The Interruption of Everything (15 page)

“What are you talking about, Spencer?”

“You’ve gotta see this shit. It’s so fucking cool. I’ve got like metal screws going right into my fucking wrist, man, and I can’t even feel it, man. This is so fucking deep.”

“
Spencer!
Please put Brianna back on the phone.”

Apparently he heard me and understood.

“Hello again, Mrs. Grimes. I apologize for Spencer, but he’s really out of it. Anyway, what he was trying to tell you is that they’ve had to put this apparatus called an external fixator on his wrist and he’s got these metal-like rods holding his bones together.”

“You mean inside or out?”

“Well, both. You can see where they go right through his skin.”

“Oh, my God. And how long will he have to wear this?”

“Eight weeks.”

“When can he leave?”

“We’re not sure yet if he’s going to have to stay here all night, but he’s probably not going to be able to do much traveling tomorrow, I wouldn’t think. But why don’t we do this. As soon as the doctor gets back, which they just told me won’t be for another four or five hours because he’s got another surgery scheduled, I can have him call you and explain everything and see what he thinks is best for Spence to do. How’s that sound?”

“It sounds okay. It sounds okay. How are you holding up?”

“I just want to go home. I don’t like snow. It’s too cold up here and I hardly saw any black people. I don’t like it up here, I don’t care how pretty it is.”

“I don’t much blame you. But thank you for being there for my son, Brianna.”

“You’re quite welcome, ma’am. Bye-bye.”

I hang up.

“Don’t worry, Marilyn. A wrist can heal,” Arthurine says, which is about the smartest thing I’ve heard her say in a long time.

“That’s true.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be at work right now?”

“I wasn’t feeling very good this morning.”

“Well, that’s understandable,” she says, heading back toward Snuffy’s bed. “Considering what all you’ve been through.”

Chapter 14

T
hat’s not a motorcycle I hear on the other side of the wall, is it? I’m in my workshop where I’ve been killing time for the last three and a half hours waiting to hear from the doctor. Where I mindlessly threw together two ridiculous pillows that weren’t worth stuffing. I wouldn’t even give them away, which is precisely why I tossed them in the trash. I have no idea what I’m sewing now.

When the door from the garage opens, my foot freezes on the machine pedal. That better not be him. My hands drop into my lap and I just sit here. Maybe Leon’s going crazy or something. Or he’s having a nervous breakdown and needs help. I certainly can’t help him.

Knock. Knock.

“Who is it?”

“It’s me,” Arthurine says, standing in the doorway. “Leon came home from work a little early today. He said he wasn’t feeling good either. Maybe you both are coming down with the same thing. I’m staying away from the two of you, that’s for sure. There’s a trip to Reno next week that Prezelle has invited me to, so I can’t afford to get sick.

“I wouldn’t miss this for anything. I’ve never been inside a casino, but I don’t think the Lord will mind if I play the slot machines. Anyway, Leon was looking for you, and I figured you might be in here. You look upset, Marilyn. Don’t worry, Spencer’s going to be all right, baby.”

“I’m not really worrying, Arthurine. What are Leon’s symptoms?”

“He said he’s having pains in his chest and shortness of breath.”

“Maybe he’s having a heart attack.”

“Don’t even think that, Marilyn.”

“Anything’s possible.”

“I checked his forehead. He don’t have a fever. Why don’t you go on up and check on him? See for yourself.”

“I will in a minute. I have to make a phone call first,” I say, and pick up the portable and press line two.

“Well, it didn’t help with me telling him about Spencer.”

“I’m sure that would send him over the edge.”

“Marilyn?”

“What?”

“He loves all three of his children. You know that.”

“Of course he does. He loves them so much he wants to be morphed.”

“Wants to be what?”

“Never mind. Did he tell you he’d been at work?”

“Well, no. But why wouldn’t he be?”

“Why don’t you go back upstairs and ask him where he really came from, Arthurine?”

“What’s going on, Marilyn?”

“Go ask your loving, caring, thoughtful, Mac Daddy son.”

She looks terribly confused, and I didn’t mean to do or say anything to her about any of this before Leon did or at least until the air cleared and I got my bearings. But shit happens. She turns and walks away. I call Paulette on the boys’ line. “How you doing?” I ask.

“Marilyn?”

“Yeah, it’s me.”

“What’s wrong? I can hear it in your voice and you know damn well you never call here asking how I’m doing. What’s wrong? You haven’t gotten an infection or anything, have you?”

“No. It would be nice if it was that simple.”

“Is it Leon?”

“You always were clairvoyant, Paulette.”

“What’s he gone and done? Wait. Let me guess: told you he’s leaving because he’s bored and now that the kids are all grown-up he realizes he’s missed out on the most exciting time of his life because he got married so young and has been overburdened with the demands of it all and now here’s his one chance to get it back and have some damn fun before he dies an old man and of course he has met some sweet young thang completely by accident because of course he had no intention of cheating on you but she was the one who put the radar out and came after him and he couldn’t believe it when he didn’t resist her advances but he was even more surprised when he had to repeat the shit over and over because boy oh boy, she put no demands on him whatsoever, none, and she just appreciates him for who he is and what he does and she makes him feel interesting and smart and desirable and he’d forgotten what this felt like with you and hell, she makes him feel twenty-five again and even though he doesn’t think this little interlude is anything serious or if it’s going anywhere but all he knows is that he has to leave to see for himself, to fill in the blanks, and he’s sorry for hurting you because of course he still loves you. Is that about right?”

I want to cry but I’m laughing too hard. “You’ve got it just about right. Anyway, first this asshole tells me over coffee this morning that he might need a change of scenery from his job, and I basically tell him that I understand how things can get a little stale, but then when he tells me he thinks he may have to leave, of course I’m thinking he’s talking about his job, which he is, but then as a little fucking addendum, he tacks me on, too.”

“I’ve been through this one once and that was all it took. You don’t know how many women have come into my store spending money like crazy because they’re depressed and feeling hopeless and ugly, like they’ve outlived their usefulness because their husbands have surprised them this very same way. Like Puff the Magic Fucking Dragon—poof!—they just up and leave: kids and all. I listen to their stories, which are almost all identical, and I take their sad credit cards, and try to make them feel pretty and necessary. Men are just so predictable. This shit must be their rite of passage to middle age or something because they all seem to go a little nuts after they hit their forties. Are you okay over there?”

“Oh, I’m fine. But this is the kicker, Paulette. At first I get in my car and leave and then I turn that sucker around and drive back up that hill and march in here and tell him since he’s the one who wants to leave then he’s the one who should go. So he does. This is after I threaten him of course, but guess what?”

“What, girl?”

“The motherfucker came back!”

“Home?”

“Yes! He’s upstairs right now!”

“Doing what?”

“I don’t know. Arthurine just told me he’s coming down with something and I hope it’s terminal cancer and he just came back so he could spend his last waking hours with his family. I can get the shovel out of the garage and start digging his grave in the backyard.”

“Shut up, Marilyn! I know you’re just upset. But why did he come back I wonder?”

“Because he’s stupid, that’s why. He probably doesn’t even remember saying it. That’s a line he’s been using a lot around here lately after he does or says something off the wall. Anyway, I hate his guts and I want a divorce.”

“Slow down, Marilyn. Leon’s not quite up there with some of these other sleazebags. Maybe he is going through a tough patch.”

“Well, somebody else is helping him get through it.”

“It happens. But sometimes it’s just a silly fling.”

“What if I were to have a silly little fling? Do you think he’d be as understanding? Huh?”

“You’ve got a point. They can usually dish it out but they never seem to be able to take it. And just for the record. Almost all of these deserted wives take the suckers back after they get tired of playing with Barbies and come to their senses.”

“Not me. If you leave, you’re gone. Anyway, I don’t want to talk about Mr. Corndog anymore. Spencer broke his wrist snowboarding today and I’ve been waiting by this phone to see when he can come home and oh shit!”

“What?”

“I forgot to call Simeon back.”

“He’s in one piece I hope?”

“Yeah. I swear, Paulette, when it rains it pours, doesn’t it?”

“It’s God’s way of making us pay attention, so deal with it, Marilyn.”

“I’m just not sure how, right this minute.”

“Don’t worry. It’s always the hardest road. Not the easy one. Look. I’ve got three customers standing here. Call me back if you need me or if anything changes, okay?”

“Okay. And please don’t tell Miss Bunny any of this. Not yet. I don’t feel like hearing her psychobabble.”

“I won’t. Just remember, sometimes what looks like the end is really the beginning.”

The beginning of what?

I don’t want to go upstairs but I go anyway. Might as well see what he has to say. And who knows, maybe he is sick. But even if he is, why didn’t he let his girlfriend play Nurse Betty since she apparently has restorative powers. The door to our bedroom is open. He’s sitting up on top of the burgundy comforter, on the phone, obviously talking to Simeon. I just stand here and listen.

“Yes, Son, I think that’s great! An agent? You guys must be really good. At first I was upset when I heard you were changing majors, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that you’re only young once and you should take all the risks you can right now while you have time on your side. I mean it. What have you got to lose? There are so many roads out here you can take and you can keep changing them until you find the one you want to travel down. I know. Me? Truthfully? I think I may be burned out. Yes, the job and just my life. Well, I’ve been doing things I can’t explain before thinking about who it might hurt. I don’t do it on purpose and it’s scary because I feel like I’m out of control. Sure, she sees it. No, she can’t. I don’t think I need a shrink, Simeon. Sometimes you have to step outside of yourself in order to see inside. I agree. Music is a great tool. I just have to do whatever it takes to get hold of myself before I destroy everything I’ve worked for and the people I love. Yes, I still do. Very much so. Look, Son, your mother’s just come in and I’m sure she wants to say hello to you. I’d like to hear your music so don’t be surprised when I fly down to check you out. Good. Spencer’s going to be fine. He’s always been the daredevil.”

“I’ll call him back,” I say, because I don’t want to follow up half of what he just said.

“Sim, Mom’s a little shook up and out of sorts, so she said she’ll call you back later. Okay. I love you, Son.”

He puts the phone back into the cradle and looks at me.

I look at him.

“I’m sorry,” he says.

“I’m glad to hear it, Leon. That should pretty much fix everything, then, huh?”

“No. But I really didn’t mean some of the things I said.”

“Yes, you did. You meant every word of it. And it’s okay. I meant what I said.”

“I didn’t intend for this to happen like this, Marilyn. I swear it.”

“I already know the whole spiel so don’t even bother repeating it for me, Leon.”

“What spiel are you talking about?”

“Middle-aged men going through a midlife crisis and using that as an excuse for doing whatever they feel like doing.”

“Who said I was going through a midlife crisis?”

“It’s pretty obvious, Leon.”

“Not to me it isn’t.”

“Of course it wouldn’t be.”

“What are some of the symptoms?”

“Overt stupidity. Promiscuity. Regressive behavior. How would I know, Leon? All I know is what menopause feels like.”

“All men don’t go through it, do they?”

“I just told you, I’ve got enough to worry about. Look up your own stuff.”

“I don’t buy into that crap.”

“Anyway, I still haven’t heard from that doctor.”

“He called while I was on the other line.”

“What did he say, Leon? I’ve been going crazy.”

“Spencer’s fine. He’s just in a lot of pain. The doctor said he needs to stay put for at least another day because he has to keep his wrist elevated or his fingers might swell up and get sore and it could cause some kind of drainage and then lead to an infection.”

“So, no more surgery, then?”

“No. The doctor said he’s giving Spence his X-rays and all his notes to take back to Atlanta.”

“Good. I’m relieved to hear this. So they won’t be back until Friday.”

“That’s the way it is.”

“Then I have to figure out whether to leave early afternoon on Thursday or early Friday.”

“You’re still going down there?”

“I can’t just change Lovey’s appointment, Leon! We’ve been through this once before so I’m not even going to go there. Spencer’s been taken care of. And I need to make sure that the same thing will happen to my mother.”

“Well, I’ll be here for him.”

“Don’t you mean ‘them’?”

“No.”

“So what do you propose we do now, Leon? Just pick it up where we left off this morning?”

“I’m not sure.”

“I can tell you right now, that my answer to that question is an unequivocal no.”

“Look, Marilyn. I’ll be honest with you, okay? I think we could both use a break from each other. A breather. To maybe get a better perspective on what we have or don’t have.”

“I couldn’t agree more. Then why’d you come back so damn soon? I thought you were on your way.”

“Because this isn’t the right time to make an exit and you know that.”

“Then why’d you bring it up if you weren’t planning to back it up?”

“Because you insisted.”

“Okay, so?”

“I was trying to wait until after Spence left.”

“Well, scratch that one. So, are you moving in with her?”

“No. It’s not that serious. I’m not in love with her. It’s just something that’s been fun and frivolous.”

“Fun and frivolous, huh? You know Gordon stopped by right after you left and you’ll never believe this but he just bought a house right down the street and Lord have mercy he looked so damn good I wanted to lick him. Arthurine got a little worked up over him, too. Maybe after you’re gone, or hell, why wait till then? I could give him a little spin in the sack later on tonight for old times’ sake. He was good, you know. In fact, maybe I’ll videotape it so you can see how it’s supposed to be done.”

“Don’t do this, Marilyn.”

“Why not? You did.”

“Okay, you have a right to throw acid on me, but what I want to say is that I accept responsibility for what I’ve become: a boring middle-aged man who forgot how to live. I could use some lessons on how to reconstruct myself into being the man you married, the man I know I am.”

“And just how do you propose to do that?”

“I’m going away.”

“Really?”

“On Monday. Frank and I are going to Costa Rica. For four weeks.”

“Costa Rica? For four weeks? That’s a whole month. Is this some kind of conspiracy?”

“Not at all.”

“Well it’s been carefully planned, that much is obvious. No worries. Go. Anywhere you want to. Just think. A whole month to spend with your cheating-but-almost-divorced homeboy?”