Читать книгу Brainstorm - Sheldon J.D. Cohen - Страница 7

He awakened the next morning refreshed after spending an uneventful symptom free night.

Gail was already awake looking up at the ceiling trying not to disturb her husband when he stirred and stretched. She asked, “No pain?”

“None, I feel great this morning. I don’t know if it was you last night or the medicine that did it.”

“It was me. I have that effect on all my men.”

“I could understand why.”

“So do they,” she said with smile as she yawned and stretched out both arms.

His mind had already drifted off. “When I get home tonight,” he said, “I’ll draw up the plans for Mr. Worthey’s deck.”

“Don’t forget to take your medicine this morning,” she said.

“Oops. Thanks for the reminder,” he said as he downed the pill, got up, dressed, had a small breakfast and rushed off to work.

That evening, after dinner, he sat down in front of the television set. Gail joined him on the couch.

“How’d you do today?” she asked.

“Good.”

“No pain?”

“Gone.”

“Good. What’s happening with Mr. Worthey?”

“What about him?”

“His drawings.”

“What about the drawings?” He looked puzzled.

Gail frowned. “Don’t you remember saying you’d work on the plans for his deck when you came home tonight?”

“When did I say that?’

“This morning.”

“I did?”

She looked away. How could he forget something so important to him, she wondered. Her worry returned.

“Yeah, right, I’ll get to the plans right away,” he mumbled.

Her anxiety made her feel tired. She got up and left the room. He resumed watching television. With TV, he could distract himself from problems of any nature. By the time he was ready for bed, she was fast asleep.

George had stayed up late and managed to complete the plans for the deck.

The next evening they were engrossed in television when Amanda ran in front of the screen with Megan in pursuit. Megan was screaming, “It’s mine.” Amanda was answering in kind. George leaped out of his chair, grabbed Amanda by the upper arm and said, “Shut up. Give it to her now.”

The sudden outburst so startled the girl that she burst into tears. Never before had she experienced this tone of voice, or such rough handling from her father. She dropped the toy and ran to her mother who comforted her. George stared for a minute and then his face reflected a realization of what he had done. It was as if he had just awakened from a bad dream. He frowned. He stared at Gail. Then he looked at Amanda and said, “I’m sorry, honey. Daddy’s sorry. I didn’t mean it.” He walked over to hug his daughter. She let him, but she was tense.

Gail confronted him late that evening. “What about Dr. Crowell and the tests?” she asked.

At the mention of Dr. Crowell’s name, he exploded, “No!” he shouted. “I feel fine and those tests are a bunch of crap.”

Gail cupped her hands over her mouth. She thought, what was happening? His personality was changing. Why? He was abrupt, impatient, and restless. There was something serious going on.