Eva took a step toward the door. “I can take care of it if you like.”
“He’s going to want to see Elwood.”
“I can tell him another time?”
“But what if he insists on coming inside?” June made her way awkwardly to the door but then turned to Eva. “I think he thinks…that I’m…that Elwood isn’t…” June did not finish.
Eva hesitated only a moment. “Elwood isn’t what?”
June’s countenance shifted in that moment from agitated tosuddenly worn and weary, and for several seconds Eva thought she was going to spill every secret she had to be hiding. But then her features grew hard and controlled again.
“Nothing. Never mind.”
“I can tell this man you are giving Mr. Blankenship excellent care if he asks,” Eva said. “He can’t insist on coming inside. This is not his house.”
The doorbell rang a third time.
June put her hand on the doorknob, closed her eyes, and exhaled what seemed to be a calming breath. Then she opened her eyes and looked at Eva. “This is indeed not his house. It’s Elwood’s and my house. I’ll handle it.” She started to turn the knob but then swung back around one last time.
“But I do want you to do something for me,” June said.
“Yes?”
“Don’t let him go upstairs.”
9
June swung the front door open wide.
Eva saw a man on the welcome mat dressed in a nice suit. His receding hairline was strewn with gray, and he looked angry. “What the hell, June?” he shouted.
“Hello to you, too, Max,” June said.
June sounded surprisingly at ease, and the man named Max stared wide-eyed at June, perhaps stunned by her calm greeting.
“You probably should’ve called,” June said when Max said nothing.
“Ihavebeen calling!”
“I mean you should have called before coming all the way out here. As I have been telling you for the last week, Elwood doesn’t want to see anyone right now. He’s having a rough spell. He’s not up to it.”
“I want to talk to him.”
“But he doesn’t want to see people right now, Max. Not even you. Nothing personal. It’s just how he is sometimes. You know that.”
Max exhaled heavily. “Thisis not how he is sometimes. I want to talk to him, June. And I’m not leaving until I do.”
He stepped past June and into the entryway. Eva immediately moved behind June to stand closer to the staircase, nearly blocking it.
“Who are you?” Max said to Eva.
For a second no one answered.
“This is Eva.” June finally said, a slight edge to her voice. “I am borrowing her from Melanie next door. Eva is her housekeeper but she’s been helping out here because I hurt my back.”
“Hello,” Eva said.
Max nodded to Eva and then turned his attention back to June. “I want to see him.”
