Mary Clark - A Cry In The Night

“Don’t even talk about that, Erich.”

He put the papers back in his case. “What a terribly unromantic thing to have to do,” he said. “What do you want for our fiftieth anniversary, Jen?”

“Darby and Joan.”

“What?”

“They’re Royal Doulton figurines. An old man and an old woman sitting contentedly side by side. I’ve always loved them.”

The next morning when Erich came to the house he had a gift box under his arm. The two figurines were in it.

Even more than the ring, they made Jenny sure about the rest of her life.

I appreciate this, Jen. Three hundred bucks is a big help. You were always a good sport.”

“Well, you and I collected this stuff together. The money is rightfully half yours, Kev.”

“God, when I think of how we’d go around late at night to pick up the furniture people were leaving out with their garbage. Remember how we just beat someone to the love seat? You sat on it before the other guy could get to it.”

“I remember,” Jenny said. “He was so mad I thought he’d pull a knife on me. Look, Kevin, I wish you’d come earlier. Erich will be here in a few minutes and I don’t think he’ll be pleased to run into you.”

They were standing in the dismantled apartment. The furniture had been taken out-Jenny had sold everything for just under six hundred dollars. The walls, now bare of the cheerful prints, looked soiled and cracked. The basic shabbiness of the apartment was cruelly revealed without the furniture and carpet to hide its nakedness. The handsome new suitcases were the only items in the room.

Kevin was wearing an Ultrasuede jacket. No wonder he’s always broke, she thought. Dispassionately she studied him, noticing the puffy lines under his eyes. Another hangover, she guessed. With guilt she realized that she felt more nostalgia at leaving this tiny apartment than she did at the prospect of not seeing Kevin again.

“You look beautiful, Jen. That blue is a great color on you.”

She was wearing a two-piece blue silk dress. On one of his visits, Erich had insisted on outfitting her and the children at Saks. She’d protested but he’d overridden her objection. “Look at it this way. By the time the bill comes in you’ll be my wife.”

Now her Vuitton bags were filled with designer suits and blouses and sweaters and slacks and evening skirts, Raphael boots and Magli shoes. After her first uneasiness about having Erich paying for them before they were married, she’d had a marvelous time. And what joy it had been to shop for the girls. “You’re so good to us.” It became a constant refrain.

“I love you, Jenny. Every penny I spend is pleasure for me. I’ve never been happier.”

He’d helped her select the clothes. Erich had an excellent sense of style. “The artist’s eye,” she joked.

“Where are the girls?” Kevin asked. “I’d like to say goodbye to them.”

“Fran took them for a walk. We’ll pick them up after the ceremony. Fran and Mr. Hartley are having lunch with us. Then we’ll go right to the airport.”

“Jen, I think you’ve rushed into this too fast. You’ve only known Krueger a month.”

“That’s long enough when you’re sure, when you’re very sure. And we both are.”

“Well, I’m still not sure about the adoption. I don’t want to give up my kids.”

Jenny tried not to show irritation. “Kevin, we’ve been through this. You’ve signed the papers. You don’t bother with the girls. You don’t support them. In fact whenever you’re interviewed you deny having a family.”

“How are they going to feel when they’re grown and understand that I gave them up?”

“Grateful for giving them the chance to be with a father who wants them. You seem to forget I’m adopted. And I’ll always be grateful to whoever gave me up. Being raised by Nana was mighty special.”

“I agree Nana was mighty special. But I don’t like Erich Krueger. There’s something about him…”

“Kevin!”

“All right. I’ll go. I’ll miss you, Jen. I still love you. You know that.” He took her hands. “And I love my kids too.”

Act three, curtain, Jenny thought. Not a dry eye in the house. “Please, Kevin. I don’t want Erich to find you here.”

“Jen, there’s a chance I may be coming to Minnesota. I’ve got a good crack at getting in the repertory company at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. If I do, I’ll look you up.”

“Kevin, don’t look me up!”

Firmly she opened the apartment door. The buzzer rang. “That must be Erich,” Jenny said nervously. “Darn it. I didn’t want him to see you here. Come on, I’ll walk you out.”

Erich was waiting behind the locked French-glass foyer doors. He was holding a large gift-wrapped box. Dismayed, she watched his expression change from anticipation to displeasure as he saw her coming down the hall with Kevin.

She opened the outer door to admit him then said quickly, “Kevin stopped over for just a minute. Good-bye, Kevin.”

The two men stared at each other. Neither spoke. Then Kevin smiled and bent over Jenny. Kissing her on the mouth, he said, his tone intimate. “It was wonderful being with you. Thanks again, Jen. See you in Minnesota, darling.”

We are crossing over Green Bay, Wisconsin. Our altitude is thirty thousand feet. We’ll be landing at the Twin Cities Airport at five-fifty-eight P.M. The temperature in Minneapolis is eight degrees Fahrenheit. It’s a clear, beautiful afternoon. Hope you’re enjoying your flight, folks. Thanks again for flying Northwest.”

Erich’s hand covered Jenny’s. “Enjoying your flight?”

She smiled at him. “Very much.” They both looked down at his mother’s gold wedding band now on her finger.

Beth and Tina had fallen asleep. The flight attendant had removed the center arm and they were curled up together, auburn ringlets overlapping, their new green velvet jumpers and white turtleneck pullovers somewhat rumpled now.

Jenny turned to study the cushion of clouds that floated outside the plane window. Underneath her happiness she was still furious with Kevin. She’d known he was weak and irresponsible but she’d always thought of him as being casually good-natured. But he was a spoiler. He’d managed to cloud their wedding day.

In the apartment after he left, Erich had said, “Why did he thank you and what did he mean? Did you invite him to our home?”

She’d tried to explain but the explanation felt hollow in her own ears.

“You gave him three hundred dollars?” Erich asked incredulously. “How much does he owe you in support payments and loans?”

“But I don’t need that and the furniture was half his.”

“Or maybe you wanted to be sure he had fare to come visit you?”

“Erich, how can you believe that?” She’d forced back the tears that threatened to fill her eyes but not before Erich had seen them.

“Jenny, forgive me. I’m sorry. I’m jealous of you. I admit that. I hate the fact that man ever touched you. I don’t want him to ever put a finger on you again.”

“He won’t. I can promise you that. God, if anything I’m so grateful to him for signing the adoption papers. I kept my fingers crossed right to the last minute on that.”

“Money talks.”

“Erich, you didn’t pay him?”

“Not much. Two thousand dollars. A thousand per girl. A very cheap price to get rid of him.”

“He sold you his children.” Jenny had tried to keep the contempt from showing in her voice.

“I’d have paid fifty times more.”

“You should have told me.”

“I wouldn’t have told you now except I don’t want any leftover pity for him… Let’s forget him. This is our day. How about opening your wedding present?”