The Birthday Lunch Read Online Free PDF Page A

John the Evangelist Anglican Church.
    “I’ll tell him.”
    “And Joe, the spare car you rent out …”
    “The Dodge.”
    “Can I rent it overnight?”
    “Sure, Hal.”
    “I appreciate that, Joe.” At least Lily’s birthday surprise can go ahead.
    The empty soup bowls are soaking in soapy water when Laverne serves the Coquille St. Jacques. “Oh my,” Lily says, “scallop shells.”
    “My friend Jessie brought them back from Grand Manan. She says there are thousands of them in the shallow water close to shore.”
    “I haven’t eaten scallops from a shell since I left Boston,” Lily says, referring to the six months she spent studying respiratory illnesses at Massachusetts General Hospital. “That was thirty-five years ago,” she says, “but I still remember how much tastier scallops were when cooked in the shell.”
    “Baked, they were
baked
in the shell,” Laverne says and pours more wine.
    Laverne’s telephone is out of sight in the small, dark room at the bottom of the back stairs she refers to as the pantry. The telephone rings twice. “That will be Hal,” Lily says and gets up to answer the phone, leaving the pantry door open. Laverne gazes out the window at the Volkswagen parked beside the garage and pretends not to listen. At first there is nothing for her to hear because, as usual, Hal is the one talking. When Lily finally gets a word in edgewise, Laverne hears her say that she understands Hal’s disappointment, that he is not to worry, the delay won’t spoil her day and there is no need toapologize. Apologize? Laverne has never known her brother-in-law to apologize. Hal must have asked Lily a question because Laverne hears her say yes, she is wearing the blue outfit Claudia gave her. He asks another question and Lily tells him that when she returns from the hospital she will be waiting for him upstairs. It occurs to Laverne that Hal is deliberately keeping her sister on the telephone and that if he has his way, the call could go on for a very long time. But no, the next thing Laverne hears Lily say is that there is no need for her to take a taxi to the hospital because Laverne can drive her there and back. Hal, being Hal, is refusing to take no for an answer. Lily is annoyed. “Laverne will drive me to the hospital,” she says and hangs up before Hal can get in another word. Pleased that her sister has stood her ground, Laverne savours the moment and when Lily returns to the table, she congratulates her for standing up to Hal.
    The remark does not sit well with Lily, who is loyal to a fault. She is well aware that Hal will try to have his way, but she will not tolerate her sister putting him down. Frowning with impatience, Lily says, “I’ll have you know, Laverne, that when necessary, I do stand up to Hal. Fortunately, standing up to him is not often required. Hal is a good man and it would make our lives easier if you recognized that fact.” Lily stops, waiting for a response and when none is forthcoming, she adds, “Furthermore, I am tired of being caught in the middle between you and Hal and it’s high time the two of you made an effort to get along, especially since we are living under the same roof. There are times when I feel there are two children living in this house: my sister and my husband.”
    This outburst has caught Laverne off guard and she casts around for something to say that will mollify Lily. “I never thought Hal was good enough for you,” she finally says, “and I always wanted what was best for you.”
    Lily leans toward her. “I know you have always wanted the best for me, Sis. But it’s important that you know that Hal is hardworking, honest and dependable and I would trust him with my life.” Lily grins mischievously. “Also, he’s good in bed.”
    Unable to respond to this bold disclosure, Laverne announces that it’s time for dessert. After carrying the scallop shells into the kitchen, she returns with two plates, a cupcake on each, one lit by a