“It can’t be soon enough.”
“I imagine. You have an appointment to see the doctor who did the surgery and the plastic surgeon later in the week. If he takes them off, you can have your teeth checked, but it looks as if there isn’t work to be done.”
“Thank God for small favors.”
“You’ll be just like new,” Eugenia predicted.
Marla hardly felt new. More like rebuilt, similar to a wrecked car that had nearly been totaled, but somehow salvaged. She held her tongue and tried to shake off any lingering feelings that she was being manipulated. By whom? And why? She had no answers and to take her mind off the wearing questions, she played with her son.
The baby started to cry and Fiona was up like a shot, removed him from Marla’s arms, and announced she’d put him down for a nap. She was out of the room before Marla could protest.
The phone jangled and within seconds Carmen, carrying a portable receiver, bustled into the room. “It’s for you,” she said to Marla. “Mrs. Lindquist.”
“You don’t have to take the call—” Eugenia said, but Marla snatched the receiver from Carmen’s outstretched hand.
“Hello?” she said around the stupid wires holding her teeth together.
“Marla! You are home!” an enthusiastic female voice nearly yelled over the background noise of voices. “You must’ve been going out of your mind in the hospital. How are you?”
“Still kicking.”
“What?”
“I said, I’m all right,” she qualified.
“Sorry, I’m at the club and it’s kind of noisy here and your voice sounds funny. The wires, right? Anyway, I just thought I’d take a chance at catching you at home. When can I come see you?”
“Anytime,” Marla said and saw the corners of Eugenia’s mouth turn down in disapproval as she reached for her knitting needles and a skein of coral yarn.
“You can have visitors?”
“Of course.” Why wouldn’t she be able to see her friends? Her mother-in-law’s lips moved as she counted stitches, then the needles started softly clicking.
“Well, I thought so, but Alex was very firm that no one was to visit the hospital. I tried, but ran into a security guard of a nurse who looked like she should have been a contestant in the World Wrestling Association or whatever it’s called now. Anyway, she wouldn’t let me pass.”
“Is that so?” Marla slid her glance to the side where Eugenia was knitting as if for her very life. “Probably because of the coma.”
“I imagine.”
“But I’d love to see you now,” Marla said, though she couldn’t remember Joanna’s face for the life of her. From the corner of her eye Marla noticed Eugenia’s jaw clench. The older woman slowly shook her head in objection. Marla ignored her mother-in-law. “How about this evening? Drinks?”
Eugenia’s head snapped up, lines of worry stretching around her eyes.
“Sure. Yeah. I won’t be able to stay long, but I could drop by when I’m finished with my next set. Say in about . . . An hour and a half?”
“Perfect. See you then.” She said good-bye and hung up before her mother-in-law could voice the objections that were so evident in her eyes. Eugenia muttered something under her breath, then began ripping out her last row of her knitting, as if Marla’s wayward conversation had caused her to miss a stitch.
“This isn’t a good idea,” Eugenia finally said, taking up her needles again.
“Why not?”
“You’re in no condition to entertain. And you can’t drink anything with the medication you’re on . . .” Eugenia was knitting furiously, metal needles clicking to beat the band.
“Not even one glass of wine?”
“Absolutely not.”
“I need to see my friends . . . and by the way, do you have any idea where my purse is? The one that I had when I was in the accident?”