“Sure. I called your mom and sister, and that plant over there is from Tom.”
“My dad?”
“Yeah. He was here for a couple of days, but then had to get back to work in Pittsburgh. But I’m sure he’ll be callin’. Everybody’s been real worried.”
She nodded. “I’ll be sure to call him later. I, uh, I want you to know, Markie, that although I hate what you’ve done, I also think you’re tryin’ to make up for it in your own way. So, I ain’t gonna be a problem. I’m gonna take your exit package and—well—exit.”
“That’s my girl,” Markie smiled. “I knew you’d come around to seein’ the smart way of doin’ things.” He clasped his hands together. “Well, alright then, I’m gonna make sure your new apartment is all clean and ready for ya. I’ll put all your favorite food and drinks in the kitchen and make sure your cable and the utilities are hooked up. Eh, the doctor give you any idea when you can get outta here?”
“No. We haven’t gotten that far yet.”
“Well, don’t worry about it. I’m gonna take care of everythin’.”
A wave of old affection came over Goldie. Or maybe it was just gratitude.
“Hey, Markie, y-you really gonna marry Kristen DiVarno?”
“Yeah… it’s gonna be good for my standin’ in the family… but you’ve made me very happy, Goldie. And who knows what might happen between us in the future, eh?”
She cocked her head at her former boyfriend quizzically. “What doesthatmean?”
“What?”
“Are you sayin’ you’re gonna marry Kristen, but you wanna keep me on the side? I thought you said she was the ‘whole package.’”
“I’m just sayin’ after your accident and everythin’, the thought of you not bein’ in my life was very upsettin’.Reallyupsettin’! As for the future, it’s—y’know—unwritten.”
“Yyyeah,” she drawled, “I ain’t gonna be no back-door babe like in a Stones’ song.”
“One thing at a time,” he encouraged. “Now that you’re goin’ to take the apartment, the car, and the bank account, maybe there’s somethin’ you can do for me.”
“I’m in the hospital because you broke my heart. But, by all means, Markie, what can I do foryou?”
“It’s nothin’ really,” he understated. “A token of goodwill.”
“What?”
“Your diaries. When the boys were packin’ up your stuff, we couldn’t find ‘em.”
“What do ya want with my diaries?”
“Ay, Goldie, c’mon now… we were together a long time. Who knows what you’ve written down in ‘em.”
“There’s nothin’ incriminatin’ in my diaries. They’re just full of girl stuff. Notes about clothes I bought. Movies we went to. Restaurants we ate at. Anniversaries, some of which you forgot.”
“Then it won’t be a big deal to let me look through ‘em, huh?”
“It will be if you read about how many times I faked orgasms.”
He looked at her, surprised.
“Not all the time,” she qualified. “Not even most times.”
“I gotta check out the diaries, Goldie. It’s just a precaution.”
“Yeah, I think I’m gonna keep their location private,” she decided. “It’s just a precaution.”
He furrowed his brow disapprovingly. “I’m not likin’ what I’m hearin’ here.”
