jg.skippingchristmas-第17部分

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　Total　chaos。　Then；　around　six；　when　they　were　both　exhausted　and　sick　off　the　holidays；　their　guests　would　arrive。　Their　guests　would　also　be　dog…tired　from　the　frenzied　ordeal　of　Christmas；　but　they　would　push　on　and　make　the　best　of　it。
　The　Krank　Christmas　party　had　begun　years　earlier　with　a　dozen　or　so　friends　over　for　appetizers　and　drinks；　Last　year；　they'd　fed　fifty。
　His　smug　smile　spread　even　wider　across　his　face。　He　relished　the　solitude　of　his　home　and　the　prospect　of　a　day　with　nothing　to　do　but　throw　a　few　clothes　in　a　suitcase　and　get　ready　for　the　beaches。
　They　enjoyed　a　late　breakfast　of　tasteless　bran　cereal　and　yogurt。　Conversation　over　the　Gazette　was　soft　and　pleasant。　Nora　was　trying　gamely　to　ignore　the　memories　of　past　Christmases。　She　worked　hard　at　being　excited　about　their　trip。
　〃Do　you　think　she's　safe？〃　she　finally　asked。
　〃She's　fine；〃　Luther　said　without　looking　up。
　They　stood　at　the　front　window　and　talked　about　the　Scheels；　and　they　watched　the　Trogdons　move　about。　Traffic　picked　up　on　Hemlock　as　folks　ventured　out　for　one　last　foray　into　the　madness。　A　delivery　truck　stopped　in　front　of　their　house。　Butch　the　deliveryman　bounded　out　of　it　with　a　box。　He　ran　to　the　front　door　just　as　Luther　was　opening　it。
　〃Merry　Christmas；〃　he　said　tersely；　and　practically　threw　the　package　at　Luther。　A　week　earlier；　during　a　less…stressful　delivery；　Butch　had　lingered　a　bit；　waiting　for　his　annual　gratuity。　Luther　had　explained　that　they　were　not　celebrating　Christmas　this　year。　See；　we　have　no　tree；　Butch。　No　decorations。　No　gifts。　No　lights　on　the　shrubs；　no　Frosty　on　the　roof。　Just　dropping　out　this　year；　Butch。　No　calendars　from　the　police；　no　fruitcakes　from　the　firemen。　Nothing；　Butch。　Butch　left　with　nothing。
　The　box　was　from　a　mail…order　outfit　called　Boca　Beach。　Luther'd　found　them　on　the　Internet。　He　took　the　package　to　the　bedroom；　locked　the　door；　and　put　on　a　matching　shirt　and　shorts　outfit　that　in　print　had　looked　just　a　little　offbeat；　but　now；　hanging　on　Luther；　looked　downright　gaudy。
　〃What　is　it；　Luther？〃　Nora　said；　banging　on　the　door。
　It　was　a　yellow；　aqua；　and　teal　print　of　marine　life…large　fat　fishes　with　bubbles　floating　up　from　their　mouths。　Whimsical；　yes。　Silly；　yes。
　And　Luther　decided　right　there　on　the　spot　that　he　would　love　it　and　wear　it　proudly　around　one　of　the　pools　on　the　Island　Princess。　He　yanked　open　the　door。　Nora　covered　her　mouth　and　was　instantly　hysterical。　He　paraded　down　the　hall；　wife　behind　him　in　stitches；　his　brown　feet　and　toes　a　sharp　contrast　to　the　khaki　carpet；　and　he　marched　into　the　living　room　where　he　stood　proudly　at　the　front　window　for　all　of　Hemlock　to　see。　
　〃You're　not　going　to　wear　that！〃　Nora　roared　from　behind　him。
　〃I　certainly　am！〃
　〃Then　I'm　not　going！〃
　〃Yes　you　are。〃
　〃It's　hideous。〃
　〃You're　just　jealous　because　you　don't　have　this　outfit。〃　
　〃I'm　thrilled　that　I　don't　have　it。〃
　He　grabbed　her　and　they　danced　around　the　room；　both　laughing；　Nora　to　the　point　of　having　tears　in　her　eyes。　Her　husband；　an　uptight　tax　accountant　with　a　stodgy　outfit　like　Wiley　&　Beck；　trying　his　best　to　dress　like　a　beach　bum。　And　missing　badly。　
　The　phone　rang。
　As　Luther　would　remember　after；　he　and　Nora　stopped　their　dancing　and　laughing　on　the　second　ring；　maybe　the　third；　and　for　some　reason　paused　and　stared　at　the　phone。　It　rang　again；　and　he　walked　a　few　steps　to　get　it。　Things　were　deathly　still　and　quiet；　as　he　recalled　later；　everything　seemed　to　be　in　slow　motion。
　〃Hello；〃　he　said。　For　some　reason；　the　receiver　felt　heavier。
　〃Daddy；　it's　me。〃
　He　was　surprised；　then　he　was　not。　Surprised　to　hear　Blair's　voice；　but　then　not　surprised　at　all　that　she　had　schemed　some　way　to　get　to　a　phone　to　call　her　parents　and　wish　them　a　Merry　Christmas。　They　had　phones　in　Peru；　after　all。　
　But　her　words　were　so　crisp　and　clear。　Luther　had　trouble　picturing　his　beloved　daughter　on　a　stump　in　the　jungle　yelling　into　some　portable　satellite　phone。
　〃Blair；〃　he　said。　Nora　bolted　to　his　side。
　The　next　word　that　registered　with　Luther　was　the　word　〃Miami。〃　There　were　words　before　it　and　some　after；　but　that　one　stuck。　Just　seconds　into　the　conversation　Luther　was　treading　water　and　about　to　sink。　Things　were　swirling。
　〃How　are　you；　dear？〃　he　asked。
　A　few　words；　then　that　〃Miami〃　word　again。　
　〃You're　in　Miami？〃　Luther　said；　his　voice　high　and　dry。　Nora　shuffled　quickly　so　that　her　eyes；　wild　and　harsh；　were　just　inches　from　his。
　Then　he　listened。　Then　he　repeated；　〃You're　in　Miami；　conning　home　for　Christmas。　How　wonderful；　Blair！〃　Nora's　jaws　unlocked；　her　mouth　fell　open　as　wide　as　Luther　had　ever　seen　it。
　More　listening；　then　〃Who？　Enrique？〃　Then　at　full　volume；　Luther　said；　〃Your　fiancé！　But　what　fiancé？！〃
　Nora　somehow　managed　to　think；　and　she　pushed　the　Speaker　button　on　the　phone。　Blair's　words　poured　forward　and　echoed　around　the　living　room；　〃He's　a　Peruvian　doctor　I　met　right　after　I　got　here；　and　he's　just　so　wonderful。　We　fell　in　love　at　first　sight　and　within　a　week　decided　to　get　married。　He's　never　been　to　the　States　and　he's　so　excited。　I've　told　him　all　about　Christmas　there…the　tree；　the　decorations；　Frosty　up　on　the　roof；　the　Christmas　party；　everything。　Is　it　snowing；　Daddy？　Enrique　has　never　seen　a　white　Christmas。〃
　〃No；　honey；　not　yet。　Here's　your　mother。〃　Luther　handed　the　receiver　to　Nora；　who　took　it；　though　with　the　Speaker　button　down　it　wasn't　needed。
　〃Blair；　where　are　you；　dear？〃　Nora　asked；　doing　a　good　job　of　sounding　enthused。
　〃In　the　Miami　airport；　Mom；　and　our　flight　gets　home　at　six…oh…three。　Mom；　you're　gonna　love　Enrique；　he's　the　sweetest　thing；　and　drop…dead　gorgeous；　too。　We're　crazy　in　love　with　each　other。　We'll　talk　about　the　wedding；　probably　do　it　next　summer；　don't　you　think？〃
　〃Uh；　well　see。〃
　Luther　had　fallen　onto　the　sofa；　apparently　stricken　with　a　life…threatening　ailment。
　Blair　gushed　on：　〃I've　told　him　all　about　Christmas　on　Hemlock；　the　kids；　the　Frostys；　the　big　party　at　our　house。　You're　doing　the　party；　aren't　you；　Mom？〃
　Luther；　near　death；　groaned；　and　Nora　made　her　first　mistake。　In　the　panic　of　the　moment　she　could　not　be　blamed　for　muddled　thinking。　What　she　should've　said；　what　she　wished　she'd　said；　what　Luther　later；　with　perfect　hindsight；　claimed　she　should've　said；　was　〃Well；　no；　honey；　we're　not　doing　the　party　this　year。〃
　But　nothing　was　clear　right　then；　and　Nora　said；　〃Of　course　we　are。〃
　Luther　groaned　again。　Nora　looked　at　him；　the　fallen　beach　bum　in　his　ridiculous　costume；　lying　over　there　like　he'd　been　shot。　She'd　certainly　shoot　him　if　given　half　a　chance。
　〃Oh　great！　Enrique　has　always　wanted　to　see　Christmas　in　the　States。　I've　told　him　all　about　it。　Isn't　this　a　wonderful　surprise；　Mom？〃
　〃Oh；　honey；　I'm　so　thrilled；〃　Nora　managed　to　get　out　with　just　enough　conviction。　〃We'll　have　a　grand　time。〃
　〃Mom；　no　gifts；　okay。　Please　promise　me　no　gifts。　I　wanted　to　surprise　you　by　ing　home；　but　I　don't　want　you　and　Daddy　running　around　right　now　buying　a　bunch　of　gifts。　Promise？〃
　〃I　promise。〃
　〃Great。　I　can't　wait　to　get　home。〃
　You've　been　gone　only　a　month；　Luther　wanted　to　say。
　〃Are　you　sure　this　is　okay；　Mom？〃　As　if　Luther　and　Nora　had　a　choice。　As　if　they　could　say；　〃No；　Blair；　you　can't　e　home　for　Christmas。　Turn　around；　dear；　and　go　back　to　the　jungles　of　Peru。〃
　〃I　gotta　run。　We　fly　from　here　to　Atlanta；　then　home。　Can　you　meet　us？〃
　〃Of　course；　dear；〃　Nora　said。　〃No　problem。　And　you　say　he's　a　doctor？〃
　〃Yes；　Mother；　and　he's　so　wonderful。〃
　
　Luther　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　sofa　with　his　face　stuck　in　his　palms　and　appeared　to　be　crying。　Nora　stood　with　the　phone　clutched　in　her　hand　and　her　hands　on　her　hips；　staring　at　the　man　on　the　sofa　and　debating　whether　or　not　to　hurl　it　at　him。
　Against　her　better　judgment；　she　decided　not　to。
　He　opened　his　palms　just　wide　enough　to　say；　〃What　time　is　it？〃
　〃It's　eleven…fifteen；　December　twenty…fourth。〃
　The　room　was　frozen　for　a　long　time　before　Luther　said；　〃Why　did　you　tell　her　we　were　having　the　party？〃
　〃Because　we're　having　the　party。〃
　〃Oh。〃
　〃I　don't　know　who's　ing　or　what　they're　going　to