This is the fourth story in a collection called 'New Lives'. The first 3 stories were 'Ice Storm,' 'The New Guy,' And 'Catastrophe'
*
"Walt's not just another patient," Dr. Robinson said, then paused. "He's sweet and kind to everyone. All the patients like him, even the surly hard-to-manage ones." Robinson paused. Jane was quiet, so he went on. "We think he has cancer. We're running more tests."
He waited for Jane to say something, but she remained silent. "We don't know how his illness will affect the other patients." Jane was not sure why Dr. Robinson called her. He seemed more concerned about the other patients than about Walt. She did not care about the others. She abruptly hung up without saying a word.
Until this moment she thought she knew what the rest of Walt's life would be like. He had found a new home at the hospital. He had a place he liked and people who liked him. He was happy. She had lost
him
when the accident occurred. Now it seemed Walt was going to lose what little of himself he had left. She cried.
She did not tell Paula and Marc. She felt there was nothing they could do. This was beyond all their love, concern, care, and support. They had never shared Walt's life. The only person who had was her son, Ronnie. She called him, blurted out the news, and then started to cry. He had not seen his parents since before the accident. He had no idea what the accident had done to his father and how much his Mom had suffered. She desperately hoped he would come home to help her and see his father. She left the decision up to him.
Three days later Jane introduced Ronnie to Paula, Marc, and Caroline. He assumed they were just his Mom's friends. Ronnie also met Michael, who was Paula's grandson. Ronnie was not comfortable around kids. He was relieved that he would stay at Marc's house, where it would be quieter.
Ronnie assumed that, since they referred to it as 'Marc's house,' that both Marc and his daughter, Caroline, lived there. But a couple nights went by and Marc did not show up at bed-time. This puzzled Ronnie and he asked Caroline about it.
"Doesn't your Dad come home at night?"
"This isn't his home," Caroline said, matter-of-factly.
"It's not?" Ronnie asked, confused.
Caroline hesitated, unsure of how she should tell Ronnie about his Mom, her father and Paula. "Your Mom didn't tell you?"
"Tell me what?"
"My Dad lives at
her
house." She waited to see whether Ronnie would react. He did not, so she went on, "
With
her." She paused again. She could not tell if Ronnie was shocked.
She
would be if someone told her something like this.
"Oh." Ronnie said, quietly, "So you're saying they're
lovers
?" Caroline nodded. "I'm not a prude or anything, but I would
never
,
ever
have expected my Mom to be doing something like that."
"They hit it off the first time they met." As soon as she said it she realized it did not really explain anything.
"My Mom and Dad are still married," he said.
"Your Dad? What Dad? I thought she was a widow?" Caroline said, surprised. Ronnie shook his head. "So where is he?"
"He's in an institution. He had a car accident and lost most of his memory. My Mom took care of him, but he got worse so the doctors took him where he would be safe."
