But Jeff was already fast asleep, lying facedown, his body (oh, what a body) splayed out in all directions, and his face (oh, what a face) deep in a pillow.

Naked, I sat on the edge of the bed and watched him breathe.

I needed to talk. But Jeff wasn’t for talking. So I kissed his bare shoulder. He began to stir. I started to kiss down his back, when in his sleep, he slightly raised his left hip, and I heard a faint whisper of wind. Jeff had farted. Eggs came to mind. Sulfur.

Perfect, I thought, as I waved the smell away.

I used the spill of light from the bathroom to find my clothes and get dressed. As I picked up my bra and blouse, I remembered something. How earlier that night there had been more he’d wanted to say. So I went through his pockets and found his crumpled-up speech, which I took as a memento.

Besides, sleep was not going to be easy for me that night, and I needed something to read.

JEFF SLADE

JEFF SLADE

I’m not an angel. But I play one on TV.

(Beat. Hold for laugh.)

But when I look out at this room tonight, here is what I see: angels. All of you are . . .

(Choke up.)

Angels.

(Cry here.)

I’m sorry . . . I wrote a speech, but words don’t do justice . . .

(Put speech away. Cry more.)

So let me just say—KEEP WISHING!

(Beat. Let the moment land. Then look at Kate.)

Because that’s how dreams come true.

KATE

KATE

“MOMMY, ARE YOU OKAY?”

Middle of the night, I was on my knees, hunched over the toilet bowl, Jeff’s speech still clutched in my hand. I had just thrown up.

“Mommy . . .”

“Mommy will be okay, sweetie. I just ate something that disagreed with me. Go back to bed.”

After Teddy went back to bed. I got in the shower. Water so hot it was practically scalding. I soaped myself. Scrubbed myself clean.

TIM

TIM

1:16 A.M. Okay, so if she was “on her way,” as of 10:35 P.M., then where is she? Where is she?!

3:05 A.M. Still no sign. Rehearsed telling her off. “I’m not your pet. I’m not some play toy! Also, how foolish could you be, involving a third party (and one of my former students, no less) in our seedy enterprise? Bea could have ruined everything. Good thing I was able to disguise my voice!” Etc., etc.

4:22 A.M. Stared at self in mirror. Facing corner of bathroom, I saw a succession of reflections, my reflection of my reflection, so that I didn’t see one of me, I saw countless, endless identical shrinking mes.

5:01 A.M. Checked phone machine at home. Kept replaying the only message. Teddy’s little voice. I was swimming, Dad. I was swimming.

KATE

KATE