Angel had put the fear of God into Phillip, who brought me a bowl of tomato soup and some crackers about thirty minutes later. They were on a bed tray, which I barely remembered having. “Sophie’s in her swing,” he said. “She’s fine. Virginia should be here in an hour or less.”
I made myself scooch up against the headboard so the tray could span my lap. The soup was redolent of red peppers and basil, and it tasted wonderful. This was the first food I’d enjoyed in what seemed like forever. I couldn’t complete the bowl (or eat the crackers), but I felt better after I got something in my stomach.
Phillip even remembered to come back and get the tray without any prompting. I wondered what Angel had said to him; not that Phillip wasn’t ordinarily thoughtful, but this evening he was extra careful with everything he did for me.
Whatever she’d told him, I liked the result.
Chapter Four
Virginia was right on time. I guess I was so miserable I thought I’d cornered the market, but I found out very quickly that I had been wrong. My babysitter/house help was in a sour mood. Though she was dressed in her usual exercise chic, her scowling face didn’t match. Clearly, something had riled her: but just as clearly, she didn’t want to talk about it. With no pleasantries and without uttering a single extra word, Virginia determined that Sophie did not need a bath, that she would want to be fed pretty soon, and that I had decided to live.
As I answered her questions, I never saw even the slightest smile. But that’s not a job requirement, I reminded myself. She took excellent care of Sophie; that was the important thing. Despite Virginia’s blend of unhappiness and anger, I felt a profound relief now that I had competent backup on-site.
Phillip drifted into my room an hour later. It was apparent he had showered and changed into a newer pair of jeans and a nicer shirt. It was also apparent he had something to tell me.
“Sarah’s coming over tonight, remember?” He looked down at me doubtfully. “Is it okay if she comes in to say hello? She really likes you.”
I thought there was a subtext here. Then I realized I must look like hell, and Phillip was hoping I would brush my hair (at least). “I showered,” I protested. “But maybe I forgot to brush my hair while it dried.” My hair had a mind of its own, and managed to be both curly and wavy. “Okay, I’ll try to get neater. Sarah can stand in the doorway to speak. Bring me my brush.”
Phillip looked relieved, and fetched it from the bathroom. “Okay, Sis.”
“I’ll be glad to see her,” I lied. I felt marginally more human, but that wasn’t going to last. Despite the Tylenol, my fever would go up. I could still feel it lurking, ready to pounce. And I’d used a whole box of Kleenex. After Phillip brought me a new one, he wandered away. I refluffed my pillows and lay back, enjoying a moment of comfort and content.
Inevitably, I thought about Robin. By now, he’d be at the cocktail hour before the banquet. It seemed unworthy to pray that he won, so I compromised by praying for his happiness. Surely that was okay? Then I discovered I had to look in a mirror to brush my hair. I made a trembly trip to the bathroom.
After I crawled back into bed, grateful to pull the covers up around me, I decided to read. But it was no good. No matter how many times I read a page, I couldn’t retain the sense of it. With regret, I laid my book down and reached for the remote. I watched a couple look for a house in Guatemala, I watched Jeremy Wade try to land a giant killer fish, and I stared at a few minutes of an old sitcom. I was thinking about turning off the television and burrowing down in the bed when Virginia knocked perfunctorily on the doorframe. I smiled in what I hoped was a welcoming way, and she took a step in.
“Did you get up and clean your kitchen today?” she said, with stern disapproval.
“No, a friend came in,” I said, wondering if it had been Emily or Angel who’d been so thoughtful. If I’d had the energy, I would have been a little piqued by Virginia’s attitude.
“Because I would have done it. You don’t need to be wasting your energy on something like that.”
“I don’t think I’ve actually been in the kitchen for a couple of days,” I said, as mildly as I could. The realization was an unpleasant surprise.
“Those roses? They’re looking like they’re on their last legs.” She’d taken it down a notch, herself.
“I’d forgotten all about them.” It seemed like a month ago I’d found them on the doorstep. “Pitch them, please. By the way, Phillip’s friend is coming over tonight.” I assured Virginia she was welcome to go in and out of the living room/kitchen area as frequently as she liked while Phillip and Sarah watched the movie. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust Phillip; and after all, to a great extent, his dating life was his business. But at least while they were under my roof, I didn’t want the two to get overwhelmed by a surge of teenage lust.
Then I felt terrible for even thinking of such a scenario. It showed a lack of reliance in Phillip’s judgment, to say nothing of Sarah’s.
But Virginia was smiling. Her face came to life. I felt I was seeing the real woman.
“I’ll make sure to walk through every ten minutes or so,” she said, and I felt reassured. And guilty. She was harder to get to know than most people.
I wondered if I was spoiled; most people warmed to me quickly. It was the first time I’d ever thought about it. But I didn’t think about it long. I thought about sleep, and Tylenol, and Robin’s big evening.
In a few minutes, it was time to feed the bottomless pit, otherwise known as Sophie. It was comforting to hold her, now I was secure in the knowledge that I could pass her off to Virginia right afterward and be sure Sophie my baby would be well taken care of.
I heard Sarah arrive right on time. Because she had good manners, and maybe because Phillip had glanced in to see I’d upped my game with the grooming, she came back to say hello. I’d been impressed with Sarah every time I’d talked to her, and tonight was no exception.
Sarah seemed sensible, smart, and articulate (on the character end), and on the physical end I thought she was very attractive, with a big smile, lots of curly hair, and caramel skin.
“I hope you don’t get scared around babies,” I said.
“I have two little brothers. I’m baby-proof.” She grinned at me. “I hope you feel better. Phillip told me not to get close.”