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There was o into it Dear Brad, Lila had written, I thought you should know that David and I are expecting a child We’re getting married next week I hope you can be happy for us He’d sat at the coood tento say We’re divorced, she can do what she wants" He drained his Scotch and peeled off ?"
Doyle passed his eyes over the room When they’d first sat at the bar, the place was nearly e woether three tall tables and were drinking pitchers of e nearby, Saast supposed they were students, or else they worked together soht to hell in a handbasket, but happy hour was happy hour, and pretty girls would still fill the bars in Huntsville, Texas They earing clingy shirts and low-cut jeans with fashionable tears at the knees, their faces and hair done for a night on the town, and they were drinking furiously One of the girls, a little heavy, sitting with her back to theast could see the little hearts on her underwear He didn’t know if he wanted to get a closer look or throw a blanket over her
"Maybe I’ll stay awhile," Doyle said, and raised his glass in a little toast "Watch the gaast nodded Doyle wasn’t irlfriend They were supposed to keep their interactions to a minimum, but he didn’t see hoas any of his business how Doyle spent his evening He felt a flicker of envy, then put the thought aside
"Okay Just reht," Doyle said "Like Smokey Bear says, take only pictures, leave only footprints As of this moment, I’m a fiber-optic sales rep frohter; Wolgast could hear the tequila in their voices
"Nice town, Indianapolis," Wolgast said "Better than this one, anyway"
"Oh, I wouldn’t say that," Doyle replied, and grinnedto like it here just fine"
Wolgast left the restaurant and walked up the highway He’d left his handheld behind at thedinner and have to leave; but when he checked it now, he found no es After the noise and activity of the restaurant, the quiet of the rooan to wish he’d ood company these days He removed his shoes and lay on his bed in his clothes to watch the rest of the gaave his ht-eleven in Denver, a little too late, but what the hell-he did what he’d told himself he wouldn’t do and dialed Lila’s number A man’s voice answered
"David, it’s Brad"
For a"It’s late, Brad What do you want?"
"Is Lila there?"
"She’s had a long day," David said firht I slept in the same bed with her for six years "Just put her on, will you?"
David sighed and put the phone doith a thu of sheets and then David’s voice, saying to Lila, It’s Brad, for Pete’s sake, tell him to call at a decent hour next time
"Brad?"
"I’m sorry to call so late I didn’t realize what time it was"
"I don’t believe that for a second What’s on your mind?"
"I’m in Texas A motel, actually I can’t tell you where exactly"
"Texas" She paused "You hate Texas I don’t think you called to tell me you’re in Texas, did you?"
"I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have woken you I don’t think David’s too happy"
Lila sighed into the phone "Oh, it’s all right We’re still friends, right? David’s a big boy He can handle it"
"I got your eured I supposed that hy you called I thought I’d hear from you at some point"
"Did you do it? Get married"
"Yes Last weekend, here at the house Just a few friends My parents They asked for you, actually, wanted to kno you were doing They always really liked you You should call them, if you want I think my dad misses you more than anyone"
He let the remark pass-more than anyone? More than you, Lila? He waited for her to say so else, but she didn’t, and the silence was taken up by a picture that formed in his mind, a picture that was actually a memory: Lila in bed, in an old T-shirt and the socks she alore because her feet got cold no ed between her knees to straighten her spine because of the baby Their baby Eva
"I just wanted to tell you I was"
Lila’s voice was quiet "Was what, Brad?"
"That I washappy for you Like you asked I was thinking that you should, you know, quit your job this time Take some time off, take better care of yourself I alondered, you know, if-"
"I will," Lila cut in "Don’t worry Everything is fine, everything is normal"