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“Yup You and Christy?two for the price of one”

“Did Moet married?”

“Well, Maggie, that’s what you did back then None of this unwed nant, you married her, and fast”

“So your anniversary is really…when?” Because my parents never really celebrated their special day (the reason now a littleevent in our calendar year to begin with

“We gotsix months later”

“The ides of March? You got“No wonder you’re getting divorced ‘Beware the ides of March, Caesar,’” I quote “Shakespeare knehat he was talking about”

Dad graces me with a smile, but his eyes are sad “Listen, sweetheart, yourto need a little syht?”

“Well, we’re not really speaking at the moment,” I tell him “Not since I kicked her out of the diner the other day”

“Oh, that’s right Well, it would be nice if you could patch things up”

I rollon the day he died”

Dad sighs again “I know, Maggie But do it for me, won’t you, dear?”

Of course I will, and Dad knows it “Have you told Christy and Jonah?”

“I told Joe last night I’m headed for Christy’s now”

“Do you want me to tell her, Dad? You must be worn out”

His eyes shine with gratitude “That would be great, honey I’d appreciate that You know you’re irl, now, don’t you?”

“Yes, and I know you say the sa” I slide around to sit next tomy arms around his neck “I love you, Dad”

“Thanks, baby,” he whispers “Sorry about all this”

“Where are you staying? I can’t iine you both in the same house, if Mom’s on a tear”

“Well, my lawyer said not to leave home just yet?” His lawyer! He’s already called a lawyer! “?so I’m still there In the cellar, as usual”

He leaves a minute later I watch him walk down the street, his shoulders slumped, eyes on the pavement Poor Dad He must feel completely desperate if he’s resorted to this And yet not just desperate?actually doing so about it

I summon my sister to a late lunch at Joe’s Diner and break the news as she eats Christy isn’t as stunned as I expect her to be “I alondered about that,” she et married It makes sense”

“You mean it explains why Mom’s been in a bad mood since the day ere born?” I say, far less sympathetic than ood twin”

“Well, yes, Maggie I nant before you were married So suddenly she’s twenty-two years old, and her life is mapped out for her No choice in the e, remember? She wanted to be an editor in New York City, and instead she’s pregnant and living in her ho on the cake”

“She wanted to be an editor? I never heard that,” I say Christy breaks off a piece of grilled cheese and offers it to Violet, who opens her mouth as obediently as a baby bird

“Yeah” Christy turns away froirl in our fae Granddad would have been so proud, the whole toould have talked about it, little Lena, a college girl, look at that And then banant Knocked up No career, no New York, just mud season and black flies and two colicky babies”

“It does put things in a new light You’re right”

“All done, Violet?” Christy asks “Are you all done?”

“Bwee,” Violet says, squirh chair “Nahbo”

I gird ods are ie I heard the news…um, sorry Uh, I’ll call you later, okay? Hope you’re okay Bye” A feeble e nonetheless

I drop in on Mrs K for a visit and a chat, leaving rand-niece is coet her for the weekend, and

“Were you happily narled hands fold sweaters with surprising agility Though she’s only going for two days, she’s got six complete outfits laid out on the bed I sit on the co her clothes as directed

“Oh, yes,” she replies “We were I’ll take those pink argyles, dear”

“And as your secret?” I s how she loves to talk about Mr K, who’s been dead for more than twenty years

“I think, dear, that our secret was lots of sex,” she sayslots of sex”

“I see” I’reat”

“I miss it, I must say,” she says “Of course, noould probably killto die…”

“Mrs K!” I laugh “You’re so surprising”

“Well, now, people aren’t really so different, Maggie,” she tellsman, what’s his name? McCoy?”