by Gene Epstein
Dorothy came over to give Mrs. Moore a hug and kiss. Mrs. Moore was so thrilled to see Dorothy for it had been several years since she last had a dinner there which she terribly missed.
After a wonderful dinner and cocktails, Robert drove Mrs. Moore home and helped her to her bedroom while he turned the lights down leaving just one hallway light on for her as he retired to his apartment.
***
It wasn't long before this became a weekly event that both Mrs. Moore and Robert looked forward to.
“Mrs. Moore. I see on the calendar that you have an appointment in two days with your oncologist. I just wanted to remind you,” Robert stated. He had remembered Bill telling him that she was dying and it was only a matter of time. Bill never went into whatever the disease was, only that it was serious. Robert was so happy in his new position that afforded him a wonderful place to live and a nice income with a closet filled with Brooks Brothers suits complementary of the estate plus a modern car to drive that he never inquired nor would he ask her what the serious ailment was. He had assumed that it was related to her broken hip and subsequent operations.
***
Two days later arriving at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania for her semi-annual checkup Robert located Dr. Goldstein on the third floor and pressed the elevator button to three. He guided the wheelchair to the waiting room and within ten minutes her name was called.” Dr. Goldstein will see you now, Mrs. Moore,” said the office secretary who was seated behind a sliding privacy window.
Sitting in the office about ten minutes later a very young-looking Dr. Goldstein entered.
“How are you feeling, Jackie? You look better than the last time that you were here. Are you taking some miracle drug that I'm not familiar with?” the doctor said in jest.
“No, Dr. Goldstein. I'm still taking the same medication for the past year perhaps it’s because Robert has been taking such good care of me?”
The doctor was taking her blood pressure while his nurse was waiting to draw blood for testing. “As you know, I scheduled you for current MRI to see how much, if at all, the tumor has changed. They are waiting for you downstairs, but honestly Jackie, you look better than you did on your last visit. Do you feel any more pressure on your head? Has it gotten worse?” queried the doctor.
“The pressure seems the same. No improvement but I don't feel that it has progressed,” she informed him.
Less than ten minutes later Dr. Goldstein told her that he would let her know what the blood tests showed and that whatever she's doing she could keep it up. He bent over and kissed her on the forehead and said, “I hope that the MRI shows no change.”
“He is young but somehow he is keeping me alive,” she proudly stated to Robert. And so are you, Robert. Now let’s go down for another clanking of that MRI machine.”
Robert did not know what to say if anything. He liked her so much that he wanted to continue to be part of her life. He totally enjoyed this new position and forgot about his desire to be a great actor. He quietly prayed that she would be fine. He also was upset that not one of her relatives ever contacted her to see how she was doing. Not a phone call or a visit. Terrible, he thought .
Less than an hour later she had her MRI. The results would be given to her after the radiologist read it and issued a report to Dr. Goldstein.
“I’m exhausted, Robert. Let’s skip lunch and take me home,” she instructed Robert.
He prepared a light meal for her and asked Stasha, who was cleaning that day, to be extra quiet since Mrs. Moore wasn’t feeling well.
***
Less than a week later, Dr. Goldstein called. Robert answered the phone “Mrs. J.P. Moore’s residence. Can I help you?”
“Yes, Robert. This is Doctor Goldstein. Is Mrs. Moore available to come to the phone?”
“Let me get her,” Robert replied and within 30 seconds he brought the heavy push-button phone with a 50-foot line to her in the study where she was reclining.
“It’s Doctor Goldstein. He wants to speak with you”
“This is Jackie, Dr. Goldstein. I assume that you have the results of the MRI?” she asked.
“Yes. Something is happening. The tumor actually seems to have shrunk albeit a bit but it has not expanded. It seems like your previous treatment has helped.” Dr. Goldstein went on to give her the measurements of the minimal decrease in centimeters which meant nothing to Mrs. Moore but she was obviously pleased with the results.
“Thank you, doctor. You are keeping this old gal alive longer than I expected,” she said with a ring in her voice. “I think you and Robert are doing a good job.”
With that she told Robert the news and he was elated. Robert gave her a sincere hug and asked if she would be up to a celebration dinner at Blue Bell.
“Call Bill Spaulding and ask if he and his wife will join us for a double celebration. You know, Robert it is one year now that you have been here” she informed Robert, who hadn’t realized it had been that long, time went so quickly.
“I know that he will be excited also to hear the good news about your health,” Robert responded and then called Bill Spaulding.
“Mrs. Moore and I would like to invite you and your wife to join us at Blue Bell Inn tonight to celebrate the good news concerning her tumor’s regression,” Robert joyfully requested. Even though Bill had some late work at his office he graciously accepted the offer. He had planned to have a meeting with her in a couple of weeks since it was time to update her will.
“Her usual 5:30 pm late dinner?” Which he used to joke about since his own dinners were usually at 8 pm or later.
“Yes, 5:30.” Then Robert placed the phone back on its cradle.
Chapter 4
“I'd like to go to dinner in the gray Mercedes Gullwing, but I know that is impossible. I think the last time I was in that car was many years before I broke my hip. Even then I was able to get in then but getting out took all of my husband’s strength helping me.” She knew that it was not going to happen. It was just her way of reflecting back to when she was very mobile.
“My dear Mrs. Moore. Would you want me to take your Buick Limited again? Robert was referring to her two-year-old black Buick sedan with tan crushed velour seating that was extremely comfortable. “You know it's been used very seldom by me just doing local errands and your last trip to Dr. Goldstein’s. When Victor is here and has time on his hands, I see to it that he keeps your car washed and waxed,” Robert claimed.
“Good idea, Robert. No sense using the old Cadillac more than necessary,” she acknowledged.
At 4:45 pm, after Mrs. Moore was seated and her wheelchair placed in the trunk, Robert headed to the Blue Bell. Arriving at 5:30 he leaned over to open the glove compartment and depress the trunk release button and was ready to take out her wheelchair when Mrs. Moore shouted, “No, Robert! My cane is all that I want. I am feeling in a celebratory mood and I will not ruin it sitting in that monstrosity.” She was adamant but in a good way.
They walked into the Blue Bell Inn and now Dorothy was checking coats in the cloakroom.
“Hello Mrs. Moore,” Dorothy welcomed her with her deep German accent.
“Thirty years now?” Mrs. Moore inquired.
“Nope. Forty years, Mrs. Moore and I am going to retire next year,” Dorothy replied as she took Mrs. Moore’s full-length cashmere coat and Robert’s trench coat to hang up. No coat check was necessary since Dorothy knew everyone that frequents her family’s restaurant.
As they headed towards the bar on their right you could hear “Jackie, Great timing!” as Bill and his wife of twenty years arrived almost simultaneously. Neither wore any coats to be checked in and they followed Robert and Mrs. Moore. Robert was extra careful holding onto Mrs. Moore as she navigated down the one step into the bar.
After being seated the bartender prepared Mrs. Moore’s favorite drink: a Kamikaze made with vodka, Rose’s lime juice, and Cointreau for both she and Robert. Bill’s wife asked for the same; however, Bil
l wanted straight Grey Goose chilled with an olive and a twist of lemon.
“Oosters, anyvone?” Dorothy requested if the guests would like Blue Bell’s famous fried oysters given away at the bar. Without knowing her personally one would think that there are two or three Dorothy's working there. Hands reached out from every direction and within seconds a large platter of fried oysters disappeared.
“Please tell me, Jackie. The good news?” asked Bill.
“First I want to thank Robert for putting up with me for one year today. He made my past year a pleasure and quite a relief having him look after everything. Robert is a good friend and I will never forget his caring nature. Secondly, which may actually be tied to the first, is that the tumor on my brain has decreased in size, surprising the hell out of the doctor and without a doubt me also. For some strange reason since Robert has taken on the task of looking after me and the estate everything is been going wonderful. So let's celebrate please all of us and I include you Bill because you recommended Robert.” As Mrs. Moore raised her kamikaze the three others joined for a toast.
“Another round please, Thomas,” Bill told the bartender who like Dorothy had been working there for 40 plus years.
Peering into the bar area the maître d' walked up to Mrs. Moore and told her that her table was ready as the busboy reached out to bring everyone’s drinks to the dining room.
Mrs. Moore was giddy from having two Kamikaze’s even though seldom did a day pass that she did not have some alcoholic beverage intake. Everyone had a menu but without looking at anything everyone knew exactly what they wanted to eat including Robert. From his many weekly trips to the Blue Bell Inn, he knew that he never had a sirloin strip taste as good as the chef made. On top of that, he covered it with Sauce Bearnaise another specialty of the Inn. Mrs. Moore ordered her calves liver and sautéed onions with slices of bacon and she also had two heaping tablespoons of the Sauce Bearnaise. Mrs. Spaulding, having only been there once before ordered the same thing that she had previously, rare prime ribs as did her husband Bill. Each portion was more than the average person with a good appetite could consume in one meal and many customers carried home doggy bags for themselves. On some occasions, their dogs actually had something to eat if they did not eat it themselves.
After the meal, everyone embraced each other stating how much they enjoyed the celebration and looked forward to doing it again.
Robert pulled the car up and escorted Mrs. Moore into the front seat of the Buick sedan and headed to Hampton Court.
Mrs. Moore was elated after the wonderful meal and the company of her attorney and his wife and Robert. By the time they arrived home, she was ready to go to sleep. Robert helped her to her bedroom and escorted himself out, making sure that the light remained on in the hallway.
He left the Buick outside and went up the second floor to his apartment and turned the television on. Within an hour Robert fell asleep also.
***
Two weeks had passed and Bill Spaulding’s new secretary placed a call to Mrs. Moore reminding her that Bill had an appointment with her at her estate the following day at 2 p.m.
At 1:55 p.m. Bill telephoned from his car that he would be 15 minutes late since there was an accident on the interstate. When he arrived it wasn't necessary to use the remote gate opener as Mrs. Moore opened it from inside the house. Because of the private nature of their annual estate planning, Mrs. Moore had requested that Robert take off the rest of the afternoon rather than have discussions behind his back.
Robert complied and decided to take the Gullwing Mercedes out on the road for a good workout.
***
Bill Spaulding sat in the living room with her and started by asking Jackie if she would mind if he used a tape recorder so that he would have exact notes in order to update her estate. Mrs. Moore had no objections and even thought that was a good idea. Bill listened as Jackie told him once again how appreciative she was of Bill finding Robert for her. Bill had asked her if either of her nieces or nephews have contacted her only to find her tone turn from extremely pleasant to sounding upset.
“I cannot stand any of them. Not one of them. They only care about themselves and are so selfish it upsets me. Even when they were younger I saw that in them however, I felt that when they got older they would change. They never did.” she said in anger.
“You do have them in your will,” Bill said. “Do you want to reduce what you have left for them?”
“Bill, when you say reduce that means they would still get something. I don't want to leave them a damn cent. Please make sure that they are totally eliminated from anything.”
Bill asked if she was going to leave the main portion of her estate to a foundation after finding out that one of the heads of the foundation recently made the newspapers. It was discovered that he was using the foundation’s money for his lavish personal use and not to the charities that were supposed to receive it.
“Money does strange things to people,” said Mrs. Moore.
“I agree and I have a suggestion for you. I see that we both made the right choice in picking Robert and I think that you should set aside a very meager amount for him,” said Bill.
“Absolutely not! Leave Robert a meager amount? He's the only one that has cared about me. I think he has helped my mind and my body since I have not felt this good for such a long time. He is honest. He is loyal. He is a friend. I love him like the son that I never had. I want him to have everything,” she said emphatically.
“It certainly is your decision and that’s why I am here. I understand how you feel and would probably feel the same way myself.” Bill smiled.
Chapter 5
About a month after Mrs. Moore received her upbeat health
report, Robert tried to convince her to start once again with physical therapy. She resisted; however, he kept trying to persuade her even to the point that he said, “Let the therapist come once or twice and teach me how to give you the therapy. After that, you can then decide to continue or not.”
“Robert. You are the sweetest, and I really do appreciate it and yes I will agree only because I have been feeling so much better and I stopped dwelling on death because of you,” she said.
With that, Robert contacted her orthopedic surgeon to get a new prescription for physical and massage therapy and Mrs. Moore gave Robert the name of the last person that had taken care of her. A few days later he received the prescription and then contacted Lawrence, the therapist, who did not have an opening for Mrs. Moore for a period of two weeks.
“That is fine. Kindly put it down as being firm that you will be here two weeks from now on Tuesday at 11 a.m. I will have her ready for your treatment,” Robert responded.
Two weeks to the day, Joanne visited Mrs. Moore bringing a duffel bag containing liniments and items to microwave that would apply heat to soften tight muscles. She spent over an hour gently stretching all of Mrs. Moore's muscles, concentrating on her glutes and hip socket. She explained each muscle and joint to both of them and instructed Robert how to continue until her next visit the following week. She handed Robert a brochure and circled the items that she wanted Robert to stress until she returned. Mrs. Moore had none of the objections that she had the year before because she felt so much more comfortable with Robert there. The following month she continued with Robert who she felt was doing a better job than Joanne, which may have been strictly mental. It made no difference since Mrs. Moore after two weeks was walking significantly better although she still used a cane.
As the spring and summer quickly passed and fall approached Mrs. Moore requested that Robert not use the Eldorado convertible nor their modern Buick sedan for their weekly trips to Blue Bell Inn and use her ‘darling’ Rolls Royce sedan which was her husband’s car of choice for their dinner trips. Robert did not hesitate at all since she never had mentioned to him which car she preferred. It was his duty and his obligation to care for her; he wanted to do whatever made her feel good. He was so happy that she was pr
ogressing, even walking more upright than before and looking very stately.
***
One evening after arriving at Blue Bell Inn with the silver Rolls Royce sedan Mrs. Moore opened up the passenger’s door herself before Robert had a chance to get there. Robert could not believe how quickly she exited the door and walked in front of the car heading to the walkway by herself. Robert was stunned.
“Mrs. Moore. Please wait for me; God forbid you might trip.” Mrs. Moore obliged by standing there waiting for him to escort her in.
Everyone knew Mrs. Jacqueline Moore and now they all knew Robert Snyder as well. The piano player in the bar played her favorite tune, a Johnny Mathis song, “Misty.” Robert pulled two chairs up to the piano while they both enjoyed their kamikazes. Mrs. Moore ordered a drink for Edward, the piano player. A friend of Mrs. Moore sent another round of drinks over for both of them. Robert wanted to turn it down since he was being more responsible than ever caring about her safety and well-being.
“Oh Robert!” she exclaimed. “Don't be such a fuddy-duddy.”
Having consumed too many kamikazes, both of them were a little bit tipsy and after having their meals Robert was growing tired. He ordered a black coffee for both of them but she refused. As soon as they arrived back at Hampton Court Robert saw to it that she made it to her bedroom and he left the hall light on and retired to his carriage house apartment. He fell asleep immediately.
***
Early the following morning Stasha arrived to do her general house cleaning. Robert was still in bed with a slight hangover. Stasha went straight to the utility room to pick up a mop and a bucket to lightly clean the floors in the living room dining room and kitchen but got very concerned when she saw one table laying on its side and a broken lamp. Drawers were opened in the cupboard and the sideboard drawers were scattered on the floor. Sensing something had happened she knocked on Mrs. Moore's bedroom door but there was no response. She knocked again.” Mrs. Moore are you all right?”