“GRANDMA!” Liz shouted from the kitchen in an attempt to rescue her, “There are other exercises besides jumping jacks.”
Mary glanced toward the kitchen and continued, “Well, I know what you mean. It gets harder as we get older to keep from spreading out all over the place—so to speak.”
“Exactly. I have to get back to it. Especially if I’m going to enjoy your cooking. Goodness! It smells delicious in here. Let me guess. Roast and—” he paused. “Vanilla? Vanilla something.”
Liz peeked her head out of the kitchen. “It’s a hot milk cake. Grandma’s best! Wait until you try it. It’ll tickle your tongue, right Grandma?” Liz winked at Mary. Mary didn’t respond.
“Oh I love a good hot milk cake!” Clifford replied. “I can’t wait!”
“Well, don’t get too excited. It fell! I lost her when we had those power outages earlier, and I messed up the frosting too. It’s a bit salty.”
Liz peeked in again. “Everybody loves grandma’s cakes! Wait till you taste it. You’ll be back for more.” She smiled deviously at her grandmother. Mary shot her look.
“I’m sure I will! I left my green bean casserole on the front seat. I had my hands full with the flowers. I’ll be right back,” Clifford said.
Liz set the flowers in a vase in the middle of the table as he walked out. Mary whispered, “What was that?”
“What was, what?” Liz asked innocently.
“You better watch it, little Ms. Lizzie Wizzie,” Mary warned. Her grandmother had tormented her with the nickname from the time she’d started potty training. She knew it was a button. “Two can play at this game,” she threatened.
Liz cowered at the nickname but attempted to remain coy, “What game?”
“Teasing me over my milk cake. Telling him he will be back for more. I’ll tell Gary all about Ms. Lizzie Wizzie and her bubble gum balls if you don’t knock it off!”
Liz looked terrified, “You wouldn’t?”
“Don’t test me. I’ve got pictures!”
“Look who I found,” Clifford said as he walked back through the door.
Gary stepped in behind him with a bottle of wine in his hand.
“Hello!” Gary handed the wine to Mary.
“Liz, I told you to tell him not to bring anything.”
“She told me Ms. Mary, but my mother also told me never to walk into someone’s home for a dinner party empty handed.”
“Well, she taught you well! We appreciate the wine, but it wasn’t necessary. Thank you.”
“Thanks, Gary,” Liz added as she gave him a gentle hug. She noticed that he smelled like cedar, oak and cinnamon. The scent was familiar. “You smell good,” she whispered in his ear.
“Thank you,” he quietly answered.
“Cliff, would you mind helping me with this wine? Bring your casserole; I’ll warm it in the oven for a minute,” Mary said as she led him to the kitchen.
“Did you get a new cologne?” Liz asked.
“Actually, Mark suggested it to me.”
“Really?” Liz replied. “You two have become pretty close lately.”
“I’m just glad he hasn’t held any hard feelings. Most guys wouldn’t be like that.”
“What do you mean?” Liz asked.
“You know what I mean. I stole his girl.”
“No you didn’t!” she smirked. “Nobody steals me. I came to you. Besides, I was never really his girl.”
“You could’ve been and you know it. You could be anybody’s girl that you set your heart on. I’m just glad you set your heart on me.”
“Thanks, Gary!” she said.
“Mark knows how lucky I am. In fact, he said you were the most beautiful woman—inside and out, that he’d ever met.”
“He did?” Liz shook her head. “He said that?”
“He did,” Gary nodded. “Oh, and he said to tell you, hello.”
Gary didn’t seem to notice how uncomfortable the message was for LIz.
“A toast!” Clifford said as he emerged from the kitchen with Mary. They handed Liz and Gary wine glasses. “To good times, loving friendships and great food! Thank you, ladies, for inviting us tonight!”
“Hear, hear!” Mary replied. “Let’s eat!”
6
Bill texted Anna Marie from the restaurant, Hey beautiful. I’m here, and I’ve got a table.
Anna Marie had just pulled into the lot. She answered quickly. Sorry. Just pulled up. Be right there.
What are you wearing? He texted back.
His flirtatious text made her grin, but she was reticent.
She remained in the car to return his text. I’m wearing an ugly bandage on my chin!
Is that all? Don’t move I’ll be right there!
Suddenly the excitement of spending the evening out didn’t hold the same measure. It wasn’t that she was offended. She enjoyed his wit and knew he only intended to make her smile, but she worried. Things were moving too quickly with Bill.
He’d always been flirtatious by nature. For twenty years she worked at building a protective wall around herself in order to keep him safely in the friend zone. It was difficult and unnatural to allow him to speed through the deep layers of security she’d always retreated to. Tonight, she would have to explain her predicament. She needed him to understand that she wasn’t being intentionally cold or indifferent toward his physical advances. She deeply desired his friendship but wasn’t ready for much more.
Silly! She texted.
Seriously, what happened? Are you okay?
I’m absolutely fine. I just slipped and cut my chin. I’ll be right in.
As soon as she stepped into the restaurant, he waved her down. “Look at you!” he smiled as she approached the table. “You look beautiful. Not everyone can pull off a giant bandage across the chin and still look stunning. What happened? Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I am. It’s just a little scratch that bled a lot. It doesn’t hurt,” she said. The synchronized pulsation under the bandage reminded her that she was lying about the pain.
“Are you sure you don’t need to have it looked at?”
“I’m ok. I’m sure.”
He studied her face and quickly concluded that she didn’t want to be questioned. “I’m glad you’re ok. Seriously, you really do look beautiful,” he said. His blues eyes sparkled with sincerity in the candle light that was glowing off of the table.
“Thank you,” she said. She knew he sensed her discomfort. How could she explain it?
“Bill, I—”
“It’s okay,” he smiled. He picked up a menu and handed it to her. “You better start choosing something. It is not going to be easy!”
She buried herself in the menu. He was right. It wasn’t going to be easy. She wondered if he’d heard the irony of his own words.
They ordered. Anna Marie watched Bill nervously spin his fork between his fingers and thumb. “Anna Marie, I’m sorry—”
She braced herself for what was next, but he didn’t say anything. The pause was unbearable so she filled it. “No,” she said, “I’m sorry. It’s my fault. I don’t mean to make you feel bad. I’m just not ready. I’m still healing and dealing with—”
“Anna!” he cut her off.
Anna? Her sister was the only one who ever called her Anna. She was Anna Marie to everyone else. She was taken back by his nerve.
“Anna,” he said it again. This time it was tender. She liked the way it sounded the second time. She liked it a lot.
“I said, ‘I’m sorry’ because I spoke to the attorney that Clifford referred me to today,” he paused and touched her hand. She held her breath. “It doesn’t look good,” he finished.
“What did he say?” she asked softly.
“Basically, your lack of income is an impossible obstacle.”
“I have money in the bank! I can start looking for work now, if I have to! I don’t have to take any time off. I just wanted to take a break to try things! I’ll find work, easily.” Sh
e stuttered over her words, “Did, did you tell him that?”
“Honey, you would need to prove income for at least six months. With your lapse in employment, they’re not going to let you have a child. You have to prove a steady employment history. Even if you start working again, it will be at least another six months.”
“No, I can’t let that child sit there that long! I have to get her, Bill.”
“The only other option is to show significant money in the bank. I don’t think you have that.”
“How much?”
“Even with my help, you don’t have it.”
“How much? How much do I need?”
“He says you are short about thirty grand.”
“What!!?” Her mouth dropped open.
“I know. I’m sorry. I wish I could help you, I can work with about an extra ten—”
“Say it again,” she leaned into him.
“Say what again?”
“Say how much I need!”
“He said you will need thirty thousand dollars. I know it’s shocking.”
“My God! Thirty thousand?”
“I know,” he replied with empathy.
“No,” she said, “you don’t understand. I have it. I found Kevin’s gambling money hidden in the back of the closet. It was thirty grand. How crazy is that? I have it! I have thirty grand!”
7
The dinner was cleared, and Mary sent Liz to the hall closet to reach for the scrabble game. They played in pairs.
“This is an unfair match,” Liz said. “No offense, Gary, but we stink at this. Gammy reads all day, and Clifford is a crossword puzzle junkie.” She turned to Mary and Clifford, “Guys, we grew up on video games.”
“You kids are sharp as tacks! It’s not your fault your generation has killed off half of the words in the dictionary. You can thank public education for that. All that testing they do. Nobody’s had time to teach the glorious dictionary for the past decade and a half.”
“Hold on just a minute,” Gary said. He was studying the squares in front of him. “I’ve got something!” They all watched with anticipation as he carefully placed letters around the word lips to form ellipsoidal.
“Nice!” Liz squealed. She started adding up the points. “We’re back in the game!”
“I’m going to assume that is some kind of a theatre term because I never heard of it before,” Mary said.
“It is the name of a lighting instrument,” Gary explained.
“Clifford, have you ever—” she stopped. “Are you okay, Cliff? You look exhausted.”
“I’m sorry, Mary. I don’t mean to be rude. I think your incredible dinner has made me drowsy. It was delicious. I haven’t enjoyed a roast like that in years.”
“Grandma’s cooking will do that to you. It’s the ultimate comfort food!”
“You can stretch out on the couch, if you need a little nap,” Mary said.
“No, no, I am fine,” Clifford insisted.
Liz stood up and stretched. “Who is ready for cake?”
“I was afraid you’d never ask!” Clifford joked.
Mary watched him reach into his pocket for a handkerchief. He dabbed at the beads of sweat that had gathered on his forehead.
“Are you sure you don’t want to stretch out—kick your feet up?”
“Thank you, Mary. I’m fine. Liz, I’ve been smelling that cake all evening. I have a weakness for sweets, you know.”
Liz started for the kitchen and Mary followed.
“I’ll put some coffee on. A little sugar and coffee will do you good. I don’t want you falling asleep on the way home tonight. I’ll put on decaffeinated though. I don’t want you up all night either.”
“It’s awful sweet of you to worry over me, Mary,” Clifford said.
Gary cleared the game from the table and boxed it up just in time for Liz and Mary to return with the cake and coffee cups.
“You better let me cut that,” Mary said when Liz picked up the spatula. “I know where trouble spots are.” She looked at Gary. “I had to use a lot of icing to fill in the center.”
“I like a lot of icing,” Gary said. “You can give me the center piece. I don’t mind.”
“Wait until you taste the icing before you volunteer, Son. My brother called while I was mixing it. I’m afraid I messed that up too. It’s a bit salty. I’m sorry, I wasn’t even going to serve this tonight. Liz rescued this cake it was headed for the—”
“Grandma stop! She is a perfectionist when it comes to her milk cakes. I couldn’t stay out of the frosting. Trust me, even her messed up milk cakes are far better than anything you could buy at a bakery.” Mary placed a slice in front of Clifford.
“It looks delicious!” he said.
“Well I hope you like it. I just wish the wretched storm hadn’t caused it to fall,” she said as she finished slicing the cake. “Go ahead, try it. You don’t have to wait for me. I’m setting up the coffee.” She turned toward the kitchen and looked back. “How do you take your—Cliff?”
Clifford clutched his chest. “I—I uh—I”
“Clifford!” Mary ran toward him. “CLIFFORD!” He fell out of his chair. She caught his head just before he hit the ground.
“Oh God!” Mary howled.
Liz and Gary immediately reached for their phones.
Liz shouted to Gary, “I’ve got 911—!”
“Liz, grab my purse. I’ve got a bottle of aspirin in there. Clifford? Look at me! Honey, I need you to look at me!”
8
Bill walked Anna Marie to her car and opened the door.
“Dinner was nice, thank you,” she said.
“Thank you,” he said, “you paid!”
“True. That cash came from the stash I found in the closet. I guess you better thank Kevin.”
“I’d rather not,” he grinned. “Are you sure you’re ready to stay there alone?” She’d spent her nights on his couch since she’d returned from her retreat to her sister’s in Florida. “You’re still welcome at my place. My intentions remain pure; at least for now. I promise,” he added.
“You are a perfect gentleman. I’m sorry about what I said earlier. I hope you understand,” she said.
“I do. I understand perfectly. I waited all this time. I can wait a little longer. I just don’t want you to feel like you can’t stay with me. I—“
She stopped him. “I put you and Motley out long enough.”
“Well, you may have put me out, but Motley likes you better than he likes me. If you want, I could go stay at your place and you could stay with Motley.”
“Bill, it’s not that I don’t want to stay with you. I have to take care of that house. If I am going to keep it, I have to get used to staying there. I have a lot work to do to make it feel like it’s my home again. More importantly, I have to start enjoying it.”
“I understand,” Bill said. He reached in to kiss her cheek but she ducked into the car.
“Good night,” she said.
“Good night.” Bill turned to leave. He felt his cell phone rattle in his pocket. “Hello!” It was Gary.
When Anna Marie and Bill arrived at the hospital, Bill found Gary and Liz huddled in the chairs against the back wall, and Mary was pacing the waiting room floor.
“How is he?” Bill asked. Gary stood to greet him.
“We haven’t heard much, yet.” Gary lowered his voice as he drew closer to Bill, “It was pretty bad.”
“How bad?” Bill asked.
“He was conscious all the way here, but when we arrived he slipped away. He was shocked back. That is all we know right now. We are waiting to hear from the Doctor.”
Bill put his hand on Liz’s shoulder and looked at Mary. “I’m sure he is going to pull through just fine. Clifford is a tough man!” he said.
“He is,” Liz agreed.
Mary stopped pacing. She placed her hand on Bill’s back. “You are good friend Bill. Thank you for coming! You’re a good man!” She continued to pace.
/>
“You know I wouldn’t have it any other way. Clifford means the world to me.”
“I thought you said Anna Marie was with you?” Liz asked.
“She is.” Bill hesitated, “I left her waiting in the car. It’s too soon. She is still struggling to piece together all of the details of that night. She only remembers waking up here at this hospital. Today was a tough day for her as it was. It was best that she wait in the car.”
“Of course,” Liz said.
Mary stopped pacing and shook her head. “Poor dear! Go on and take her home. Gary or Liz will text you as soon as we know anything.”
“I don’t suppose there is anything we can do but wait. Please keep me posted.” Bill turned to leave. He stopped when the Doctor walked into the room.
“Is this the Clifford Brown party?” he asked.
Mary turned sharply. “We are here for Clifford, but this is certainly no party!”
The Doctor didn’t react to Mary’s comment. His stern demeanor matched hers. He gathered them to the center of the room. “Mr. Brown is in stable condition at this time. He seems to be doing very well. For a very short period of time, he was completely unresponsive. He was—“
Mary let out a whisper, “Brain dead?”
Liz reached for her, “Grandma, listen!”
The doctor continued. “It is not completely uncommon in cases of heart failure for a patient to suddenly recover activity to the brain. We did perform an emergency surgery after he pulled through the initial heart attack. We gave him two stents. He should be waking shortly, and we will know more. The good news is that he appears to have come through this extremely well. If there is no unforeseen damage; it is possible that he will be feeling like a brand-new man very soon. He will most likely begin to feel a lot better than he has for a long time. My guess is that he has been running around with an unhealthy heart for some time now.”
“That is great news!” Bill said over the rest of the mumbled agreements.
Before the doctor turned to leave he added, “Whoever thought to get that aspirin in him, undoubtedly saved his life!”
The False Exit Page 3