ESME MURMURED, OPENING her eyes. “What is it? I thought I heard the phone ring.” Helen Klein was in the midst of saying goodbye to Nancy, but the line went dead before Nancy could put Esme on the phone. “That was Helen,” Nancy said. “Was she calling to find out how I am?” Esme asked weakly. The writer tried to sit up, but Nancy could tell from her pale face that even the slightest movement was an effort. “Take it easy,” Nancy said. “Let me help.” Nancy had just propped Esme up when Bess came into the room, her arms full of magazines and newspapers. “Hi, Nan!” she said brightly. “Where were you all this time?” “I’ll tell you about it later,” said Nancy. “Right now, I’m afraid I have some bad news.” “What else could go wrong today?” asked Esme. As gently as she could, Nancy broke the news to Esme from Helen. It took a moment for Esme to understand what Nancy was telling her, but as soon as the news sunk in, tears came to her eyes and she pounded the mattress with her fist.
