and emptying Tom’s litter box. Tom was her six-and-a-half-year-old tawny
tabby who was still as wild as he’d been as a kitten. Laurie
straightened the Klimt print that the cat always knocked askew on his
daily route from the bookcase to the top of the valence over the window.
Next Laurie took a quick shower, changed into a turtleneck and jeans,
and put on a touch of makeup. As she did so she glared at the crow’s
feet that had been developing at the corners of her eyes. She didn’t
feel any older than when she’d gotten out of medical school, yet there
was no denying the advance of years.
Jack arrived on schedule. When Laurie looked through the peephole, all
she could see was a bloated image of his broadly grinning face, which he
had positioned a mere inch from the lens. She smiled at his antics as
she undid the host of locks that secured her door.
‘Get in here, you clown!’ Laurie said.
‘I wanted to be sure you recognized me,’ Jack said as he stepped past
her. ‘My chipped, upper-left incisor has become my trademark.’
Just as Laurie was closing her door she caught a glimpse of her
neighbor, Mrs. Engler, who’d cracked her door to see who was visiting
Laurie. Laurie glared at her. She was such a busybody.
The dinner was a success. The food was perfect and the wine was okay.
Jack’s excuse was that the liquor store closest to his apartment
specialized in jug wine, not the better stuff.
During the course of the evening, Laurie had to continually bite her
tongue to keep the conversation away from sensitive areas. She would
have loved to talk about their relationship, but she didn’t dare. She
sensed that some of Jack’s hesitance stemmed from his extraordinary
personal tragedy. Six years previously, his wife and two daughters had
been tragically killed in a commuter-plane crash. Jack had told Laurie
about it after they had been dating for several months, but then refused
to talk about it again. Laurie sensed that this loss was the biggest
stumbling block to their relationship. In a way, this belief helped her
to take Jack’s reluctance to commit himself less personally.
Jack had no trouble keeping the conversation light. He’d had a good
evening playing pickup basketball at his neighborhood playground and was
happy to talk about it. By chance he’d been teamed up with Warren, an
all-around impressive African-American, who was the leader of the local
gang and by far the best player. Jack and Warren’s team didn’t lose all
evening.
‘How is Warren?’ Laurie asked. Jack and Laurie had frequently
double-dated with Warren and his girlfriend, Natalie Adams. Laurie
hadn’t seen either of them since before she and Jack had their
falling-out.
‘Warren’s Warren,’ Jack said. He shrugged. ‘He’s got so much potential.
I’ve tried my best to get him to take some college courses, but he
resists. He says my value system isn’t his, so I’ve given up.’
‘And Natalie?’
‘Fine, I guess,’ Jack said. ‘I haven’t seen her since we all went out.’
‘We should do it again,’ Laurie said. ‘I miss seeing them.’
‘That’s an idea,’ Jack said evasively.
There was a pause. Laurie could hear Tom’s purring. After eating and
cleaning up, Jack moved to the couch. Laurie sat across from him in her
art-deco club chair she’d purchased in the Village.
Laurie sighed. She felt frustrated. It seemed juvenile that they
couldn’t talk about emotionally important issues.
Jack checked his watch. ‘Uh-oh!’ he said. He moved himself forward so
that he was sitting on the very edge of the couch. ‘It’s quarter to
eleven,’ Jack added. ‘I’ve got to be going. It’s a school night and bed
is beckoning.’
‘More wine?’ Laurie asked. She held up the jug. They’d only drunk a
quarter of it.
‘I can’t,’ Jack said. ‘I’ve got to keep my reflexes sharp for the cab
ride home.’ He stood up and thanked Laurie for the meal.
Laurie put down the wine and got to her feet. ‘If you don’t mind, I’d
like to ride with you as far as the morgue.’
‘What?’ Jack questioned. He scrunched up his face in disbelief. ‘You’re