Getting Old Is to Die for (18 page)

Everyone had something wonderful to say about her Jack. Bless them all, but please--go home; she needed to be left alone.

Some of them asked what she would do now.

Gladdy told them she'd probably go back to school and complete her Library Science degree.

Evvie looked at her, surprised. Gladdy had astounded herself. She hadn't given the future any thought. As far as she was concerned she had no future without Jack. But she knew reality would soon set in and she'd have to find a way to support herself and Emily.

The day finally ended. People had come in and out almost nonstop, including their own close friends, every one of them, a sharp reminder of how much Jack would be missed.

Gladdy and Evvie got up from the floor, stretching, their backs aching.

Their daughters were invited next door for pizza. They ran out, once they had permission. She heard Martha telling Emily that at last they'd get real food. Suddenly Gladdy heard them talking to someone in the hall.
No more visitors, please,
she thought.

Two policemen entered the living room looking properly somber.

"We're sorry about your loss," one of them said.

Gladdy thought she might scream if she heard those words one more time. "Why are you here? Have you found the man who killed my husband?"

The taller, heavier one said, "No, m'am, nothing yet."

"Don't you dare give up, you hear me?" Gladdy couldn't take another minute of this.

"We won't. We came because we need a photo of your husband."

Evvie grabbed one off the mantel and handed it to them. "Please go, my sister needs to rest."

They nodded and left.

Gladdy stood there, staring at nothing. "They'll never find the killer, I know it."

Evvie put her arms around her. "We should eat something. Do you want soup or do you want soup?" She imitated Martha's pouting face.

"Let's have some soup," Gladdy said, managing a smile.

They ate the matzo ball soup in the kitchen lit with memorial candles. While trying to fit all the containers into the refrigerator, Evvie asked, "Did you mean it about going back to college so you could work as a librarian?"

"I guess. I'm going to have to do something. I might as well do what I've always wanted to do."

"We'll work it out. You go to school, get your degree, and get a library job. I'll take care of Emily." She held up the last bowl. There was no more room to fit it. "We have to eat this one now, we have no choice. How's minestrone go with matzo balls?"

Evvie gave Gladdy one of her special looks. Half smile, half grimace. Then they put their arms around one another. "It's just you and me and the kids, babe. We're all the family we've got."

With that, they both let go and sobbed.

29

TELLING THE GIRLS

W
e are in Murray's Deli having the early-bird special, which we almost missed due to the fact the limo didn't get us back from Naples until five o'clock. Evvie and I decided that breaking our news to the girls would be better served, pun intended, while eating out, something we all love to do. I may even offer to pay for dinner, for further softening of the unexpected turn of events we're going to throw at them. I have warned Evvie to wait until after everyone's eaten. Tact and full satisfied tummies will be needed here.

Okay, the brisket is on order (Ida), as are the boiled chicken (Bella), and stuffed cabbage (Sophie). Evvie is having the chicken fricassee, and all I want is a salad after that huge lunch we had at noon.

The girls are digging into the rye bread and the pickle and sauerkraut dish with gusto while they wait for the appetizers to arrive. Which will be followed by the soups and salads and then the main dish, and after that, the dessert, which everyone always wraps to take home. They are in a very good mood when it comes to going out for early birds. I hope they stay that way.

"So," says Sophie, "how did it go?"

"Very well," I tell them. "The parents were terrific."

Evvie adds, "They were thrilled Linda came and immediately confronted her illness as a family problem that they will all deal with together."

"Linda intends to sell her house and move to Naples," I add.

"All three Silverstones kept hugging us. We really did a mitzvah there." Evvie smiles proudly. "I'm glad I wanted to go."

Ida's eyebrows rise at that misrepresentation of the fact, but she doesn't comment.

Sophie says, "I'll bet you cried a bucket of tears."

"No kidding, Gladdy and I were in puddles. Which is why we have something to tell you."

I kick her under the table to remind her. First food!

Luckily here come the appetizers and no one pays attention to what she just said. All eyes are on their food. Pickled herring for Sophie, tomato juice for Bella, Ida has a half a grapefruit, and Evvie immediately digs into the chopped liver. I am losing my appetite altogether.

They happily eat away. I glance around. The deli is busy as always. Mostly women. A few families. A typical Thursday night.

In a corner, a group of happy Red Hatters. That's an idea that has been sweeping the country: retired women joined together to just have fun. Way to go, girls. More power to you!

Evvie, Miss Impatient, gives me a dirty look to mean,
What are waiting for? Let's get this over with.
My look back to her says,
Wait, or they'll lose their appetites.

So, gossip and eating.

"Wanna hear something amazing?" Sophie said, forking another piece of herring, "Irving went into the pool today."

I stiffen. This is not good.

"He hasn't had a bathing suit on since Millie got sick five years ago," Ida comments.

"Was Mary there?" Evvie asks, on the same wavelength.

"Yeah," says Bella. "First time I've seen Irving sit in the sun. On a chaise next to Mary."

"Did anybody say anything? I mean after they left," Evvie asks.

Sophie pushes her plate away, and looks toward the waitress for what comes next. "No, but if you can read minds, they said plenty."

The soup and salad are next. This time Evvie kicks me under the table; I kick her back. By the time this meal is over we'll be black and blue.

"I wonder what the weather will be in New England next week?" Evvie casually asks into the air.

"Who cares?" says Sophie, pouring Thousand Island on her lettuce, cucumber, and tomato salad.

I shoot Evvie a look:
Cut it out.
Evvie ignores me.

"Well, it is fall and the autumn leaves will be tumbling down. So pretty to see the colors of the leaves." Evvie pretends interest in peppering her tomato soup.

"So you want falling from trees, go look at the palm fronds on the ground tomorrow," suggests Bella.

Evvie daintily wipes her lips. "I rather had in mind taking long walks in the woods with my daughter."

Ida is now sniffing that something is up as she sees the glances between us. "Neat trick, considering your Martha is in Connecticut." She looks at me. "And you're thinking of long walks in Central Park with your Emily?"

"Can't pull the wool over Ida's eyes." Evvie manages a phony smile.

"What's up? Out with it," Ida insists.

All eyes are on Evvie. The plates are taken away and now the main dishes are placed in front of us.

"Well," says Evvie lazily, "Gladdy and I decided to go up north and visit our kinfolk. We need a family fix."

"Really?" says Bella. "When are you thinking of going?"

"Saturday," announces Evvie.

"Which Saturday?" Sophie asks, alarmed.

"This Saturday." Evvie starts eating her fricassee.

Bella drops her napkin. "That's the day after tomorrow."

Evvie is delighted with herself. "We actually called on our cell phone in the limo on the way back home and made the reservations."

Just as I was afraid, interest in eating has palled.

Forks lie untouched as the girls turn to me, since I haven't said one word yet. I try for damage control. "We won't be gone long." I feel terrible. I don't know what to say to make this any easier on them. Evvie just couldn't wait, could she?

"What about us?" Bella says, her head bowed.

Sophie adds, "What are we supposed to do while you're gone?"

Ida crosses her arms, and narrows her eyes. "We had plans."

At last Evvie realizes her tactics were wrong. "Hey, come on girls, you can't be without us one teensy-weensy week? You got plenty to keep you busy."

"What about our tickets next Wednesday matinee to see that revival of
Fiddler on the Roof,
at the Broward Theater?" This from Sophie.

Evvie says, "Big deal, you can sell our tickets to someone. Besides, you've seen it ten times already."

"And what about the senior tea dance we were going to on Tuesday afternoon?" Bella is not happy.

"There'll be another dance...in a month," Evvie says, not daring to look at me.

"And the costume jewelry auction on Thursday?" Sophie jabs angrily at a spear of asparagus.

"You might have discussed it with us before you made all your arrangements." This from Ida through pursed lips as she pushes her plate away.

"You hurt our feelings," Bella says quietly.

"Hey, come on, you can't live without us?" Evvie tries laughing to lighten the mood.

Ida says, "Yes, we can do very well without you. You needn't worry."

Sophie says angrily, "You got that right!"

"Yeah, right," adds Bella.

Dinner is downhill from there. And the girls don't even wrap their desserts to take home. They just leave them there. Unheard of.

Afterward we drive home in silence. Everyone quickly gets out of the car and heads for their individual apartments. Evvie calls out, "Good night," but nobody answers.

"Glad?" She turns to me.

"I told you to wait until they finished dinner."

She is ashamed. "Bella was right, I hurt their feelings. Why am I so mean?"

"Maybe because you're hurting, too."

I give her a quick hug and head for my elevator.

"Evvie..." The voice seems to whisper out of the blackness of the night.

Evvie, about to open her apartment door, drops her keys, startled. "What...is someone there?"

"It's me, Joe." Her ex-husband shuffles toward her on the landing out of the shadows.

"You nimwit! You scared the hell out of me. Why are you lurking?"

He shrugs. "I was waiting for you to come home."

He picks up her house keys and hands them to her. She opens the door. "And what if we went to a movie or something and I didn't get back for two-three hours? You'd still be standing here like a schlemiel, dummy?"

She walks quickly inside.

He stands at the entry, his arms hanging loosely at his sides.

"Well, come on in, since you're here already."

Joe hesitates, and then walks in.

Evvie stands in the living room, hands on her hips, waiting. "Well?"

Joe looks around. "Nice place you got here."

"Really? I've only been here twenty-five years; you think you might have seen it before?"

"I was never invited."

"That's for sure. And you're not invited now, either. So speak your piece and go." Evvie stares bitterly at this man she lived with so unhappily for so many years, and then remembers Philip, the love of her life, who she'll never see again. Her eyes tear up. She sits down on the edge of her couch feeling shattered, thinking of life's ironies.

Evvie flicks at an imaginary bit of dust off her coffee table. Softer now she asks, "Why are you stalking me? Why did you move in here? What do you want?"