Part 52 (1/2)
”Like you were his car, or a TV,” Lang was saying, shaking his head. ”He wanted me to promise to like respect his owners.h.i.+p of you, or some such.”
His arm brought Lenore into his chest again. She felt something pressing against her stomach, and didn't even think what it was until later.
”How does he think something like that's going to make us feel?” Lang was saying into her hair. ”Where's what's fair in that?”
”Just sorry, is all.”
”If such is appropriate.”
”Which I rather think it is.”
”Ricky that's silly, don't be sorry. There's no need to be sorry.”
”The situation, the way it turns out we are, sorry doesn't enter into it at all.”
”As it were.”
”What?”
”You're probably just all tense and worried, Rick. Being tense and worried is world-famous for doing this.”
”Look, even if I weren't tense and worried, you wouldn't have been able to tell. Is that not clear?”
”You're probably just tense and worried about your fiancee being in the arms of my husband right now. G.o.d knows I'm not exactly thrilled myself.”
”Not after tomorrow I'm not upset. Tomorrow is the end.”
”End of what?”
”Tomorrow Lenore and I are going to melt into the blackness, united in discipline and negation.”
”Discipline?”
”Negation?”
”All so to speak.”
”You're just going to go out and buy admission tickets to Andy's desert and look for Lenore's grandmother climbing some dune. I know all about what you're supposed to do tomorrow.”
”Why on earth does Lenore tell you things like this?”
”Lenore never tells me anything, really.”
”Rick, I don't know how long I'll be around, I mean I'm pretty sure I'll have to go to Atlanta at some point in time, if you know what I mean, but while I'm here I think you'll find I can do all kinds of things she can't. Or won't.”
”I think it is always can't. It now occurs to me that there has probably never been a bona fide won't.”
”You know Andy's had your ex-wife, too, don't you? I'm almost positive. I've seen him coming out of your house.”
”She is a good person, it occurs to me.”
”Who?”
”Do you think of yourself as a good person, Mindy? When you think of yourself, do you think of yourself as good?”
”Well of course, silly. Where are you if you don't think of yourself as good?”
”Then you can't even like yourself, and then where are you?” ”....”
”This is the Christian Broadcasting Network. Stay tuned for the Reverend Hart Lee Sykes, please.”
”What about my son?”
”What?”
”Vance, my son.”
”I think Andy's pretty much left Vance alone. I don't think you have to worry about Vance.”
”I mean have you seen him. Does he come home, ever. Do you see him around the neighborhood.”
”Remember when Vance would be out kicking footb.a.l.l.s all day long? Honestly, I never could see how anybody could just kick a ball for hours and hours, over and over. And remember Daddy would spend the whole time looking out the window, making sure the ball never hit our lawn, and if it did he'd run out with a screwdriver and let all the air out of the ball?”
”I haven't seen Vance for years, Rick. I don't think I've seen Vance since I got out of school. Where is he now?”
”He's in the city. He's at Fordham. At least I certainly pay tuition to Fordham. ”
”I haven't seen him.”
”Nor have I.”
”I'm sorry.”
”Certainly not your fault.”
”Look, you can take it off, you know.”
”Excuse me?”