“Because you’re nine.”
“So?”
“So stop asking questions.”
I heard her handbag zip shut.
Her footsteps headed toward the door.
Before leaving, she added, “You should start getting used to the idea of living with me.”
The door closed.
I waited until Walter touched my arm.
“She’s gone.”
My eyes opened. “What the hell was that?”
“That wasn’t the first time she said it.”
“How many times?”
“I don’t know. A lot.”
“Walter.”
“Maybe four? Five?”
“While I was unconscious?”
He nodded.
“What exactly did she say?”
“That you might not wake up. And even if you did, I probably couldn’t live with you anymore.”
“Why?”
“She said because you’re old.”
“I’m sixty-one!”
“I told her that.”
Despite everything, I almost laughed.
Walter continued, “She said your eyes were bad, too. And that the accident proved you couldn’t take care of me.”
