Weekend (21 page)

"Just don't let it get around," Lena said. "I don't want to ruin my image." She stood, plucking back her magazine, folding it under her arm. "I've been waiting here to lead you to Robin. They've moved her to another room. Her mother's with her. She's an all-right lady. But I don't think Daddy and she are ever going to get along."

They followed Lena into the elevator. Park asked the question that was on all their minds. "Does this make you want to find your real mother?"

"Nope." Lena pushed button two. The door closed. They jerked upwards.

"But you must sometimes wonder about her?" Shani asked delicately.

"Nope."

"And it's none of our business," Shani added quickly.

But Lena's gaze was suddenly turned far away as she leaned against the back of the elevator and allowed them a rare glimpse into her feelings. "I think about my real father," she said softly. "I often dream about him." She chuckled, embarrassed. "It's just as well I'll never meet him. He's probably an ass, like his daughter."

They exited on to a blue-carpeted corridor that stretched forever in both directions. Leading her flock, Lena turned to the left. Shani had to work to keep up with her. Now would be as good a time as any.

"Where's Michael's room?" she asked.

"The other direction." Lena didn't break stride or elaborate.

"You haven't been trying to impress him with your feminine charms, have you?" Shani asked. You could get away with a lot more with Lena these days.

"Hey," Sol said.

"Not yet."

"Hey," Sol said again.

"I heard he's being discharged today," Lena said, playing with her. A mild infection had kept Michael in longer than anticipated.

"I know." Robin had given her the news two days ago. He hadn't gone out of his way to let her know.

True, he had called a couple of weeks ago, and he'd said that he was looking forward to seeing her. But he had been short on the phone, and hadn't explained whether he was returning immediately to England or what. This was her big worry. "What's his room number?" she asked.

"I thought you came to see Robin."

"Lena!"

"Two-forty-six."

Shani halted. "Tell Robin I'll be there in a few minutes." She reversed her direction, treading through a herd of nurses and orderlies, feeling like she was climbing the wrong way up an escalator.

"Knock, knock." She rapped on his open door and peered inside. He stood with his back to her folding a shirt in his suitcase. As he turned she noticed an awkwardness in his once mercurial fluidity. Probably his incision was still healing. Had he any regrets? she wondered. His warm smile said that he didn't. He spread his arms. It was the best hug of her life, though rather feeble. Michael had lost weight.

"You look great," he said, holding her at arm's length, admiring her dress. "Is that a new outfit?"

She knew she was blushing. "Just something I dug out of the closet," she lied. It came back to her right away — instant karma. She had forgotten to remove the price tag from beneath her right armpit. Michael was holding it in his hand.

"Sixty-nine, ninety-five." He nodded. "I would say it's worth every penny."

This would have to happen to her! She couldn't decide whether to laugh or weep, and ended up doing some of both. "I bought it yesterday, dammit!" she said, fighting with the tag.

He took a step back, amused at her language. "Well, now that you have my approval, you can throw out the receipt." He threw up his arms, warding off her blows. "Hey, I was only joking! Please, no kidney shots!"

She was easily pacified. She gestured at his suitcase. "I see that you're all ready to go."

"Just about." He returned to his packing. Shani wandered over to the window, from where she could see their parked Porsche, with plenty of room in the back for an extra passenger. There were questions she was afraid to ask.

"How are you feeling, Michael?"

"Great."

"Is your infection gone?"

"Completely."

"That's good." She noticed that her hands were trembling. She went to stuff them in her pockets, then realized the dress didn't have any. He was staring at her.

"What's the matter, Shani?"

"Nothing." She smiled quickly. "How does it feel to have only one kidney?"

"I feel lighter." He folded a pair of jeans. "I should have all my spare parts removed."

"I bet you're anxious to get out of here."

"I sure am."

"I bet the food's been lousy."

"So-so."

"Did you get to see Robin much?"

"Every day."

"I hear she's doing great."

"She looks like a new person."

"That must make you feel good."

"It sure does. I just wish I hadn't waited so long to decide."

"Michael?"

"Yeah?"

"What are you going to do now?"

"Go home." He was collecting his books, preoccupied.

"Right away?" Her heart was breaking.

"Today."

"Is your mother going with you?"

"No, she will be staying with Robin. Could you hand me that notebook, Shani?"

She did so and went back to her window, not wanting him to see her cry. But his hands were on her shoulders, turning her slowly around in spite of her resistance. "What's the matter?" he asked.

"Nothing."

"There must be something wrong."

"No, I'm just… I'm just happy." She plucked a tissue from a box next to the sink and blew her nose.

"It's just such a relief that Robin's okay, that's all."

He believed her, the fool. He was not interested. He did not care. He stepped back to his suitcase, snapping it shut. "Shall we be on our way? I want to say goodbye to Robin."

"I haven't even said hello."

They were in the corridor, and she was counting the steps, trying to slow down time. During these last four weeks, she had constructed a castle in the sky, only to find out now that all that was holding it up was misdirected hope. Why was he bothering to take her hand! "Can we give you a ride to the airport?"

she asked, miserable.

"Can't I get a ride back with you?"

She stopped. "Huh?"

"Oh, is the Porsche too small? Maybe I can catch a cab, then."

"But… ah . . but…" She took a breath, swallowed it. "Aren't you going back to England?"

"Eventually, but I want to attend college out here. The weather's so wretched back in Plymouth. I think I've been spoiled. I consider this my home now." He studied her face. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Nothing at all! "Where are you going to go to school?"

"The same one as you - if I can get in this late - U.C., Santa Barbara. I want to stay near Robin and the rest of you guys. Why do you ask? I explained this all in my letter."

"What letter?"

"I sent it three days ago."

"I didn't get it."

"It probably arrived after you left this morning. Was that the problem? You thought I was going to run off on you!"

"No! I mean, you're going to do what you're going to do." She added lamely, "What have I got to do with any of it?"

Michael put down his suitcase. Though there were many in the hallway to see them, he leaned over and kissed her. She was such a mass of nerves that she could scarcely react. When he pulled away, he was frowning.

"I've got to get you a snake, Shani."

She caught his drift. The first time they had kissed, when she had let herself go, had been immediately after her escape from the rattler in the ravine. So he thought she was cold-blooded! Tired of playing the role of the wimp, she curled her arms around his neck and pulled him down to her height. "Michael," she murmured, "I never told anyone this before, but Isleep with a snake."

For an instant — a gleeful moment — he tried to back away. But she had a firm hold of him, one that hopefully would last a while.

Robin's room was a florists' shop, her visitors lost amid rainbows of petals and fragrances. Propped in a white mountain of pillows, the celebrated patient had the best view and the healthiest complexion in the entire Medical Centre. Shani could hardly comprehend the transformation. Mother Time had swept Robin back to early November. She even had a tan.

"Shani!"

"Robin!"

And Lena had been right about her sister's appetite. Hugging Robin, Shani could feel none of the protruding ribs she'd felt during their embrace four weeks ago at the start of their weekend of fun and relaxation at the Carlton Castle.

"I'm glad you're here," Robin beamed, keeping hold of her hand. Michael remained in the background.

"I have to tell you," Shani said, "this is the last time I'm going to visit you in a hospital."

"This is the last time I'm going to be in one!"

"Is this the friend you told me about?" A handsome woman with Robin's features and Michael's hair asked the question in the sweetest English accent imaginable. She stood on the opposite side of the bed, her eyes sparkling when they looked at her daughter.

"Yes, this is Shani. Shani, meet my mum. Don't we look alike?"

Shani offered her hand. "Very pleased to meet you, Mrs. Richardson." She hoped that was her name.

"The pleasure's mine. I've heard a lot about you."

"Don't believe everything Robin tells you. We have a mutual secret pact to boost each other's public image."

Mrs. Richardson glanced at Michael. "I was referring to what my son has told me about you."

Shani reddened. If his mother liked her, she was already in good shape. "What did he say?"

Michael cleared his throat. "Mum, I just found out that she sleeps with a snake."

"Michael!" Mrs. Richardson said, shocked.

"It's a small snake, very clean," Park said, always quick to catch on, the bastard.

"I was… it was just a joke," Shani stuttered.

"Don't be embarrassed, Shani," Michael said. "My mother understands."

"We all have our little quirks," Park said. "I've known Shani since kindergarten." He slapped his knee with delight. "Then she used to sleep with frogs. We used to kid her that she'd grow up with warts but, of course, we were wrong. I don't think her snake has hurt her skin any, either. Do you, Sol?"

"Her skin looks okay to me."

"But—" Shani began.

"I slept with a twelve-foot python once," Lena said.

Before Shani could recover her voice, Mrs. Richardson — regarding Lena and her with more than a hint of reservation — excused herself. "I was just on my way out to get Robin a drink," she said.

"We can ring the nurse," Robin said.

"Let's not bother her, dear. All of these kind folk here are already doing so much for us. I'll be back in a moment." Mrs. Richardson left the room in a hurry.

Shani had to fight her keep the steam out of her voice. "That wasn't very funny. She must think I'm a real nut."

"You weren't serious about the snake, were you?" Michael asked innocently.

"She told you that she sleeps with a snake?" Park asked.

"A few minutes ago."

"You say weird things like that, and you get all worked up over a little teasing?" Park said.

Feeling like she was the butt of one too many jokes, Shani sat down, grumbling, "I need a stiff drink."

Sol heard her, nodded. "I could use a beer."

Park pulled himself away from his reptile fantasies long enough to remark, "I could use a six-pack."

"Funny you should say that," Robin chuckled, glancing briefly out of the open window next to her bed.

The inflowing breeze was chilly. She pointed to a small refrigerator in the far corner. "The person who had this room before me had it stocked with his own brand of medicine. Take a look, Park. You'll find a few bottles of Heineken."

There were only three bottles, not enough for each of them, but Park also found a packet of clear plastic cups in the miniature refrigerator, and with these he very carefully transformed the bottles into six equal shares, apparently including Robin as a drinking buddy. Shani did not think this was a wise move but she held her tongue when she saw how Robin's eyes brightened as she accepted the six-ounce glass of beer.

The drink probably had symbolic significance, to her, and would make her feel she had indeed come the full circle, and really was healed.

"Let's have a toast!" Robin said, raising her cup. The rest of them did likewise, everyone smiling with pleasure.

"What are we toasting?" Michael asked.

"Profit," Park said.

"Pleasure," Lena said.

"Pleasure and profit," Sol said.

"But this is a special occasion," Robin murmured, blushing. "I want to toast to our long and healthy lives."

Who could argue with her? Park raised his glass high. "Hear! Hear! To our long and profitable lives!"

But before any of them could so much as take a sip, a bird,a huge black raven , swooped through the window, brushing Lena's and Sol's heads, scaring the wits out of both of them. It circled the room twice and came to rest on Robin's shoulder.

"This is Rita," Robin said casually, in response to their transfixed expressions.

"Rita," Park whispered.

Michael frowned. "Haven't I seen this bird before?"

"I have," Sol muttered.

"We all have," Lena said.

"Of course you have," Robin smiled. She put down her beer, and patted her feathered friend. "Rita goes where I go. She's like a guardian angel."

Rita hopped off Robin's shoulder on to the table where Robin had her glass. The bird stuck its beak into the cup and took a drink.

A moment later, she spat the beer back into the cup.

Everyone looked down at their glasses.

They decided to pass on the toast, and tossed the beer down the sink. They were takingno chances.