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Mary [Ekholm] Francis
(c) 1997
�Okay. Whatever you say.�
�Have you noticed the sailboats? They look like they�re playing some sort of duck-and-dodge game out there. I�d like to be in one right now.�
�You�d be throwing up all over the place. Remember the last time you were in a boat?�
�I�ve never been so sick! But we were out on Lake Superior, and we couldn�t see land. And the waves were much bigger. And I had run out of Dramamine.�
�You used to get sick in the car when we went on long trips.�
�I used to envy the other kids when they talked about vacations spent driving around the country. I hated myself for getting sick and making us all stay home.�
�Really?�
�It was nice to have everyone make a fuss over me and try to plan short drives, but I really wanted to go places and see things. Now I take Dramamine and go anywhere I want. I love flying. Last weekend I flew to New York to have dinner with old friends from the university.�
�Remember when Mom and Dad would take us out for a special dinner? We�d all get dressed up in our best clothes, and Dad would drive the car up to the door to pick us up. He opened the car door for Momma and tucked her in the front seat, and then he opened the back door for us and made sure we fastened our seat belts before he shut the door.�
�When we got to the restaurant--what was the name of the one we always went to?--he stopped at the front door. The doorman opened Momma�s door and helped her out. Then he would open the back door and hand us out of the car, too. And he always said, �How are you this evening, ladies?� and we�d try not to giggle because Momma and Daddy were watching us.�
�And someone drove the car off to park it while we followed Mom and Dad into the restaurant. We seemed to be surrounded by men in red jackets who opened doors and led us to our table and brought us everything we wanted.�
�And Daddy looked at Momma so adoringly. He ordered anything she asked for, and he sometimes held her hand between courses.�
�He treated her like a queen.�
The waiter returned with a tray balanced on his left hand. The ice cubes clinked as he set a large glass of iced tea in front of Robin. He placed a cup of steaming coffee in front of Mary and smiled as he picked up the cup of cold coffee, �I�ll bring a pot of coffee as soon as the next one is done brewing.�
�Thank you,� Mary said and picked up her cup.
�The Grecian Inn.�
�Huh?�
�The place we always went: The Grecian Inn. Do you think it�s still there?�
�We could check the phone book.�
�We could take Mom. I wonder when Dad last took her there?�
�It�s been, let�s see,� Mary counted backward on her fingers, �Eleven years since Dad first got sick. And I don�t think he ever got well enough to take Mom out for dinner.�
�I miss him. It�s been six years, and I still miss him.�
Mary lay her hand on top of Robin�s and squeezed gently. �Honey, I miss him, too. And so does Momma, even though she seems to be getting along fine without him.�
Robin pulled her hand away and leaned back in her chair with her hands folded in her lap. �Not just �seems,� Mary. She is getting along fine without him.�
�That bothers you?�
�I�m glad that she learned how to pay bills, drive a car, make decisions, all of that. I just wish Dad were still here . . . and that he�d be glad she could take care of herself.�
�She�s always been able to, Robin. She didn�t when Dad was alive because she knew it made him happy to take care of her.�
�He wasn�t just taking care of her, Mary. He always had to be the one in charge.� Robin paused and frowned. �Your Michael reminds me of him.�
�Michael?�
�Don�t get all defensive, Mary. I�m not going to attack him. I just see a few similarities between him and Dad.�
�Are you going to tell me I have some sort of father complex? That I look for men who remind me of my father? Or treat me like my father treated my mother?�
�Down, girl. I�m not your psychiatrist. Not anyone�s, actually. But I make my living painting people�s faces--�capturing expressions� according to my agent--so I watch people.�
�You�re going to tell me what you see in my face?�
�No, what I saw in Michael�s.�
The waiter delivered their sandwiches and the promised pot of fresh coffee. He refilled Mary�s cup. �Is there anything else I can bring you?�
�No, thanks,� Robin replied. �We�re fine for now.�
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