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.He began to move restlessly, pumping his hips, letting himself come, screaming out her name -- Merrilee.The silence afterward was deafening.He looked down.She looked up."I'm sorry.""So am I."* * *Merrilee opened the door Sunday evening to find her father on the step.John St.Claire looked every bit of his sixty-seven years.His hair was a coarse gray, his skin pale, his eyes wrinkled, not from laughing, but from frowning at a world that never quite measured up to his standards.John had spent twenty-seven years driving a truck for the Peninsula Newspaper Agency.He was a Teamster, a union man, and a hard man.Never missed work, never let himself be sick, and never forgave anybody for anything.He had been forced to retire two years earlier, and since then his mood had gotten worse.He didn't seem to know how to talk to any of them anymore."Dad," she said faintly, "What a pleasant surprise.""Where's that foolish sister of yours?"Jenny.It always came down to Jenny.Merrilee couldn't remember a time when she had come first in her father's thoughts.And she had tried so hard, especially after her mother died.Her father brushed past her without waiting for an answer.He bypassed the living room and headed for the kitchen, helping himself to a beer in the refrigerator.John knew the beer was there, because Merrilee kept a supply just for him.Not even Richard was allowed to touch her father's beer."Would you like a mug?" she asked.He shook his head and popped the top."She still at the hospital?""Yes.She practically lives there.""And the boy?""Danny is the same, critical," Merrilee replied, deliberately using his name."What the hell was Jenny thinking -- letting her son take a bus over the hill?""Danny went without her permission.""Of course, because she's too damn lenient.""Yes, she is," Merrilee agreed."Are you going to see her?""Hate hospitals.Always have." John took a long draft of his beer."Haven't been in one since.well, since you know."Since Mom died."I know," Merrilee replied."But I think Jenny would like to see you." Actually Jenny would probably rather have a root canal than see her father, but it was the right thing to say at this moment, and Merrilee prided herself on saying the right thing.Her father tipped his head, considering."Maybe tomorrow.""Dad." Merrilee wanted to tell him he had to reconsider, that he owed it to Jenny to support her.She was his daughter, dammit.But when John looked at her through hard, unforgiving eyes she knew her pleas would only alienate him, not bring about a change."Would you like to stay for dinner?" she asked."What are you having?"Merrilee silently counted to ten."Ham, green beans, and au gratin potatoes.""I suppose.Where's your husband?""He had to go into the office for a while."John looked at the clock over her head."Ifs seven o'clock on a Sunday night.""He's very dedicated.""You're lucky you found such a good man," John said."Richard will always take care of you.You'll never end up like your sister, all alone and trying to raise a kid without a father.""You're right about that," Merrilee said tightly."Speaking of children, William is upstairs working on the computer.Why don't you go up and say hello?"John nodded and shuffled off.John liked William, thought he was a good kid, mainly because William was too scared of his grandfather to argue with him.Constance and Danny were another story.Danny.Merrilee sighed as she wiped off the kitchen counter.She supposed she should go to the hospital after dinner, at least try and talk Jenny into spending the night at her house.It was her duty as the older sister to take care of things.The front door opened and closed.Her emotions went from relieved to angry in thirty seconds, the time it took Richard to walk to the kitchen.When he arrived, she had her head in the refrigerator.She heard him reach for a glass and run water out of the tap.He didn't say anything.Neither did she.Finally, she straightened up and shut the door."Are you hungry?" she asked.Richard shook his head."No, I ate earlier.""I see.My father's upstairs.""Oh, great." Richard sat down at the kitchen table and picked up the newspaper."He's worried about Danny.""I think you're giving him too much credit." Richard looked at her [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]