Broken Flower (Early Spring 1)

Nancy served them their omelets and when they began to eat. I wiped my mouth, excused myself, and went upstairs to brash my teeth. I heard Mrs. Clancy coming out of her room, carrying her two suitcases. She saw me in the hallway.

"Try to ignore them. Jordan," she said. "That's the best advice I can offer." She descended the stairs and walked out of the mansion.

Not long afterward. I heard Daddy and Kimberly leaving to go to her apartment. He had Felix drive them in the van. He would also help them with anything. Daddy was giving the orders now, not Grandmother Emma, I thought.

Just before lunch they returned with all of Kimberly's clothing, toiletries, shots, and other personal things. I watched Felix carry it all to Daddy's bedroom. Nancy was told to help hang things up in the closets and then Daddy and Kimberly decided they would take lunch on the patio facing the pool. Kimberly got into a very abbreviated two-piece bathing suit and Daddy surprised me by putting on his bathing suit as well. He told me to put on mine and go swimming with them.

It was a very warm, sunny day. I was pulled in two different directions. I wanted to be angry about everything, but I did want to go swimming, too, and I always wanted to call Missy and some of the other girls to invite them to the house. For now, I saw no reason to pout in my bedroom so I did put on my bathing suit and joined them at the pool.

Nancy brought out some sandwiches. Daddy sent her back for champagne. He had music piped out and it did seem to be the beginning of endless parties.

"You can call some of your friends tomorrow," Daddy said.

I ate a sandwich, listened to them giggle and talk, and watched Kimberly parade around like a swimsuit model for Daddy. She was on his lap or constantly throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him. It all made me feel very nauseated.

"When are we going to visit Grandmother Emma?" I asked him, and they both suddenly stopped laughing. They had drunk almost two bottles of champagne.

"Your grandmother would not like to have anyone see her in the condition she is in," Daddy said. "Believe me, I know. I'll be speaking with her doctor about it and we'll see when to visit and when to arrange for her transfer to a care facility. Don't dwell on sad things, Jordan. This is the best time of your life. I wasn't permitted to enjoy it like you will, believe me. Now I have to make up for it," he added, and reached for Kimberly.

She put her arm around his neck and they both looked at me. "I'm tired," I said. "I got too much sun."

Daddy shook his head. "There's a lot of Emma March in that girl. We have our work cut out for us, Kimberly,"

"We'll change her. Don't worry," she said.

They returned to their champagne and I hurried back to the house. When I looked back at them. I saw Kimberly was helping Daddy onto a lounge and then lying next to him. They were kissing again.

Ian would absolutely vomit. I thought. I almost did.

When I entered the house. I discovered Nancy looking out the dining room window at them. She looked at me, shook her head, and then returned to her work. Later she stopped in my room to tell me Grandmother Emma's lawyer. Mr. Ganz, had called to tell her to tell me that Grandmother Emma wanted to see me at the hospital tomorrow in the morning.

"She does?"

"Yes."

"But I thought she was very, very sick."

"She is," Nancy said.

"Is Daddy going, too?"

"I don't believe so. My understanding is Felix will be taking only you. It's the way your grandmother wants it."

Even from a hospital and in a hospital bed, Grandmother Emma, stroke or no stroke, was still in charge. I thought. That made me feel good.

"Okay," I said.

"Your grandmother is an extraordinary woman," Nancy said, turning away. "Oh," she added, turning back. "You'll be having dinner alone again. I'm afraid. I was just informed that the prince and princess will be dining out." She smiled. "I made one of your favorites. Chinese chicken salad. It's too hot to eat heavy anyway. But I did make you a chocolate cream pit," she added.

"Thank you, Nancy."

"You're welcome," she said. She glanced at Grandmother Emma's closed bedroom door and lowered her head before walking away.

Later, when I saw Daddy just before he was leaving for dinner with Kimberly. I anticipated him saying something to me about my visiting

Grandmother Emma at the hospital the next morning, but he didn't mention it and I had the feeling he didn't know anything about it. I decided not to tell him.

He and Kimberly slept so late the next morning that I was finished with my breakfast, dressed, and ready to go with Felix before they appeared. Nancy told me they could get their own breakfast and went about her daily cleaning routine. I stepped outside just as Felix came around with the limousine.