Tales of the City 01 - Tales of the City

the heavy brass ring emerged from the tissue paper. “It’s a nice one, Michael. Very handsome.”
    “Are you sure? I can take it back if …”
    “No. I’m … nuts about it.”
    Michael stayed poker-faced. “I hope it’s your size.”
    “What is it?” asked Connie.
    Brian held it up so she could look at it. “Nice, huh?”
    “It’s gorgeous. What’s it for?”
    Brian’s eyes flashed toward Michael for a split second, then back to Connie. “It’s … an ornament,” he said appreciatively. “You hang it on your tree.”
    Michael picked up a tray of brownies in the kitchen. “Are these loaded?” he asked.
    Mrs. Madrigal merely smiled at him.
    “I thought so,” said Michael.
    “Has Mary Ann come down yet?”
    “Not yet.”
    “What on earth could have …?”
    “I can check, if you want.”
    “No. Thank you, dear … but I need you down here.”
    “Are you expecting any others?”
    She checked her watch. “One,” she said vaguely, “though I’m not sure…. It’s nothing definite, dear.”
    “Is everything … all right, Mrs. Madrigal?” She smiled and kissed him on the cheek. “I’m with my family, aren’t I?”
    When Michael returned to the living room, he almost dropped the brownies.
    “Mona!”
    “In the firm but pliant flesh.”
    “Hot damn! What happened to D’orothea?”
    “She’s having a White Christmas with her parents in Oakland.”
    “It’s snowing in Oakland?”
    “It’s too long a story, Mouse.”
    He set the tray down and flung his arms around her. “Goddammit, I’ve missed you!”
    “Yeah. Same here.”
    “Well, you don’t look any worse for wear.”
    “Yeah,” she grinned. “Same ol’ Mona … smiling in the face of perversity.”

Saying Good-bye
    W HEN MARY ANN FINALLY APPEARED, SHE MADE her apologies to Mrs. Madrigal.
    “I hope it hasn’t been a hassle. I … well, I guess I just lost track of the time with Christmas shopping and all.”
    “Don’t be silly, dear. It’s been no problem at all, and Michael’s been the perfect … You haven’t seen Mr. Williams, have you, dear? If he’s in the house, we should certainly invite him to …”
    “No. No, I haven’t. Not for a day or so, anyway.”
    “Well, that’s too bad.”
    “He’s been gone a lot recently. He hasn’t seemed himself … to me, anyway.”
    “No, he hasn’t, has he?”
    “It’s nice to see my friend Connie again.”
    “I know. Isn’t that a coincidence? And Mona was able to make it, after all, and … well, God bless us, every one!” She kissed Mary Ann a bit too breezily on the cheek and rushed past her out of the room.
    It seemed to Mary Ann that she was crying.
    Fifteen minutes later, Mona looked for the landlady and found her on the stairway at the entrance to the lane.
    “Waiting for somebody?” she asked, sitting down beside her.
    “No, dear. Not anymore.”
    “Anybody I know?”
    “I wish you had.”
    “Had?”
    “I meant … It’s hard to explain, dear.”
    “I’m sorry I haven’t kept in touch with you more.”
    Mrs. Madrigal turned and looked at her. There were tears in her eyes. “Oh, thank you for saying that!” she cried. She held on to Mona for a moment, then straightened up again, regaining her composure.
    “I’d like to move back in,” said Mona, “if you can stand me.”
    “Stand you? You simple child! I’ve missed you more than you’ll ever know!”
    Mona smiled. “Thank you … and Merry Christmas.”
    “Merry Christmas, dear.”
    “Why don’t you come back in? It’s cold out here!”
    “I will. In a minute. You run along.”
    “Couldn’t your friend meet you inside?”
    “He’s not coming, dear. He’s already left us.”
    He left at Halcyon Hill.
    Dr. Jack Kincaid administered a sedative to his wife, while his daughter and son-in-law said good-bye to him.
    He was flat on his back in bed. His skin was so pale that it seemed translucent.
    “Daddy?”
    “Is that you, DeDe?”
    “It’s me and Beauchamp.”
    “Oh.”
    “We have a surprise for you, Daddy.”
    Beauchamp flashed an uneasy glance at his wife. DeDe glared back at him, then turned and knelt at her father’s bedside.
    “Daddy … we’re going to make you a grandfather.”
    Silence.
    “Did you hear me, Daddy?”
    Edgar smiled. “I heard.”
    “Aren’t you glad?”
    He lifted his hand feebly. “Could you … show me?”
    “She’s so small.” DeDe stood up, taking his hand, pressing it gently against her belly. “I don’t think you can feel