Page 59 of Two Friends in Marriage
The woman hesitates.She has a panicked look on her face, but I have no idea what’s going on.“I’m Deena.I know we’ve never spoken before, but our husbands are friends, and I was hoping he—or you?—could do me a favor.My father had a heart attack, and he’s at the hospital, and I’d prefer not to bring Skylar.Could you watch her?Just for an hour, until Gordon gets home.”
“Of course.”
“Thank you so much…”
“Jane.I’m Jane.”
Deena bends down and puts her hands on her daughter’s shoulders.“Be good for Jane, okay?Here’s the key to our house if you need it.”
She hurries down the driveway before I can say anything, and I recall the last time I went to the hospital—when I was about Skylar’s age.Fortunately, I haven’t needed to go since my mom died.
I’m surprised that Deena left Skylar with me, given she doesn’t know me at all, but I understand not wanting to bring a child to a hospital in an emergency, and I guess she knows Evan.Besides, people are probably more comfortable leaving kids with an unfamiliar woman than an unfamiliar man.
I curse myself for not making an effort to get to know our neighbors.When I lived in a high-rise, I didn’t know my neighbors, either, but now that we have a house, it feels different.
I look down at Skylar, who’s still gripping the straps of her knapsack.I’d usually do another hour of work, but it’s not like I have anything critical that needs to get done today.
“Would you feel more comfortable at your house?”I ask, making my voice slightly more upbeat than usual.
She nods, looking down.
Once I put on my shoes and grab everything I need, we head next door.Skylar struggles with the key in the lock, so I do it for her.
The layout of the house is a little different from ours, but the biggest difference is that it’s clearly home to a kid, as evidenced by all the colorful toys.
“Can I have a snack?”Skylar asks.“I haven’t had one yet.”
“Sure.”I follow her into the kitchen.“What do you usually eat?”
“Ants on a log.I can make it myself.”
I watch as she pulls a Tupperware of cut celery out of the fridge, followed by a jar of peanut butter.Then she grabs a butter knife and a plate.
“Can you get the raisins for me?Please?”She points to a high cupboard.
It’s rare for me to help someone reach something—I’m not exactly tall—so this is a nice change.I get the bag of raisins, and she gets to work on making her snack at the kitchen table.
I haven’t looked after a kid by myself in years.I find myself wishing that Evan were here, but this seems manageable.She’s fairly independent; she just can’t be left by herself.
Though I’ve never had ants on a log before, I have a sneaking suspicion that they don’t usually involve this much peanut butter or this many raisins.
“You can have some.”Skylar gestures to the food laid out on the table.
I shake my head.“Maybe later.”
We sit there in silence for a couple of minutes while she munches on her celery.I feel like I should say something, but I’m not sure what.
“School just started, right?”I say.“What grade are you in?”
She holds up a single finger, then pushes around the food on her plate.“Will my zaidy be okay?”
Oh dear.
“Um.I don’t know.”I have no idea what the situation is, and I have distinct memories of being told my mother was going to be okay—and she wasn’t.I don’t wish to lie to this child I barely know.“I hope so.”I pause.“My friend’s grandfather had a heart attack, and he lived for a long time afterward.”
This is true.Lana’s grandfather had a heart attack when we were in university, and he just passed away last year.But I don’t know much about this sort of thing—or how to talk to children about it.
“Maybe you could make him a card?”I say.“A get-well-soon card?”
