Game Over (24 page)

“You are crying, Myra. Are we saying our girls are ungrateful little shits?”

Myra pondered the question. “Yes, Annie, I think so. I tried to be fair in my heart. They have husbands and lovers who travel the globe with the girls at their sides. At this point, I am not even sure who is married and who isn't other than Nikki and Yoko. Then there is the time difference in different parts of the globe. The worst part was when none of them came for Christmas. You didn't come either, Annie. You all broke my heart that day. Charles and I worked so hard to make it all festive. We decorated and shopped and cooked till we were worn-out, and the only guest on Christmas day was Elias. Nellie was recovering, so she couldn't come. It was one of the worst days of my life.”

Annie sniffed and blew her nose. Then she sniffed again. “Did you know Yoko has had two miscarriages? I think it's a rotten shame no one saw fit to tell us.”

“No, I didn't know. How did you find out? That's awful. Harry and Yoko would make wonderful parents. Where are they? Do you know?”

“Maggie told me last night when I stopped at the paper. They were in Israel. It's that Jellicoe thing. Harry goes to train the troops or whatever. Maggie said she thinks they're back at the dojo, but she isn't sure. Said no one answers the phone. She thinks they came back because Yoko was so depressed about the miscarriages, and if she got pregnant again, she wanted it to be here in the States. Because Yoko said she wanted to have her baby in Washington. That's all I know.”

“That has to mean they're all in touch with Maggie but not us. What does that tell you, Annie? I don't believe this!” Myra burst into tears again. This time she reached for the bottle and took a healthy gulp. Her throat burning, tears flowing down her cheeks, she said, “Yoko needs a mother figure in her life right now if all that is true. I think we both qualify for that role, Annie. This is unforgivable.”

“You're right, it is unforgivable.”

The bottle changed hands again. “Where do you think Maggie stands, Annie?”

“I don't have a clue. She seemed really happy to see me last night. And she didn't get upset when I told her I was going to work at the paper. What could she say? I own the damn place. She's been calling regularly to check in. She said she did her best to help you when all your friends shut you out. But something was off-key. I had the feeling something is wrong somewhere, and she's trying to deal with it.”

“She did try to help. She really went out on a limb when she published what she called her personal scoop on all those charities. I adore Maggie.”

“Maggie feels as lost as you and I, and she doesn't know what to do about it. We both cried a bit. Myra, do you think it's even remotely possible that the girls were waiting for us to get in touch with them? Like they were taking their cues from us? We did moan and groan about those pardons and what we were going to do with our lives. Is it possible, Myra?”

Myra upended the bottle and gulped. “Anything is possible, I suppose. What do you think, Annie?”

“I would like to believe it. If it's true that Harry and Yoko are back at the dojo, all we have to do is pop in and see what's going on.”

“I'm seeing two of you, Annie.”

Annie laughed. “Ha! I can't even see one of you!”

The cats circling the bales of hay purred as they did their best to rub up against the women's legs.

“The bottle's empty,” Annie said.

“So it is. When was the last time you slept in a barn, Annie?”

“When I was ten years old. I loved it. It made me feel so grown-up at the time.”

“We're all grown-up now, Annie. And we're old in the bargain.”

“Stop raining on our parade, Myra.”

“How long are you staying, Annie?”

“Until I get tired of causing trouble.”

“That long, huh?”

“Maybe longer.”

Myra laughed as she teetered toward an empty stall, Annie and a string of cats behind her.