Amazed that he managed to get her into bed and covered without waking her, Matt checked on Patience and then turned to leave. “Night, Matt.”
He whirled around to see Patience’s sweet face smiling up at him. “What are you doing awake?” he hissed.
“I had to go to the bathroom. I was branding sheep when you brought Lane in. She’s out.”
“Branding sheep?” This was a new one.
“Sure. We’re ranchers. That’s how we count sheep, you know. Brand ‘em.”
Matt nodded as if Patience’s words made any sense to him. “She’s still asleep,” he said, jerking his thumb at Lane.
“You can’t wake her up. She says that she power sleeps. Doesn’t get very many hours, but she uses each one to the max.”
Matt caught sight of the time. Another cab ride. Great. “I have to get some sleep myself, so I’m going to go home now.”
“You can sleep on the bed in the sofa if you want.”
It tempted him—oh, how it tempted him. He was exhausted, the cab fare was going to be obscene, and he’d actually sleep better knowing that Patience couldn’t slip out of the room without someone knowing it. “I can’t. My mom would be scared if she woke up and I wasn’t there.”
“You could call her.”
“Sorry, honey, she’s asleep. I just need to go home, but thanks for the offer. I’ll see you first thing tomorrow though, okay?”
Patience nodded and yawned. “Okay. I’m tired now. I don’t think I have to brand any more sheep.”
“You stay in the room, though.”
“‘kay Matt. G’night.”
Twelve
Loudspeakers announced the arrival and departures of planes in bored monotones. Kiosks sent the scent of fresh coffee to every corner of the airport. Lane, finally able to tear Patience away from the absolutely riveting sight of automatically flushing toilets and running water in sinks, now chased her from window to window as the child pointed out each plane’s arrival.
“That’s Mom’s plane then!”
Nerves worn raw, Lane grit her teeth and said as calmly as possible, “No, that says British Airways. Mom is flying American.”
“Well, where is it then? Is it that one? No, that says United.” Patience’s disappointed voice washed away some of Lane’s annoyance.
Lane glanced at her watch once more. “I don’t know if we’ll see it come in. I think it’s probably already here and just has to drive up to the terminal. We’re a little late so why don’t we walk to where they disembark and see if she’s waiting there.”
“But you said we’d see the plane fly in—” On and on, Patience picked at her nerves like an over wound violin.
Matt hurried in from parking the car and found them. “Why are you over here? The gate’s this way—”
“Patience had other ideas like the bathroom, the gift shop, the viewing room… “
The sight of Martha wheeling a suitcase down the relieved him. He directed Patience to her mother. “Look Patience, over there!”
The next hour was a blur. Patience insisted on showing her mother the “magic” sinks and toilets, the coffee kiosks, the gift shop, and the arriving airplanes. She was quite confused as an American airlines jet taxied down the runway and disappeared around the corner.
Matt raced to bring the car around to the loading area and get them out of the busy airport. Martha watched the scenery fly by as they whizzed around the Rockland loop. Once on the surface streets, they all listened to Patience’s explanations of what everything was and where they’d been. Half of Patience’s information was incorrect, but to her young mind, she’d seen all of Rockland and therefore everything was filtered through that misunderstanding.
“I think that’s the street you go down to see the bookstore.”
Matt didn’t even attempt to correct her. There was no point to it, and seeing the child so happy again was worth the risk that Martha Argosy would suddenly decide to rush down that street in the mad dash for a late night novel. Lane sat silently beside him nursing a headache and feeling the relief of removed responsibility— simultaneously.
After Martha changed into a fresh skirt and blouse, they took her on walking tour of the city. Patience chattered happily about the different places they’d visited, what they’d eaten, whom they’d met—all with a running commentary of her personal opinions of everything. “Look! That’s where we went to hear the lady read her book. She was a terrible reader. I think they should have had Matt read. He knows how to read!”
“Well sweetheart, so do you. You make it sound—”
Patience interrupted her mother to explain. “No, not like that. I mean, he makes things sound wonderful when he reads them, and she sounded like someone was sticking her with pins after every few words.”
She skipped happily ahead of them peering into the store window to see if the author was still there—presumably just waiting to meet Patience’s mother! Martha gave Lane an exasperated look. “You’ve let her get away with murder!”
“Well…”
Matt rested his hands on Lane’s shoulders and kneaded the knots around her neck. “I think that eagerness to share it with you combined with homesickness and a little bit of exhaustion is making things a little difficult for her today. She’s really been a delight.”
Martha looked uncertain, but thanked him for taking care of her girls. Her quiet appreciation extended to the way he led them safely through the subway and watched cautiously over Patience as she handed out a handful of what looked like business cards. They rode the subway to three stops from Matt’s home and waved at his parents who waited for them near the escalators.
Martha and Carol both noted the hesitation in Matt’s voice as he introduced his parents to Lane’s mother. Martha interpreted it as evidence that Matt’s parents disapproved of Lane, and Carol was mortified to think her son was ashamed of them. It was a regrettable beginning to a truly miserable dining experience.
Matt and Lane had decided to take everyone to an international buffet. Food from all over the world was served on saucer-sized plates from different stations that surrounded the room. The dining floor rotated making it easy for diners to try different dishes after each mini course. It was a perfect way to give everyone something they liked and give the Argosy’s an unusual dining experience.
The only problem was the tension at the table. Scrupulous courtesy created such an awkward atmosphere that even sunny chatty Patience sat in silence and toyed with her food. Matt watched helpless as Lane grew more and more upset, until she finally excused herself and rushed from the table.
Carol’s genuinely concerned expression seemed to irritate Martha even further. “Well, Lane certainly seems out of sorts.”
Jake seemed to ignore the shocked look on his wife’s face and asked Patience if she’d like to find some fried ice cream. Martha gave an almost imperceptible shake of her head, sending Patience’s rising spirits plummeting once more. Carol allowed her fork to clatter against her plate, causing Martha to jump.
“Is there a problem with fried ice cream? I’m afraid we’ve taught both girls to appreciate it.”
“She hasn’t finished her supper. In
our
family, children eat nutritious food before they indulge in empty calories.”
Unable to believe the scene before him, Matt waited impatiently for Lane to return until he finally excused himself to go find her. “Matt is very careful of Lane,” remarked Carol casually.
“I see.” The tone of Martha’s voice said clearly that she heartily disagreed.
“He takes very good care of me too. He wouldn’t let me give cards to some of the homeless people until I promised to only talk to the ones he said were safe,
and
he watched me the whole time I sat with the crying lady at church.”
“The crying lady?” Martha tried to keep her voice calm.
“Yes. She was a pro—pro—well it’s something bad and she had to stop being it, but she doesn’t know how else to make money so she was crying. I gave her Lane’s Kleenex because she didn’t have any. I hope they give her new clothes. They probably will. They’re giving her a new place to live and stuff. Her clothes were too small. This city has a lot of very poor people who cannot afford clothes that fit.”
Carol chuckled at Patience’s description, but Martha was appalled. She caught Carol’s eye and held it for several seconds before she asked, “Am I to understand that your son took my daughter to a—a brothel?”
“It was just church, Mommy. It wasn’t like the
Brethren
at all.” Patience’s attempt to help didn’t.
“I see.”
The strained silence continued unabated. Both Martha and Carol watched the corner of the room where Matt and Lane had disappeared. Patience, now realizing that her new favorite dessert was on the line, emptied her little plate and hurried to the Indian cuisine to find her favorite dish from the previous day.
“What is that, Patience?” Martha had decided to simply ignore the tension and enjoy the dining experience with her daughter.
“I don’t remember how to say it. I’m not very good with new words. I still can’t remember what my naughty girl dress is really called.”
Carol snickered and Martha swallowed a large mouthful of half-chewed chicken. After a quick chase with her drink, Martha took a deep breath and said, “Patience, exactly what is a ‘naughty girl dress’ and why would your normally very tasteful sister buy such a trashy thing?”
“Nautical.” Jake had heard about all of the conversation he could stand, and this went too far.
“Nautical? What does that have to do with anything?”
Catching her husband’s eye, Carol sat up and put a protective arm around Patience. “It’s okay, honey, we understand.” To Martha, she said, her eyes flashing, “Excuse me, but sometimes children cannot remember unfamiliar words. Lane bought Patience a very pretty little sailor dress. A
nautical
dress. Patience misunderstood what Lane said and called it her ‘naughty girl dress’ and, I might add, was very confused as to why such a nice dress had such an awful name. Lane corrected her, but as you can see, the wrong term stuck. It happens, you know.”
“Well when my daughter is subjected to the company of prostitutes, it isn’t a great leap to wonder—”
Carol stood wiping her mouth on her napkin and pushing in her chair. “Martha, would you mind if I spoke to you privately for a moment?”
“I think that would be an excellent idea. Mr. Rushby, can I trus— ask you to watch Patience for me for a few minutes?”
“Sure. We’ll just sit here and finish our fried rice.”
Martha almost bumped into Carol as she rounded the corner to the exit.” Excuse me. You’re in a very—Oh!”
“They’re so cute together. I’ve never seen Matt like that with anyone before.”
Martha looked down at the short dumpy woman as she watched her son comfort Lane. “I’ve never seen Lane upset like that. She’s a strong girl, my Lane. She’d have to be to weather the stuff we’ve been through.”
“My Matt’s a good man. He hasn’t been the same since he came back from your place. I knew then that I’d lost him, but I never thought he’d be ashamed of us.” Full of hurt and disappointment, Carol’s voice broke.
“Oh, Carol, why would you think that?”
“He— he didn’t want to introduce us. You saw him hesitate. I saw it in your eyes.”
Martha nudged Carol onto a nearby bench and took her hands. “Now listen. I think we’ve both been silly tonight. I came here excited to meet Matt’s parents and saw that same hesitation and you know what I thought?”
Carol shook her head looking slightly less miserable. “You
wanted
to meet us?”
“Of course! You’re
Matt’s
parents. I was sure I’d love you. But, then I saw that and thought it meant you didn’t approve of Lane, and I got on my own offended high horse—”
“Oh!” Both women stared at each other in amused dismay. Carol fidgeted with her hair and looked miserably at Martha. “Now what do we do?”
“Well first I think we start over. I’m Martha Argosy and I’m
very
pleased to meet you, Carol.” Carol’s grin reminded Martha of Matt’s. “Now I know where Matt gets his charming smile. I think I’d better run tell the kids we’re leaving. I don’t think I could sit back down at that table without being completely mortified at my behavior. Would you go get Patience and see if your husband would mind leaving? I’ll get the bill, and we can get out of here and try this again.”
With an impulsive hug that was out of character, Carol hurried to usher her husband and Patience from the restaurant. Martha watched her go for a moment before she slipped into the alcove where Matt held Lane murmuring comforting words into her ear and tapped his shoulder. “Your mother and I have decided to quit acting like spoiled brats and go have some fun. If you guys want to join us you’d better hurry up.”
Lane and Matt stared at the retreating figures of their respective parents. “Did I just see slash hear what I think I did?”
Matt nodded. “Weird.”
“Think we should follow or will we jinx it?”
Matt nuzzled her hair with his cheek. “Hmmmm… well, I don’t know, it might be dangerous—”
Lane bopped his arm and pulled away, but not before Matt drew her back and looked deeply into her eyes. “It’s going to be just fine you know. We’re all going to be fine.”
~*~*~*~
Nothing felt fine as Patience and Martha stood in line to go through airport security. Patience sniffled and begged Matt and Lane to go with them. Martha divided her time between giving Lane safety instructions, comforting her daughter, and remembering things for Matt to tell his mother for her.
Lane waved as they rounded the corner into the secure waiting area and sagged in relief. “I had no idea how exhausting it was to be sole responsibility for that child. Whatever made me decide to bring her?”
As he steered them through the crowds, Matt draped his arm around her shoulders. “I’m glad you did! I miss that little girl.”
“You can have her!”
“You’d be pounding on our door inside a week if she wasn’t home with you and you know it.
“Yeah… I know it. The rascal.”
Once in Lane’s car again, Matt rocked the wheel absently as he waited for the light to change. “So, where to first?”