Summer Island

“Thats not even the worst of it. ” Amazingly, she laughed. “I was actually posing with this guy. And fortunately for me, the photos were dated-proving that I was married to Rand at the time they were taken. The press is crucifying me. Apparently people are crawling out of the woodwork to call me a hypocrite. ”

“Thats why youre at the summer house? Youre hiding out?”

“My career is over. I couldnt get a job counseling toddlers about potty training. ”

“Come on, this is America. Celebrities screw up all the time. It just makes us love them more. Jack Nicholson beats up a car with a baseball bat. . . and we give him another Oscar. Hugh Grant shows us not only moral flexibility but outright stupidity, and after a quick apology on Leno, hes in a movie with Julia Roberts. So, you flashed your ass. Big deal. Its not like the photographs showed you giving a blow job to a drug dealer. Hold your head up, cry when you admit your mistake, and beg for a second chance. Your fans will love you more for being one of them. Human. ”

“Thats why I love you, Eric. The glass is always half full. Honest to God, if you were my son Id be so proud. ” She heard a sound-a clearing of his throat and she knew. She could have slapped herself for her insensitivity. "You called your mother. ”

“Shes in Europe. The shopping is great. ” He sighed, made a sound that was nearly a groan. “She hasnt called me. But its only been a couple of days. ”

A couple of days since she found out her son had cancer; and she hadnt found time to call. The woman should be shot. “How about if I come to see you tomorrow? Between the wheelchair and the hospital bed, well look like a scene from Cuckoos Nest. ”

“Thatd be great. And you wont believe whos here. ”

Nora laughed. “Believe me, you wont believe who is here, either. ”

“Dean-”

“Ruby-”

They spoke at the same time. Nora was the first to recover. “Dean is on the island?”

“He came up to see me. ”

"I knew hed come if you called. How is it between you two?’

“Awkward. A little unsure. Were like best friends from high school who meet at the twenty-year reunion and dont quite know what to say. But well find our way back. And Ruby?”

“Angry. Truthfully, she hates me. ”

“But shes there. That means something. Remember; theres a thin line between love and hate. ”

“Thank you, Yoda. ” She paused. “I had to tell her about your cancer. ”

“Thats okay. Hell, I dont care who knows anymore. ” She could hear the smile in Erics voice. “Hey, do you know what happened between Dean andRuby? He wont talk about it. ”

“She wont, either. ”

“I was at Princeton when they broke up, but it must have been bad. Dean went all the way to boarding school t

o get away from her. But its interesting that neither of them ever married. ”

“Are you thinking what Im thinking?”

“How do we get them together?”

Nora grinned. It felt great to talk about something besides Erics illness or her own scandal. And this made her feel like a mother for the first time in years. "Carefully, my boy. Very carefully.

By the time Nora hung up, her ankle was throbbing; the pain was only marginally worse than the itching that came with it. She wheeled into the bathroom, washed her face and brushed her teeth, then left the room.

“Ruby?” she called out. There was no answer.

She was halfway into the kitchen when she saw the package on the table.

Slowly, she wheeled closer.

It had been opened.