Terms of Endearment Read Online Free PDF Page B

know,’” Flap said.
    “Yes,” Emma said. “It’s true too. I don’t know. I don’t think I ever will. I bet that’s what I’ll do when I’m old. I’ll sit in a chair somewhere saying ‘I don’t know, I don’t know.’ Only then I’ll probably drool when I say it.”
    Flap looked at his wife, once again a little startled. Emma had unexpected visions. He didn’t know what to say. Though unorthodox in appearance, it had actually been a very good omelette and he felt unusually content. Emma was staring into the wet night. Her quick face, which was almost always turned toward him—to see what he might be thinking, or might be wanting—was for the moment turned somewhere else. He had beenabout to compliment her but didn’t. Emma could sometimes make him feel reticent, at odd times and for no reason he knew, and it had just happened. A little baffled and very reticent, he fiddled with his fork for a while, and they sat and listened to the dripping trees.

CHAPTER II
    1.
    “Y OU WILL be pleased to know that I’ve softened,” Aurora said, quite early the next morning. “Perhaps, after all, it isn’t entirely to be lamented.”
    “What isn’t?” Emma asked. It was only seven-thirty, and she was barely awake. Also, she had stubbed her toe getting to the telephone, which was in the kitchen.
    “Emma, you do not sound alert?” Aurora said. “Have you been taking drugs?”
    “Momma, for God’s sake!” Emma said. “It’s dawn. I was asleep. What do you want?”
    Even in a confused state and with her toe hurting she realized it was a stupid question. Her mother called every morning, and never wanted anything. The fact that the phone was in the kitchen was the only thing that had saved her marriage. If it had been by the bed and had rung every morning at seven-thirty Flap would have divorced her long ago.
    “Well, I hope I don’t have to remind you again about drugs,” Aurora said firmly. “I read about them everywhere I turn.”
    “I don’t take drugs, I don’t take drugs,” Emma said. “I don’t take anything. I haven’t even had coffee yet. What did you say to begin with?”
    “That perhaps it isn’t entirely to be lamented.”
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Emma said. “What isn’t?”
    “Your state,” Aurora said. Sometimes she was plain-spoken and sometimes she wasn’t.
    “I’m all right,” Emma said yawning. “I’m just sleepy.”
    Aurora felt mildly exasperated. She was not being given credit for what seemed to her highly admirable intentions. Fortunately she had a cruller to hand, on her breakfast tray, so she ate it before saying anything more. Her daughter, a mile and a half away, dozed a moment with the phone held to her ear.
    “What I was referring to is the fact that you are with child,” Aurora said, making a fresh start.
    “Oh, that’s right, I’m pregnant,” Emma said.
    “Yes, if you must use plain words,” Aurora said. “Speaking of words, I have been reading the news. Your friend the young writer seems to be publishing a book.”
    “Danny Deck is,” Emma said. “I told you that months ago.”
    “Humph. I thought he was living in California,” Aurora said.
    “He is, Momma,” Emma said. “The two things aren’t mutually exclusive.”
    “Please don’t be philosophical, Emma,” Aurora said. “It makes no impression on me at all. It says in the paper he is to be here tonight, autographing his book. You might have married him, you know.”
    Both bolts were from the blue, and Emma flushed, half with embarrassment and half with anger. She looked out the window at their little snatch of back yard, half expecting to see Danny sleeping in it. He had a habit of passing out in back yards, particularly theirs. He also had a habit of catching her in her nightgown, and the news that he was around made her feel immediately shy. At the same time she was furious with her mother for having found out about the autograph party first.Danny was