‘I told him,’ Kimble says, raising her voice over Marc’s, ‘we trust one another, he and I. We’re a team. He would never do that.’
‘Kimble …’
‘I’m still talking.’ Kimble spoons pudding into her mouth. ‘The road was basically a river. We couldn’t move. Then you came out of the trees, with her. We got you into the back seat, and then theengine started again right away. That place is so weird.’ She pauses. ‘You weren’t wounded, there wasn’t any blood.’ She is disapproving.
‘Sorry,’ Marc says. Kimble appreciates blood: it means that the situation is serious enough to deserve her attention.
‘So.’ Kimble focuses on the spoon and the pudding. ‘She’s your sister?’
‘Yes.’
‘And you lied to me about this whole thing. About the documentary, about who you are.’
‘Yes. The first part. The second part – no. I didn’t lie about who I am. You know who I am.’
‘Ok.’ Kimble rises from her chair.
‘Kimble.’ Marc closes his eyes. ‘I messed things up for you with Margot,’ he says. ‘I made you miss your trip. I did it on purpose. I was scared you’d leave me. That you wouldn’t be my friend anymore.’
‘Marc,’ Kimble says. ‘You can’t keep people around like pictures on the wall. One day we might not be friends anymore. I can’t promise that won’t happen. But we’re friends now. Ok?’
‘Ok.’ Marc swipes a hand across his eyes. ‘I’m such an asshole.’
‘That’s true,’ she says, taking the edge of his blanket between finger and thumb. She stares down at it. ‘Try not to be too much of an asshole when you meet her.’
‘Who?’
‘Margot. She’s coming out to Boulder tomorrow.’
‘Oh,’ he says. ‘That’s great.’ After a moment, he says, ‘I’ve got to check on—’
‘They’re still doing tests,’ Kimble says. ‘Scans, tissue typing, I don’t know, to see if she’s a match. I asked as I came in. Why haven’t we talked about that?’
‘I thought,’ Marc says carefully, ‘that I should stop putting my problems on you. I’m trying to learn boundaries.’
‘Jesus,’ Kimble says. ‘There are boundaries and boundaries, Marc.’
‘This one has to work, Kimble. It has to.’ He can’t stop the tears.
‘Um,’ Kimble says. ‘Ok. Do you need a—?’ She leans forward and puts her arms stiffly around him. They stay there for a moment.
Kimble sits back. ‘I didn’t like that.’
‘No,’ he says, shaken. ‘Why did you do it?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘Ok,’ Marc says. ‘Let’s not do it again.’
Kimble nods and there is a stretched silence. ‘So can I get you anything before I go?’ she asks politely.
‘No, thank you,’ Marc says. ‘I have everything I need.’
She pokes the spoon into the empty pudding pot. ‘There is something else, actually. You should know that I’m editing the footage.’ Kimble licks her finger. ‘In fact, I’m making the documentary. By myself. If you want I can credit you as an exec or whatever. I’ve wanted to produce and direct for a while and this feels like a good opportunity. I’m assuming you have no problem with that.’
‘No problem,’ Marc says after a moment. ‘Good idea.’
‘Great. My agent will be in touch. Also, I’m paying Linus ten thousand dollars, if we can get it.’ Kimble stands. ‘Bye, Marky Mark.’ With her pointing finger she quickly traces a circle on the back of his hand.Love.‘I’m glad you’re alive.’ She walks away quickly down the ward.
