by Elena Graf
Maggie kept her arm at Liz’s back as they walked down the hall. She waited while Liz opened her credenza, took out a bottle of cognac and poured them each a glass. Liz flopped down on the sofa next to her.
“Cherie Bois’s father was moved to ICU. He was intubated and put on a vent.”
“Oh, no.”
“Oh, no is right. In his condition, this is a last resort. He was doing so well, then BAM!” Liz hit her hand smartly with her closed fist. “That seems to be how this virus works. A patient is doing well. It looks like he’s recovering, then he suddenly crashes for no apparent reason and becomes critical. Jean-Paul was going into this with compromised lungs. I don’t think he’s coming home again.”
Maggie stroked Liz’s arm gently. “I’m sorry, honey. I know this is always hard for you.”
“It’s different in family practice. It’s hard to avoid becoming emotionally involved. I like Jean-Paul, and I’m very fond of Cherie.”
“How is she?”
“She’s a mess. We talked candidly about her father’s chances of survival. Most vent cases don’t make it, and if they do, they’re impaired and have a real struggle to come back. Of course, she knows all this, but that doesn’t make it easier. She started to cry, I mean, really sob. I asked if she wanted me to put Lucy back on, but she said no.”
“Maybe Lucy should call her.”
Liz shook her head. “Let her have a good cry first. She knows where to find Lucy when she’s ready to talk about it.” A frown wrinkled Liz’s forehead. “If we weren’t in this crazy situation, I’d take a ride over there and see if there’s anything I could do. Maybe she’ll call Brenda to talk.”
“Brenda? They’re together?”
“I shouldn’t be spreading it around, but yes, they’re together.”
“I’m happy for them, but that’s a tough start to their relationship.” Maggie remembered her own tough start with Liz. They’d come home from their camping trip in Acadia. After a blissful reunion, the first time they’d made love in forty years, Maggie had to hear from Liz that she had a lump in her breast. Real life had intruded on Lucy and Erika’s first time too. Erika’s mother had just died when they had become lovers. The superstitious part of Maggie’s nature, nurtured by her upbringing in a traditional Irish Catholic family, always resurfaced at times like that. She wondered if there was a price to pay for happiness…whether the sublime pleasure of a new relationship had to be balanced with pain and grief. That’s crazy, she told herself. It’s no one’s fault. It’s not punishment. It’s just life.
“I’m thinking of closing the office,” said Liz, bringing Maggie back to the present. The expression on Liz’s face told Maggie she’d been wrestling with the decision and still wasn’t sure about it.
“I think that’s a smart idea,” said Maggie.
“We don’t want people who have the virus to come in and infect others. There’s nothing we can do for them anyway. There’s no effective treatment, despite what that gas bag says in his nightly press briefings. We’ve used up all our tests, and, until Abbott releases theirs, we’re not getting any more. And frankly, people are afraid to come in.”
“Liz, I’m so glad you’re closing the office. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“I don’t either,” said Liz. “I was reluctant to close down, especially after the urgent care closed. Scared people need to know there’s someplace to go.”
“They do,” Maggie agreed, “but you don’t always have to be the hero, rushing in to save the day!”
“That’s left over from my days as a surgeon. It’s a huge high when you can save a life under extreme circumstances.” Liz finished her cognac in a swallow. Maggie knew it was expensive and was surprised to see Liz belt it down. “I thought about keeping the office open for a few hours a day and holding down the fort myself,” Liz continued. “I hate all the paperwork, but I can do it if I have to.”
Maggie sat back and gave Liz a long hard look. “Why do you always have to be the one?”
Liz got up to pour herself another glass of brandy. “I’m the managing partner. The others are younger. They have children and families.”
“You’re not listening to those idiots who say seniors should sacrifice for future generations? You have children and a family,” Maggie countered. “Aren’t we important too?”
“Yes, of course, but I’m really good at keeping hygiene protocols because I was surgeon.”
“Liz Stolz, sometimes you are so damned arrogant!”
Liz looked startled, then smiled. “Oh, you’re just yanking my chain.”
“And it should be yanked. You’re not expendable. The people in this town need you. Everyone in this house needs you. I need you.”
Liz put her arm around Maggie. “I need you too. And don’t worry. On Friday, we’re shutting down the office except for Telehealth calls. I’m about to discover what it is to be a virtual doc. I’ll be like the medical hologram on the Starship Voyager. Someone will press a button and I will appear saying, ‘Please state the nature of the medical emergency.’”
Maggie rolled her eyes. “You’ll never grow up.”
“God, I hope not.” Liz threw down the rest of her brandy.
Out of the corner of her eye, Maggie noticed Lucy hovering in the doorway.
“I’m sorry if I’m intruding. I can come back later.”
Maggie reached out her arm to Lucy. “Lucy, dear, you’re never intruding. Come in.”
Lucy approached cautiously.
“Drink?” Liz asked, gesturing with her empty glass.
“What are you offering?” asked Lucy.
“Cognac. It’s between that or single-malt scotch.”
“Thanks, I’ll pass.” Lucy mocked a shudder. “I hate brown liquor.”
Liz laughed. “I can get you some wine.”
“No, thanks. I want to talk to you.”
Liz got up and sat in her desk chair. Maggie gestured to the space beside her on the sofa, and Lucy sat down. “I’ve never been in here before,” she said gazing around the room. “Wow, Liz. Is all this stuff yours?” she asked, gesturing to the plaques and photos hanging on the wall. “Mind if I take a look?”
“Knock yourself out,” said Liz, pouring herself another glass of cognac.
Maggie gave her a hard look. “You’re getting loaded, Liz. Take it easy. And be nice to Lucy.”
“I am being nice to Lucy,” Liz protested.
Lucy, busy studying the photos and citations on the walls, wasn’t paying attention to their little sidebar argument. “This is really impressive. Erika always said you were famous. I never realized.”
“You sang at the Met. You’re famous too.”
“But in your world, you were just as famous.”
Liz saluted her with her brandy glass. “And like you, I deny it whenever I can.”
Maggie shot Liz a look of annoyance. “Stop. Lucy’s paying you a compliment.”
Liz slid down in her seat. “I know. That’s the problem.”
Lucy sat down beside Maggie. “I’m not easily offended, Maggie. You don’t need to defend me. Besides, I know Liz is crazy about me. Right, Liz?”
“Absolutely,” said Liz. From the odd cadence of her speech, Maggie knew that Liz was well on her way to inebriation. Usually, Liz could hold her liquor very well, but when she was upset and pounding down the glasses of alcohol, it went right to her head.
“You should go to bed,” Maggie advised.
“It’s still early,” protested Liz.
“I mean…really,” said Maggie in a firm voice. “Otherwise, you’ll be sorry in the morning.”
“Okay,” said Liz and pulled herself to her feet. She made a deep, formal bow in Lucy’s direction. “Good night, Mother Lucy.”
“Good night, Liz.”
Maggie’s eyes follo
wed Liz to the door to make sure she was steady enough to make it upstairs.
“I’m sorry,” said Maggie once Liz had left. She got up and closed the door.
“You don’t need to apologize for her. She’s under a lot of stress right now. Not like the emergency department people in New York, but she’s responsible for the health of the people of this community...her staff, all the people who can’t get tests, all of us in this house.” Lucy patted Maggie’s hand. “Be patient with her.”
“Oh, you have no idea how patient I am.”
“Oh, I think I do. I’m married to Liz’s best friend, another icy German who’s too smart for her own good. But I’ve discovered a common language.”
Maggie raised a brow. “Sex?”
“Much more than sex. The emotional texture of a relationship is very complex, like a symphony. There are many notes, but some are more important than others.”
Maggie allowed herself the luxury of a long sigh, and Lucy gave her a critical look.
“You seem very stressed too. Is it too much to have all of us here? We could go to a motel.”
Maggie dismissed the suggestion with a wave. “Don’t be crazy. First of all, you’ll never find an open motel. Second, we love having you here. Liz and Erika are like sisters. She would never turn her away.”
“But it’s a lot having us parked here with Alina and the kids. You’re teaching online and trying to help out with the kids. Alina is trying to work…”
“And we’re all succeeding. Emily is a big help with the kids. Who knew?”
“Not me. I was so worried when we came over here. Erika accepted without a second thought. But I thought, oh wow! That’s asking a lot of you and Liz.”
Maggie patted Lucy’s thigh. “No, it isn’t. Actually, it’s better that we’re all together. We can help one another. We can entertain one other. Think of all those people who are alone with no one to talk to. Here we have our own little village.”
“Funny you say that. That’s exactly what I thought the other day.”
Maggie took Lucy’s hand and threaded her fingers through hers. “Don’t even think about leaving. I’m glad you are here. Yes, Liz and Erika get into mischief together, but they would with or without us. They go back such a long time, nothing can get in between them. I’m just glad to have my best friend here.”
“Me too.” They leaned toward one another until their foreheads touched.
“Liz is so solitary sometimes. I’m glad to have someone to talk to.”
“Believe me, I know what you mean. I live with someone who thinks for a living, but Erika can be quite chatty when she wants to be.” Lucy sat up straight so she could look at Maggie. “Liz looked really upset after she talked to Cherie.”
Maggie knew she was fishing, but it was for the right reasons. “Cherie is upset. She thinks she caused her father’s illness.”
“I know,” said Lucy with a sigh. “Unfortunately, a lot of people will realize that, and it won’t be easy to take.”
“Is there anything we can do to help?”
“I’m trying to figure that out. Cherie can’t go see her father, but as clergy, I can. They haven’t banned us from the hospitals yet.”
“Oh, Lucy, that’s a very big risk!”
“Yes, I know. But I could also see other parishioners.”
“You’d better talk to Liz first. I keep telling her not to be a hero. You shouldn’t try to be one either.”
Lucy looked injured by that remark. “It’s not about that.”
“I know, but think! I’ll say the same thing to you I said to Liz. You have a child. You have a family. You have friends who love you. Me, for example! Please don’t take unnecessary risks. Please.”
Lucy patted Maggie’s arm. “I won’t, but thanks for the reminder.” She got up. “Let me see what my family is up to.”
Maggie sat for a moment to finish her drink. All these years since she’d faced down cancer, feared it like a wild animal poised to spring out and devour her, she’d begged and pleaded for peace. Just one moment of peace when the fear receded, and she could be normal again. Now, a virus, a tiny, invisible enemy threatened her and the people she loved most.
She took the brandy glasses into the kitchen to wash them and put them on the drain board. She wished she could go straight to bed, but they had guests and she was the hostess. She went into the living room to wish them goodnight. Everyone looked so relaxed and at home. As much as she loved all of these people, she longed for a moment to have her house to herself. Yes, it was selfish, but she wished for it anyway.
She was too tired to climb the stairs, so she took the elevator to the third floor. Liz was lump under the covers, so Maggie quietly crept into the bathroom to get ready for bed. As she wiped off her makeup, she saw the age lines around her eyes and mouth. It seemed they’d grown deeper in only a few, short weeks. She wondered how many other women had looked at their reflections in the mirror and felt exactly the same.
Maggie got into bed and pulled the covers over her. A moment later, an arm came around her waist.
“I love you,” murmured Liz.
“I love you too, but sometimes it’s hard.”
“Sometimes, it’s hard for me too.” Liz slid closer, spooning her with her body. “But it’s so worth it.”
Maggie reached back to pat Liz on the thigh.
“You’re naked!”
“Ayuh,” said Liz, reaching under Maggie’s nightgown.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
As chief, Brenda didn’t usually respond to 911 calls, but four of her officers were out sick, so Brenda needed to provide backup. The nature of their sickness couldn’t be confirmed. They had high fevers and were coughing their brains out, but Liz had run out of tests, so they had no way of knowing the cause.
Brenda’s headache had lasted the entire day, but stress alone was enough to bring that on. The office staff was working from home. The dispatchers were still coming in because they were considered essential workers. The town offices were closed, the schools, and most businesses. Hobbs was as tight as a drum. Hardly anyone was on the road, so there was little need to write tickets for traffic violations. Petty crime had fallen to an all-time low. The board of selectmen had closed the beaches to discourage people with summer homes from coming into town, and the police were doing their best to enforce the law. The question was, how? Menacing looks were about the best they could do.
Two types of 911 calls hadn’t stopped. In fact, they were increasing. When the governor announced the emergency orders, Brenda had expected the drug overdoses. She didn’t know why she hadn’t realized there would be more domestic dispute cases. Of course, being shut in day after day with an angry abusive person would make domestic incidents more likely.
Being called to the scene of a domestic case was Brenda’s least favorite duty. Despite being a cop and having a 9mm on her hip, she felt frustrated and sometimes helpless. She knew all the ways to talk down an antagonistic male. The abusers were almost always men. The few female abusers were usually women at the end of their rope because of abuse, or sometimes, hardship.
Brenda knew that even if she could calm a desperate situation and prevent it from escalating, it would happen again. Maybe next time it wouldn’t end as well. Maybe next time, the call would never come.
Brenda always tried to block the memories whenever she walked up to the door to investigate one of those cases. Everyone had always said her father was a good man, but as a girl, she’d seen another side of him. When her brother had been caught in some minor mischief in the eighth grade, her father had cut a piece of garden hose and beaten him until he was black and blue. The team doctor was so appalled by the damage to his body, he wanted to report it, but Brenda’s father was a cop, a respected member of the community, so it never went anywhere.
Brenda remembered Jimmy as a tall, strong fourte
en-year old, sobbing in his room as he tried to hide the red welts. She knew his tears were as much from anger and humiliation as from the pain. When they’d spoken about it, years after their father’s death, Jimmy had confessed that he’d never forgiven him and never would.
There had been times before that fateful beating, when her father drank too much and there were loud, angry arguments. Everything in sight was a potential missile. Fortunately, Kevin Harrison never hit his wife in Brenda’s presence. He reserved the beatings for his children. Brenda, the youngest, was mostly spared, but the boys had been hit and kicked on a regular basis. Mike had once coughed up blood.
Her brothers were all cops too. She wondered if they were carrying on the cycle of abuse. That was common, and it was all too common among cops. Everyone knew it, but no one did anything about it. That’s why, when given the choice of equally qualified candidates, Brenda always hired female officers. That wasn’t any guarantee that they weren’t full of anger too, but the odds were against it.
Brenda had already decided that when things were more normal, she would talk to Cherie about her feelings about domestic violence. Maybe Cherie could give her some tips about how to handle the bad memories. Right now, Cherie had enough on her plate with her father in the hospital.
When she arrived at the scene, Brenda saw that Davis had already arrived. Standard procedure in these situations was to wait for backup before going in. Brenda realized when she saw the house that she knew this family. The husband was the night shift manager at the bottling plant. The wife was the teacher at the elementary school, who organized the annual cookie-bake for the police department. They were quiet, decent people. The only time the police had been called to the house was when Mr. Gavin’s father had collapsed from a heart attack.
Brenda put on her mask and got out of her cruiser. Twenty feet away, Officer Davis exhaled before she put on her mask. In the twilight, Brenda could see her officer’s breath emerge in a plume of vapor.
“Ready?” asked Brenda into her radio.
