The Wonderful by Saskia Sarginson

The Wonderful by Saskia Sarginson

Author:Saskia Sarginson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Flatiron Books


TWENTY

HANK SCOOPS MOM OFF THE FLOOR, carrying her as easily as if she were a doll. Hedy didn’t think he was so strong. Hank puts Mom on the bed gently and slips off her shoes, talking all the time in a soothing voice. “You’ll be all right, Ruby. You lie quiet now. A good sleep and you’ll feel better.”

Tears slide across her cheeks. Her breasts shudder under her dress, straining against thin fabric. Without shoes, her feet are exposed in nude stockings, the shape of them, toes bent under nylon. Hedy glances away. It’s a relief when Dr. Rowland arrives with his black bag and Hank and Hedy leave the bedroom.

They stand in the kitchen, and Hank pours himself a glass of water, drinks it fast. “I’m sorry you had to see your dad like that,” he says.

“Where is he?”

“At the military jail.”

“Why?”

Hank rinses the glass and puts it upside down on the draining board. “I’m afraid he broke his promise to the US government and Air Force.”

“Dad would never do that.”

“He’s been under strain recently. He’s been drinking.”

“Under strain? Like … Mom, you mean?”

Hank nods. He looks serious and sad.

Mom’s always had her turns, needed her afternoon lie-downs, needed to take her special pills, but not Dad, not her funny, baseball-loving father who liked to look at the facts, who was brave and strong, and sometimes silly, but never crazy.

Dr. Rowland comes out of Mom’s bedroom. He treads over the carpet, shoes rolling under his weight, his steps marking a trail through the plush. “I’ve given Ruby something to help her sleep. A sedative.”

“Will you be okay, Hedy?” Hank asks. “I can get one of the other wives to come over to cook supper and watch you. Betty’s a friend of your mom’s, isn’t she?”

“We don’t need watching,” Hedy says. “I can look after Chris. And Mom.” She bites her thumbnail. “What about Dad? When will he come home?”

Hank takes a moment to answer. He clears his throat and glances at Dr. Rowland. “The charges are serious, Hedy. I won’t lie to you. He was working on something important, something our enemies have been trying to find out about. Any breach in security has to be dealt with thoroughly.” He puts his hand on her shoulder. “Try not to worry. Be a good girl and look after your mom.”



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