Elementary

by Jason Zandri

  “Hi Missy; Mom send you over?” she said looking at her younger sister still in her pull over from the night before.

  “Yeah,” Melissa said stretching her arms over her head. “She was going to put coffee on and make some waffles and she wanted me to ask you over.”

  “Sure,” Diane said stepping outside and pulling the door closed behind her. “I can’t think of a better way to spend a Sunday morning.”

  The two headed inside. The smell of coffee and cooking waffle batter filled the air as the pair moved into the kitchen.

  “Hi Mom,” Diane said walking into the kitchen. “Thanks for inviting me over. Can I help with anything?”

  “No I think I am all set,” Karen Canton said with a smile, quickly looking back at her oldest daughter.

  Melissa went around to the far seat and sat. She turned to a small shelf and thumbed through the mail from Saturday’s delivery quickly. “Canton, Canton, Bancroft… ah here it is Wakeford; this one got delivered here by mistake.”

  Diane reached over to take the mail from Melissa She looked at the return address and then folded it in half and slipped it into her skirt pocket.

  “Not going to open it?” Melissa asked.

  “It’s just a bill,” Diane said with a slight laugh, “I’ll check it later when I sit down to make out my payments tonight. I wonder why they brought that here.

  “New mailman… well, lady… person… she might have gotten confused.

  We do have dissimilar last names.” Melissa said.

  “Are you going over to see Mark later? You usually do on Sundays,” her mother inquired.

  “Probably,” Diane responded sounding a little resigned. “It’s what I do.”

  Melissa looked over at her mother, who came over with the platter of waffles and set them down on the table. Melissa got up quickly and grabbed the plates off the counter.

  “Okay,” Karen said softly, “Breakfast was a partial pretense to get you over here,” she said looking at Melissa. “Both of us have noticed you’re not annoyingly chipper like you usually are.”

  “Oh,” Diane said, quickly changing her tone. “I’ve been a little tired. I didn’t realize it was noticeable.”

  Karen turned and brought a hotplate over and the coffee decanter. Melissa forked a waffle off the platter. “It’s more than that,” Karen continued. “And you know I know better,” she said with a soft smile.

  Diane looked over at Melissa who was sporting a mouthful of breakfast.

  She then looked down at the table. Karen poured her daughter a cup of coffee and slid it over to her. “You’re welcome to a waffle but I expect that you’re not hungry,” Karen said, slowly moving into the free seat at the table.

  The three sat in silence for a few moments while Diane added things to her coffee from the table. She looked over at Melissa when she began to speak. “If I discuss this with you, both of you, it has to stay between us. No meddling or talking to anyone else about it.”

  “Of course, dear,” Her mother responded.

  “Sure,” Melissa said with a mouthful of food, “Who would I talk to that would be interested in whatever you have going on?” she replied, paying partial attention.

  “You’re really close to Matthew,” she said quickly, which made Melissa pay closer attention, “and I don’t want this getting back to Mark.” She looked at the two of them in succession and then looked down again at the table. She slowly put her hands up on the table, one on top of the other.

  Neither said anything. Karen reached over and touched Diane’s hands softly.

  Melissa continued to eat but was doing so more slowly and looked at her older sister.

  “What’s going on with Mark?” Karen said quietly. “Melissa,” she said quietly looking over at her, “will keep this among us girls; she won’t discuss it with Matthew.”

  Diane took in a deep breath and tears dropped off her face onto the table in front of her. “I don’t know. He has been acting funny. He’s been strange and out of character... distant.” Diane looked up and the tears came down her cheeks. “He’s been having Matthew work more hours at the store, which is fine, he wanted them. He’s kept my hours the same, which is fine, and I expect that. But with Matthew in the store more, Mark has been in there less.

  If Matthew is there, that is the second person we’ve always liked to have around. Rather than staying or just going home to mow the lawn, or take care of something at the house and then come back at the end of the day, he has Matthew or myself lock up. A few times I’ve gone over the house afterward and he’s not there until later.”

  “Well, I’m not sure what you’re upset about,” Karen said trying to sound reassuring. “There could be any number of reasons he’s not around.”

  “I know,” Diane said sobbing a little, “but when I ask him, ‘how was your day” or ‘did you have extra errands to run, is there something I could help you with’ he clams up and changes the subject.”

  Melissa slowly set her fork down and looked over at her older sister without saying a word.

  “I don’t know what’s worse, Mother,” Diane said crying audibly,

  “growing apart and thinking he doesn’t love me anymore like he used to or thinking he might be moving on to someone else.”

  “He wouldn’t do that,” Melissa said jumping into the conversation. “It’s totally out of character.”

  “The way he’s acting is already out of character,” Diane said defensively and sounding more upset. “I’m not young and pretty anymore,” she said sitting back and drawing her arms in and up and bringing her hands to her own shoulders. “I see the young girls come in and how they look at him.”

  “My God Diane,” Melissa said standing up and walking away from the table toward the stove. “I make jokes about you becoming an old maid with an apartment full of cats but you’re twenty years away from that.” She smiled at her sister, trying to make her laugh at the comment. When she saw it didn’t work, she changed her tone. “Look, you’re not even thirty one yet and you’re talking about some young girls… what young girls? Twenty five year olds that come into the store? What are they going to offer a forty two year old man?”

  “They are far more attractive,” Diane said, sounding defeated. “I’m sure they are probably more dynamic and sophisticated than I am. I am sure there are… things… they offer that I don’t.”

  “Not from what I’ve heard,” Melissa said without thinking. She reached into the refrigerator for a glass of milk. When she turned around to go back to her seat she noticed the two of them staring at her.

  “What are you talking about?” Karen asked.

  “What are you talking about?” Melissa said looking over at Diane.

  “You know…” she said quickly. “Things...” she whispered.

  “Oh,” Melissa whispered back. “You mean sex,” she finished in a boisterous tone.

  “Well, as I was saying,” Melissa said smiling and trying to temper her grin, “what I’ve heard, through the thin wall that separates my bedroom here and yours in your apartment, I highly doubt that.”

  Diane blushed and Karen pulled her hand up to her mouth to stifle her smile a little.

  “Sorry, Diane,” Melissa said laughing a little, “but you’re loud.”

  Diane’s demeanor briefly changed to the shared laughter in the room. She wiped a tear away from her face.

  It quickly got quiet again and Karen leaned in. “Look Diane,” Karen said taking her hands again, “I am likely the worst person to give out relationship advice considering my track record, but I know people enough to know that you cannot make them fall in love with you or stay in love with you. Either they are or they are not. The man that I see as Mark Sanford does love you. I don’t know what is going on with him, and if you’ve tried to ask him, and you believe he’s not telling you everything, then you might need to be more insistent.” Karen looked over at Melissa quickly and then back at Diane. “As far as your being too old, that’s a lot of hog
wash; there’s not much separating you from the twenty five year olds you seem to be worried about. And maybe they are dynamic and sophisticated but that’s not what Mark was looking for, at the time and I doubt suddenly now. He was looking for the things you offer. That’s what attracted him to you.”

  “I’m so worried, Mom,” Diane said sniffing. “It’s not even the work or the apartment. I can get another job and find another place to live if I needed to. There’s only one Mark and I want him in my life.”

  “There’s only one Diane,” Karen responded, trying to muster up courage for her daughter that she barely had for herself. “He knows that, too.”

  Diane felt a small amount of warmth come over her and looked down at the table again.

  Karen looked over at Melissa and made a quick zipping motion with her hand across her lips.

  Melissa nodded once to her mother and then looked again at Diane.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Matthew came into the kitchen and stopped short when he realized Diane was seated there and talking.

  “Come on in, Sport,” his father called out with a light wave while Diane looked over.

  Matthew looked down at his watch for the time and then checked it against the microwave. “Um… I was wondering; did you need to go anywhere tonight?”

  Mark looked over at his son trying to figure out where he was going with the question. “Well,” he said, “it’s Friday; we were thinking about a movie but hadn’t decided on going out or HBO.”

  “Okay,” Matthew said somewhat nervously. “This will take me all night if I try to slide into it. Dad, can I borrow your car?”

  Mark took advantage of Matthew’s vulnerability to ham it up regarding the request. “Oh my! What could have occurred in the universe to make my son want to trade in the Sanfordmobile for the family car? Even if it’s for just one evening?”

  Diane raised her hand to cover her mouth and to hide her smile.

  “Mr. Epps.” Matthew responded simply. “I’m going to pick up Donna Epps to go to the movie and he doesn’t care for me and the van.”

  “Well that’s a little odd,” Mark said in a more serious tone. “I guess I get the overall reason why but he didn’t seem to have an issue over the summer.”

  “The summer was the beach and a gang of us; tonight it’s just a date with Donna.”

  “Did he tell you she couldn’t go with you if you came with the van?”

  Mark asked.

  “No, he really didn’t imply it, directly anyway, but I know it’ll make him more comfortable. Honestly, it’ll make Donna more comfortable too, I think.

  We are going alone and not on a double date or anything.”

  Mark smiled. “Good man,” he said, fishing around his pocket for the keys.

  “Thanks Dad,” Matthew said taking his father’s keys and setting his down on the table. “You know, in case you need to go out…”

  Mark looked over at the keys and grinned a little.

  “No joyriding in it and fuel it back up,” Matthew said in an authoritative sounding voice before turning to leave out the back door behind Diane.

  Once the door closed and Matthew was out of sight, the two laughed

  audibly.

  “Oh man,” Mark asked pointing to the back door, “do I sound like that?”

  “Only sometimes,” Diane said getting up slowly from the seat and coming over to his. She settled down into his lap. “Well, we can’t go out for a joy ride; ‘Dad’ said so. He didn’t say anything about having an indoor joy ride.”

  Mark smiled at her. She lowered her head and kissed him deeply and passionately. He returned her kisses just as enthusiastically.

  She slowly reached up to unbutton her shirt. Mark pulled away and stopped her. He softly guided her hands away. He kissed her softly and motioned for her to get up.

  Diane did and moved to the hallway; making the assumption they were going to the bedroom to get comfortable.

  Mark moved to the refrigerator to get something to drink. “So,” he said, pulling out a diet soda, “it looks to me like we have the whole night to ourselves.”

  “Yes,” Diane said passively. She folded her hands in front of herself and stood still.

  Mark looked over at her and sighed. “You look upset and distracted.”

  “I’m confused,” she blurted out.

  Mark moved toward the kitchen sink and turned back around to face her.

  “About?”

  Diane stayed quiet and looked down.

  “I stopped reading minds some time ago,” Mark said, trying to break the tension in the room.

  “Is there…” she began and stopped to clear her throat and strengthen her voice. “Is there someone else?”

  Mark took a deep breath in. “Why would you think that?” he asked setting the soda down on the counter. “We’ve been together almost seven years now; what brought that question on all of a sudden like that?”

  Diane looked up, her hands still folded. Tears began to stream down her face. “Your behavior is different. You’re not as attentive as you used to be when we are together and not at work. You seem preoccupied in your thoughts and you are not sharing them. You’ve left the store a number of times recently; it’s becoming a new pattern for you, where you don’t come straight here or back to the store at the end of the day.”

  “Well I have been trying to extend Matthew’s responsibilities there honestly. We had a talk about life after high school and he’s indicated he’d

  rather work than continue with his education, at least for now. I’m not totally excited about that; I really think he’ll need a degree down the road.”

  “You didn’t,” Diane said quietly.

  “I’m an exception to the rule. The world is changing too. And maybe I want more for him that running a store and just sort of getting by.” Mark responded with some of the strength dissolving away.

  Diane strengthened her resolve as best she could and it came out in her tone as she responded. “He knows what he wants to do right now. He’s talked to you some about it.” She leaned forward a little and whispered. “The store echoes when it’s empty and the two of you, your voices are deep and strong.”

  Mark smiled a little at her playfulness.

  Diane let go of her hands to brush the remaining tears off her face and then folded them back in front of her again. “You make it sound like the life you’ve built isn’t something to aspire to. I, and apparently Matthew, disagree.

  The bills are paid and there is food on the table. The stress of work is low; the business and the indoor kiosks are thriving. The garage has more work than it can handle. I handle the books you know… you’ve put a lot aside and invested it well.” She stepped forward and let her hands go. “In my opinion, success in life isn’t measured by fancy cars, vacations, or the size of one’s house. It’s the measure of the amount of love that’s in it. You have a life full of love; in the things that you do and how you do them. The love of a son that idolizes you. My love…” her voice broke, she dropped her head, and she began to cry again.

  Mark stepped forward and put his finger under her chin to raise her head.

  “Come with me,” he said, taking her hand and bringing her through the dining room to the stairs. “I was waiting for ‘the right time’ but I suppose I really didn’t know what that was. Now might work.”

  He led her upstairs and turned away from Matthew’s room.

  “This is Teresa’s old room,” Mark said, fishing a hidden key out of his wallet.

  “Your sister that rarely comes to visit,” Diane said quietly.

  “Yes,” Mark said with a light laugh. “That one. Well, I only have the one anyway…”

  Mark unlocked the door but didn’t open it. He turned around and touched the sides of her face. “You asked me ‘Is there someone else?’ I never answered you. There is no one else, not for me.”

  He kissed her softly and deeply for a moment and slowly stopped. He let

  his hands sli
p away and he turned back toward the door, opened it and walked in.

  Diane followed to the threshold and Mark stepped to the side and turned on the light in the room.

  All of the stored boxes of things were gone. The room was repainted, cleaned up, and decorated with baby furnishings, including a day bed, a glider rocker, and an old, refinished crib.

  “I don’t understand,” Diane asked stepping into the room.

  “All of these are from when Matthew was born,” Mark said pointing around the room.

  “I know; I remember after your father came to collect things, shortly after you and I started to see each other, much of this was up here and packed in with everything else.”

  “And my father came and got his things for Florida. Over time, this just became a room to stuff full of things,” Mark said walking over and touching he rail of the crib. “Matthew is a hair taller than me now. I remember when he fit in this thing and wouldn’t ever sleep.”

  Diane smiled. “So you decided to clean up the room and set it up for memory sake?”

  Mark turned and stepped back closer to her. “I know how much you wanted a family of your own. I know I wasn’t in the right place before to offer you a chance at any of that. I am now. I was wondering if you might consider marrying me and…”

  “Yes!” Diane said to him crying and sobbing fully. She turned and grabbed him hard and held him. “Just when I thought I couldn’t possibly love you any more than I already did… you show me ways…” she was unable to finish as her emotions overwhelmed her.

  Mark held her tightly and whispered in her ear. “You came into my life when I needed it the most. It made all of the transition from where I was to where I needed to go, for me and Matthew, as smooth and as seamless as possible.”

  “He’s become a good man,” she forced out between her tears, still holding him tight.

  “And you have your part in that; this was not a singular effort on my part only. If I had trouble dealing with him or things, you were always there to help me and support me. You’ve given me everything. I want you to have the same.”

  He held her tightly and she nuzzled up as much as she could.