Macon and Sarah needed to buy a new couch. They decided to go and look for it on Saturday morning, because Sarah had an art class in the afternoon. Before they left Macon took the dog out for a quick walk.
Neighbors were out cutting their grass and tidying their flower beds. He wondered how of those neat gardens were hiding lives as confused and untidy as his own. Going down to Muriel’s, for example, once he’d decided to move back home. He’d had to get his dog, collect his clothes, pack up his typewriter, while Muriel had watched him with sad, accusing eyes.
‘Macon? Are you really doing this?’ she had said. Do you mean to tell me you can just use a person up and then move on? You think I’m some kind of … bottle of something you don’t have any further need for? Is that how you see me?’
There were things that he’d forgotten – clothes that had been in the wash, his favorite dictionary. More untidiness. But of course he couldn’t go back for them.
By the time he and Edward returned, Sarah was waiting in the front yard. She looked very pretty in her yellow summer dress.
‘After the furniture store,’ she said, ‘we must pick up those plants for the garden that Rose promised us.’
It did not take long to buy the couch. ‘Should we have a high one? A low one?’ Sarah said ‘One that opens into a bed?’
‘It’s all the same to me,’ Macon said. He sat down heavily on something covered in leather.
Sarah chose a long, low, pale green couch. ‘What do you think, Macon?’ she asked. ‘Or do you prefer the one you’re sitting on?’
‘No, no. The green one is fine.’
‘Don’t you have any opinion?’
‘I just gave you my opinion, Sarah.’
Sarah sighed, and asked the salesman about delivery. When the business was completed, Macon drove on to his grandfather’s house, where they found Rose doing some gardening.
Sarah said, ‘Where are Porter’s children today?’
‘Oh, they went home to their mother.’
Sarah said, ‘But you haven’t moved back with Julian yet?’
‘Well, not yet,’ Rose said.
‘Why? What’s keeping you?’ Sarah said.
‘Oh, Sarah, you wouldn’t believe what the boys were like when I came back,’ Rose said. They were living in their nightclothes so as not to have too much laundry. They were having tinned soup every night for their supper.’
‘But what about your apartment, Rose? What about Julian?’
‘Oh, you know, I kept losing that apartment somehow,’ Rose said absently. ‘Every time I went out for groceries, I couldn’t seem to find my way back.’
There was a silence. Finally Macon said, ‘Well, if you could get us those plants, rose …’
They had lunch at the Old Bay Restaurant – Sarah’s choice.
‘But you always tell me it’s boring,’ Macon said.
‘There are worse things than boring, I’ve decided,’ Sarah said.
‘You know what I missed most when we were separated? The little things. Going to Eddie’s for coffee on Saturdays. Waiting forever while you decided whether to buy a new screwdriver.’
He held her hand on the table, wrapping his fingers round hers. He knew the small, neat shape of it so well.
‘For a while Iwas seeing another man, you know,’ she said.
‘Well, fine; whatever,’ he told her.
‘But it didn’t work out,’ Sarah said. ‘After a certain age I think people just don’t have a choice. You’re who I’m with. It’s too late for me to change. I’ve used up too much of my life now.’
In his mind Macon could hear Muriel asking, You mean to tell me you can just use a person up and then move on?
You’re who I’m with. It’s too late for me to change,’ Sarah said.