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“Just drop them on the floor.”
“Did he just tell them to drop their coats on the floor?” Tracy asked. “Who is this man? Oh, my God. Do you think he has a brain tumor?”
I confess to being as confused as my sister. Whatever I’d been expecting, it wasn’t this. At the very least, I thought our father would be irritated at the unexpected appearance of his grandchildren. He’d never been what one would describe as a doting grandfather, preferring theideaof grandchildren to their actual presence. “Dad,” I said, “are you feeling okay?”
“Of course. Never better. Why do you ask?”
“Well, it’s been a while since anyone’s heard from you, andthen you suddenly call and say it’s important that we come over immediately…”
“We were starting to worry,” Tracy interjected.
“Well, I’m sorry if I worried you, sweetheart,” he said. “That was not my intention. Let’s go into the living room, shall we?”
I glanced toward the elevator carrying my children as it made its painfully slow ascent to the second floor before following my father into the living room and removing my coat. A fire had already been lit, giving the room a warmth it generally lacked.
“Where’s Elyse?” Tracy asked, looking around the room as she discarded her coat to reveal a stunning red cashmere sweater-dress. “Did she finally take a day off?”
“Not exactly.”
“Did she quit?”
“Not exactly.”
“Did you fire her?” I asked, trying not to sound overly hopeful as I lowered myself to the sofa beside Tracy, our coats occupying the space between us.
“Not exactly,” our father said yet again. The glint in his eyes told me he was enjoying himself immensely.
“So, what’s going on?” I asked, in no mood for his games.
“I prefer to wait until Elyse is here to share the news.”
I didn’t like the sound of that.
“I don’t think I like the sound of that,” Tracy whispered.
“So, where is she?” I asked.
“Still unpacking. She’ll be down in a minute.”
“Can you at least tell us where you were?” I said.
He looked toward the hall. “I guess I can do that.”
We waited.
“Niagara Falls,” he said.
“You went to Niagara Falls?” I repeated. “In March?”
“That’s right.”
“Who goes to Niagara Falls in the middle of winter?” Tracy asked.
“I guess I do,” our father said.
“With Elyse,” I said.
“With Elyse.”
