In Her Shoes Page #9

- And you got-

- A Nancy Drew book.

I asked for a puppy. And she got it!

[ Sighs ] He was so cute.

I named him Honey Bun.

Why'd you only have it for one day?

- I guess Dad thought it was a bad idea.

- [ Ella ] Why?

I don't know. I think he thought

I was too young.

No. He was just mad.

- About a dog?

- No, about the whole day.

He didn't have any idea where we were,

and school had called.

- Oh.

- Really?

Yeah. He was really panicked

and really, really mad at her.

They had a huge fight.

I don't remember a fight.

You were in your room

with a record playing.

- I was?

- Yeah.

I put you in there and turned the music on

so you wouldn't hear them.

[ Ella ]

Why? What were they saying?

He was saying...

she was unfit.

That's the word he used.

He said he was gonna... send her away.

Put her away. Something.

- He kept saying "away. "

- Mmm. And her?

"Oh, there's nothing wrong with me.

I'm a good mother. "

He'd say,"away,"

and she'd say,"I'm their mother!"

So he was-he was gonna

have her hospitalized.

Yeah.

Oh, God. The poor guy.

When exactly was this?

November 3.

No. No, it wasn't.

It was, like, months before that.

It was two days.

It was Tuesday,

and she died that Thursday.

It was on purpose, wasn't it?

The car, the tree.

[ Water Running ]

Was it even raining that night?

You were so little.

How do you tell a six-year-old

her mom left by choice?

Who told you?

No one.

- Oh, God. Why can't I just stay mad at you?

- [ Sniffling ]

'Cause we're a pair,

like Sonny and Cher.

They split up.

- But they remained quite close.

- [ Chuckles ]

I'm not engaged anymore.

Simon dumped me.

Why are you still wearing the ring?

[ Crying ]

I like how it feels.

- Do you know his name?

- Simon Stein.

- Doctor?

- Lawyer.

- Oh. Nice.

- So you call information-

"Simon Stein in Philly"-

Get his number, make a call.

And say what?

"Hey, jerk, you broke my sister's heart.

Come down here and make it right. "

Maybe not that, word-for-word.

- He broke up with her.

He's not gonna want to come.

- Well, you don't know that.

Men can be very confused.

Yeah, too many options-

be an astronaut, be a playboy.

Often a man needs help

making the right choice.

Yeah, how am I supposed to help him?

He doesn't even know me.

He knows your sister.

And loves her, or he wouldn't have

proposed in the first place.

- So?

- So, what if he learns she was in trouble?

Or sick.

Or pregnant.

Dora!

Don't look so shocked,

Miss Comes-To-Florida-

To-Milk-Your-Grandmother-

For-All-She's-Worth.

We know all about you.

- So, dog walking.

- Oh, don't worry about it.

It's not forever. It's just to keep me busy

till I figure out my next move.

Well, when you figure it out,

I hope you'll let me know.

You know, down here, if you don't have

successful grandchildren to brag about...

you're screwed.

What are we reading today?

A little Emily Dick? A little-

What are we reading today?

A little Emily Dick? A little-

[ Footsteps Approaching ]

Did they move him?

He died.

This morning.

Bummer.

- Were you on duty?

- No, I-I don't work here.

This is his chart.

You're his grandson, the doctor.

Who are you?

Um, nobody.

I-I just- I read to him sometimes.

You're Maggie.

He talked about me?

Just a little.

[ MUSIC ] [ DistantJazz ]

-[ MUSIC ] [Jazz ]

- [ Chattering ]

- Hey.

- Hey.

Who's Fred Astaire?

That's Lewis.

You're a very good dancer, Lewis.

Know what else I'm good at?

[ Gasps ]

[ Gasps ]

Simon.

What are you doing here?

I came as soon as your sister called.

Should you be drinking?

[ MUSIC ] [ Piano Plays Gentle Melody ]

[ No Audible Dialogue ]

- So you're not pregnant.

- No. [ Confused Chuckle ]

- Never were.

- Don't you think I would tell you

if I were pregnant?

I don't know.

You know, I hope so, but, frankly...

there were a lot of things

you weren't telling me back there.

[ MUSIC ] [ Gentle Melody Continues ]

I promise, anything I kept from you

had nothing to do with us.

It was about Maggie.

[ Sighs ] I was protecting her

because that's what I do.

You need to know this, because

if by some insane stroke of fate...

you do decide to marry me...

she will make your life a living hell.

You'll be begging me

to kick her out...

commit her, kill her, anything.

And I'll want to...

but I never will.

[ Voice Cracks ]

Because without her...

I don't make sense.

You look good.

You look like you.

- I can't believe I'm in Florida.

- [ Laughs ]

- [ Ella ] You'll come back?

- Yes, I promise.

- Now, you hold her to it.

- I will.

Okay, don't buy a wedding dress.

It's gonna be my gift to you.

[ Laughs ]

No way.

You'll have me in some

hootchie-mama monstrosity.

Look, I'm good at this. Trust me.

Are you sure this is the right place?

[ Man ] Only oneJerk Hut

in Philadelphia, ma'am.

[ MUSIC ] [ Man Singing: Reggae ]

[ Door Opens ]

Michael.

Ella.

This is my friend, Lewis Feldman.

- Lewis, this is Michael Feller, father of the bride.

- Pleased to meet you.

Welcome. Rose will be

so glad you're here.

Ella!

- [ Giggles Excitedly ]

- [ Both ] Oh.

I'm so glad you're here.

- Are you excited?

- [ Rose ] Yeah.

[ Ella ]

Yes? Perfect.

[ Maggie ] She gets really mad

if you leave the lid off the ice cream.

[ Simon ]

I know.

- Don't even think about using her toothbrush.

- Mm-hmm.

- And she hates the look of raw chicken.

- I know.

And if she starts humming

"Hava Nagila"...

she's, like, really, really mad-

like, mad.

Mag- Maggie, I know. I know her.

[ Chuckles Lightly ]

- Okay.

- Okay.

Mm-hmm.

I wore them in 1952.

- Old.

- But not to you.

- Right.

- And if I didn't give them to you?

- Borrowed.

- Mm-hmm. And look at the flowers.

- Blue.

- Yeah.

So, uh, Simon-

[ MUSIC ] [ Man Singing: Reggae ]

I'll be back in a few minutes.

[ Ella ]

They are so lovely.

You should be very proud.

I'm afraid I can't take much credit.

Well, it's not always easy

taking care of yourself...

and someone else

at the same time.

I owe you an apology, Ella.

Many, in fact.

I owe quite a few myself.

[ Rabbi ]

You'll be entering from-

Oh, yeah, just along here

and, um, down these stairs.

- And will someone be escorting you?

- My dad.

- That's nice.

- Dad.

[ MUSIC ] [ Rhythmic Drums Continue ]

[ MUSIC ] [ Piano:"Here Comes the Bride"]

[ MUSIC ] [ Song Ends ]

- Thanks, Dad.

- Thanks, Michael.

And now, a very special moment.

Young lady?

Uh, this isn't in the program,

'cause it's a surprise.

I surprise Rose a lot.

Uh, usually, she hates it.

I think, or I hope...

that she likes this.

It's a poem by e. e. cummings.

For you.

"I carry your heart with me.

"I carry it in my heart.

"I am never without it.

"Anywhere I go, you go, my dear.

"And whatever is done by only me...

"is your doing, my darling.

"I fear no fate...

"for you are my fate, my sweet.

"I want no world, for, beautiful...

"you are my world, my true.

"Here is the deepest secret

no one knows.

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