“Sometimes, when you don’t callwhen I’m expecting you to,” she said, “I think I’m the one being driven crazy.”
“Sorry,” he said. “But I’ve got good news. I think it’s happening.”
“Oh, that’s lovely. What was it Sherlock Holmes used to say? ‘The game is afoot?’ Or was it Shakespeare?”
“I’m not really sure,” he said.
“So you delivered it?”
“Yes.”
“But you need to stay a little longer to see what happens.”
“Oh, I know,” he said. “I’m sure it will end up on the news.”
“I wish I could tape it here.”
“I’ll bring home the newspapers.”
“Oh, I’d love that,” she said.
“There haven’t been any more stories about Tess. I guess that means they haven’t found out anything.”
“I guess we should just be grateful for whatever good fortune comes our way, shouldn’t we?”
“And there was something else on the news, about this missing detective. The one my…you know…hired.”
“Do you think they’ll find him?” she asked.
“Hard to say.”
“Well, we can’t worry about that,” she said. “You sound a bit nervous.”
“I guess.”
“This is the hard part, the risky part, but when you add it all together, it’s going to pay off. And when it’s time, you can come back and get me.”
“I know. Won’t he wonder where you are, why you’re not going to see him?”
“He hardly gives me the time of day,” she said. “He’s winding down. Maybe a month to go. Long enough.”
“You think he’s ever really loved us?” he asked.
“The only one he’s ever loved is her,” she said, making no attempt to hide her bitterness. “And has she ever been there for him? Looked after him? Cleaned up after him? And who solved his biggest problem? He’s never been grateful for what I’ve done. We’re the ones who’ve been wronged here. We were robbed of having a real family. What we’re doing now, this is justice.”
“I know,” he said.
“What do you want me to make for you when you get home?”
“A carrot cake?”
“Of course. It’s the least a mother can do.”