Chapter 21

ATLANTA, Jennifer sang "Edelweiss" as she spooned the lamb Bhuna over the rice on Phillip's plate.

She wondered if Trisha was listening.

She placed a samosa on the plate. Then she served herself the same.

Phillip had picked up the Indian food from a nearby restaurant.

They usually ate take-out food or went out to eat. Jennifer hadn’t cooked for months.

Phillip had said he wanted to save her the hassle which was very nice of him. Jennifer tried not to think that what he was really saying was that he hated her cooking.

***

Phillip sat nearby on the couch, in the den, talking to someone on FaceTime.

It was an OS. Phillip finally had one in his life. They were working on some kind of project together. 

Jennifer thought business-deal in her mind but then considered whether or not that term was appropriate. There was no money involved. Could it still be business? According to Phillip, they were trying to counteract the goals of "your foolish mother".

A few days back, her mother had appeared on television with some of her…friends? They wanted to stop the living and not-living from communicating.

Phillip had said, "Leave it to your mother to want to take us back to the stone ages."

Jennifer hadn’t reminded him that this whole communication thing began only fourteen months ago. It wasn’t like her mother wanted to take them back to the 16th century.

That being said, Jennifer disagreed with her mother. She agreed with her husband that this was all a good thing. She wouldn't want to lose Trisha. She also liked knowing that if something happened to someone she loved, she'd still be able to get in touch with them. It hurt that her mother wanted to stop the communications rather than celebrate them.

Jennifer took glasses from the cabinet and some Coke out of the refrigerator. She poured the Coke into the glasses; set them on the table; and then put the Indian food there as well.

It would be nice to drink some wine, but Phillip wasn’t into that.

"Phillip," she called to him. "When you're ready."

"I'll be right there," he said.

He kept his word. He ended the conversation and joined her at the table.

They both started eating. Phillip said. "Is Taylor out with her friends tonight?"

"No," Jennifer said. Taylor hardly went out with friends. She usually stayed upstairs exercising.

"Where is she?"

"In her room?"

Phillip sighed. He went back to eating. Then he put his fork down.

Jennifer looked up at him.

His face started to get that tense look— the one that sometimes precluded a storm. "If she's going to be living here, I think it's reasonable for us to expect her to join us for meals." He looked at Jennifer, expecting a response.

She tried to think of one.

"Well, do you agree with me?”

"Yes," she said. "Although I don't know if she'll want to eat Indian food."

"I don't care what she eats. She needs to be here."

"I agree," Jennifer said. He did have a point.

But then she thought of something.

Was it so bad for them to have dinner alone together? It could be kind of like a date.

Jennifer looked up at Phillip. He clutched his fork very tightly.

He stabbed his napkin; then put the fork down. He stood up. "I'll go get her."

"Okay."

 *** 

A few minutes later, Taylor came downstairs with Phillip. Jennifer had expected her to look angry but instead, she just looked tired.

Like always, she wore her gym shorts, gym shoes, a t-shirt, and a pedometer.

Phillip sat down. He looked up at Taylor. "Please sit."

Taylor sat.

Phillip then asked. "Do you want me to get you some Indian food?"

"What is it?"

 "Lamb and rice," Jennifer said. "You can half of my samosa if you'd like." Was she really going to eat?

"I'm not really into lamb." Taylor said.

 "I can make you something else," Jennifer said.

 "I'm not really hungry."

"That's fine," Phillip said. "But you need to sit here."

"Okay."

Jennifer went back to eating. She looked up and saw Taylor staring at her plate. How could she look at the food…smell it, and not want any of it?

 "Have you eaten today?" Jennifer asked her daughter.

"Of course," Taylor said.

"Good," Jennifer said. "I don't want you to starve."

Taylor gave her a weak smile.

"Have any of you heard from Arthur? Phillip asked.

Taylor shook her head.

"Not for a few days," Jennifer said. "He called after seeing Mom on TV."

Taylor giggled.

 Phillip looked at her. "What's so funny?"

 "I just thought it was funny seeing Grandma on TV. Leading a revolution."

 Jennifer was happy to see Taylor laugh. It was a rare sound.

"I don't think it's that funny," Phillip said. "In fact, I think your reaction is a bit ignorant."

"Sorry," Taylor said quietly. She and Jennifer shared a brief look. Jennifer hoped Phillip didn’t notice.

 It seemed he hadn't. Or he ignored it.

 "How about Zoe?" Phillip asked.

"Haven't heard from her," Taylor said.

Jennifer couldn’t  remember if she’d heard from her lately. She may have gotten an email. Although if memory served her correctly, it was just one of those forward things. "I assume she's out with Mickey," she said.

"Nope," Phillip said, looking quite tense again. "He's going out with some guys from the office."

On a Friday night? Was there something wrong?

"Is everything okay?" Taylor asked.

 "I hope so," Phillip said. "She'd be foolish to mess this one up."

Jennifer wondered how he knew it was Zoe who messed things up...if something was actually messed up. "Maybe they're going out tomorrow," she suggested.

"I'll call her later, and we'll find out for sure," Phillip said.

 Jennifer came to her last forkful of lamb and decided she was still hungry. She got up to get more. 

"Are you sure you don't want anything?" she asked Taylor as she headed to the kitchen.

Taylor took a moment to answer. "No, thanks,"

"Will you get me more lamb while you're up?" Phillip said.

"Of course," Jennifer said. She went back to the table and took his plate.

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