The War of the Roses: The Children (24 page)

“You always did,” he said, watching her. She shook her head and briefly covered her eyes with her palms.

“I don't ever want him to go back to that school,” she said angrily. “Never.” She looked up at him, waiting for his comment. It was, after all, a joint decision. “Let Tatum take his gateway to success and shove it.”

“You have my consent, Victoria.”

“I'd sue the bastard,” she said. He saw her lawyerly aggression surface briefly, then retreat. “Fact is, I stupidly participated in the transaction.” She sucked in a deep breath. “Besides, the evidence is gone.”

“Don't let it fester, Victoria. It's over.”

“It'll never be over.”

“For me either,” he said, hoping his implication was clear.

She studied her hands, then looked up and shook her head.

“I just wanted you to know.” She averted her eyes. “When I saw our child lying there… Oh my God.” She forced down a sob. “I want you to know, Josh. I do believe him. I can't deny it to myself any longer. I know it was the children. It has dawned on me that if you had organized this… this craziness, it would have been more logical. I just can't understand their reasoning.”

“The only explanation I can find is that they wanted to create an outside menace. Force us all into an alliance.”

“It doesn't make much sense. I don't understand what that was supposed to accomplish.”

“I didn't then. But I do now.” Said Josh.

She remained silent, waiting for him to continue.

“Maybe this,” he said waving his arm. “You and I. Here together.”

Their eyes met, but this time her glance did not abruptly turn away from him. He stopped his pacing and stood in front of her.

“I liked being that close to you again, Victoria,” he whispered.

“Deprivation does that, I suppose,” she answered, but the edge of sarcasm did not seem very strong.

“Rethink this, Victoria,” he said.

“Not now,” she mumbled. He searched her face looking for the tiniest sliver of optimism.

He reached out his hand, took hers. She did not resist. But it lay in his palm without movement. He felt his body react, inexplicably aroused.

“The body does have a mind of its own, Victoria,” he told her. “Sometimes it overwhelms you.”

Her hand remained in his.

“Like now,” he whispered.

Bending over, he moved his face closer to hers. She did not turn away. His lips brushed hers and her mouth opened to receive his deep kiss. Her need felt as urgent as his. Reaching down, his hand brushed her inner thigh then moved upward to confirm her reaction. She raised her pelvis to meet his caress.

Lifting her, he carried her to the edge of the bed and half-standing entered her. Pressing his buttocks, she moved him forward and found his rhythm, gasping and bucking, as they reached a crescendo of mutual orgasm.

They remain conjoined for a long while, then separated and lay side by side on the bed.

“Don't misinterpret this, Josh,” Victoria said.

“I'm not,” he replied.

“Let's not overreact,” she warned again, getting beneath the sheets. He slipped in beside her. She had turned away, and he fitted his body next to her like conforming spoons, caressing one breast.

“Brings back old times,” he sighed, recalling those early days of their marriage when they could never get enough of each other.

“It does have a ring of nostalgia,” she said.

He held her tightly against his naked body, but he feared breaking the spell by too much conversation.

“I love you, Victoria.”

He waited for her response. None came. Soon he could tell from her deep, even breathing that she was asleep. He continued to hold her, barely moving.

It was still dark when they awoke. She arose, put on her robe, and started to leave the room.

“Where are you going?” Josh asked.

“Emily will wake up. If I'm gone, she'll be frightened.”

“Of course.”

But before she could open the door, he was out of bed embracing her. He felt her shoulders lurch in a deep sob. She pulled away from his embrace and moved silently out the door.

***

Josh was shocked to see Michael. He looked worse than he had appeared yesterday morning. He motioned to the gray-haired nurse who proceeded to meet with them outside Michael's room.

“What's going on?” he asked.

“We don't understand it. The doctor was in earlier. He can't find anything wrong physically. It's as if the boy just doesn't care. He has no appetite. And all he's been doing since you left last night is sleeping. We've increased his IV intake.”

“Is this life threatening?” Victoria asked.

The nurse shrugged. It was not a very encouraging response. Josh and Victoria went back into Michael's room. His eyes were open and he offered them a warm smile, but his complexion was whiter than the pillowcase and he looked exhausted.

“What is it, darling?” Victoria said after they had bent down to kiss him. Josh and Victoria were holding hands, but it did not seem to him as contrived as yesterday.

“I'll be fine, Mom,” Michael said.

“The doctor tells me you're not eating,” Victoria said.

“And the nurse says you've just been sleeping. Tell us what's wrong, Michael?” Josh asked.

“Nothing.”

“We want to get you out of here, take you with us.”

Michael turned away from them. Josh noted that his eyes were filled with tears.

“What is it, son?” Josh pleaded.

“Tell us,” Victoria begged.

Michael mumbled some words that they could not hear.

“What did you say, darling?” Victoria asked. Josh put his ear close to the boy's mouth.

“You're fooling,” he heard the boy say. Josh turned to Victoria.

“He says we're fooling.”

Without waiting for her to comment, he turned back to Michael.

“No we're not,” Josh said, clearing his throat.

“You are,” Michael said, struggling to speak. “I know you are.”

“I don't know what to say,” he said, again turning to Victoria.

There was a long silence as Victoria and Josh looked at each other. He could see Victoria's lips trembling. Earlier, at breakfast, she had maintained an expression that denied what had happened the night before. It baffled him, but he did not push it, concentrating his attention on Emily, who had offered enthusiastic reviews about her ice cream sundae experience with Evie. Victoria had seemed distant and disinterested. She was not disinterested now. Frown lines etched her forehead. He continued to watch her face, waiting for her to react.

“It's the truth,” she whispered. Then she turned to Michael. “You're right, darling. We were fooling.” She sat at the edge of the bed and caressed her son's face.

Josh was confused by her assertion. Tears spilled over the boy's eyes. He looked utterly devastated.

“We were fooling, Michael,” Victoria repeated. “Please forgive us for that.” She paused. Her nostrils dilated. “Would you believe me if I said we were not fooling now?” She reached toward Josh and took his hand. She brought it up to her lips and kissed it. Michael's gaze shifted from his mother's face to his father's. He seemed wary. “Would you, Michael?”

Wearily, he shook his head in the negative.

“It's true, my darling boy….” Victoria was too overcome to continue.

“It's true, son,” Josh said. “Please believe us.”

Victoria, unable to speak, nodded her head.

“No,” Michael sighed. “It's not.”

“What can we do to convince you?” Josh asked.

Michael said nothing. His shoulders shook with sobs. They called the nurse.

“What's wrong?” the nurse asked.

“We're not sure.”

“Maybe you should go outside for awhile. He seems very agitated. He might need a sedative.”

They moved to the waiting room and sat side by side on the couch. Victoria's head rested on his shoulders.

“I hope you meant that,” Josh said.

“They've manipulated us, Josh.”

“Yes they have,” he agreed.

She pursed her lips and nodded.

“They've got a point. It's not just about us.” She was silent for a while. “I know what my parents did to me.”

“And me. What our parents did to me and Evie.”

“Do you think he believes us?”

“If it's the truth, he will.”

He lifted her face to his and kissed her on the lips. A man had entered the room and seeing them, quickly left.

“We must tell Emily,” Josh said.

“Evie is bringing her here after ballet lessons,” Victoria said.

“Does she know?” Josh asked. “About us? Last night?”

“Not yet. But she was awake when I came back to the room this morning.”

***

When they went back into Michael's room, he was sleeping.

“I gave him a sedative and called the doctor,” the gray-haired nurse said.

“What's bothering that boy?” the doctor asked when he arrived. Michael was asleep.

“I'm afraid we are, Doctor,” Victoria said. She explained the situation.

“All I can do is deal with physical things,” the doctor said. “Which is not to say that I can discount the effect of emotions. It's just not my area. Perhaps a child psychologist might help.”

They sat by the bed through most of the day. In the afternoon, the doctor came and examined him. The sedative had begun to wear off. Michael was awake.

Evie brought Emily back from her ballet lessons and she bounded into Michael's room full of high spirits and enthusiasm.

“We've got a surprise, Mikey,” she giggled.

“What sort of a surprise?” Josh asked.

“I'm not telling.”

She lifted herself to the edge of Michael's bed. It struck Josh as strange that she had not noticed his weakened condition.

“Wouldn't you like to know, Mikey?”

He nodded.

“You'll see.”

“When?” Victoria asked. She looked at Josh and shrugged.

“Soon,” Emily giggled. Then she said: “Aunt Evie took me past the house today. What a mess.”

“She did?” Josh asked, surprised.

“Did you go inside?” Victoria said.

Emily nodded.

“My room and your room are fine, Mikey.” She glanced at her parents. “I saw Mommy and Daddy's room. It still stinks from smoke.”

There it was, Josh thought, Mommy and Daddy's room. Message received. He looked toward Michael. His eyes were locked into Emily's.

“The insurance adjusters tell me we can all be back in it in a couple of months,” Victoria said. “I've called a real estate man to rent us a house for that time. Then we can all get back to normal.”

Josh hadn't realized the extent of her activity. She hadn't consulted him, but then she never had. Nevertheless, he was pleased by her action.

“Isn't that great?” Josh said, directing his question to Michael.

“We'll be altogether again, Mikey,” Emily said. “You and me and Mommy and Daddy.”

Michael and Emily exchanged glances. They were in it together, fighting for the survival of their world. He had been dead right. It had been their conspiracy all along. Children know. When that universe falls apart, most hover helplessly like boats with unfurled sails drifting in the tide. Some, like their children, stand and fight. Now it was confirmed. However convoluted, their strategy had worked. Victoria looked at him and nodded, as if she, too, had undergone the same epiphany.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Emily jumped off the bed and opened it a crack.

“You can come in now,” Emily cried.

Evie came in, leading two men in tuxedos. Each pushed a cart on which were a number of silver covers. They set up a table for four and an elaborate tray on Michael's bed. He sat up abruptly, stronger now, his color returned, his eyes alert.

“What's happening here?” the gray-haired nurse said, smiling broadly and winking at Evie as if she were part of it.

“Tell us, Aunt Evie,” Michael said. Even his voice was stronger.

“Now you be careful, young man,” the gray-haired nurse said.

“I'm hungry,” Michael cried.

“Me, too,” Emily said.

“Tell us,” Michael demanded.

The two waiters smiled and removed the silver covers.

“Now Emily, repeat after me,” Evie said. “That's bœuf bourguignon.”

“Bœuf bourguignon,” Emily repeated, stumbling over the accent. Michael laughed.

“And that's lots of healthy vegetables,
choux de Bruxelles
,
haricots verts à la provençale
,
chou-fleur blanchi
.”

She pointed out each dish with chubby fingers.

Emily tried repeating Evie's words, collapsing in hysterical laughter. Michael mimicked the words, making funny faces.

“And after all that we're having
mousseline au chocolat
,” Evie said.

Josh looked at Victoria, who was smiling broadly, obviously reveling in the sight of her happy son.

“Let me,” Victoria cried, repeating the words in a terrible accent, “
mousseline au chocolat
.”

Josh's eyes filled with tears.

“Food is love,” Evie said.

“Not quite,” Josh said, embracing his wife's shoulder. “But it will do for now.”

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