Sunday was typically the day Camryn’s mother called. Elizabeth had been flying around the globe and blew in and out of the lives of her children and grandchildren erratically since Camryn’s father died five years ago. She became close to a group of women who had also lost their husbands. They called themselves the “Merry Widows,” a not so original and a somewhat distasteful name for the band of women in their sixties with too much time and money. Elizabeth had been accustomed to calling her family on the weekends she was between trips and tee-times. She called twice yesterday. When Camryn didn’t call back, she called early Monday morning.
David answered the phone.
“David, what are you doing there? What happened? What’s the matter?” The nearly inaudible sigh which slipped between David’s lips told the story of both the love and disdain he felt for Elizabeth. You always knew where you stood with her. She had blamed David for the divorce—she hadn’t kept that to herself. Yet, Elizabeth’s direct way of getting to the point was a refreshing contrast to the vagueness of his own mother’s circuitous route to the truth. Neither he nor his brothers ever got good at reading her thoughts or anticipating her needs.
“Elizabeth,” David shot back, “Camryn and Zoe were in a car accident Saturday.”
“Oh, God. I knew something was wrong. I just knew it. When Camryn didn’t return my calls yesterday, I just knew something had happened,” she shouted into the phone.
David interrupted."Zoe’s fine. Camryn got a bit banged up. They kept her in the hospital overnight on Saturday,”
“Hospital?” Elizabeth always liked David too, but he never got to the point unless she prodded and probed. “Where’s she now?”
“Upstairs sleeping. I haven’t gotten her up yet. She and Zoe have doctor appointments today.”
“A doctor’s appointment? You said Zoe was all right.”
“She is. It’s just a precaution. I’m keeping both kids home from camp today. And actually, we were just heading out to get the rental car for Camryn.”
“Rental Car?!”
“Camryn’s car was badly damaged. It was totaled.”
"Let me talk to Zoe,” Elizabeth barked.
“Hang on,” the muscles along David’s jaw line began their familiar dance.
The same line of questioning continued with Zoe. “Sweetheart, do you want me to come out there and be with you and your sister and your mother for a few of days?”
“I don’t know. You should probably wait and talk to Mom.”
“I love you, darling. I’ll keep you all in my prayers. Where’s Nikki?” Elizabeth heard Zoe yelling for Nikki to come to the phone.
“Nikki, honey, how are you? How’s your mother?”
“She’s sleeping. She seems all right I guess.” Elizabeth fired off the same set questions she had to David and Zoe, but Nikki was in the middle of searching for her sneakers, and she was distracted and handed the phone back to her dad. David was annoyed with her for not being ready yet. They were running late. David got back on the phone to assure Elizabeth that he’d have Camryn call her when they got back from the doctor.
The day was long. When they walked in the door, Zoe and Nikki offered to make dinner. Camryn was a virtual Julia Child in the kitchen and she was proud of her children’s interest and skill in the kitchen at their ages—fourteen and ten.
Camryn grabbed an ice pack and lay on the floor in the living room. It felt good to lie down flat on her back.
“Mom, do you want a salad with the spaghetti? We’re sautéing vegetables and serving them over spaghetti or would you like linguini?”
“I’m going to heat up the Brie and serve it with the rest of the baguette from the other day with that fig spread you like so much,” offered Nikki.
“Ok, girls, whatever you both want to do. It all sounds great. I’m starved.”
“Mommy, you’re talking funny.” Zoe noticed the halting stammer in Camryn’s speech.
“That's Ok Mom, I love you,” said Zoe as she walked over to her where her mother lay.
Zoe’s 'I love you' phrase had been a part of their family history since Zoe was in the second grade. They moved to Colorado from Philadelphia and it was a rough adjustment for Zoe. 'I love you' had become her secret way of saying she was afraid.
“Sweet pea, I’m all right.” Camryn sat up to hug Zoe.
“But, Mommy, you don’t seem all right.” She didn’t leave her mother’s side for the rest of the night.
Camryn didn't phone her mother back.
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