These Foolish Things

by Thatcher, Susan

  “Hang in there, Kitty,” Liz whispered. “We’re gonna get some help.” Beanie’s black tail twitched slightly.

  “Vet clinic?” Millie asked as she jumped into the driver’s seat.

  “Next left, 5 blocks, no lights and step on it.” Millie gunned it and they were on their way.Two guys were outside smoking when the car screeched to a halt. Millie jumped out, yelling, “We need help!” The assistants recognized Beanie, one of the favorite patients of the clinic. One guy got Beanie out of the back seat and directly into an examining room while the other fetched the vet. Liz and Millie were hot on their heels.

  “What the hell was he doing away from home?” Millie asked.

  “No. The right question is ‘what the hell was my indoor cat doing outside in the first place?’” snapped Liz. “He doesn’t go outside. Ever. Ty knows that.”

  The vet examined Beanie gently. “Internal bleeding, leg fracture, possibly more than one, broken ribs,” he looked at his assistant. “X-rays. Now.” Beanie was wheeled down to the X-ray room. Liz’s throat tightened and she began to hug herself. Millie had her arm around Liz. Neither woman said a word.

  When the vet returned, his face was grim and sad. Liz knew it was the worst. She felt the tears stinging the back of her eyes.

  “Ms. Gardner, it doesn’t look good. In addition to the fractures, his spleen is ruptured, probably damage to his liver and other major organs.” He paused, “We can operate if we can stabilize him, but I can’t promise you it’ll do any good.” There was a brief pause.

  “Put him down.” Liz said the words almost mechanically. The veterinarian nodded and signaled the assistant to get together the necessary items. “Do you want to be with him?”

  Liz could only nod. She and Millie followed the doctor back to Beanie.He looked so little and helpless on the X-ray table. Two legs were splinted and an IV had been inserted to try to stabilize him if Liz had opted for surgery.

  Liz felt like she was betraying her best friend. He had asked so little, but given so much and she was ending his life. She stroked his head and he tried to wag his tail and purr. The vet inserted a syringe, pushed the plunger and Beanie’s breathing stopped.

  “Take her out front. Now.”

  Millie firmly guided Liz back to the lobby, Liz sagging against her friend. Something splashed against Liz’s face. Millie was quietly crying.

  “Phone.” Millie handed Liz her wireless. Liz took a deep breath, slowly exhaled and dialed the house.

  “’Lo?” Ty’s voice was thick, indistinct.

  “It’s me, Babe,” Liz was surprised she sounded normal. “Miss me?”

  “Course I do,” Ty answered, “When you comin’ home?” His normally clear speech was slurred. She’d never heard him sound this bad.

  “How’s Beanie? You remember to feed the kitty?” Liz held her breath against the answer. The desk assistant at the clinic was typing up the bill.

  “Emergency visit, X-rays, intravenous,” she recited as she typed. The girl squinted at the last word. “What’s that word?”

  Liz put her hand over the phone. “Euthanasia. 12 pounds.” She felt a stabbing pain near her heart as she said it.

  Unaware, the girl said, “Thanks” and continued typing.

  “Whadja say, Liz?” Ty wanted to know. She could hear Jimmy yelling “Ty One On!” in the background.

  “I said, ‘How’s Beanie?’ Liz answered.

  “I think you love him more’n you love me,” Ty grumbled, “You didn’t ask how I am. Anyway, he’s fine. Lyin’ here so I’ll scratch his belly for him, purrin’ his head off.” Ty was nonchalant.

  “That’ll be $255.48, please,” said the desk clerk. “Oh, here.” She handed Liz Beanie’s red collar. “Do you want the body?”

  “I guess we’ve got a bad connection, Ty.” Liz turned over the collar in her hand and shook her head at the clerk to indicate she didn’t want Beanie’s remains.

  “When you gettin’ home? We gotta celebrate,” Ty tried to put a sexy edge on the word and failed. “Big case settled for big bucks. Yer man done good, Woman.”

  “Sounds like the party’s already started. I’ve got one or two stops but I’ll be there as soon as I can. Bye, bye.” Ty hung up without saying goodbye.

  Liz hung up and stared at the phone. No one interrupted her thoughts. In a few minutes, she turned to Millie. “My wallet and purse are out in the car. Would you get them for me?” Millie nodded and headed for the car. Liz pulled her sweatshirt back on, pausing to look at the smears of Beanie’s blood staining the front. She turned to the desk clerk.

  “May I use your phone book?” The girl rummaged under the counter and produced it. Liz turned to the name of a truck rental company nearby. Millie returned with Liz’s purse as she connected to the rental agency.

  “Hi. What do you have available right now?” As she talked to the dispatcher, Liz fished out her wallet and handed a credit card to the desk clerk. One of hers, not Ty’s.

  “Let’s see, I have mostly clothing, some kitchen ware and a couple of pictures and a fairly small amount of furniture.” A pause. “That sounds good. I’ll need boxes, too.” The desk clerk slid the credit card slip across the desk for Liz’s signature. As Liz signed, she concluded negotiations for the truck. “Elizabeth Gardner. We’ll be there in 10-15 minutes.” She hung up and handed the phone to Millie. “Millie, he lied to me.” Liz said the words quietly, tonelessly.

  “He told me he was scratching Beanie’s stomach while I was paying to put him to sleep. That’s it. We’re over.”

  Millie punched up a number on speed dial. “Hi, Sweetheart, it’s me. Listen, can you drop whatever you’re doing and meet us at Ty’s house?” Millie’s choice of words was not lost on Liz. “Great, see you in about a half hour.”

  They headed for the car in silence and drove to the truck rental agency in silence. Their only conversation there was a discussion of the size and number of boxes needed.

  On leaving, Liz lead in the truck, Millie followed and they met John coming into the driveway, followed by Joey DiDonato’s car. Liz parked the truck and swung down from the cab. Joey saw the question on her face.

  “Millie called me. Let’s go. Let’s get this done.”

  Liz looked at her friends, “Look, this is between Ty and me so resist the urge to give him a piece of your mind.

  “Guys, please get my computer and books. Millie, you know my kitchen stuff, including the cookbooks. I’ll start with the bathroom.” Liz’s throat tightened. “Don’t forget Beanie’s things.” They entered the house. Millie and John headed off to their assignments, Joey headed down the hall towards the den, where a TV blared. Before heading for the den herself, Liz had a quick look at Beanie’s feeding area. His food dish was completely empty, not even crumbs around it and the water dish was bone dry. No wonder he’d been out hunting. She steeled herself and headed down the hallway towards the den. Joey met her in the hall and stopped her.

  “Liz, I took a quick look. It looks like a crack den in there. Brace yourself.” He gave her a quick hug. “We’ll get you through this.” He headed upstairs and Liz entered the den. She was appalled by what she found.

  The room reeked of stale beer, cigarette smoke and body odor. Bottles in a variety of shapes and sizes littered the room, all of them had contained types of alcohol at some point. The coffee table held an assortment of Chinese food cartons, some had tipped over and spilled over onto the beautiful green marble of the coffee table then dripped into stains on Ty’s treasured rug. The rug’s beauty was also spoiled by cigarette burns, ashes and used butts. Someone had taken the framed enlarged picture of Ty and Liz from their first date and set it up on the coffee table, along with a photo of Liz holding Beanie and smiling. Hidden behind the photos was the antique mirror from the hallway. There were lines of white powder neatly chopped out on the mirror, a razor blade, a straw and a crumpled piece of paper. There was an overflowing ashtray hiding the mirror as well. Jimmy had apparently just done a line becau
se he was sniffing hard and surreptitiously watching Ty to see if he had noticed.

  “There, see? I set up her pictures in front of you so you won’t miss ol’ Lizzie so much there, Ty,” Jimmy said with a phony smile on his face.

  Liz could hardly keep from throttling him. Liz watched him dip two fingers into a glass on the table and inhale the droplets, all the time watching an old college football game on cable. The hand not stuck up his nose held a cigarette with a dangerously long ash. As she watched, Jimmy picked up the glass from the table and took a big swallow. She wondered idly if he’d still been doing coke the whole time he was supposed to be clean.

  Liz looked around. Ty was sprawled on the other sofa, a large glass of Scotch in hand. The glass was on the verge of spilling onto the carpet. Liz looked at him from the door. He was wearing the same clothes he’d had on when he’d gone to work two days ago. His hair looked greasy and matted. Ty had a dark stubble across his face; Liz doubted if he had shaved in the last 48 hours. Or slept. Or really eaten. He turned his head to say something to Jimmy and Liz saw the puffiness under his eyes. In turning, the Scotch finally spilled onto the rug. Ty sat up, cursing. As he reached for the Scotch bottle to refill his glass, he noticed Liz leaning against the doorway.

  “Lizabeth! My Love! C’mere!” He waved her over unsteadily. She came closer, but stayed out of his reach. This seemed to penetrate Ty’s alcoholic fog because he looked at her as intently as he could.

  “Victory party,” he said.

  “I see. Pickup or delivery?” Liz asked, motioning to the cartons. Well, now she knew how Beanie had escaped.

  Jimmy answered, “Livery. We’re in no shape to drive.” Both men found this hilarious.

  “The new Emperor of China there, ol’ Ty Wan On,” Jimmy was delighted with his own wit.

  “Where’s Beanie? He didn’t greet me at the door.”

  “I haven’t seen that damn cat since the Chinese food came,” said Jimmy. He swallowed some more vodka. “I think that furry little shit hates me.”

  Ty swallowed some Scotch. “He’s prob’ly asleep upstairs.” He tried to look meaningfully at Liz. “We should be there, too.”

  Liz pretended to look shocked. “Beanie? Asleep? With an unguarded box of spare ribs in the house? He must be dead to the world. Are you sure he didn’t get out when the delivery came?”

  Ty paused in the act of drinking again. He stared at the table. “You’re right.” He set down the glass instead of drinking.

  Liz looked into Ty’s bloodshot eyes. She could see awareness dawning. Liz walked to the table and picked up the Scotch bottle. Grabbing the neck, Liz swung down onto the marble table, shattering the bottle.

  “Fuck, Man!” from Jimmy.

  “Here,” she forced the neck of the bottle into Ty’s hand, the jagged edges still dripping Scotch. “You want to kill yourself with a bottle, Hadley, I suggest you slit your wrists with it. It’s far more efficient than the way you’re going about it. Just wait ‘til I leave, okay? I’ve already cleaned up one of your messes today.” Liz turned and left. She could hear Jimmy in the background.

  “Crazy, fuckin’ bitch.”

  Liz ran for the stairs, bolting for the bedroom. She could feel her heart breaking.

  Liz grabbed suitcases and flung the contents of her closet into them. She was doing the same with the bureau drawers when a pair of hands grabbed her and flung her onto the bed. Liz tried to scramble back up only to find herself pinned under Jimmy.

  “All right,” he said, “Now we’re gonna see what’s what. I figure you gotta be really somethin’ between the sheets if ol’ Ty wants you.” He tried to kiss her. Liz twisted her face away and tried to gouge his face with her fingernails. Jimmy pinned her arms down and laughed.

  “Ooooh, rough stuff. Hey, works for me.” He released one of her arms to grab her hair and force her head still for a slobbery kiss. Liz twisted again, ignoring the intense pain from her scalp and screamed, “TY! Where are you?”

  Jimmy slapped her across the face with all his strength. Liz tasted blood from a cut on her lip.

  Jimmy laughed, “He ain’t comin,’ Lizzie Baby. So why don’t you relax and go with it.” He straddled her, letting go of her right hand to grab at her sweatshirt. “Hell, you might even like me better than ol’ Tai Wan On.”

  “NO!”

  Jimmy pulled his arm back to hit her again and Liz seized the opportunity. She smashed the heel of her right hand into his nose, years of suppressed rage driving her arm so hard, his head snapped back and Liz heard bone crunch. As he grabbed his broken nose, Liz pushed him off of her and scrambled to safety.

  “FUCKING BITCH!!! YOU’RE GONNA PAY FOR THAT!” Jimmy made a move towards her, only to be hauled off his feet by Joey and thrown into the hallway. Jimmy made an attempt to get back to Liz, finding his way blocked by John and Joey’s big bodies.

  “Get out,” snarled Joe. “Get out or I’ll throw you out the goddamn window.”

  John added, “Then I’ll drag your sorry ass back up here to do it again.”

  Jimmy tried again to get back at Liz, but Joey grabbed his arm and yanked a bag of cocaine out of Jimmy’s pocket and tossed it to John.

  “Gimme that!” Jimmy screamed.

  “Leave now and we’ll flush it,” said Joey evenly, “Don’t leave and John, the Assistant DA there will have you on possession with intent as well as an attempted rape charge. You can see if your cell mate likes it rough.”

  Jimmy looked for a minute like he was going to challenge the other men, but changed his mind. Blood was flowing freely from his nose. John took a step forward and he changed his mind.

  As Jimmy stumbled downstairs, he collided with Ty who tried to pin him to the wall. Jimmy easily broke his grasp and shoved Ty out of his way.

  “Your fucking girlfriend broke my fucking nose!”

  As Ty entered the bedroom, sounds of a gunning engine and squealing tires reached the group upstairs. Ty slumped against the doorway and took in the scene.

  Joey was holding a sobbing, bloodstained Liz while John and Millie were filling boxes with the items of hers that they recognized. Ty stumbled forward, trying to push Joey away from Liz. Joey pushed him back and Ty’s face darkened with drunken rage.

  “I knew it! You were with him all weekend, weren’t you? My ass, he’s like your brother. Now you’re runnin’ off with him. Christ, Elizabeth, I thought I could trust you. God damn it!”

  Joey started to move towards Ty, but Liz stopped him. “That’s not true and you know it!”

  “So, why you leavin’?” Ty was still angry and confused.

  “Because I can’t live like this anymore, Ty,” Liz could feel more tears rising.

  Ty looked around and snorted, “Yeah, you’ve got it real bad, Baby. Big house, new car, anything you want. Shit, you’re just like my mother running off.”

  “Yeah, well you’re just like your father, Tyrone. Success demands sacrifice and I guess it was our relationship that had to go,” snapped Liz, “that and Beanie.” She almost broke down again.

  Ty blinked at her. “What? What are you talking about? What happened to Beanie?” He looked at her sweatshirt and really saw the bloodstains for the first time.

  Liz rummaged in her purse and thrust Beanie’s collar and the vet clinic invoice into his hand. “You were so busy getting plastered with your pal that you let Beanie escape. I found him dying in the street.”

  She saw the anger take control. Ty turned and smashed his right fist into the wall, punching a hole through the sheet rock. Liz caught her breath at the violence.

  “Was that supposed to be my face, Ty?” she asked.

  Ty pulled his hand out of the wall and sagged against the door frame. He stared at her through bloodshot eyes, comprehension slowly rising. “What have I done?” he said hoarsely.

  “Shown me why I’m right,” said Liz, “you can either have me or your Scotch: not both.”

  John and Millie looked at her. Liz jerked her head towards
the door. Joe followed, pausing just long enough to ask, “Liz, you gonna be okay?”

  “I’ll be downstairs in a few, Joey, just as soon as I finish this,” she said.

  Joey looked at Ty and shook his head. “You need help, Man,” he said. He pulled a card out of his wallet and stuck it into Ty’s shirt pocket. “If you’re as smart as I think you are, you’ll call this number tonight.” He took a step forward and pointed a finger in Ty’s face. “And if you come near Liz again, I’ll fucking finish you. I don’t care how much she loves you.” He left.

  Liz looked at Ty. She was still shaking from the encounter with Jimmy, in shock over Beanie’s death and ready to collapse. But she couldn’t fold. Not yet. She took a deep breath.

  “Don’t leave me, Liz,” Ty pleaded, “I need you. Please don’t leave.”

  “We’re done. I can’t fight a bottle. And I can’t watch you drink yourself to death, either.” Ty made a move towards her, but Liz held up her hand and he stopped.

  “I can’t do this anymore. You said I could have anything I want. Well, I want the man I fell in love with. I want the man who followed me all the way down to the Cape because my love was that important to him. I want the man who made me feel beautiful and desired and loved for the first time in my life. But he’s not here anymore. So there’s no reason for me to stay, either.”

  Liz picked up her purse and started to pass by Ty. She paused, went to kiss his cheek and stopped. No, she couldn’t do it. Her eyes met his briefly, both brimming with pain. She turned away, then walked out of the house and away from Ty.

  Chapter 10

  The doorbell rang. Liz paused to catch her breath. Damn it. The bell rang again and she headed for the door, viciously stripping off her rubber gloves and throwing them into the kitchen sink. She was in a foul mood. Another round of nightmares had awakened Liz before dawn, leaving her sitting up in bed, gasping and crying. It had been two months and part of her still expected Ty to pull her into his arms to hold her and kiss away the tears. And she’d cry even more.