jg.skippingchristmas-第13章

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　〃Blair；〃　he　said。　Nora　bolted　to　his　side。
　The　next　word　that　registered　with　Luther　was　the　word　〃Miami。〃　There　were　words　before　it　and　some　after；　but　that　one　stuck。　Just　seconds　into　the　conversation　Luther　was　treading　water　and　about　to　sink。　Things　were　swirling。
　〃How　are　you；　dear？〃　he　asked。
　A　few　words；　then　that　〃Miami〃　word　again。　
　〃You're　in　Miami？〃　Luther　said；　his　voice　high　and　dry。　Nora　shuffled　quickly　so　that　her　eyes；　wild　and　harsh；　were　just　inches　from　his。
　Then　he　listened。　Then　he　repeated；　〃You're　in　Miami；　conning　home　for　Christmas。　How　wonderful；　Blair！〃　Nora's　jaws　unlocked；　her　mouth　fell　open　as　wide　as　Luther　had　ever　seen　it。
　More　listening；　then　〃Who？　Enrique？〃　Then　at　full　volume；　Luther　said；　〃Your　fiancé！　But　what　fiancé？！〃
　Nora　somehow　managed　to　think；　and　she　pushed　the　Speaker　button　on　the　phone。　Blair's　words　poured　forward　and　echoed　around　the　living　room；　〃He's　a　Peruvian　doctor　I　met　right　after　I　got　here；　and　he's　just　so　wonderful。　We　fell　in　love　at　first　sight　and　within　a　week　decided　to　get　married。　He's　never　been　to　the　States　and　he's　so　excited。　I've　told　him　all　about　Christmas　there…the　tree；　the　decorations；　Frosty　up　on　the　roof；　the　Christmas　party；　everything。　Is　it　snowing；　Daddy？　Enrique　has　never　seen　a　white　Christmas。〃
　〃No；　honey；　not　yet。　Here's　your　mother。〃　Luther　handed　the　receiver　to　Nora；　who　took　it；　though　with　the　Speaker　button　down　it　wasn't　needed。
　〃Blair；　where　are　you；　dear？〃　Nora　asked；　doing　a　good　job　of　sounding　enthused。
　〃In　the　Miami　airport；　Mom；　and　our　flight　gets　home　at　six…oh…three。　Mom；　you're　gonna　love　Enrique；　he's　the　sweetest　thing；　and　drop…dead　gorgeous；　too。　We're　crazy　in　love　with　each　other。　We'll　talk　about　the　wedding；　probably　do　it　next　summer；　don't　you　think？〃
　〃Uh；　well　see。〃
　Luther　had　fallen　onto　the　sofa；　apparently　stricken　with　a　life…threatening　ailment。
　Blair　gushed　on：　〃I've　told　him　all　about　Christmas　on　Hemlock；　the　kids；　the　Frostys；　the　big　party　at　our　house。　You're　doing　the　party；　aren't　you；　Mom？〃
　Luther；　near　death；　groaned；　and　Nora　made　her　first　mistake。　In　the　panic　of　the　moment　she　could　not　be　blamed　for　muddled　thinking。　What　she　should've　said；　what　she　wished　she'd　said；　what　Luther　later；　with　perfect　hindsight；　claimed　she　should've　said；　was　〃Well；　no；　honey；　we're　not　doing　the　party　this　year。〃
　But　nothing　was　clear　right　then；　and　Nora　said；　〃Of　course　we　are。〃
　Luther　groaned　again。　Nora　looked　at　him；　the　fallen　beach　bum　in　his　ridiculous　costume；　lying　over　there　like　he'd　been　shot。　She'd　certainly　shoot　him　if　given　half　a　chance。
　〃Oh　great！　Enrique　has　always　wanted　to　see　Christmas　in　the　States。　I've　told　him　all　about　it。　Isn't　this　a　wonderful　surprise；　Mom？〃
　〃Oh；　honey；　I'm　so　thrilled；〃　Nora　managed　to　get　out　with　just　enough　conviction。　〃We'll　have　a　grand　time。〃
　〃Mom；　no　gifts；　okay。　Please　promise　me　no　gifts。　I　wanted　to　surprise　you　by　ing　home；　but　I　don't　want　you　and　Daddy　running　around　right　now　buying　a　bunch　of　gifts。　Promise？〃
　〃I　promise。〃
　〃Great。　I　can't　wait　to　get　home。〃
　You've　been　gone　only　a　month；　Luther　wanted　to　say。
　〃Are　you　sure　this　is　okay；　Mom？〃　As　if　Luther　and　Nora　had　a　choice。　As　if　they　could　say；　〃No；　Blair；　you　can't　e　home　for　Christmas。　Turn　around；　dear；　and　go　back　to　the　jungles　of　Peru。〃
　〃I　gotta　run。　We　fly　from　here　to　Atlanta；　then　home。　Can　you　meet　us？〃
　〃Of　course；　dear；〃　Nora　said。　〃No　problem。　And　you　say　he's　a　doctor？〃
　〃Yes；　Mother；　and　he's　so　wonderful。〃
　
　Luther　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　sofa　with　his　face　stuck　in　his　palms　and　appeared　to　be　crying。　Nora　stood　with　the　phone　clutched　in　her　hand　and　her　hands　on　her　hips；　staring　at　the　man　on　the　sofa　and　debating　whether　or　not　to　hurl　it　at　him。
　Against　her　better　judgment；　she　decided　not　to。
　He　opened　his　palms　just　wide　enough　to　say；　〃What　time　is　it？〃
　〃It's　eleven…fifteen；　December　twenty…fourth。〃
　The　room　was　frozen　for　a　long　time　before　Luther　said；　〃Why　did　you　tell　her　we　were　having　the　party？〃
　〃Because　we're　having　the　party。〃
　〃Oh。〃
　〃I　don't　know　who's　ing　or　what　they're　going　to　eat　when　they　get　here；　but　we're　having　a　party。〃
　〃I'm　not　sure…〃
　〃Don't　start；　Luther。　This　was　your　stupid　idea。〃
　〃You　didn't　think　it　was　stupid　yesterday。〃
　〃Yeah；　well　today　you're　an　idiot。　We're　having　the　party；　Mr。　Beach　Bum；　and　we're　putting　up　a　tree；　with　lights　and　decorations；　and　you're　going　to　get　your　little　brown　butt　up　on　the　roof　and　do　Frosty。〃
　〃No！〃
　〃Yes？〃
　Another　long　pause　and　Luther　could　hear　a　clock　ticking　loudly　somewhere　in　the　kitchen。　Or　perhaps　it　was　the　steady　pounding　of　his　heart　His　shorts　caught　his　attention。　Just　minutes　earlier　bed　put　them　on　in　anticipation　of　a　magical　trip　to　paradise。
　Nora　put　the　phone　down　and　went　to　the　kitchen；　where　drawers　were　soon　being　slammed。
　Luther　continued　staring　at　his　colorful　shorts。　Now　they　made　him　ill。　Gone　were　the　cruise；　the　beaches；　the　islands；　the　warm　waters；　and　the　nonstop　food。
　How　could　one　phone　call　change　so　much？
　
　
　Thirteen
　
　Luther　slowly　made　his　way　to　the　kitchen；　where　his　wife　was　sitting　at　the　table；　lists　already　under　way。　〃Can　we　talk　about　this？〃　he　pleaded。
　〃Talk　about　what；　Luther？〃　she　snapped。
　〃Let's　tell　her　the　truth。〃
　〃Another　dumb　idea。〃
　〃The　truth　is　always　better。〃
　She　stopped　writing　and　glared　at　him。　〃Here's　the　truth；　Luther。　We　have　less　than　seven　hours　to　get　this　place　ready　for　Christmas。〃
　〃She　should've　called　earlier。〃
　〃No；　she　assumed　we'd　be　here　with　a　tree　and　gifts　and　a　party；　same　as　always。　Who　would　ever　dream　that　two　otherwise　sensible　adults　would　skip　Christmas　and　go　on　a　cruise？〃
　〃Maybe　we　can　still　go。〃
　〃Another　dumb　idea；　Luther。　She's　ing　home　with　her　fiancé。　Is　this　registering　with　you？　I'm　sure　they'll　be　here　for　at　least　a　week。　I　hope　so　anyway。　Forget　the　cruise。　You　have　bigger　problems　right　now。〃
　〃I'm　not　doing　Frosty。〃
　〃Yes　you　are。　And　I'll　tell　you　something　else。　Blair　will　never　know　about　the　cruise；　understand？　She'd　be　crushed　if　she　knew　we'd　planned　it；　and　that　she'd　interfered。　Do　you　understand　me；　Luther？〃
　〃Yes　ma'am。〃
　She　thrust　a　sheet　of　paper　at　him。　〃Here's　the　plan；　bozo。　You　go　buy　a　tree。　I'll　get　down　the　lights　and　ornaments。　While　you're　decorating　it；　I'll　hit　the　stores　and　see　if　there's　any　food　left　for　a　party。〃
　〃Who's　ing　to　the　party？〃
　〃I　haven't　got　that　far　yet。　Now　move。　And　change　clothes；　you　look　ridiculous。〃
　〃Don't　Peruvians　have　dark　skin？〃　he　asked。　Nora　froze　for　a　second。　They　stared　at　each　other；　then　both　looked　away。　〃I　guess　it　doesn't　matter　now；〃　she　said。
　〃She's　not　really　getting　married；　is　she？〃　Luther　said；　in　disbelief。
　〃We'll　worry　about　the　wedding　if　we　survive　Christmas。〃
　
　Luther　darted　to　his　car；　cranked　it；　backed　down　the　drive　quickly；　and　sped　away。　Leaving　was　easy。　Returning　would　be　painful。
　Traffic　got　thick　in　a　hurry；　and　as　he　sat　still　he　stewed；　and　fumed；　and　cursed。　A　thousand　thoughts　raced　through　his　overworked　brain。　An　hour　earlier　he'd　been　enjoying　a　restful　morning；　sipping　his　third　cup　of　coffee；　etc。；　etc。　Now　look　at　him…just　another　loser　lost　in　traffic　while　the　clock　ticked　away。
　The　Boy　Scouts　sold　trees　in　a　Kroger　parking　lot。　Luther　skidded　to　a　stop　and　jumped　from　his　car。　There　was　one　Boy　Scout；　one　scoutmaster；　one　tree。　Business　was　winding　down　for　the　season。
　〃Merry　Christmas；　Mr。　Krank；〃　said　the　scoutmaster；　who　looked　vaguely　familiar。　〃I'm　Joe　Scanlon；　same　guy　who　brought　a　tree　to　your　house　a　few　weeks　ago。〃
　Luther　was　listening　but　he　was　also　staring　at　the　last　tree；　a　crooked　spindly　dwarf　of　a　pine　shrub　that　had　been　passed　over　for　good　reasons。　I'll　take　it；〃　he　said；　pointing。
　〃Really？〃
　〃Sure；　how　much？〃
　A　handmade　sign　leaning　against　a　pickup　truck　listed　various　prices；　beginning　with　75　and　falling　all　the　way　to　15　as　the　days　had　passed。　All　prices；　including　the　15；　had　been　scratched　through。
　Scanlon　hesitated；　then　said；　〃Seventy…five　bucks。〃
　〃Why　not　fifteen？〃
　〃Supply　and　demand。〃
　〃It's　a　rip…off。〃
　〃It's　for　the　Boy　Scouts。〃
　〃I'll　give　you　fifty。〃
　〃Seventy…five；　take　it　or　leave　it。〃
　Luther　handed　over　the　cash　and　the　Boy　Scout　placed　a　flattened　cardboard　box　on　top　of　Luther's　Lexus。　They　wrestled　the　tree　up　and　onto　the　car；　then　secured　it　with　rope。　Luther　watched　them　carefully；　glancing　at　his　watch　every　two　minutes。
　When　the　tree　was　in　place；　the　hood　and　trunk　were　already　accumulating　dead　pine　needles；　lots　of　them。　〃It　needs　water；〃　said　the　Scout。
　〃I　thought　you　weren't　doing　Christmas；〃　Scanlon　said。
　〃Merry　Christmas；〃　Luther　said　gruffly；　getting　in　his　car。
　〃I　wouldn't　drive　too　fast。〃
　〃Why　not？〃
　〃Those　pine　needles　are　awfully　brittle。〃
　Back　in　traffic；　Luther　sat　low　behind　the　wheel　and　stared　straight　ahead　as　he　crept　along。　At　a　traffic　light；　a　soft　drink　delivery　truck　eased　next　to　him　and　stopped。　He　heard　someone　yell；　looked　up　to　his　left；　then　cracked　his　window。　A　couple　of　rednecks　were　staring　down；　grinning。
　〃Hey　buddy；　that's　the　ugliest　tree　I've　ever　seen！〃　yelled　one。
　〃It's　Christmas；　e　on；　spend　some　money！〃　yelled　the　other；　and　they　roared　with　laughter。
　〃That　tree's　shedding　faster　than　a　dog　with　mange；〃　yelled　one　of　them；　and　Luther　raised　his　window。　Still；　he　could　hear　them　laughing。
　As　he　neared　Hemlock；　his　pulse　quickened。　With　a　little　luck；　maybe　he　could　make　it　home　without　being　seen。　Luck？　How　could　he　hope　for　good　luck？
　But　it　happened。　He　roared　past　his　neighbors'　homes；　hit　his　driveway　on　two　wheels；　and　came　to　a　sliding　stop　in　the　garage；　All　this　without　seeing　a　soul。　He　jumped　from　the　car　and　was　pulling　at　the　ropes　when　he　stopped；　and　stared；　in　disbelief。　The　tree　was　pletely　bare…nothing　but　crooked　limbs　and　branches；　no　greenery　whatsoever。　The　brittle　pine　needles　Scanlon　had　warned　him　about　were　still　blowing　in　the　wind　between　the　Kroger　and　Hemlock　Street。
　The　tree　was　a　pitiful　sight　lying　there　on　the　flattened　cardboard；　dead　as　driftwood。
　Luther　looked　around；　scanned　the　street；　then　yanked　the　tree　off　the　car　and　pulled　it　through　the　garage　door　and　into　the　backyard　where　no　one　could　see　it。　He　toyed　with　the　idea　of　lighting　a　match　and　putting　it　out　of　its　misery；　but　there　was　no　time　for　ceremonies。
　Thankfully；　Nora　had　already　left。　Luther　stomped　into　the　house　and　almost　crashed　into　a　wall　of　boxes　she'd　hauled　from　the　attic…boxes　carefully　marked：　new　ornaments；　old　ornaments；　garland；　tree　lights；　outside　lights。　Nine　boxes　in　all；　and　he'd　been　left　with　the　chore　of　emptying　their　contents　and　decorating　the　tree。　It　would　take　days。
　What　tree！
　On　the　wall　by　the　phone　she'd　tacked　a　message　with　the　names　of　four　couples　for　him　to　call。　All　were　very　close　friends；　the　kind　you　could　confess　to　and　say；　〃Look；　we've　screwed　up。　Blair's　ing　home。　Please　forgive　us　and　e　to　our　party。〃
　He'd　call　them　later。　But　the　note　said　do　it　now。　So　he　dialed　the　number　for　Gene　and　Annie　Laird；