“Beat. Everything’s in pretty good shape over at the shop, though.” He came over and hugged me. “You know what I’m going to do? Take a shower and put on that new jogging suit Haley gave me for Christmas.”

“Be still my heart. I’ll light a fire and we’ll watch Wheel of Fortune.”

Which is what we did. By eight o’clock, both of us were sound asleep, Fred in his recliner, me on the sofa. Around twelve I woke up enough to turn off the gas logs and the TV and get us both to bed. It was the next morning before I remembered Pukey Lukey and tried to call him again. It was the next morning when there was still no answer, that I began to worry something might be wrong.

Chapter Two

Chapter
Two

E-MAIL

FROM: HALEY

TO: MAMA AND PAPA

SUBJECT: MISSING YOU

We’re missing you so much, but wasn’t it a wonderful Christmas. We had three new inches of snow last night. Papa, you’d love that. Have you talked to Alan and Freddie since you got home? I E-mailed both of them right after you left and haven’t heard a word. Tell them to do better toward their sister. We’re invited to a party at the university tonight in honor of some visiting professor who everyone thinks will win the Nobel Prize in chemistry. I’ve never heard of him, but Philip is real excited. Tell Aunt Sister I’ll wear the blue outfit she gave me for Christmas. Is everything okay at home? How’s the jet lag? Debbie says David Anthony is getting huge. I wish I could see her.

I love you.

E-MAIL

FROM: MAMA

TO: HALEY

SUBJECT: EVERYTHING’S FINE

Thanks again, darling, for the wonderful Christmas. The jet lag is better today. Aunt Sister says I have it worse because I don’t have her physical reserves. She went to an Angel-Sighting Society luncheon yesterday at the club. Two members claimed they had sighted angels recently. I’ve talked to both Alan and Freddie since we got home. They both had good holidays. E-mail them again and fuss at them. Haven’t seen Debbie yet, but I remember her with Fay and May. I never thought she would look normal again, let alone get her figure back, which she did.

Do you believe in angels?

I love you.

When I turned off the computer, I realized I was hungry, really hungry for the first time since we had gotten home. I put three slices of bacon in the microwave, scrambled a couple of eggs, and fixed some cinnamon toast. Comfort food. I sat at the kitchen table with the January sun coming through the bay window and ate every bite except for a small bit of egg that I gave to Muffin. So much for the anorexia that Sister claims I have.