Lil needed his services, but also because it would be unthinkable of him not to contribute what goodwill he could in such a sad situation. Adelle refused to budge, waiting out of curiosity and a desire to help. Her two followers would stay as long as Adelle. Fran waited because Father Stebbins had helped her so much in the past, and now he truly needed her. And Father Stebbins, well, he waited for reasons unknown to most of the others, overcome with guilt, fingering his rosary as he prayed over and over.
They were there for so long, hoping for more news of Timmy, that even the elderly couple had been administered to and the young boy with the basketball injury bandaged. Others had limped and coughed their way inside to take their place by the time Annie O'Day reappeared.
"He's going to be sleeping through the night," Annie told the group. "There's nothing more that we can do."
The cumulative effect of her words, their growing hunger and the increasingly crowded conditions in the waiting room finally convinced them all that it was time to move on.
"There's nothing you can do tonight," Fran repeated to a distraught Father Stebbins. "Let me make you a strong cup of tea before you go to bed. It will do you good."
The big priest rose numbly. "It's all my fault," he repeated. "I tried to do the right thing. He trusted me and look what I did to him." He shook his head and allowed himself to be guided by Fran toward the exit door. "Texas," he mumbled on his way out. "I should have called Texas. And damn the seal."
"Well, that's it for the Father," Adelle remarked crisply. "He's blathering on about Texas and seals." Her followers murmured in appreciation of her observation, but Auntie Lil was annoyed. She did not approve of witty remarks that were made at the expense of common sense. Of course he was blathering about seals, she thought to herself. The confessional seal. Not the kind that balanced balls on their noses.
Auntie Lil was suddenly very tired and hungry and ready to be away from this all. "I could use a cup of coffee myself," she announced abruptly.
"I could use a gallon," Annie added. She took Auntie Lil's arm as if to help her to the door but, in truth, it was Annie that needed the support. "I'm exhausted," the big woman admitted.
Auntie Lil patted her arm in reassurance. "You were magnificent tonight," she told her. "You saved the boy's life." Annie nodded weakly, and Auntie Lil was alarmed at her sudden lack of vigor. Perhaps she, too, had not eaten all day. "Let's stop by the deli for a bite," Auntie Lil decided for them both. "If I know you, you're planning to go by the police station and see Bob. You can't do that without proper nourishment."
"Coffee?" Adelle said scornfully, a bit miffed at being left out. "I believe a good stiff drink is in order." She looked hopefully around at her followers and settled her gaze on Herbert Wong. Her entire face rearranged itself: eyes widened, her eyebrows rose and her lips pursed in an inviting smile. She looked as if she were preparing for a screen test. "Herbert," she cooed prettily, "regrettably, it appears as if our adventure is at an end. What say we toast to auld lang syne before resuming our humdrum lives?" She placed a tentative hand on his arm and cocked her eyebrows higher. "We really should raise a toast to Eva’s dear memory."
Herbert's face brightened. He was not averse to either drinks or escorting three lovely ladies. Nonetheless, he glanced at Auntie Lil first.
"Go on, I don't mind a bit," Auntie Lil told him with exaggerated dignity. Mustering an air of superiority, she declared, "I don't feel the need to depend on alcohol at the moment, anyway."
Herbert bowed politely to Lillian, then escorted Adelle and her followers out the door.
"Wait until he finds out he has to pay," Auntie Lil muttered under her breath.
"We could join them," Annie offered, but her heart wasn't in it.
"No. You need something hot," Auntie Lil decided. "And so do I." They negotiated their way around a tramp who had made his home across the entrance ramp, then turned south on Ninth Avenue. Behind them, heading north, Herbert and the elderly actresses chatted together eagerly. Adelle laughed loudly at something Herbert said; Auntie Lil gritted her teeth and ignored them.
"Look—there's Fran and Father Stebbins." Annie pointed