Remembering those conversations now, he began to believe that people could in fact be used up –could use each other up, could be of no further help to each other and maybe even do harm to each other. Maybe, he thought, who you are when you’re with somebody matters more than whether you love her.
God knows how long he sat there.
Edward had been barking in the kitchen all this time, but now he began to bark even more loudly. Somebody must have knocked. Macon rose and when to the front door, where he found Julian. ‘Oh. It’s you,’ Macon said.
‘Thought I’d bring you the information for Paris,’ Julian said.
Macon led the way to the living room. ‘just a few details to get right on the Canada guide,’ he said, ‘and then…’
Julian didn’t seem to be listening. He sat down on the plastic-covered couch, and put his papers on the floor.
‘Do you think Rose is not coming back?’
Macon hadn’t expected him to be so direct. ’Oh, well, you know how it is,’ he said. ’She’s worried about the boys. They’re living on tinned soup or something all the time.’
‘Those are not boys, Macon. They’re men in their forties.’
Macon rubbed his chin.
‘I’m afraid she’s left me,’ Julian said.
‘Oh, now, you can’t be sure of that.’
‘I care about that sister of yours more than anything in the world,’ Julian said. ’And our marriage was working out fine. But that house of hers has become a kind of habit or something, and she just can’t break free of it.
It’s like she can’t help herself.’
Macon said, ‘Why don’t you give her a job, Julian?’
‘Job?’
‘Show her your office. The untidiness, that filing system you
never get organized, that secretary who can’t remember any appointments.
Don’t you think Rose could put all that right?’
‘Well, sure, but- ’
‘Call her up and tell her your business is going to piece. Ask if she could just come in and get things organized, get things under control. Use those words. Get things under control, tell her. Then sit back and wait.’
Julian thought that over.
‘You’re right,’ he said. ‘You’re absolutely right.’