Audrey Niffenegger by Her Fearful Symmetry

Author:Her Fearful Symmetry
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2011-12-27T02:56:12+00:00

“Did they give you antibiotics? Are you taking that mucus-reducing stuff Dr. Brooks gave you?” Edie and Julia embarked on a leisurely and detailed discussion of everything they could and should do for Valentina’s bronchitis. Eventually Valentina came back to the phone.

“We met Robert Fanshaw,” she said, mostly in order to change the subject.

“Finally,” said Jack. “Where’s he been all this time?”

“He’s helping us get signed up for the NHS,” Julia said.

“Oh,” said Edie. “Huh. What’s he like?”

“Mopey,” said Julia. “Kind of freaky and weird. If he was our age he’d probably be a Goth, you know, all pierced and tattooed.”

“No,” said Valentina. “He’s nice. He’s kind of shy, and you can tell he misses Elspeth. He has little glasses like John Lennon.” She wanted to say more, but had to put the phone down and cough.

“Valentina has a crush on him,” Julia informed them. Valentina drew her finger across her throat. Don’t, Julia.

“Surely he’s a bit old for her. He must be our age?” Jack said.

“I think he’s younger. Mid-thirties, maybe?”

Valentina came back to the phone. “I don’t have a crush on him. But he’s nice.” Edie thought, Uh-oh, but she knew better than to say anything. The conversation turned to the weather, movies, politics. After they all hung up Valentina said crossly, “Now they’re going to obsess. Why did you say that?”

“It will distract them from you being sick,” Julia replied.

“It’s not true, though.”

Julia just laughed.

Edie and Jack hung up simultaneously and met in the hallway. “Don’t look so worried,” Jack said. “She says it’s nothing.”

Edie snorted. “That’s exactly when you should get very worried.”

He put his arm around her. “She did sound awful.”

“Maybe we should go there. We wouldn’t actually go to the flat, but just be in London. We could rent a flat nearby ” Edie nestled into him. She loved how big Jack was, how small she felt next to him. It was very comforting.

He stroked her head. “How would you have felt if your mom followed you across the ocean and moved in across the street from us?”

“That was different.”

“They’re managing. Let them be.”

Edie shook her head, but smiled at him. That’s it, just smile and be my Edie, that’s enough for me. He kissed the top of her head. “It’ll be all right.”

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.