Remarkably Bright Creatures(83)

Eighteen. Tatum was eighteen, and naturally was faced with a difficult choice. The Knit-Wits debated her particular conundrum, but for Tova it was only: what if.

What if Erik had been in Tatum’s shoes? On the other side of the exchange of genetic material, of course, but what if he’d become a father at eighteen, before his life was truncated? Tova would have a grandchild. What a gift that would have been.

Tatum went on to have the baby. Laura, Mary Ann’s daughter, helped her out with childcare for this unexpected grandchild, and life went on smoothly, as far as Tova could tell. Surely that wasn’t always the case. Mary Ann’s family had the means to help with the baby, and Tatum wanted to keep it, and the baby’s father is still reasonably supportive and involved, from what Tova can tell. An ideal outcome, really. But what about other outcomes for similar situations? The possibilities are plenty.

The birth date on Cameron’s driver’s license is seared into her brain. He was born that following February.

And his mother. Whoever she was. She was seeing Erik. Supposedly.

What if the father Cameron is searching for isn’t his father at all? Her mind combs through all she can remember of her conversations with the boy, anything he might have said about the man he’s searching for. A real estate developer, that one who has those billboards. He said something about a ring and a photograph, but Tova can’t recall any other details. Nothing about Cameron’s comments had ever made her think of Erik. And whatever the situation is, Cameron is convinced he has the right man. Perfectly confident.

Erik was confident like that.

Tova trails a finger over the deck chair’s armrest, tracing her nail on the woodgrain. A night breeze nudges the sunflowers in her moonlit garden, causing their heads to bob, like a personal audience who agrees with her every wishful thought. But these thoughts are nonsense. Erik couldn’t have had a child. Daphne Cassmore might have been dating any number of young men when she was eighteen. Carefree eighteen. The summer after senior year of high school. Who could judge her for that?

It would be an exceptional stroke of luck for something like that to happen to her. But Daphne Cassmore would have found her somehow, surely? What mother would deprive her child of a grandparent? And anyway, Tova doesn’t believe in exceptional strokes of luck.

Cat alights on the deck railing and tilts his head at her. Once again, she wonders what on earth she is going to do with him. The closing of the sale of her house, and her move to Charter Village, are imminent. They don’t allow pets. She called to check.

He poises as if he’s about to jump on Tova’s lap, but instead he leaps to the ground and curls at her feet.

As if he’s trying to distance himself already.





Amazing Bones


Tova is washing Cat’s breakfast bowl when Janice calls to invite her to lunch. Lunch out, on a Monday? What could this be about? Janice suggests they meet at the Shop-Way deli, and she sounds surprised when Tova suggests the Tex-Mex place down in Elland instead.

“Really? Okay. I’ll pick you up on my way,” Janice says.

They’re seated in a pleasantly plush booth with tortilla chips and salsa between them when Janice finally brings it up.

“This week will be your last Knit-Wits, huh?”

Tova nods.

“I guess you assumed because there are only three of us left, we’d let you off without a farewell party?”

“Oh, nonsense. I don’t need a party.”

“Well, Barb said she’d bring cake.” Janice dredges a chip through the salsa. “So we’ll have that, at least.”

“How thoughtful of Barbara,” Tova says. “Cake sounds lovely.”

“Lovely,” Janice repeats. “Tova, pardon my language, but would you cut the shit for once and tell me exactly why you think you have to do this?”

Ah, so that’s what this is about. “I beg your pardon?”

“This!” Janice waves her hands around, as if the interior of the restaurant, with its quirky macrame wall hangings, is the offender. “Selling your house! Moving out of Sowell Bay! You’ve lived here all your life.”

“Charter Village is very nice,” Tova says mildly.

“Maybe it is, but these are our golden years. Why do you want to spend them with a bunch of strangers?” Janice’s voice cracks. “What about us?”

Tova starts to respond, but the words catch in her throat.

“And furthermore,” Janice continues, holding up a stern finger, like a judge in one of those courtroom dramas she enjoys watching, “what about Ethan Mack?”

Tova starts. “What about him?”

“Tova, he’s gaga for you. Why can’t you give him a chance?”

“Ethan is a wonderful man, but Will and I were—”

“Oh, stop. Look, I realize I haven’t been in your shoes, but Peter and I have talked about it. When one of us goes, the other must move on. We’re not that old, Tova. We still have good years ahead of us. Decades, even. Seventy is the new sixty!”

In spite of herself, Tova lets out a short chuckle. “Where did you hear that? One of those talk shows?”

“Whatever. Please, Tova, rethink this. If it’s really what you want, then fine, go. But it’s not the only way.”

“Janice, you must understand something.” Tova folds her hands in her lap. “I am not like you and Mary Ann and Barbara. I don’t have children who will come stay with me when I’ve had a fall. I don’t have grandchildren who will stop over to unclog my drain or make sure I’m taking my pills. And I won’t put that burden on my friends and neighbors.”