Our Souls at Night

41

On a bright day just after noon when she was downtown by herself, Addie slipped on the curb on Main Street and fell and reached out to catch herself but there was nothing to catch on to, and she lay in the street until some women and a couple of men came to help her.

Don’t lift me, she said. Something’s broken.

The one woman knelt beside her and one of the men folded his coat under her head. They stayed there with her until she was taken away. At the hospital they said that she had broken a hip and she asked them to call Gene. He came that same day and it was decided that she would do better at a hospital in Denver. So she left Holt in an ambulance with Gene following in his car.

Three days later Louis was at the bakery with the group of men he met occasionally. Dorlan Becker said, I guess you know about her.

What are you talking about?

I’m talking about Addie Moore.

What about Addie Moore?

She broke her hip. They took her to Denver.

Where in Denver?

I don’t know. One of the hospitals.

Louis went home and called the hospitals until he located the one she’d been admitted to and he drove the following day to Denver and got there in the early evening. At the information desk they told him her room number and he took the elevator to the fourth floor and walked down the hall and found her room and then stood in the doorway. Gene and Jamie were sitting there talking to her.

When Addie saw Louis >Are you leavi her eyes teared up.

Can I come in? he said.

No, don’t you come in here, Gene said. You’re not wanted here.

Please, Gene, just to say hello.

For five minutes, he said. No more.

Louis entered the room and stopped at the foot of the bed and Jamiand hugged him and Louis held him close.

How’s old Bonny?

She can catch a ball now. She jumps up and catches it.

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Let’s go, Gene said. We’re leaving. Mom, five minutes. That’s it.

He and Jamie left the room.

Will you sit down? she said.

Louis moved one of the chairs closer and sat beside her, then took her hand and kissed it.

Don’t do that, she said. She drew her hand back. This is just for now. Just for a moment. That’s all we have. She looked at his face. Who told you I was here?

The guy at the bakery. Can you imagine his turning out to be a help to me. Are you all right?

I will be.

Will you let me help you?

No. Please. You have to leave. You can’t stay long. Nothing’s changed.

But you need help.

I’ve already started physical therapy.

But you’ll need help at home.