Chapter 37

Alex hates the way Lily piles the plastic containers one atop another. With the left over pot roast in front of her, she reaches to the cabinet above the stove and feels around for the three inch circular bowl with the blue rubber top. As she locates it, two other pieces fly out—one bouncing directly off her head and the other unceremiously falls to the floor, where it defiantly rolls toward the refrigerator.

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“Lily” Alex yells, “I am not cooking another meal in this kitchen until you clean up the g.d. containers”.

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Lily appears at the kitchen doorway. She is dressed in her favorite black velour sweat suit, wringing her permed auburn hair over her right shoulder.

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“You have no appreciation for the fact that half of my beloved dishes and stemware are in languishing in storage so we could fit your fiesta ware and martini glasses in my modest kitchen”
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Alex feigns surprise. “Honeygirl, how could you expect me to co-habitat with you without my martini glasses? Let’s get real.”
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The phone rings just as Lily’s long stemmed fingers reach the back of Alex’s neck.

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“Hold on, hold on” she teases as she swings backwards and grabs the phone.

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“Hello” she purrs.

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“Hello. This is Dr. Chambliss.”

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There are molecular events in life when the slightest word or sound or movement occurs and you know then and there you will never forget who you were the moment before and who you became the moment after.

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Alex looks up to see Lily bring her hand to her mouth like one of those circus Mime performers.

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“’This is Lily, Dr. Chambliss.”

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“I know” he said. “I’m afraid I have bad news”.