there was no other topic in the world than her infant.
Judith sat in an armchair, nursing little Hastings. “I’ll be finished in just a moment, and then Lydia can take over.”
“Lydia?” Eleanor put her hand to her temple. Was she really becoming senile?
Judith explained, “Lydia is my niece. She’s fourteen and baby crazy, so she’ll take care of the babies while we have a nice grown-up meal.”
“Let me show you the upstairs,” Phillip suggested.
Eleanor and Silas followed Phillip up the winding steps to the second floor, where the bedrooms and bathrooms were located in a sort of fan around the central room, the playroom, thickly carpeted and scattered with soft toys. At one end sat two colorful toy computers, and slightly above them, hanging on the wall, was a small color TV.
“TV for the babies?” Eleanor was appalled.
“I know,” Phillip said. “Alicia was worried, too, but the truth is the world has moved on since we were young, or even had young children. Screens are everywhere and they’re not going away. The computers are basic, and sweet, actually. If a child hits the letter ‘F,’ for example, a fish appears on the screen. Let me show you.”
Eleanor sat on the adult-size sofa, watching these new electronic marvels. The world has moved on, Phillip had said, and he was right. She didn’t pretend she was also moving on, in a very different direction, but while she was here, she didn’t want to be left behind.
“Maybe after dinner,” Eleanor said, “you could show me how the computers work.”
Phillip glowed. “I would love to. I know Ari and Beck are buying a computer like this for little Maisie.”
They toured the bedrooms then, each room in a different tone of blue, the wide beds inviting, the bathrooms en suite, the linens crisp and expensive, the closets spacious.
“Why do they have six bedrooms?” Eleanor asked.
“Oh, because they’ll have guests, of course. You met Judith’s parents and sister at Ari and Beck’s wedding. They’ll be coming to stay in the summer, and Ari, Beck, and Maisie will come often. And Judith’s friends, of course, and Cliff’s.”
“I’m absolutely dizzy,” Eleanor said.
Silas quickly took her elbow to steady her.
“I’m all right,” Eleanor told him. “Could I walk out on one of the balconies and see the view?”
Phillip opened the sliding glass door and Eleanor stepped out onto the balcony. The railings were white and more than strong enough for Eleanor to lean on as she looked around at this part of the island that she’d never seen before. Green lawns, evergreens, wild scrub oak and vines, beach plum bushes, seagrass, and sand plain extended to the blue ocean, peaceful today. Here and there the view was dotted with the roofs and chimneys of other houses, as if they lived in a village. It was a most comforting view. Some really unbearable rock music was blasting from a house to the east. Three boys on bikes raced down one of the lanes. A crow made a scream of exasperation—Eleanor thought it was because of the horrible music—and flew from its perch on a tree and out of eyesight. This is the world, Eleanor thought. It’s been going on all the time and I never knew it. She hoped that was the way it was with heaven.
“Judith says dinner is ready,” Phillip said.
They all tromped downstairs and into the dining area—the house was open-plan, so there was no formal dining room, although the table had been beautifully set with an Irish linen tablecloth and napkins, and a centerpiece of daffodils and tulips and iris, all from the local florist. Bowls of steaming casseroles, vegetables, rice, and couscous filled the table—no lamb or ham now that Beck and Ari were fully vegetarian.
“I’ve never tasted such divine bread,” Eleanor said. “Where did you find it?”
Judith laughed. “I made it. I’ll give you the recipe.”
Eleanor asked, “You made it? When did you have time?”
“Oh, I get up early. And Cliff took care of the baby all morning.”
Eleanor stared openmouthed at Cliff.
Her son gave her a naughty and totally happy grin.
While they ate, the conversation flowed. Ari asked Judith how her parents were and how Judith’s grandmother, who was eighty-nine and in an assisted-living community, was faring. They discussed Beck’s family, his parents and Hen and Michelle and her wedding, including the groom’s family and Michelle’s bridesmaids, and after a while, Eleanor sat back in her chair with her second glass of wine and just listened.