The War of the Roses: The Children (23 page)

“What that boy needs now is one of Aunt Evie's delicious meals,” Evie said.

“Believe me, Evie, if that would do the trick I'd consent in a minute,” Josh sighed. He was exhausted by his vigil and the general tension between him and Victoria.

“I'd make him a delicious bouillabaisse and top it off with a chocolate soufflé,” Evie said. She was munching on a big bag of caramelized popcorn, which she washed down with chocolate milk. Josh watched the spectacle.

“Food again, Evie?” he said, on the verge of rebuke. “What makes you think that would help?”

“It sends a powerful message of comfort, Josh. People need that at certain times of their lives, especially when they are about to lose their whole world. Michael is in mourning, Josh. Have you ever wondered why people have feasts around a mourning ritual?”

He absorbed her words without comment. It was, after all, the theme of her life.

“I'm very, very worried about him, Evie. If anything happens to him I don't know how I could handle it.”

“Stop thinking such gloomy thoughts, Josh.”

“I know. I still don't understand his actions.”

“Yes you do, Josh. Victoria, too.”

He looked probingly at his sister, waiting for her response.

“Considering the lengths to which they went, the kids want their family back, Josh. We didn't have that option.”

“The thefts, the tape. It seems….” He groped for words. “Like they were grasping at straws.”

Evie snatched up a handful of popcorn from a nearby bowl and stuffed it into her mouth, washing it down with a deep swallow of chocolate milk before she spoke.

“And so they were,” she said. “Never underestimate the wisdom of children.”

Josh studied his sister's face through a long pause. He loved her dearly.

“I'll say this,” he said. “They did get our attention.”

***

Victoria and Josh returned to Michael's hospital room. He opened his eyes briefly when they came into the room, then closed them again and said nothing. They observed him for a while. Under the white sheets, he looked pale and wan.

“He looks awful,” Victoria whispered.

“He's been through a terrible ordeal.”

“I'm worried, Josh.”

Josh nodded agreement.

They both kissed him on his forehead, patted his chest, then consulted the nurse in the corridor.

“We're doing the best we can,” she said. Her manner and the way she said it was not very encouraging.

They went down to the hospital cafeteria. They moved through the line and brought their coffee to a table. He sensed the delicacy of the moment. For a long time neither of them spoke.

“At least he's conscious,” Josh said without conviction.

“Thank God for that,” Victoria sighed, sipping her coffee.

Occasionally their eyes met above the rims of their cups. Hers always turned away first. He saw no softness in them, only puzzlement.

“Sorry,” Victoria mused, shaking her head. “The first thing out of his mouth was that he was sorry.”

“I guess he thought that baked Alaska had magic powers to unite us.”

He had meant the words to lighten the mood. They didn't.

“Not that.” she said, her nostrils flaring. “The other. About it being his idea. Alone.”

Josh nodded agreement but said nothing. From time to time she would look at him as if she wished to broach an idea that was festering in her thoughts.

“Well, I don't believe it,” she said finally, after a long silence. Josh braced himself, sensing a burst of anger coming.

“Are you saying that he was lying?”

“He lied before.” She looked at him pointedly. “So did you.”

“How can you? At this moment!”

“These are children!” She shook her head and a sob escaped her. “How could they concoct such ideas….” She paused for a moment. “By themselves?”

He was tempted to recycle Evie's words about the wisdom of children. Then demurred.

“I'm as confused as you are, Victoria.”

She ignored his comment.

“And that awful tape. How could he know….” She broke off abruptly. “He's eleven years old, for crying out loud. And Emily. Exposed to that. How awful.” She sighed and looked off into space. “No way.”

He wished he could find the words to convince her. But she had been conditioned by experience.

“Look, Victoria. Let's put that aside. Whether you believe him or not, it's not relevant.”

“What is?”

“Let's… dissimulate… for his sake.”

“Why not say what you mean, Josh? You want us to lie, right?”

“Why must you put it that way, Victoria?”

“Because it's the language you understand best,” she shot back.

“All I'm asking is that we just play act, Victoria. Make believe we've reconciled. Show him. Make the boy feel better, recover faster. What's wrong with that?” he asked with exasperation. “Perform. You seem to be good at it.”

He was instantly sorry. He watched her lip begin to tremble, but she quickly got herself under control and stood up.

“Let's go see our son.”

They went back to Michael's room. His eyes were open. He seemed sad, as if coming out of the coma was an unwelcome intrusion.

“Doesn't he look wonderful?” Victoria said cheerfully, smiling broadly, determined to show her son a happy face, despite her inner feeling of despair.

“He looks great,” Josh lied.

“The doctor says you'll be out of here in a few days,” Victoria said. It didn't seem to faze the boy. “We'll probably have to rent a place while the house is being rehabilitated.”

Michael turned and looked at her.

“All of us?”

Victoria's smile faded and she seemed momentarily confused.

“It'll just be for a few months,” Josh said, obviously deflecting the question. “You'll just go on with your life like it was before.”

“Before when Dad…,” Michael probed.

“The first thing you have to do, young man, is get completely healthy again,” Josh said, tousling the boy's hair but avoiding any direct answer to the question.

“Dad's right. That's your first priority, Michael,” Victoria said smiling.

“Sure, Mom. I was only asking… you know.”

“Yes, dear. I understand.”

He was silent for a long time, averting his eyes from their exploring looks.

“Remember what we talked about?” Michael asked. “About being a real family again?”

“Oh yes, son,” Josh said. “We're discussing that, aren't we Victoria?”

“Of course we are,” Victoria replied.

Michael's eyes drifted from one parent to the other. Victoria could tell he was skeptical. For a long time none of them spoke.

“What we did… we thought it might help,” Michael said, breaking the silence. The boy's voice had weakened.

“Forget that,” Josh said. “What's done is done. Your mother and I are just glad you're okay.”

Michael nodded and turned away, looking out the window.

“When will Emmie visit again?” he asked.

It seemed a signal for them to leave.

***

During the next few days, Josh and Victoria continued their vigil at Michael's side. Emily would visit after school, and at Michael's request, Evie paid a couple of visits. Victoria, obviously still fearful of her influence, did not let Evie visit him alone. Josh and Victoria exchanged few words outside of the hospital room. Neither had much to say to each other.

They continued to take their meals together in the hospital cafeteria. After dinner, they visited Michael again, then went back to their respective motel rooms.

On each of their visits to Michael's room, they put a happy face on his prospects for recovery, but continued to deflect his questions about what their ultimate future as a family might be. It soon became obvious to both of them that Michael, while out of the coma, did not seem to be recovering with the speed they had hoped for. He didn't have much of an appetite and he participated less and less in conversation. Although the nurses forced him out of bed, he would always crawl back in before the allotted time of his exercise.

They brought him books that he didn't read and video games that he didn't play. He was also uninterested in television. Worry was turning to alarm.

It was only when Emily would arrive late in the day that Michael seemed to perk up. She would come in and sit by his side, sometimes for more than an hour.

“When will you be better?” Emily would ask.

Michael would shrug in a noncommittal way.

“I miss you, Mikey.”

“And I miss you, Emmie.”

Sometimes, Josh observed, they would say very little to each other, and he could detect in them a nonverbal sibling bond not unlike what he had with Evie.

Still, Michael did not improve. Josh and Victoria consulted Michael's primary doctor who told them he was baffled by Michael's condition. The boy was weakening, had lost his appetite, and seemed depressed and dispirited. The doctor told them that his condition could be life threatening because he wasn't eating, a comment that left them both numb with fear.

If there was no improvement, they had jointly agreed, they would bring in a psychiatrist. Meanwhile, Michael showed no signs of fully recovering. As a precautionary measure, the doctor ordered that the IV treatment be instituted again.

***

One morning, Josh and Victoria went up to Michael's room only to find that he was worse. His little body seemed sapped of strength and his complexion had turned dead white. Even his freckles seemed to have faded. Josh was truly alarmed, although he forced himself not to show it.

When his parents came into his room, Michael opened his eyes and managed a wan smile. Josh and Victoria exchanged glances, feigning broad, open smiles. Josh knew she was suffering as much as he was.

“We've an announcement to make, darling,” Victoria said suddenly. Josh looked at her, baffled.

Michael was suddenly alert and seemed curious and expectant.

“We've made up, Michael,” Victoria chirped.

Josh was dumbfounded. They hadn't discussed it. He explored her expression. Was she, as he had put it, dissimulating?

“We're not going to get divorced,” Victoria continued. She turned to Josh, and put her arms around him, startling him. He drew her closer, and before she could turn away, kissed her on the lips. Victoria made no effort to move away from him.

“It was all a misunderstanding,” Victoria said. “Wasn't it, Josh?”

“A total misunderstanding.” He reached out and caressed Victoria's cheek. “I love your mother, Michael. More than I can say. No more nonsense in this family.”

“And no more talk of divorce,” Victoria said. “We were being silly and immature, weren't we Josh?”

“It was ridiculous, putting everybody through this.”

They moved so that each was now on opposite sides of the bed. Each kissed one of Michael's cheeks, then brought their lips together directly in front of him.

“We want to be a loving family, don't we, Victoria?” Josh said.

“How does that make you feel, sweetheart?” Victoria said.

Michael looked at them curiously, inspecting their faces, not quite certain what to make of it. Josh observed some color come back to his cheeks, and his eyes seemed to shed their sad glazed look.

“Really?” Michael asked.

“Don't look so skeptical, son,” Josh said, hoping he had conveyed the message.

“It's what you wanted, isn't it darling?” Victoria asked.

“Sure, Mom. I want that to happen.”

“Well, it has,” Victoria said, reaching across Michael and taking Josh's hand.

Josh said, “Now we've got to get you well and home… not exactly home… but, to repeat the old cliché, home is where the heart is.”

Josh squeezed Victoria's hand. He was startled when she returned the pressure.

“Mom and Dad… do you forgive me?”

“There's nothing to forgive,” Victoria said.

“Nothing,” Josh whispered.

“It doesn't matter, darling,” Victoria said. “Just get well. That's all we ask.”

The doctor came into the room.

“Well, well, what have we here?” he said. “Looks like a love fest.”

“You got that right, Doc,” Josh said. “Doesn't this little guy look better to you?”

“I'd say so,” the doctor said. “What have you done to perk up this little fellow?”

“Secret love potion,” Josh chuckled, looking at Victoria.

They left the room holding hands, but as soon as they reached the waiting room, Victoria disengaged.

“It worked wonders,” Josh said.

“Yes it did. Don't think it was easy.”

He tried to conceal his disappointment.

“It was an Academy Award performance,” he said.

“I thought so. But at some point we'll have to tell him the truth. That won't be easy.”

***

They went through the same act during their repeated visits to Michael's room, kissing and embracing, illustrating with fervor their supposed reconciliation. Later, Evie brought up Emily, who embraced her brother.

“Mommy and Daddy say you'll be out very soon,” she told Michael.

Seeing the two children together, Josh felt some sense of foreboding. Emily, of course, sensed the truth of the situation. Josh had no illusions about that. Their effort at feigning alliance outside of Michael's room was not very convincing. They continued to maintain separate rooms, and their attempts at affectionate role-playing for Emily's benefit seemed forced and insincere. Of course, when they entered Michael's room all that changed. They became the affectionate loving couple.

“You can't stay long, darling,” Victoria said. “Michael needs his rest.”

“She can stay, Mom. I feel much better.”

“See,” Emily said. “Mikey says I can stay.”

“I'd prefer he gets some rest, baby.” She embraced her daughter and looked up at Evie. “Aunt Evie will take you out to the ice cream parlor.”

Josh was stunned at the suggestion. Then he realized the point of the exercise. She wanted Michael to understand that she had reconciled with Evie as well. On that score, there was a modicum of truth.

“Really?” Josh asked. Evie immediately picked up the cue.

“Great idea. We'll get a delicious sundae with whipped cream and a cherry on top.” She looked at Michael.

“Terrific. Wish I could.” Michael said, looking at his mother. “You go on, Emmie.”

His sister moved to the bed and the two stared at each other for a brief moment, then embraced. Evie and Emily went off to the ice cream parlor.

After they left, Michael addressed his parents.

“I'm a little tired, Mom and Dad. I think I'd like to sleep now.”

“Would you like us to go?” Josh asked. He had his arm around Victoria and pressed her tightly to him.

“I think so, Dad,” he said. His color had gone pale again, a troubling sight.

“We'll be off, then,” Victoria said. “See you in the morning.”

“Sure, Mom,” Michael said, his voice weakening.

“We love you, son,” Josh said. He turned his face to Victoria and kissed her cheek. “We'll all be together again soon. Won't we, love?”

“Yes we will, darling,” Victoria said.

“Great,” Michael whispered.

He closed his eyes and clasped his hands over his chest. Pale and frail, he looked like a corpse. They bent over him and kissed him, then went out of his room holding hands.

“He's getting worse,” Victoria sobbed.

“You imagined it,” Josh whispered, fighting his own temptation to cry. They continued to hold hands, which surprised him.

His eyes met Victoria's and held for a moment. “He doesn't believe us,” Josh whispered.

“I know.”

She released her hand from his and turned away without comment.

***

Alone in his motel room later, Josh felt a sense of heavy foreboding. They had been so certain that Michael would react positively to their announcement of reconciliation. He seemed to at first. Then something had happened that made him see through their scheme, and he had relapsed into depression.

He pondered the question. There was only one explanation. Had Emily communicated the truth to her brother in a special way, through some private frequency, beyond the comprehension of adults?

For Josh there was no role to play. For him, it was real. He wanted his wife and family back.

Near midnight, he called the hospital and the nurse on duty said that Michael was resting comfortably.

“Is he showing any improvement?” he asked her.

“He's still asleep,” the nurse said. She was not the kindly gray-haired nurse that was far more sympathetic. This one was all business.

“But do you think he's improved?”

“I can't tell,” the nurse said. “His vital signs are stable.”

“What about his color?”

“I'm not sure that's a good indicator, Mr. Rose.”

“Is he worse?”

“I just went over this with Mrs. Rose. There's really nothing more I can tell you.”

She hung up abruptly.

Not long after, he heard a tiny knock at his door and jumped out of bed to open it. It was Victoria. She wore a robe over her nightgown. When she saw him, she put a finger over her lips.

“I don't want to wake Emily. These walls are like paper.”

He nodded. She sat down on a chair. Josh paced back and forth in front of her.

“I spoke to the nurse,” she said.

“So did I.”

“I'm very worried, Josh. I thought surely what we told him would cheer him up.”

“I guess we weren't convincing,” Josh said.

“I tried to appear authentic,” she said.

“I was.”

She ignored his remark and averted her eyes.

“Maybe there's more to it than we think,” she sighed. “Something physical that they haven't diagnosed.”

“Or metaphysical.”

She frowned and seemed confused.

“I don't understand.”

“I think I do.”

“Then please explain it.”

He continued to pace in front of her.

“Children know,” he said. “They can't be fooled. Emily told him the truth.”

“That's ridiculous,” Victoria said. “I was there. She said nothing.”

“She didn't have to. Don't you see? They want us back together.”

“I know that. But it's not their decision,” she protested.

“It was them, Victoria. Them. Can't you see that? Not me. Them.”

“What are you saying, Josh? Would they go this far? They're little kids.”

“You can't hide behind that fiction anymore, Victoria. We underestimate them. They're people and they have an agenda.”

“They don't know what life is all about.”

“They know about their life.”

“We can't always make choices that only favor them.”

He stopped his pacing and watched her through a long pause. He suddenly realized that there was something she wanted to say.