“Even hermits have telephones and stationery,” she said, grinning. “Since you and Frank both have vacations at Christmas, why don’t you come out and stay with us.”

“Maybe we will, or maybe next summer.”

When the announcement came for boarding, she gave me a firm hug and said, “Well, off to our separate lairs.” I kissed Brian good-bye and he gave my hair one last stroke. Impulsively, I took out my manicuring scissors and cut off a small chunk above my ear and wrapped it in a tissue.

“There,” I said. “He can have fire anytime he wants it. And before it goes gray.”

“We’re going to be seeing a lot of you before it goes gray.”

This final assurance of hers lifted my depression. Driving home, I told myself there was no reason why Frank and I couldn’t get to California once every year.

When I arrived, Regina burst out of the house, asking when her father was coming home. “Probably tomorrow,” I said, and she questioned the “probably.” When she asked me to call him, I realized he had forgotten to give me the number and I had forgotten to ask for it. Had he intentionally neglected to give it to me? I was too distracted by this thought to notice the coolness between Regina and my father. Then at one point, when I had answered her third demand that I call Frank, my father turned to her and said firmly: “Leave your mother alone.”

“I don’t have to,” she shot back. “She’s my mother.”

“What did I tell you about that back talk, young lady? Do you want more of what you got yesterday?”

“Kenneth.” My mother, warning him and soothing him, in the tone I knew so well.

“What did she get?” I asked.

“She got a swat on her butt.”

“What for?”

“Ask her. She knows what for.”

“I didn’t do anything,” she protested immediately. “He’s just mean.”

“Regina.”

“He is. He’s your dad, he’s not mine.”

“But if I were your dad, you’d be a changed little girl.”

“That’s enough,” I said.

We were saved by Susan, who appeared at the back door to ask if Regina could come out. Regina hesitated, so I promised them both ice cream when the truck came around. They went out to play on the tractor-tire swings.

“Buying her off,” muttered my father.

“Give me a break, will you? Now tell me what she did to get a spanking.”

“She refused to go to bed. She said I wasn’t her boss. Then when I picked her up, she tried to kick me. And when I swatted her, she said her daddy would beat me up when he got home.”

I shrugged. “She’s upset. It’s the first time Frank’s been away from her.”

“Maybe he should be away from her more often.”

“Kenneth!”

“What kind of a crack is that?”

“It’s not a crack. It’s advice.”

“Well, I don’t like it.”