In Between Frames (13 page)

Epilogue

-I told you he’d do it.

-Yes, well.
 
You have to confess that my worry was justified.

-All right, so it was.
 
Sheesh, I knew he was a stubborn son of a bitch but I never thought he could cling that hard to his doubts.

-If it makes you feel any better, I was surprised at how easily Sam went along with it.
 
We just don’t know them as well as we thought we did.

-I guess not.
 
The living are full of surprises, which is why they’re the ones still alive, right?

-I’ll drink to that.

-We need to have drinks, first.

-You don’t suppose we could also get a table and some dinner?

-We can’t actually eat it—what’s the point?

-We can’t actually drink, either, but let’s have a toast anyway.

A sigh, and a rolling of the metaphysical eye.
 

-We should figure out some way to help Jon, though.
 

-Maybe help him win the lottery? Or do you suppose Helen is still young enough for a surprise?

-Excuse me, but those are my parents you’re talking about.

-Yes, well, we’re merely trying to ease their grief.

-So you were the ones who brought Miles to
Loutraki
.

-Well, actually, he brought himself to
Loutraki
—

-And let’s be honest, here—she never really liked you like that.

-I know that now.
 
But sheesh, did you have to be so cruel about it?

-Be fair, now.
 
We weren’t cruel.
 
But you were interfering with our plans.

-Your plans.
 
And what about mine?

-That, my dear boy, is what this whole place is all about.