Nightingale Page #3

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and I just can't have the house

be in a state of utter chaos.

I just... I just can't.

I have to be done by Thursday

at the very latest

so I can begin preparations for our meal.

I think I've settled

on the trout recipe,

but I still haven't decided yet

on the other courses.

And believe it or not,

I haven't even thought

about dessert!

I know! It's just ridiculous!

Anyway, the Good Lord will take my hand.

He always does.

In the meantime,

your comments are very welcome.

I'll call you Adam,

and I'll call you Eve.

Tropical fish,

they've been Edward's favorite

since he was a little boy.

They were his abiding passion.

But he doesn't have any of his own

because Gloria says they're

too expensive for a young family.

So, look what I got!

I don't care about the money.

I don't care about that at all.

I want this to be Edward's sanctuary.

Aren't they beautiful?

The pretty one is Eve

and the other one is Adam.

He just left his wife.

Isn't it romantic?

It's like Titanic,

only the lovers have

survived the catastrophe

and learned to live together

forever underwater.

No one can stand between them now

or tear them apart.

They'll be happy for the

rest of their lives.

Sh*t!

F*** anus!

I know it's in here somewhere!

Where the hell have you put it?

This is f***ing ridiculous!

Edward and I both enjoy

a nice espresso after dinner.

We have a beautiful machine here for that,

but Mother, in one of her spiteful moods,

has hidden it somewhere.

She is a bitter, spiteful old woman!

Hello?

Yeah, I would like to buy

your espresso machine.

B25-8261.

Yes, but before I order,

I just need to know something for certain.

If I order it today,

will it be here by Friday?

I don't care about how much that costs.

That doesn't matter to me.

Okay, great!

Yes, that will be perfect!

Let me give you my credit card number.

It's a perfectly good number.

Just try it again.

Okay, fine, whatever!

Just... Thanks for nothing.

It's a f***ing conspiracy.

Yes, yeah, yeah, I did...

I did make those purchases,

but can't you just increase my limit?

No, this is... This is an emergency.

I mean, don't you care

about your customers?

I mean, what am I supposed to do?

No, no, I have company coming on Friday.

Don't you understand?

Are you retarded?

No, I can't possibly wait until next month.

Do you wanna ruin everything?

Fine!

This isn't over yet.

I know all your hiding places.

It occurs to me that I haven't told you

much about Edward.

Here's a picture.

We've known each other almost 18 years.

Since basic training.

Before that, really.

Our recruiter sent us

a ride to the train station.

We rode down together.

We hit it off right away.

The army wasn't easy, I'll tell you that.

They don't want you there,

there's a thousand things they can do to you.

Finally, it just...

It just got too much, though,

and I came on home.

Edward re-enlisted.

We drifted apart.

Anyway,

finally, we ran into each other again

a couple years ago.

And, it was...

It was a funny occasion, actually,

because it was Valentine's Day.

I was at the library

returning some books for Mother,

and he was there for story

time with his kids.

We talked and talked,

and it was like we'd never been apart.

He works downtown,

so sometimes I'd take the train down

and we'd just hang out

together in the city.

Those were wonderful times.

Of course, I couldn't bring him back here

and he couldn't bring

me to his house either,

so we had to skulk around like bandits.

Anyway, he's a wonderful man.

My best friend, for sure.

We kind of had a... We had

a little misunderstanding a while back,

and that's why... That's why I need...

That's why I need to get him back here.

You know,

so we can just get that all behind us.

There is nothing

I wouldn't do for that man.

And I know he feels the same way, too.

I don't know what you want from me,

Vicki, I really don't.

I have given her your messages repeatedly.

Maybe she's angry with you.

I mean, you two have

an argument or something?

Well, what have you said to her recently?

Anything that could be misinterpreted?

It could be any little thing.

You know, anything at all.

Well, you never should've said that.

Yeah, well, you know how she is.

She probably took it the wrong way.

I don't know, I mean...

She has been acting a

little depressed lately.

You know what I've been thinking?

Maybe she should go down

to Mobile to visit Mrs. Carothers.

That'd be nice.

You know what?

You would be the absolute hero

if you were to send her the money for that.

But you should send it to me, not to her.

That'd make it a nice surprise.

Uh...

Well, I guess Denver would be all right.

Are you sure Charlie Sphincter

wants another houseguest?

Mother didn't feel very welcome last time.

Well, that's what she said.

Well, just... Just send...

Just send... Just send the money.

We'll figure it out.

We'll see where she wants to go.

Hello?

No, she's not here. Can I take a message?

Oh.

Oh, hello, Mrs. Beasley.

So, she didn't show up at bridge?

Really?

Uh, wait a minute, of course not.

What was I thinking?

She... She hasn't been feeling too well.

No. No, you don't need to

put her on the prayer request.

She'll be back on her feet in no time.

Yeah.

You know what, I... I misspoke about that.

She is here, but she's resting.

No, I'd rather you didn't do that,

Mrs. Beasley.

She might be contagious

and Mother would just be mortified

if you were to catch something, so...

No, no, please don't, Mrs. Beasley.

I know that's exactly

how Mother would feel.

Hey, listen, I gotta go. Gotta go. Sh*t!

There have been so many times, Lord,

when I thought that you had

forgotten me or abandoned me.

I know now that you were preparing me.

Preparing me for this

precise moment in time

when all my prayers would be answered.

Strengthen my faith, Lord,

and Edward's faith, too,

as we step forward together

in your glorious plan.

In Jesus' precious name,

amen.

This is it.

The big day.

I've already been grocery shopping.

I know I could've gone yesterday,

but I wanted everything to be

just as fresh as it could be.

I got some flowers for the table, too.

Gerber daisies, which I love.

They're expensive, though. My goodness.

I haven't decided yet what I'm gonna wear.

Unfortunately, my closet

is a barren wasteland.

I know, I know, I should've gone shopping,

but with one thing and another,

I just didn't get the chance.

You know what, it really doesn't matter.

Edward is notoriously oblivious

to such considerations.

I'm actually a little nervous.

Isn't that funny?

I know I shouldn't be,

but it's just been so long

since we've seen each other.

Luckily, I still have

lots to do around here,

so I can't get too worked up.

Not enough time.

I've gotta clean up around here

and then set a nice table,

but most importantly,

I've gotta get started in the kitchen.

My walnut marinade, after all,

will not prepare itself.

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