by Linda Hanna
Cora waited until Ben was out of hearing range then said, “Well, I never. Can you believe how fresh that young man was? You should complain to the manager.” Her husband sat motionless, his eyes fixed on the nearby fountain. “Ed, did you hear me?” When he failed to respond again, she touched his arm. His muscles tensed beneath her fingertips. Worry seeped into her voice. “What’s wrong?”
He leaned back in his seat and lowered his voice. “Let’s go ahead and ask the Lord’s blessing for the food, first.”
After his prayer, Cora asked, “So are you going to tell me what’s wrong?”
Time seemed to stand still before Ed spoke. He shook his head and broke the uncomfortable silence. “Cora, we need to talk,” he muttered in a low voice.
“Yes, I know.” She fumbled self-consciously with the napkin on her lap. The longer she tried to ignore the truth, the harder it had become to tell him. Her mind was a tumble of confused thoughts and emotions as she struggled to begin.
He scowled. “So, do you want to start?”
She forced herself to calmly sip her cappuccino. “Oh, this is terrible, it’s much too strong.” Cora looked up at him. “No, you go ahead and say what’s on your mind.”
He threw her an ominous look. “Very well. This isn’t going to be an easy thing to say, and you probably won’t like to hear it, either. After all these years of marriage, I feel I have the right to know what’s been going on with the doctor.” He took a drink of the strong coffee and set his cup back on the table with a heavy thunk.
Stunned by the abruptness of his statement, Cora gasped. “How did you find out?”
13
Mortified, Cora hung her head. She waited too long to tell Ed. How much did he know?
He glared. “So, is it serious?”
Cora couldn’t deny the truth any longer. Her doubts returned to the Pandora’s Box she was about to unlock. “I-I’m afraid it might be.” Her hand shook as she rubbed her forehead.
“You’re afraid it might be? You mean you don’t know?” He helped himself to a breadstick. “What does he say?”
“He’s going to tell me later this week.”
“What? He’s not sure, either?” Ed’s breadstick broke in half. “Cora.”
“Well, he’s pretty sure, but for heaven’s sake, Ed, he doesn’t want to tell me something like that until he’s positive. He doesn’t want to give me any false hope.”
“Are you playing some kind of game, or did you think this wouldn’t matter?”
“I’d hardly call it a game.” Cora boldly met his eyes. “Of course, it matters.”
“Why haven’t you told me before this?” He sounded beside himself. “Your nonchalant attitude has me totally baffled. Have we really grown apart that much?”
Cora sighed. She felt exposed and transparent, as if he perceived she was lying. “Oh, Eddie, I’m so confused, I can’t think straight with that crazy man calling and all. I didn’t know how to tell you. I mean it’s not something I wanted to blurt out over morning toast and coffee, you know?”
Ed’s vexation was written all over his face. “I guess you’re right. Please pass the marmalade. Oh, and by the way, Ed, I’m having a torrid love affair.”
Cora’s jaw nearly hit the table as she stared at him. Once she gained a wisp of composure, she yelped, “I’m what?”
“Having an affair with Dr. Morgan.” He sat back awkwardly, and scrutinized his wife.
Cora gritted her teeth, eager to keep the shocking conversation strictly private. “I-am-not! And will you keep your voice down, Edward? People can hear you.” She paused. “And who is Dr. Morgan?”
He leaned forward, placed the palms of his hands on the table, and growled, “Your lover. As if you didn’t know.”
Heads turned. Silverware clinked on the china plates as the courtyard became quiet except for the splashing fountain.
“Shhh,” she hissed. “What on earth are you talking about?”
Ed kept his voice lowered. “I heard that you’ve been meeting Morgan here in this very restaurant every week.” He motioned around the dining area.
The waiter had just approached their table. He raised his eyebrows, set the food down and quickly left them alone.
She crossed her arms. “And just where did you pick up this choice bit of information? Wendell, the dynamic detective?”
“I saw you walking out of here yesterday. In Morgan’s arms.” The photo Ed had found was now on the table in front of Cora. His voice shook. “And while we’re on the subject, who’s this Lothario?” He poked it with his forefinger for added emphasis.
Her face reddened with embarrassment when she saw the incriminating photograph. Her eyes narrowed into angry slits. “Where did you get that?”
“In your dresser drawer. Right where you left it. Now, I demand some answers.”
“How can you sit there and humiliate me like this?” Cora began to cry.
“You were here yesterday, right?”
“I’ve n-never been here before.”
“The waiter said you have a usual order, Cora. And you just ordered it.”
“I can’t possibly have a usual order since this is the first time I’ve been here. I wouldn’t forget the courtyard or that fountain. Don’t you think I’d remember a place like this? And I don’t know any Dr. Morgan.”
Ed studied her face for a moment. “Then what have you been talking about?” He paused. “Why have you been acting so strange lately? And, there’s still the matter of that man holding you in this picture.”
Cora blinked back tears and scooped up a bite of souvlaki. With her fork paused mid-air, she fixed her eyes on Ed. “Dr. Brant sent me to see a specialist for a few tests.” She set her fork down and wiped her mouth. Then she pulled out her billfold and removed a receipt. “Here, you can check it out if you don’t believe me. It’s my receipt from the doctor’s office.”
When Ed refused to take the paper, she released a sigh. “Here. I insist. You need to see it.” She slammed it on the table in front of him. “Look at it, Ed.”
He picked up the piece of paper and quickly read it, then pushed the receipt back to her. “Even so, I saw you come out of this café yesterday. Can you explain that?”
“I can’t. I wasn’t here. I was hooked up to monitors all afternoon.”
“All right, then, just what kind of tests did you have?” Ed chomped off a bite of crisp breadstick and brushed fallen sesame seeds from his black trousers. He crossed his arms and settled back with a smug look, as if she were hopelessly cornered.
She toyed with the salad and measured her words carefully. Her voice quivered. “Oh, Eddie. I’m so scared. I’m either in the early stages of Alzheimer’s or I’m losing my mind.”
The muscles tightened around his mouth. “That’s ridiculous, Cora.”
“Oh, is it? Let me tell you what’s been going on.” The words tumbled out of her mouth as she told him of her short-term memory loss, of forgetting people’s names and trouble completing things that were once second nature. “I can’t even concentrate on simple mathematical procedures and I was the county treasurer for years.”
“What did Morgan say about it?”
“Not Dr. Morgan. Remember, I don’t know him? Dr. Keith. Let me finish.” She took a drink of water. “Brandi Fisher said I bought coconut cookies for my son, Ed. Coconut.”
“Your son?” Ed picked up the photograph and waved it. “Is this the father?”
“Don’t be obtuse.” Cora spouted. “You’re my one and only. There’s never been anyone else.”
“If you say so.” He waved the picture for emphasis and set it down.
Their heated exchange was suddenly interrupted when a large, swarthy man in his early sixties ambled to their table in full Greek regalia.
“I’m Mikos Pagonis, owner of this fine café,” he announced to Ed with heavy accent. The Greek restaurateur wiped his large palm on his red embroidered vest and offered a hand in greeting. Mikos turned to Cora, and his fac
e immediately brightened as he offered a big smile. “You feel better today, yes?”
“Well, I’ve had better days.”
“Sorry to hear this. We at Pegasi have been very concerned.” He stretched his arms wide. “But souvlaki is to your liking today, yes?”
Cora nodded and dabbed her mouth with the linen napkin. “Delicious, Mr. Pagonis.”
He threw his arms open again. “What’s this? Mr. Pagonis?” He placed his hands on his chest. “It’s Mikos, your friend. Mikos!”
A pronounced blush inched its way onto her cheeks. “All right, Mikos.” The unrelenting stares of the other diners drew her attention. “I’m sorry we’ve disturbed your other guests.”
“No matter, dear lady. You eat before souvlaki gets cold. Mikos will serve baklava for his favorite lady customer. On the house.” He summoned Ben with a commanding wave of his hand.
Ed and Cora were speechless as they watched their host speak to the waiter, then make his way between white Corinthian columns into the main dining area.
Ed glared at his wife over the top of his glasses. “You can explain, yes?” His voice oozed with sarcasm.
“Look, I don’t know that man.” Cora stabbed the salad with her fork.
“Right.” The Greek music ended and Ed lowered his voice. “Just like you don’t know the waiter, or the man holding you in the picture, or the one holding you yesterday?”
“See? Welcome to my crazy world,” she whispered back. “Nothing makes sense any more. Let me tell you about the picture.” She took a drink of water.
“I’m waiting.”
“Remember yesterday morning when I was getting ready to go to Phoenix? I got another phone call. The caller said he left something in my dresser. I was scared to death because he’d been in the house. That picture you’re holding was in my drawer. That’s when you came into the room and I put it back. It’s me in the photo, but I don’t remember having it taken, especially with that man. He’s a complete stranger to me.” She wearily reached for her cappuccino and finished the last of it.
Cora shook her head, and placed a hand over the cup as their waiter came by with a steaming carafe of coffee and the promised dessert. He quickly turned and left.
Ed tapped his fingers on the table. “So, exactly what did you do in Phoenix?”
“I told you, I went to see the doctor.”
He arched an eyebrow “I guess that’s one way to put it.”
“Dr. Brant already ruled out a mini-stroke, brain tumor, and thyroid problems. He sent me to see a specialist, Dr. Keith, and that’s where I was.”
“You’re not answering my question. You were gone a long time. What else did you do?”
“I did some shopping at Nancy’s Gift Shoppe, picked up medicine at Montgomery’s, ate lunch, and had my hair done at Salon de Belleza. Oh yes, I was stalked on my way home, too.”
“Where did you have lunch and with whom?”
Her annoyance with Ed’s continued disbelief finally reached the breaking point. Her voice cracked with angry frustration. “I had a chicken salad sandwich at Tammy’s Tea Room. Since you’re interested in all the details, I had a glass of raspberry iced tea, as well. And except for chatting with Tammy for a few minutes, I was alone, Ed. Very alone.” She paused. “After getting my hair done, I went straight to the doctor’s office. I don’t know what else to say. Either you believe me, or you don’t.”
Ed was quiet for a moment. “To be completely honest with you, Cora, I know what I saw yesterday. I also see how sincere you are, and how you’d be worried about having Alzheimer’s.” He reached over and patted her hand. “Why don’t you tell me what the doctor said?”
Cora grasped his hand, relieved her husband was ready to listen. “They ran more tests.” She nervously traced the Greek key design on the rim of her dinner plate. “He said all things have to be ruled out before Alzheimer’s can be determined.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you were going through this?” He pushed his silverware away, and softened his voice. “I should’ve been with you.”
“Look Ed, it’s difficult enough to accept it myself. How was I going to tell you? I’m scared and didn’t want to be put away in some secluded home. Remember, Mom had Alzheimer’s and I’ve heard it’s hereditary.”
Ed rolled his eyes and leaned back in his chair. “Oh, for crying out loud, Cora, it can’t be hereditary, at least not for you. I know you were awfully young at the time, but how could you forget she was your adopted mother?” He crunched into another breadstick. A brief silence followed as his statement sank in.
Her hands flew to her cheeks. “I guess because she’s the only mother I’ve ever known. See what I mean? It isn’t clicking up here anymore.” She lightly tapped her head. “I keep forgetting things, Ed. Important things.”
He chuckled. “Well, that’s understandable, you were adopted at the age of two.”
“But Ed, it’s more than that. If it is Alzheimer’s, I’ll be wandering around in public, lost and confused. Maybe even au naturel. Or walking into rooms full of strangers, feeling like I should know them, and I don’t. I saw it with Mom.” Cora shut her eyes and promised herself she wouldn’t cry. “Look what happened here. They know me, but I don’t know them.”
“Toots, you know your mom had the best care possible. God loves you, and He promised He wouldn’t lead you anywhere He can’t take care of you.”
“I’m so frustrated,” she said with clenched teeth. “How can I believe that promise? After all, God didn’t take care of Vanessa in her hour of need. Why would He take care of me?”
Ed scooted his chair closer. “What do you mean He didn’t take care of her?”
The waiter brought more water and then quietly removed their plates.
Once Ben left, Cora explained. “Tammy told me that Van lived an hour after the accident. She suffered in that pile of twisted metal.”
“Tammy went through a lot of agony because she couldn’t help Van. She came to me and apologized.” Ed patted her hand. “Sure, Van was alive, but God intervened. She was unconscious the whole time and didn’t suffer.”
Cora nodded as she allowed tears to fall into her napkin.
The Lord did take care of her.
Van didn’t feel pain. The grief in her hardened heart eased a bit with this new revelation.
“We can count on God to take care of us through all of our problems, including our health.” Ed wiped his salty fingers, and brought the subject back to her physical needs. “You still should’ve told me about these tests. I am your husband, after all.”
“I wanted the diagnosis before burdening you with it.”
“That’s what our wedding vows were all about. For better for worse, in sickness and in health. We promised to be there to support each other through the difficult times.”
“If it’s Alzheimer’s, I’ll end up like a helpless baby and die in a very degrading way.” She looked unflinchingly into his eyes. “Maybe I thought that you wouldn’t love me anymore.”
“Not love you? Now who’s being obtuse?” He spoke in a gentle tone as he continued to pat her hand. “We’ll take it one step at a time. Even if you get to the point where you don’t know who I am, I’ll still know and love you, Cora. That’ll never change.”
“Oh, honey,” she whispered. Her tears displayed deep love for her husband. If only he could clear the other uncertainties in her heart.
Ed paused. “Well, now that we’ve established my undying love for you, what should we do about your Dr. Morgan?”
“He’s not my Dr. Morgan. I don’t even know a Dr. Morgan. That might be him in the picture, for all I know.” Cora pursed her lips and added. “Well, you know what? Maybe I do know Dr. Morgan and I just don’t remember. Or maybe I have a multiple personality and it’s one of my alter egos having souvlaki with him. I don’t know anything anymore. People tell me I’ve been here and there, saying all sorts of senseless things, buying coconut cookies, and I just don’t remember. If what everybody
says is true, then I must be crazy.” Tears streamed down her cheeks. “Do you think I’m crazy, Ed?”
His stare dropped to the floor. “Well, this visit to the Pegasi has been one wild encounter after another.”
Their eyes met.
“Do you believe what I’ve told you, Ed?”
Another one of those all-too-familiar stretches of silence followed.
Hurt was still apparent in his eyes as he turned and studied her. “You’ve got to admit there’s a lot of evidence stacked up against you, but I believe that you believe.”
Once again, large tears welled up in her eyes and spilled down her cheek. “I need you, of all people, to trust me. I don’t care what anyone else thinks.” She quickly wiped the dampness from her face, and glanced timidly at the unfinished baklava on her plate.
He watched her for several minutes, and contemplated the situation. “I’ve got an idea.”
She sniffed. “What? I’m ready to do anything.”
His jaw flinched, and Cora knew a battle waged within.
He reached for her hand and their fingers interlocked. “Well, it’s a pretty gutsy thing to do, Toots. You’re the love of my life and I want to trust you with all my heart.” He took a deep breath. “Let’s go to Dr. Morgan’s office and see if we can get some of this cleared up.”
Apprehension swelled in her chest. “Let’s do it.”
Ed paid the bill and they quickly vacated the premises. He took Cora’s hand as they walked to the car. “If I never hear Zorba the Greek music again, I’ll die a happy man.”
Although no rain was in the forecast, ominous clouds began to veil the sun. Cora’s state of mind was as unstable as the weather. Her stomach filled with Pterodactyl-sized butterflies that had become her constant companions. She glanced over at Ed in the driver’s seat.
What would the next hour bring? What if Dr. Morgan knew her? If she recognized him, should she speak up or remain silent? Would their marriage survive the strange events of the last few weeks?
14
A couple blocks away, Ed pulled into a convenience store parking lot and maneuvered the car close to the public phone. “We’ll look Dr. Morgan up in the directory.” He brought the chained phone book to the car window and thumbed through the well-worn yellow pages.