We had a very nice dinner of broiled T-­bone steaks, fresh peas, and corn on the cob, with ice cream for dessert—even a smidgen of the latter for cholesterol-­watching Jack. Then, to fill out the evening, Franny found a pack of playing cards in a cupboard and we played bridge, hearts, poker, using a collection of Aunt Hannah’s buttons for chips, and several other games that Franny introduced to us, some of which I think she invented.

Around ten we all went to bed. About two hours later, Duff had a nightmare. His screaming awakened all of us, including Jack, who, after scrambling out of bed and trying to run through a dark and unfamiliar house, fell and broke his hip.

3

Chapter Three

By the time I found the wall switch at the bottom of the stairs, Duff had stopped yelling. Jack was on the floor, clutching the stair rail and trying to pull himself up.

Franny came down to report that nothing was wrong with Duff except he was feeling rather embarrassed. She and I stupidly tried to help Jack to his feet until I realized how much pain we were causing him. Then Duff came downstairs, putting on his glasses.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “Gee, I’ve never done anything like that before. Is Dad all right?”

“I’m OK,” Jack said. “I’ve sprained something, that’s all.”

“I’m going to call a doctor,” I said.

“We don’t know any doctors here. And we don’t have a phone.”

“We could go to Mrs. Reddy’s and phone,” Duff suggested. “I’m sure she’d know a doctor.”

“At this hour of the night?”

“She’ll realize it’s an emergency,” I said. I ran to my room and put on a sweater and a pair of jeans.

“You’re not going out alone at this hour of the night,” Jack yelled.

“Franny can go with me. Put a coat on, Frances.”

“I’ll go too,” said Duff.

“No, stay with your father. Don’t let him move from that floor.”

“You’re not blaming me for what happened, are you?” Duff asked plaintively.

“Of course not.” I hugged him briefly and Franny and I ran out to the car.

Maybe this is where I should report that I never loved my husband. As a matter of fact, I didn’t even like him very much in the early days of our marriage.

He was a copywriter at Marks and Chapman, and I was a secretary to an account executive. I had never paid any particular attention to Jack (I was trying to captivate one of the agency artists at the time) but then we got chummy at an office Christmas party and went off in a taxi to a westside hotel.