Chapter 18

I didn’t phone George. I was feeling somewhat miffed at him for not coming to my party, even if Joe wouldn’t come. It was over a week later that my cell rang and answering it, I heard George’s deep, breathy voice.

“Hi George,” I said, trying not to sound resentful.

There was a pregnant pause on the line. I knew that George wouldn’t apologize. That wasn’t his way. At last he said, “Darling, you knewI couldn’t come to your party; not without Joe.”

“Yeah,” I said resignedly. “I guess so.” I stopped myself from apologizing about having quarreled with Joe. Though I knew George acceptedapologies, I decided I would adopt his own policy.

“How did it go?”

“Okay.”

“Zvika tells me it went well.”

“Really! He saved the party. Did he tell you that?”

“No, darling. But I’m glad.”

“Did you actually send him? He said he was your envoy.”

“No, darling. I just explained to him I couldn’t attend. It must have been his own idea.”

“Oh. Well, I’m glad he gatecrashed, or whatever the term is.”