Part 23 (2/2)
”Don't invite me to your place,” Jenny said. ”I can see it now-”
”Mounds of dishes everywhere,” Stacey said.
”I have a woman come in,” he said.
Kim missed the point and jumped in. ”See? A woman! Men do need women.”
”Kim,” Jackie said, ”you've just set women back about fifty years.”
Helen took Marty's arm and they walked into the kitchen. The others could have their brawl alone. She was quiet while she rinsed their dishes and Marty loaded the dishwasher.
”How does it feel to have your legs back?” Marty asked, taking two plates from her.
”Tiring. I'd forgotten how much work walking is. I need exercise.”
”Well, give me a holler. We can go to your club or get fresh air at the park.”
Helen mumbled to herself. ”I wonder if Ms. Frosty is still in a heap.”
”What's that?” Marty dropped the flatware into the basket. ”Let go of it.”
”That's what Carolyn said,” Helen said.
”She told you to let go of the plate?”
Helen felt a tug on her arm and realized that Marty was wrestling her for the porcelain. ”Oh. No.” She released the dish. ”She said to let go of the guilt.” She dried her hands and Marty flipped on the dishwasher.
”Done,” Marty said and slapped her hands together.
”Come on. There's something I have to say to the Bickersons in the other room.”
Helen gathered her friends in Marty's living room. Marty sat across from her.
”Is this another pep talk?” Jenny asked.
”I think she's going to ask Marty out and wants us here to shame Marty into it,” Kim said.
Helen laughed and looked at Marty. ”Would I have to shame you into it?”
”No way, sweetheart.”
”I'll keep it in mind.” Helen looked at the group. ”I want to talk about Blair.”
”Go ahead, Helen,” Mark said.
Helen thought for a moment. She watched while smoke from Marty's cigarette spiraled upward and scattered into different directions. There had been smoke that night.
”Blair touched our lives from many directions, on screen and off. I don't think I've ever met a woman like her.” She paused while heads nodded in agreement and smiles invaded her friends' lips. ”The first night I met her, I thought she was obnoxious, rude, undisciplined, and a lush. And she was. I think all of you will agree, but that was Blair. She was a pain in everyone's a.s.s, but also warm and intelligent and funny and sensitive. She was a friend.”
Marty wiped tears from her cheek and she reached for Mark's hand. Phil stood with Nick, their arms around each other's waist, and stared at the floor. Jenny curled up on a chair and closed her eyes. Jackie came up behind her and rested her hands on her shoulders. Jenny sat quiet. Kim walked to the window as the back of her hand caught a tear. She looked outside and listened while Helen continued.
”And she was always straight with us, whether we liked it or not.” Helen smiled at a memory. ”She once told me I look like a sad c.o.c.ker spaniel when I'm not smiling.” Her smile vanished and then her emotions broke. ”I tried to protect her. Maybe if I hadn't pushed her downward-” Stacey came up behind her and wrapped her arms around Helen's waist. Helen turned and buried her face in Stacey's shoulder. ”She's gone, I'm alive, and I feel so d.a.m.n guilty.”
”No, Helen,” Jackie said. ”Never feel guilty for your survival.”
”We don't hold you responsible,” Jenny said when she reached Helen's side. She pushed the dampened hair away from Helen's cheek. ”Blair would have said it was meant to happen that way and-”
”-and we shouldn't make ourselves crazy over something that will never be clear,” Helen finished. A deep breath helped her continue. ”So I'm accepting my life, and if you're listening, Blair, I love you and I'll miss you tremendously.”
”Me too, Blair,” Marty said into Mark's shoulder.
Kim walked to Helen's side, knelt, and wiped away Helen's tears. ”That was nice.”
Stacey cleared her throat and brushed a tear away. ”So let's call it a night.”
G.o.d, that felt good. Helen suddenly jumped. ”One more thing! I want to make our announcement at the beginning of the show. How do you all feel about that?”
”I say do it and then we can slide into the good stuff.” Marty danced a shuffle. ”Dazzle them.”
”Whatever,” Jay said.
”Okay, Helen,” Kim said with a new smile.
United in their purpose, they ended their night with hugs and kisses all around.
”The Stanwyck Theater, right, Helen?” Jenny asked.
”Yes, dear. March sixth. Rehearsal in the morning and be backstage by six that night,” Helen said. Jenny was a great costume designer, but also a scatterbrain. And young. Twenty-three. Oh, to be twenty-three.
Helen and Marty lounged on the sofa after the gang departed. Tired from a long day, she yawned and stretched her arms. She rested her head on the back of the sofa. Marty leaned back onto the arm of the couch and an overstuffed yellow pillow framed her head and shoulders.
Marty closed her eyes. ”It's gonna be a great show.”
”If the patrons stay,” Helen said.
”That never occurred to me. Do you think they might leave?”
Helen bounced her cane repeatedly on the tip of her toe. ”It's a distinct possibility. We won't lose them all. The gays will stay. They'll be saying, 'I knew he was a queen or she was a d.y.k.e.'”
”We should have discussed it.” Marty sounded concerned for the first time. ”I hope I can handle it.”
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