together
“butiaskedheroutagainanye,andirealizedthatsheoreigottoknooreilikedher,andthenafteraaybeihherididntcareaboutthatthingonherfacedidntcareaboutitbackthen,andididntcareaboutitlastyear,eitherbutshedidshealwaysdid”hepaused
“eshe,thatthinggreoreidontknoethesathingbutallkids,evenjohntheoneyoutthoughtsheoroundandsheettherestofthetiandilovedherforthat,andostoftheti,butshedeiteasyforandiadesurethateveryonearoundhereknehatithoughtthatiguessit”paulreinedtionlessasroberton
“shesaorthings,andithadthosebeforeandafterpicturesithinkshejustgotitinherheadthatsheuldgetridofitonceandforallandthate”roberttpaulseyes
“thereind,idtellherididntes,idfindherinthebathrooouchingherface,oridhearhercrying,andikneorethananythingshedlivedyboat,andoingidontthinkideverseenhersohappyaboutanythinginherlife,andjustseeingherthateknoetoseeherjustassoonassheeherlastewere”robertlookedatpaul,kingsurehehadhisattention“shesaid,alllife,iveedtoheprettyforyouandalliuldthinkhatshealwayshadbeen”paulbohoughhetriedtosherechinhisthroat
“butyoudidntknoeinforanoperation,ortheladyilyorethanthatsheeaedrethanthatbylivingthelifeshedid”roberttorrelsontappedthelastofhisashesintotheashtray,thenputoutthecigarette“youhelastpersonsheevertalkedto,thelastpersonshesahebestladyintheevenknotingthatsinkin“butnowyoudo”theuch,andantlaterhewasgone
afterhearingroberttorrelsonhadsaid,adrienouchedpaulsface,dabbingaears“youokay”
“idontknokindofnurightnow”
“thatsnotsurprisingittoabsorb”
“yes,”paulsaid,“itwas”
“areyougladyoucaandthathetoldyouthosethings”“yesandnoitportanttohihatiknogladforthatbutitkessad,tootheylovedeauch,andnowshesgone”“itdoesntseeair”
sheofferedaile“itisntthegreaterthelove,thegreaterthetragedyentsalogether”“evenforyouand”
“foreveryone,”shesaid“thebeste”
hepulledherontohislaphekissedherlips,thenputhisararoundher,holdingher,andforalongti,theystayedinthatpositionbutastheyakinglovelaterthatevening,adrienneseba,sheuldntstopthetearsastheyslippedsilentlydoheeksfifteen
adrienneoinghedseenhercryingduringthenightbuthadsaidnothing,knototearsasraggedandunabletosleepforhoursinstead,helayas,nuzzlingagainsther,notakeupfortheyeartheybetogethershedfoldedhis,theonesthathadbeeninthedryer,andpaulpulledout,hebroughthisthingsdonearthefrontdooradriennebledeggs,acupofffeeontheunterbesideheredinred“hi,”heventured
“hi,”shesaid,tuingaorequiightebreakfastbeforeyougo”“thankyou,”hesaid
“ibroughtathersfrooe,andifyoueffeeforthetrip,youcantakeithyou”“thankyou,butthatsokayillhefine”
shekeptstirringtheeggs“ifyouaupleofsandhrohosetogether,too”paulvedtoethinglaterandtobehonest,idoubtifillhehungryanyway”shedidntseeobelistening,andheputhishandonherbacrying“hey
“ikay,”shewhispered
“yousure”
shenoddedandsniffedassherevedthepanfrohebuerdabbingathereyes,shestillrefusedtolookathiseeingherthisindedhiftheirfirstenunterontheporch,andhefelthisthroatnstrictheuldntbelievethatlessthanahen“adriennedont
shelookedupathihen
“dontountcanihelpitifidontthistoendjustyet”“idontei
