You want some help over there, ladies? Richard said.
Come on over here, cowboy.
If you’re not afraid to, the other woman said.
That was funny too, they sat down on the floor laughing.
Don’t damage yourselves, he said.
Lorraine walked over and slid into the seat across from him.
You decided to join me after all, he said.
I was always going to be here, she said. What do you mean?
I couldn’t be sure after the way your father was. What’s he got against me?
He doesn’t like you.
What’s there not to like? He doesn’t know me.
He thinks he does. Enough to form an opinion.
Of what? The kind of person I am? I don’t need him to judge me. What does he know anyway?
He’s been around for seventy-seven years. He knows a few things.
Because he’s old and dying doesn’t mean he knows anything.
In this case it might.
He looked around the bar. The two women were playing shuffleboard again.
You want a drink? he said.
Yes. I do.
He waved at the barmaid and she saw him at once and came over.
She looked closely at Lorraine. Why, I haven’t seen you in years. You’re Lorraine Lewis, aren’t you.
Yes.
Marlene Stevens, the woman said.
I remember you, Lorraine said.
I was two years behind you in high school. I used to be Marlene Vosburg.
How are you doing?
I’m here, so I guess I’m all right. I got two kids in high school now myself. What about you?
I had a daughter.
The woman’s thin face flushed bright red. I’m sorry, she said. I knew that. She laid her hand on Lorraine’s. I’m sorry for saying anything. Can I get you a drink?
I’ll have another Scotch, Richard said.
You, hon?
A margarita. No salt.
I’ll be right back.
They watched her walk away through the wide doorway into the front room. Little towns, he said. They all think they know you.
She does know me. Something about me anyway.
They know too much. I don’t like it.
You don’t have to.
He looked at her across the wood tabletop. Are you going to be like this all night?
Like what?
Like you got something up your ass.
That’s a nice expression, Lorraine said. You didn’t have to come here.
I wanted to see you.
You don’t think so now?
He looked at the two women and looked back. Do we have to do this? Just tell me that.
Not if you can be nice, she said.
The waitress returned and set the tray on the table and set the glasses in front of them. Richard handed her a twenty-dollar bill on the tray and she started to make change. That’s yours, he said. Keep the rest.
Well thank you. I’ll be right in here if you need something. She went back out to the bar.
Was that nice enough? he said.
It’s a start, Lorraine said. It was nice to her. That’s all. It’s not that much.
No?
You’re no saint yet.
At midnight they left the bar and she followed him in her car over to his motel at the west side of Holt on the highway. He was still trying to be nice when they were in bed, and he slid down in the sheets and helped her to have her desire first.
When she woke in the morning she looked at his face and bare shoulders and arms and felt a little better toward him. They walked down past the row of parked cars to the motel café for breakfast. After they ordered he said, Come back to Denver, will you at least do that much?
I can’t now. You understand that.
I don’t mean now.
We’ll see.
Are you thinking of staying here?
I don’t know what I’m going to do. I can’t tell yet.
After breakfast she kissed him and went home and he started back to Denver. When she got out of the car she saw that her mother had set the sprinkler going on the north side of the house and her father was sitting in his chair at the window.
Daddy, you’re up already.
You’re late, he said. It’s the middle of the morning.
It’s only eight o’clock.
You’ve been out all night with him.
What’s wrong, Daddy?