“I know, I know. I remember that summer too, when I knew Eve and Carl were coming and you didn’t. I knew you’d bring that up.”
“This changes things, Adam. I feel betrayed and hurt. I don’t like all this. I’m not this kind of person, the one who just looks away or gets over it.”
“So, what do you want me to say? I told you the complete truth and I said I was sorry and I am. Look, Eliza, I love you. You know I do. What else can I say?”
“I don’t think it matters what you say. You can explain it all away until the cows come home, but the fact is you spent the night with Eve and it isn’t right.”
“It was an accident.”
“Accident my big fat behind. You sound like your sons.”
“It was. It was an accident. I swear.”
“You forget something, Adam. I know you. And I know you had the strength to get off that sofa and leave. You didn’t because you didn’t want to.”
He started to speak and I cut him off.
“Save it, Adam. I know you down to your DNA. Don’t forget that.”
I went into the kitchen, took the Italian submarine sandwiches I’d brought for a surprise picnic out of the refrigerator, and put them back in the shopping bag with the homemade oatmeal raisin cookies. I made those cookies for him because I knew he especially loved them. But at this point I wasn’t about to reward him with food. Then I took the cookies back out and left them on the kitchen counter, on top of the box of Entenmann’s. Next I changed my mind and dropped the sandwiches on the counter too. I didn’t want to eat them then and I wouldn’t want them later. I had no appetite. I felt sick inside.
I went back to the living room, where he stood just as I had left him, and put on my coat.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going home. I suppose you don’t know how that coffee cake got in there either?”
“Eliza. Please.”
“Nope. I’ve been watching you play games with Eve for too many years, Adam, and I’m all done. I love you too. But right now, I have a lot to consider.”
I knew that Adam was shaken, but I had to get away from him. I picked up my overnight bag and my purse, left the condo, and threw them in the back of my car. I needed to get some clarity, put things in perspective. What had really happened?
I started the engine, turned around to back out of my parking space, and saw Carl walking toward me, waving. I rolled down my window.
“So what do you think, Eliza? What pile of crap excuse did Adam give you?”
I turned the car off and got out. I wanted to know what Carl thought too.
“Let’s take a walk,” I said. I felt light-headed. It was probably from the shock. It was probably also a really good idea to calm down before I drove a car anywhere.
“Sure,” he said. “Are you okay? You look pale.”
“I’m okay. But this was all quite a surprise.”
“I hate surprises,” Carl said.
“Me too.”
We walked around the complex to the ocean side and took a seat at one of the tables.
The chairs were made of some heavy composite metal, and in the winter’s morning air they were freezing cold to the touch. I sat and warmed my hands under my arms. I had left my gloves in the car. Carl had no jacket, only a lightweight sweater. I had never seen Carl so upset, and I was sure it was the same for Eve. We began to talk, and Eve’s story matched up with Adam’s. Apparently, Carl had a nurse who was in hot pursuit of his mind, body, and spirit. I had no idea whether that was actually so. I just knew what Adam had told me, which was that Eve was suspicious that there was someone else. Maybe he had said it was a nurse. I couldn’t remember.
“So basically, Adam told me the same story.”
“What do you think?” Carl said.
“I think he should have had the presence of mind to get his behind off your sofa and go home to his own bed. It’s bad enough that they’re here together without us. Given the situation, it’s hard to believe nothing happened.”
“I agree. You’re giving me a lot to think about.”
“Carl? Have you ever been so wasted you couldn’t get up and walk home?”
“Never.”
“Adam either. He stayed because he wanted to. Whether or not they had sex almost doesn’t matter.”
“And why didn’t she go put some clothes on before they started drinking a bottle of wine?”
“Good question. I’m going to go with because she didn’t want to.”
“Jesus. I mean, I wonder if this was the only time this has ever happened. Eve’s been coming to Charleston more and more often to check on Cookie. At least that’s why she says she’s coming. What do I know?”
“How is Cookie?”
“As crazy as every bat in hell.”
“So, she’s the same?”
“Yeah. Bat shit crazy.”
“What are you going to do?” I asked.
“About what specifically?”
“Your nurse, for starters.”
“Fire her immediately. You wouldn’t believe how aggressive this woman is. There’s a growing trend among women whose ovaries are a time bomb. They think it’s easier to pick off an old dude who’s perhaps weary of his marriage than it is to find someone nearer to their own age.”
“You’re not an old dude. But she must be out of her mind to think she could have you just because she wants you. What kind of person makes advances to a married man?”
“Amoral ones. I don’t expect you to understand this and I don’t quite get it myself, but out there in the great big world there is a perception that ‘MD’ stands for ‘mucho dinero.’”
“It doesn’t?”
“No. Well, I’m not rolling in it, anyway. I mean, I do fine, but I’m not rich. And there are some young nurses—as there are young women in any profession—who think they want to be a nurse or a nurse practitioner so they can snag a rich doctor.”
I looked at Carl and I could see the pain in his beautiful eyes. He was so handsome. It was one thing that some little twit was pursuing him but quite another to find his wife on the couch curled up with his friend, snoozing like babies. He was going to fire the twit, but what was he going to do about his marriage?
“So. What do you think, Carl? How are you feeling about all this—you and Eve, I mean.”
“I don’t know, Eliza. I don’t know.”
“Me either.”
“This definitely changes things.”
“It sure does. It definitely puts a strain on things. You know? I just feel like I’ve been giving more than I’ve been taking for a long time. I gave up almost every dream I ever had for myself to try and become the best wife and mother I could be.”
“Aw, come on. You make one helluva pot of gumbo,” he said and smiled at me. “Best in the world.”
“Thanks,” I said and looked out over the water. “You’re sweet.”
“And you’ve got great boys.”
“Thanks.”
I began to cry. Quietly. I couldn’t help it. I was so hurt and disappointed in Adam and in Eve. And I was angry. Really angry. How could Adam be so stupid?
Carl put his arm around my shoulder and gave me a squeeze. I sniffed and wiped my eyes with my sleeve, which was gross, but there were no other options.