Tales of the City 06 - Sure of You

effect.
    She looked at Mona, then swept her arm toward the distant Turkish coastline. “Troy,” she sighed. “Imagine.”
    “That’s it, huh?”
    “That’s it.”
    Mona leaned against the battlement and studied her parent’s face, struck suddenly by its radiance. “You’ve enjoyed yourself, haven’t you?”
    “Oh, yes.”
    “I’m glad.”
    “I’ve never known anyone like him.”
    Mona hesitated, surprised at the sudden appearance of “him.”
    “He’s asked me to stay, in fact.”
    “For how long?”
    Blinking at her, Anna made a vague gesture in the direction of Troy. “This long.”
    Mona laughed, suddenly tickled. “Really?”
    Anna nodded.
    “A Lesbian wedding?”
    “Heavens, no!”
    “O.K., then. A Lesbian shack-up.”
    They laughed together, sharing their distrust of institutions.
    “Is he rich?”
    “Mona!”
    “I just meant…”
    “He’s comfortable. We’d have plenty between us. His brother-in-law is a Dukakis.”
    Mona smiled.
    “I forgot to tell you,” said Anna. “He lost.”
    “Who?”
    “Dukakis. Stratos told me this morning.”
    “Oh.” She wasn’t in the least surprised. America was already fucked.
    “Stratos is really rather bleak about it.”
    “What did you tell him?”
    “About the election?”
    “About you.” She smiled. “Don’t be coy.”
    Anna raked her Medusa locks with her fingers. “I haven’t told him anything yet.”
    “Is he…important to you?”
    Anna nodded.
    “Enough so that…?”
    “Oh, yes. More than enough.”
    “What would you do?” asked Mona. “Sell the house?”
    “I suppose.”
    “Could you do that?”
    “I don’t know. The Treachers have made me an offer.”
    “Who are the Treachers?”
    “They’re on the third floor.”
    “Oh.”
    “They’re a nice young couple. They’re looking for a place to buy. I’m sure they’d take good care of it.”
    “You’d probably get a fortune for it.”
    “I’m not interested in a fortune.”
    “I know, but…it wouldn’t hurt. You could travel all over Europe, visit me at Easley. Hell, I’d come see you here. I’d make the sacrifice.”
    Anna chuckled, then held Mona’s arm and gazed down at the toy-boat harbor, the train-set village flung against the mythic hillside.
    “I can see you here,” said Mona.
    “I am here,” said Anna.
    Mona smiled at her. “You know what I mean.”
    “Yes.”
    “Are you afraid he’s not for real?”
    “No. Not at all.”
    “Don’t you want a companion?”
    “In my old age?” A smile darted across Anna’s lips.
    “C’mon.”
    “I have plenty of companions. Wonderful company. Just like you.”
    “You want to do this,” said Mona. “I can tell you do.”
    Anna fidgeted with the sleeve of her caftan. “The children would never understand.”
    “If you mean Michael, he’s got his own life. You should do the same.”
    “And there’s Mary Ann and Brian…”
    “They’re all gone, for God’s sake.”
    “Nevertheless…I have responsibilities.”
    In her mind’s eye Mona saw the writing on the castle wall. She knew exactly what Anna was thinking. “Look,” she said, “Michael would never forgive you if you passed this up on his account.”
    “Dear…”
    “If that’s the reason, I’ll tell him, so help me.”
    “You’ll do nothing of the kind.”
    “You’ve spent your whole life telling other people to live and be free. Why don’t you stop blowing smoke and take a little of your own advice?”
    “That’s quite enough.”
    “You know I’m right.”
    “It’s starting to rain…”
    “Go home and tell them. See what they say, at least.”
    Her parent didn’t answer as she scurried along the battlement, in flight from the downpour.

Cock-and-Bull Stories
    W HEN BRIAN PULLED UP IN FRONT OF THE SUMMIT , Shawna was downstairs as arranged, scribbling furiously in her coloring book.
    “How’s it goin’?” asked the doorman, leaning into the Jeep. He was obviously curious as hell about the change in their daily routine. This was the fourth morning in a row Brian had arrived from somewhere else to pick up his daughter.
    “Not bad, not bad.” He made a point of sounding jaunty.
    “Hey, are those rumors true?”
    “What rumors?”
    “Mary Ann taking her act to the Big Apple.”
    “Oh.” He shrugged. “Looks like it.” He opened the door and let Shawna in. “Where’s your lunch box, Puppy?”
    “We don’t have to,” Shawna told him. “Solange’s mom is fixing burritos.”
    “I guess we’ll