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There they were, she and Jack, standing in front of Frosh Pond at the UW, holding hands.
Each picture was a stepping-stone on the path of their marriage. First at the UW . . . then the house in Pittsburgh when hed played for the Steelers, then the second house in Pittsburgh, bigger than the first . . . then the house on Long Island . . . in Albuquerque, and so on and so on.
Elizabeth wandered down the photographic hallway of her married life, seeing all the compromises shed made.
Shed moved and moved and moved.
Every time had been the same: Another trade, another job, another city? Sure Jack.
Here she was again, waiting for Jack. It seemed as if shed passed her whole life that way, a woman set on pause.
At eight-thirty, her cell phone rang. It would be Jack, she knew, calling to tell her hed be a little later than expected. Only an hour, honey, I promise. And just like that, this new city would take them on the same old ride.
She fished the phone out of her purse and answered. "Hello?"
"Birdie?" said a thick-as-molasses Southern voice. "Is this you?"
"Anita?" She glanced at her watch. It was too late for a friendly call. Fear sidled up to her, slipped a cold arm around her waist. "Whats the matter?"
"Your daddy had a stroke. Yall better get down here fast. "
TWELVE
The first thing Elizabeth did was call Jack.
Oh, baby, hed said softly, Im so sorry. I can be home in thirty minutes. Ive got blah blah blah to do yet. Will you be okay by yourself until I get there?
Of course she would. Her husband had never handled tragedy well. Even when he showed up, Elizabeth knew shed really be alone.
Next, she called her daughters. Stephanie was loving and accommodating; shed probably gone on-line during their phone conversation and ordered plane tickets. Jamie didnt say much. Shed been hit too hard by the unexpected news. She and her grandfather were so close . . .
Elizabeth heard the fear in Jamies voice when she said: Maybe hell be okay. You think hell be okay, dont you?
Elizabeth wanted to rush in then, to salve her daughters pain, but this was no time to make promises.
After that, Elizabeth concentrated on the details. By the time Jack got home, shed made most of the necessary arrangements a
nd packed his suitcase.
It took them more than two hours to get to the airport, go through security, and find the gate. Once there, they sat side by side in silence.
Finally, the flight was called and they boarded the plane, finding their seats in first class.
When they were in the air, a flight attendant appeared in the aisle in front of them. A loudspeaker reeled off emergency instructions.
Elizabeth didnt hear a word of it. When you were flying across several states to see your father, who might or might not be dying, it was impossible to think about much else.
Thank God for Christmas.
(Dont think that way. )
"Are you okay?" Jack asked again.
Elizabeth squeezed his hand. "No. "
Finally, the plane landed in Nashville. She and Jack hailed a cab and headed north.
Forty-five minutes later, the taxi pulled up in front of a sprawling gray hospital.
