Part 22 (1/2)

”Good help is expensive. I try to keep my job performance in line with my salary so you won't ever have to give me a raise.”

”Sometimes I think I should just fire you all and go back to working out of my house.”

”You'd have a heart attack within a month. Now go call Brooke and tell her we're on.”

151.

Carmen walked out, fantasizing again that this was her company and she was in charge.

”No, Victor. That's too big for one bite.” Judith got up from her chair and went around the table. ”Switch your fork to this hand.” She tapped his left wrist. ”Now take your knife and cut your meat. You remember how to do that.”

This was a difficult task for her brother, one he didn't practice much at the group home, since the food was always presented in bite-size portions.

”Tell her kielbasa's your favorite food, honey. That's why you try to eat it so fast.” Judith knew, for Halina Kowalczyk, there was no better feeling in the world than having her daughter and son at her dinner table on Sunday. And this week was extra special because it was Victor's forty-seventh birthday.

”Doesn't he look handsome in his new s.h.i.+rt?” Judith grinned joyously as Victor smiled and blushed. ”I bet Stacey likes it.”

The mention of his favorite staffer made his smile even wider.

”Good job, Victor.” She returned to her seat to finish her meal. ”I'm going to be out of town next weekend, Mom.”

”Will you be back in time to bring Victor on Sunday afternoon?”

”No, I'm going to Chicago to visit someone. I won't get back until Sunday night.”

”So I won't get to see Victor next week,” her mother said dis-mally.

It had been at least a year since they last talked about her mother going to the group home on her own. But with Carmen in the picture-and the hope for Judith that she might visit Chicago on a regular basis-it was a good time to raise the issue again.

”You know, you could go on your own very easily.”

Halina shook her head. ”You know I don't like to go to that 152 place.”

”It's a very nice facility, very comfortable.”

”But it's still a facility,” she hissed.

”It's Victor's home, Mom. He likes it there and he's doing very well.” She hated to talk about her brother as if he weren't there. ”Isn't that right, Victor? You like living at Wyckoff, don't you?”

He gave a weak smile and began to rock forward and back in his chair, a sign he was getting agitated at the tone of the conversation.

”It's okay. Everyone's okay,” Judith said in her most rea.s.suring voice. She looked at her mother, who was also smiling and patting Victor's hand. ”Why don't we walk to McCarren Park before we come back and have dessert?”

”That's a great idea,” her mother said with exaggerated enthusiasm. ”And guess what we're having for dessert, Victor.”

”I bet it's someone's birthday cake,” Judith answered, relieved to see her brother growing calmer. ”Let's go get our coats on.”

She put on her fleece pullover before helping Victor with his Windbreaker.

”Do you have another convention in Chicago?” Halina asked as they walked out.

”No, I'm going to visit a friend.” Moments like these always made Judith squirm with discomfort. Telling the whole truth- that she was romantically involved with another woman-wasn't an option where her mother was concerned. Judith had imagined the hysterical scene a thousand times. Yet, she couldn't resist the chance to talk about the fascinating woman who filled her thoughts. ”I met her at the convention a few weeks ago. She's a research consultant and knows everybody in the travel business.”

”Are you still thinking about changing jobs?”

”I wouldn't say no to better commissions.” Her mother understood how her job worked, but she had no idea of her agency's clientele.

153.

”I hope you're not thinking about moving to Chicago.”

”No, Mom.” Judith took her brother's arm as they neared Bedford Street. ”Victor, show Mom when you're supposed to cross the street.”

She and her mother grinned with pride as Victor led the way when the pedestrian light flashed white.

”You're so smart, honey,” Halina gushed.

”Tell her you learn a lot at Wyckoff, Victor.” She said that just to get under her mother's skin. No, she wasn't moving to Chicago, but she wouldn't mind visiting-a lot. That meant being gone on weekends, though, and her mother would have to step up for Victor.

Without speaking, they followed the path through the park to a bench, where they settled with Victor in the middle. Halina fussed over the zipper in her son's jacket. ”You need to keep warm, honey.”

”Mom, I have an idea for when I get back from Chicago.

What if I come by here on Monday after work and we both go down to Wyckoff? That way, he gets to visit with you and show you some of his new pictures. We don't have to stay there long.

We can take him out for a walk.” She rubbed her brother's back as she talked about him. ”He likes going out in that neighborhood too.” She held her breath while waiting to see how her mother would handle the invitation.

”I can miss a week without seeing him here and there.”

”But what about him? He wants to see you.”

”I know that. That's why I think you should come back early on Sunday. He gets to walk around in that neighborhood all the time, but he only gets to come home when you bring him.”

The guilt trip was an old routine, but Judith had learned how to play that game too. ”Why can't you go get him on Sunday and bring him back here by yourself? They can have him ready to leave and all you have to do is drop him at the door when you go back.”

154.

This time, her mother wouldn't answer.

”I bet Victor would like to show you his room and how nice he keeps his things. And he has a lot of new pictures up. Isn't that right, Victor?”

Her brother began to rock again.

”He likes it better when you bring him home and we can all be together. Don't you, honey?”

Judith was on the verge of losing her temper, but she had been the one to start this. It was clear they couldn't have this conversation with Victor present. She smiled at her mother in an effort to quell his anxiety, but her words were on point. ”All I'm saying is that I can make time to go to Wyckoff and see him at least once a week, but that might not mean every Sunday if I start traveling more or doing things with my friends. I don't want you to miss out on seeing Victor just because I might be busy.”

”You could always invite your friends to come along to Sunday dinner if you want to spend time with them. If they're real friends, they'll want to know your brother too.”

Judith bit the inside of her cheek, holding back a burst of anger. As long as she could remember, her mother had discouraged her from bringing friends to the house because it interfered with her attention to Victor. Now she suddenly wanted to be the Welcome Wagon.