Everything to Gain Read Online Free PDF Page B

Divine . And I can't tell you how much I relish having them to myself for a couple of days. Thanks for that, Mal, it's so very sweet and considerate of you, letting me get to know my grandchildren in this way."
    "They love you, Diana, and they enjoy being with you," I said, meaning every word. "And what are you planning to do with them?"
    "I'm taking them to the Museum of Natural History, after breakfast. You know how they are about animals, and especially dinosaurs. Then I thought I'd bring them home for a light lunch, since it's so nice and cool in the flat. I promised to take them to F.A.O. Schwarz after their nap. We're going shopping for toys."
    "Don't spoil them," I warned. "Doting grandmothers have been known to spend far too much money at certain times. Like when they're on holiday visits."
    Diana laughed, and over her laughter I heard my daughter wailing in the background. Then Lissa said in a shrill voice, "Nanna! Nanna! Jamie's broken my bowl, and the goldfish is on the carpet. Dying.'" The wailing grew louder, more dramatic.
    "I didn't do it on purpose!" Jamie shouted.
    My mother-in-law had not spoken for a moment, no doubt distracted by this sudden racket exploding around her. Now she exclaimed, "Oh, God, hang on a minute, Mallory, the fish is gasping. I think I'd better grab a glass of water and pop the fish in it. Won't be a tick." So saying she put the phone down, I strained to hear my children.
    Jamie cried plaintively, "I'm sorry, Lissa."
    "Pick up the phone and speak to your mother," I heard Diana instruct from a distance, sounding very brisk and businesslike. "She's waiting to say hello to you, darling. Go on, Lissa, speak to your mummy," my mother-in-law commanded in a tone that forbade argument.
    After a moment, a small, tearful voice trickled down the wire. "Mommy, Jamie's killed my goldfish. Poor little fish."
    "No, I haven't!" Jamie shrieked at the top of his lungs.
    "Don't cry, honey," I said to Lissa, then added in a reassuring voice, "And I'm sure your goldfish isn't dead, I bet Nanna has it safely in water already. How did the bowl break?"
    "It was Jamie that broke it! He banged on it with a spoon, and all the water fell out and my little fish."
    "He must have been banging awfully hard to break the glass," I said. "Perhaps it was already cracked. I'm sure it was an accident, and that he didn't do it on purpose."
    In the background, Jamie cried again, "I'm sorry."
    Lissa said, "He was banging hard, Mommy. He's mean, he was trying to frighten Swellen."
    "Swellen?" I repeated, my voice rising slightly. "What kind of name is that?"
    "She means Sue Ellen," Diana said to me, having relieved my daughter of the phone. "And I suspect the fish-bowl was defective, Mal. In any case, the goldfish is alive and kicking, or should I say swimming, in one of your Pyrex dishes. I'll get a goldfish bowl later, at the pet shop where I bought the goldfish yesterday. That'll make her happy."
    "You don't have to bother buying a new one," I said. "There's a bowl from the florist's in the cupboard where I keep the vases. It's perfectly adequate."
    "Thanks for the tip, Mal. Jamie wants to speak to you."
    My son took the phone. "Mom, I didn't do it on purpose, honestly I didn't. I didn't !" he protested.
    "Yes, you did!" Lissa yelled.
    She must have been standing directly behind Jamie, heard her so clearly. "I'm sure you didn't mean to break it, honey," I murmured. "But tell Lissa you're sorry again and give her a kiss. Then everything will be fine."
    "Yes, Mom," he mumbled.
    Because he still sounded tearful, I tried to reassure him. "I love you, Jamie."
    "I love you, too, Mom," he answered a bit more cheerfully, and then he dropped the receiver down with a clatter.
    "Jamie, ask Nanna to come to the phone!" I exclaimed, then repeated this several times to no avail. I was about to hang up when Diana finally came back on the line.
    "I think peace reigns once more," she said, chuckling. "Oh, dear, I do believe I speak too soon,