Page 55 of Royal Pain
“Okay.
“It was a hell of a morning. Come to think of it the afternoon wasn’t too good either.”
I’m going to ignore his prior statement. I’m just glad he wants to let me in.
“Tell me what happened.”
“I heard my mother crying in the kitchen. I was in the hallway and it just about tore me up.”
My heart hurts for him. For her.
“Ohhh, Zan, what did you do?”
“I did what I could. What she’s always done for me. I comforted her.”
“It sounds like you did the…”
He interrupts me with what shouldn’t be contained.
“I just held her and didn’t tell her to try to stop crying. Sometimes tears are the best way to say what you feel.”
“I think you’re about the smartest man I’ve ever known, Zan.”
“I don’t know about that. I just did what felt natural. She’d taught me to call on love when everything looks hopeless. It’s a powerful belief that I’ve used more than once. I don’t know lately. My mother just
began eating again, so I thought things were getting a little easier.”
I feel the sadness floating within him.
“I wish I could take this away from you, baby.”
“No one can. But you can make it a hell of a lot better just by being here. Thank God it’s almost here.”
