added. "He wants us to have Linden committed
immediately. I told him what happened, and he thinks
we're playing with fire.'
"I know." she said. "It's been on my mind ever
since I saw what he has done."
"Haw was he after I left tonight?"
"The same. He ate a little better, but he was just
as distant. What I found him doing on and off was
going into my room and looking at the painting he had
done of you."
"Oh, no, he wasn't going to tear it up, too, was
he?"
"I don't think so. He seemed more intrigued by this particular work than anything else he has done. It was as if he thought there was some answer sleeping in it, something he could nudge awake that would
solve his problems.'
"Maybe there is." I said. "Did you ask him
about it?"
"I kept asking him if he was all right. Most of
the time he didn't answer, but sometimes he nodded,
and once he said. 'Soon.' That frightened me a bit.
You know, what did he mean by 'soon'?"
"I've decided to spend as much time with him
as I can," I told her. "But let's agree about one thing.
Mother. If he doesn't show any sign of improvement
in the next few days or weeks, we'll get him into
treatment."
She nodded and sighed deeply.
"But let's be optimistic," I insisted with a smile.
"When he sees us, sees you changing, looking bright
and hopeful, it will have a significant effect on him.
You'll see."