored with each other. We need some company.”
“Really, Julia, I didn’t mean to interrupt your day.”
“You probably didn’t mean to fall on your bum, either, but you did, and I’m not letting you go home alone until you feel better. Come on now, hobble along, old thing, and we’ll play hospital.”
In the guest room, Julia folded back the puffy comforter and sheets and plumped the pillows. “Here, let me help you get those clothes off.”
Beth carefully lowered herself to the bed. “Sorry to be such a wimp.”
“You’re not a wimp.” Julia knelt on the floor. “Belinda, you untie that boot and I’ll do this one. Egad! This ankle’s swollen twice the size as the right one! We’ll have to elevate it and put some ice on it. First, let’s get you lying down. Lift your arms.” When Beth obeyed, Julia gasped. “Double egad! Beth, you have a bruise on your back the size of a watermelon! Belinda, run into my room and bring me my long nightgown, the one with the birdies you gave me for Christmas.” By the time Belinda returned, Julia had tugged off Beth’s trousers. She undid Beth’s bra, then dropped the cotton nightie over Beth’s head. “Now. Legs up. Lean back. Pillows okay? I’ll get the heating pad, aspirin, and ice. Belinda, you gather some other pillows to put under Beth’s leg. We’ll need to keep her ankle elevated.”
“I’m sorry to be so much trouble,” Beth quavered. “I feel like such a spaz!”
Julia bustled around, propping Beth’s left leg upon pillows, wrapping ice in a hand towel and fastening it around Beth’s ankle. “Everyone falls when they’re ice skating.”
“Well, it was my first time. But, Julia, Sonny’s mother was skating with me, she was holding my hand, then suddenly, she just let go! I don’t think I would have fallen if she hadn’t yanked her hand away so fast. The terrible thing is, I think she might have done it on purpose!” Beth yanked her hair wildly. “I just don’t understand why she doesn’t like me!”
/> “Doesn’t matter whether she likes you or not,” Julia stormed. “Her son loves you, and in any case, she ought to behave like a decent human being! Is that heating pad too hot?”
“No, it feels wonderful.” The warmth spread through Beth’s body. She felt herself relax. “I think I’m going to fall asleep.”
“That’s exactly what you need to do,” Julia announced with satisfaction. “When you wake up, Belinda and I will have some warm sugar cookies for you.”
——————————
It was dark when Beth opened her eyes, and for a moment she had no idea where she was. She realized the sound of knocking had awakened her. “Come in!” She tried to sit up, but a vise of pain held her fast.
“It’s after five.” Julia entered the room. “You’ve had almost two full hours of sleep. Feel better?”
“Much.” Beth might not be able to move without screaming, but her spirits were restored.
“Great. Look what we’ve got for you.” The tray Julia set on the bedside table held indigo mugs steaming with tea.
Belinda approached the bed, holding a plate carefully with both hands. She presented it to Beth with an expression of such pride on her face she might well be offering a six-tiered wedding cake.
Beth smiled. “Wow! Snowman cookies! With M&M’s buttons!”
“Want to sit up?” Julia grasped Beth’s shoulders. Together they strained to get Beth propped up against pillows. Gingerly, Julia seated herself on the side of the bed and handed Beth a mug. “Chamomile tea. Later, we’ll have red wine with dinner.”
“Oh, I can’t stay for dinner,” Beth protested.
“Why not? I’ve already told Belinda you don’t have anyone to go home to, and I’ll bet Sonny’s not the best nurse in the world. Why not let Belinda and me spoil you? We like doing it, don’t we, Belinda?”
The little girl nodded.
Beth studied the child a moment, then patted the free side of the bed. “Come sit up here by me. And bring those cookies!”
Belinda ran out of the room.
“Oh, no.” Appalled, Beth turned to Julia. “Did I frighten her somehow?”
“I don’t think so. I’ll go—”
Before Julia could finish, Belinda raced back into the room, clutching several books to her chest. She put them on the bed next to Beth, then clambered up on the bed, snuggled up close to Beth, and looked at her expectantly.
“Aha.” Julia grinned. “She wants you to read to her, don’t you, Belinda?”
Belinda nodded.
“Cool.” Beth reached for the books. “I love to read.”
“Don’t let her exhaust you,” Julia warned. “If she has her way, she’ll have you reading until you lose your voice.”
“There’s nothing I’d rather do,” Beth said, and picked up the first book. “Cinderella. One of my favorites.” She put her arm around Belinda and pulled her close.
“I’m going to clean the kitchen,” Julia said. “If you need anything, just call.”
——————————
They were all gathered together on the guest bed, munching a casual, delicious dinner of grilled-cheese-and-tomato sandwiches when the pounding came at the front door.
“Who could that be?” Shrugging and licking her buttery fingers, Julia hurried down the hall and opened the door. Agnes stood there, the hood of her quilted, gray parka pulled tight, compressing the fat little features of her face so much she resembled a character from Dr. Seuss.
“Hello, Julia. I was just passing by, and I knew Timmy was out of town this weekend, so I thought I’d come by and keep you company.” Agnes shoved her way inside the house. “I see there’s a car in your driveway, and judging by the way the snow’s covered it, it’s been there for some time, so obviously you already have company. I hope I’m not interrupting something.” Agnes’s eyes shone with eager malice, she was almost licking her lips in anticipation.
“I’m surprised you’re out driving in this weather, Agnes.”
Agnes’s eyes darted down the hall and into the living room. “I wanted to catch a sale at the Bedford Marshalls. They have such excellent sales. I’m stocking up on birthday presents for Belinda. Where is my little darling?”
“In the guest—” Julia began, but Agnes was quickly waddling away.
“Aaah!” Agnes shrieked. “Who are you? What are you doing in my bed!”
Julia rushed after her. “Agnes, this is my friend Beth.”
Beth lay against the pillows, the covers drawn over her lap, a picture book open in her hands, Belinda cuddled up against her.
“Why is she here? Where am I going to sleep?” Agnes demanded.
“Beth hurt her back ice skating,” Julia explained. “Belinda and I are taking care of her tonight.”
“Hello,” Beth said politely, extending her hand.
Agnes recoiled as if it dripped snakes. “She’s spending the night?”
“Yes,” Julia said firmly. “She is.”
“She’s sleeping here?” Agnes seemed to puff up like a toad.
“It’s the guest bedroom,” Julia pointed out quietly.
Agnes turned on Julia, teeth bared. “You planned this. So I couldn’t spend the night and be with my granddaughter.”
“Agnes, of course I didn’t plan this, how could I, when I had no idea you’d be in the area? Not to mention, I had no idea Beth would hurt her back.”
Wanting to placate the older woman, who was trembling in a rather terrifying way, Beth pushed back the covers and turned around, hiking up her nightgown. “Does the bruise look any better, Julia?”
Beth’s back flashed like the sunset over mountains, purple, red, black, and blue.
“It looks worse, actually,” Julia informed her. “But bruises usually do as they heal.”
Disappointed by this proof that Julia wasn’t lying, Agnes spotted the three plates with half-eaten sandwiches tilting on the bedcovers and pounced. “You’re eating in bed?”
“Beth also twisted her ankle. We didn’t want her to have to get up,” Julia explained reasonably.
“I see.” Agnes’s mouth crimped. “I guess I wasted my trip.”
“Not if you found some good bargains at Marshalls,” Julia coolly replied.
“I suppose I’d better drive back to the Berkshires,” Agnes said grudgingly.
“You’re welcome to sleep on the sofa.” Julia crossed her fingers behind her back and sent a silent prayer to the heavens.
“No, that would hurt my back.” Agnes held out her arms. “Come here, Belinda. Give Grammy a hug, then I’ll leave you all to your little party.”
Obediently, Belinda went to her grandmother, who clutched the child to her as if she’d just been rescued from the Titanic. “You’ve lost a tooth!” She shot an accusing glare at Julia. “You didn’t tell me she lost a tooth!”
“We took Polaroids,” Julia told her. “We mailed them off to you two days ago.”
Agnes snorted. “You’re far too trusting of the postal service. I probably won’t see that photo for a week.” Genuinely sad, she said, “I wish you’d phoned me.”
Julia folded her arms over her chest. “You know, Agnes, Tim’s been wanting to come out and set up a computer for you so you and Belinda could e-mail each other. We could have scanned the photo and e-mailed it to you if you had a computer.”
Agnes shook her head violently. “All this modern stuff is the work of the devil. It will never find a place in my house!” With that, she spun on her heel and left the room, slamming to a halt as another thought occurred to her. “Did the tooth fairy come?”
Belinda nodded, a big grin on her face.
“Yes,” Julia added. “The tooth fairy left Belinda a dollar!”
“What a stingy tooth fairy you have in this town,” Agnes said with vinegary hauteur. “In our town, our tooth fairy always leaves five dollars!” Satisfied at having scored this point, Agnes nodded briskly and went away.
Julia stood in the open doorway, waving at
Agnes until her big Buick turned the corner and disappeared. Then she shut the door and locked it.
——————————
After Beth read Belinda a few more storybooks, Julia gave Belinda a bath and got her ready for bed while Beth phoned Sonny to tell him where she was spending the night.
“Now!” Julia entered the room with a bottle of red wine. Settling at the foot of the bed facing Beth, she handed Beth a glass. “The final portion of Dr. Julia’s Medical Therapy!”
Beth socked her pillows into shape and shifted her leg into another position. “This is the best ER I’ve ever been in.”
Julia stretched over to tuck a blanket around Beth’s elevated foot. “What did Sonny say?”
“They’re all watching a football game. He said I did a great job for my first time on ice skates, and I shouldn’t feel embarrassed because I fell, that everyone falls at first, and”—she finished with exaggerated perky good cheer—“maybe next weekend we can all go out to the pond again!”
Julia laughed with Beth. “Seriously, though, I doubt if your ankle will be healed enough to put that kind of stress on it by next weekend.”
“Seriously, though,” Beth echoed, “sooner or later I’ve got to learn to ice-skate.”
Julia cocked her head. “You really think you can fit in with this family?”
“Well, in the first place, I’m not marrying the family. I’m marrying Sonny.” Beth sat a little straighter, in spite of her aching back. “I really love Sonny. And I know he loves me. When we’re together, not with his family, we’re perfect. I don’t mean just sex,” she added with a blush.
“Honey,” Julia interrupted, “there’s no such thing as ‘just sex.’ ”
“Right. Okay, then, the sex is amazing. And it’s part of our love, a huge part, but not the only part. Sonny’s really intelligent. He reads as much as I do, but he never finished college, so in an odd way I know he’s trusting me to not make fun of him intellectually. So I don’t mind being such a spaz in front of him. It’s just his family that makes me feel all humiliated and dorky. His mother, really.”
“Would it help if you talked to her?” Julia asked. “What if you took her out to lunch and had a good heart-to-heart?”