beginning to question how well he knew her or if he knew her at all.
* * *
—
On Tuesday night, when Austin got home, he questioned Zoe about Jaime’s appointment with the orthopedic surgeon. He had been reading about mothers with Munchausen by proxy who had caused their children to have serious surgeries, sometimes with death as the result. And Zoe exploring spinal surgery to insert steel rods into his daughter’s back had him panicked.
“What did he say?” Austin asked in a strangled voice when he found Zoe in the kitchen.
“He said he wants to see her again in six months. We’ll see how it goes and what he thinks then,” she said calmly. As far as Austin was concerned, it was a reprieve, and at least he didn’t have to confront her about it now, so he nodded and said nothing. The tension between them since Jaime nearly drowned in Florida had been palpable, but in spite of that, he was trying to act as though nothing was wrong, at least until he finished the book his mother had given him, and he had further thoughts on the subject. For the moment he was still confused, or hoped he was. But it was hard to feel close to her when he was so worried. He blamed how distracted he was on problems at work, and she seemed to believe him, and didn’t question him about it. She was having problems of her own at the shelter, after the vacation. They kept her busy all week.
He finished reading the book on Munchausen by proxy on Wednesday on his way to work, and called Cathy on her cellphone as soon as he got to his office.
“I know this probably sounds crazy to you, but I’d like to come and see you, confidentially. I don’t want Zoe to know about it. I don’t want to put you in an awkward position, but there are some things I’m concerned about and want to discuss with you.” He didn’t mean to sound mysterious but he didn’t want to tell her on the phone. He wanted to see her face-to-face.
“Is it about what happened in Florida?” Zoe had already called her and told her her version of the story and that she felt terrible about it, and that Austin was furious with her. “Accidents can happen. You only have to take your eyes off a child Jaime’s age for a split second, and they can wind up at the bottom of a pool and drown.”
“She almost did,” he said miserably. “But it isn’t about that, not entirely. But just for your information, Zoe was talking to a group of women and had her back to the pool. She didn’t have her eyes on Jaime, and Jaime was racing around the wet concrete when she slipped, without her floaties on. Zoe had no idea where she was or what she was doing, for a lot longer than a split second. But I want to discuss a broader subject with you, in confidence. I’m sorry if that’s awkward for you.”
“I can manage it,” she said quietly, “if it’s important to you.” She wanted to help him, and she respected them both.
“I think it is,” he said somberly. “Do you suppose you can get your nurses not to say I came in? I know how friendly Zoe is with them. She’s always taking them chocolates and gifts, or baking cookies for them.” Cathy knew it was true, and the nurses loved Zoe for it.
“I’ll handle it.” She was glad he had reminded her. She wouldn’t have thought of it, but he was right. Her nurses all thought Zoe walked on water and was a saint, the most devoted mother in their practice. They would have done anything for her, and would have mentioned it to her that Austin came in. She knew it would look strange when she asked them not to, but confidentiality required that they respect his wishes, and she would see to it that they did. “Do you want to come in at lunchtime? It’s the longest break I have in my schedule today, and it sounds like you want to talk sooner rather than later.”
“I do.” She was very fond of them both, and hoped that she could put his mind at ease. As far as she was concerned, Zoe was a good wife, a good mother, and a good friend. She wondered if they were having marital problems, although Zoe hadn’t