Part 34 (1/2)
”Yes, she has to be alive,” said Mich.e.l.le, wiping away a tear. ”Bob? That's the most beautiful thing I think I've ever heard you say.” Buddy put his arm around her shoulder and gave her a squeeze.
Dorothy just sighed deeply and looked at Bob with moon eyes. Sam looked at her and shook his head. Dorothy was just a disaster of a wife.
”You should start hearing more about her whereabouts soon,” Sam said. ”CNN is all over the world and never mind all the others. It's out on the wires now.”
”Well, any tips are supposed to go to local authorities, right?” Buddy said.
”Yes,” Bob said, ”that's right.”
”Phones are no doubt ringing off the hook.” Sam said.
When they got to the marina and saw the launch there waiting, Bob realized the time had come to tell Gladdie something about the truth.
”You have to tell her something,” Olivia said on the ride back. ”Tell her the truth, but just tell her gently and in general terms. You know say something like, 'I know you know that Mommy isn't here, but I want you to know that I am doing everything I can to bring her home as soon as possible.'”
”I don't know. You're probably right. Maybe I should ask Betty what to say. She's a kinder, gentler soul than either one of us. She'll give us a good answer,” Bob said.
”That's an excellent idea,” Nick said.
Betty was in the living room, reading a book. When Bob approached her she said, ”I hope you don't mind that I borrowed this novel. I finished the one I brought with me. I love a good book.”
”No, of course not. You can help yourself to anything you need,” Bob said. ”Betty? May I ask your advice about something?”
”My advice?” Betty was instantly fl.u.s.tered. ”Well, of course!”
Bob sat on the edge of the coffee table and looked at her. ”You're a mentally healthy woman,” he said.
”Well, thank you!” She laughed and closed her book. ”I sure hope so!”
”Yes, and you see the thing is, I haven't said anything to Gladdie about where her mom is, and I think it's time to say something. This is going to be the third night without her. And even though Gladdie's just a little girl, she's still ent.i.tled to some kind of explanation. Do you agree?”
”Of course!”
”The question is, How much truth does she need to hear?”
”That's an excellent question. I think you tell her very sweetly that there's a problem, that her mother has gone away and you're not sure why, but that you're doing everything you can to find her and bring her home.”
”Yes. That's almost exactly what Olivia said. That's about as simply as I could put it. Thank you, Betty.” He stood to leave.
”Bob?”
”Yes?”
”Ernest and I don't think you're all a bunch of screwb.a.l.l.s. Your lives are just the opposite of ours, that's all. I mean, my brother and I have an old rowboat we like to paddle around at our lake house up in Tekamah. And we travel like most folks do-by car or sometimes we fly someplace. We went on a cruise one time to the Bahamas and I liked that. But we live quietly and modestly.”
”There's nothing wrong with a quiet life. Or a modest life. I think my life and all of this . . .” Bob stopped and waved his arms around. ”All of this doesn't really make me happy. But being rich and unhappy is a lot better than being broke and unhappy. I'm not gonna lie.”
Betty laughed then and Bob laughed with her.
”Ernest said to me earlier that rich people put on their pants one leg at a time just like poor people do.”
”Ernest is right.”
”Everyone has their problems in life. It just seems like yours happen in Technicolor.”
”It sure does seem that way, today especially.”
”Well, it's interesting for someone like me to see all of this, you know, grand living. I'm just a retired high school librarian. I have to wonder how my girl is going to fare as your daughter-in-law? And as Daniel's wife?”
”I don't know, but Kitty has a good head on her shoulders. And most important, she comes from a nice family.”
Betty smiled, and for the first time all week, she felt comfortable with Bob.
”Thank you,” she said. ”And, Bob?”
Bob stood. It was time to go talk to Gladdie.
”Yes?”
”I hope you find Maritza very soon.”
”Thank you. I do too.”
Bob knocked on Ellen and Gladdie's door. There was no answer. He went down to the media room and found them there eating popcorn and watching Frozen again. He flipped on the overhead lights. Ellen refused to meet his eyes and Gladdie complained.
”Turn off the lights, Daddy! We're watching a movie!”
Bob flipped the switch and the room went dark, illuminated only by the large screen.
”Okay, well, when it's over, I need to talk to you about something.”
”Tell me now,” Gladdie said.
”It can wait.” Bob closed the door and waited outside. He knew his daughter well.
”Pause it!” Gladdie barked to Ellen.
The movie went on pause and the lights were turned on. Gladdie ran to her father's arms and he swung her high in the air, landing her on his hip. If Maritza had heard Gladdie so rudely giving Ellen orders, she would've said something.
”If you get any bigger I'm not going to be able to do this!” he said.
”Do you need me for anything?” Ellen said.