When Darkness Loves Us

“That’s good. Take a deep breath. Good. Another one. Okay, now cough. Again. Again. Good. How are your feet?”

Martha held up her swollen ankle. “Hurts.”

“Yes, I can see that.” He sat down in a kitchen chair with the foot in his lap and probed it gently. “You twisted it?”

Martha remembered standing up too fast, scared, startled at the snapping jaws of her mind. “Yes.”

“Okay. I’m going to tape it up for you. He fished in his bag for an Ace bandage. “Watch how I do this now. End under your foot, wrap once around the foot to catch the edge, see? Now wrap around the ankle up to here—not too tight, just stretch it a little—then fasten with these little clips, see?”

Martha nodded.

“Okay, now listen, Martha, this is very important.” He spoke slowly, deliberately. “If your toes get cold or turn blue, you take this bandage off right away, rub your foot for a while, then put the bandage back on looser, okay? If your toes turn blue, you’ve put the bandage on too tight.”

She listened carefully, then nodded.

“Take it off when you take your bath, then put it back on again. Wear it until”—he stood up and pointed at the calendar—“here, okay?” He put a little mark on a square with his pen.

“Next Thursday,” Martha said.

Doctor Withins turned around slowly and looked at her expectant face. “Why, that’s right. You’re learning a lot these days, aren’t you?”

“Yes. New friends.”

“Well, that’s good. Now. One more thing before I go. I think you need to lose some weight. Your ankle will feel better and so will your knees. Do your knees hurt?”

Martha nodded.

“Lose some weight and it will be easier for you to walk into town.”

“Lose weight.”

“Yes. Don’t eat so much bread and potatoes. More vegetables, chicken, meat.”

“Okay.”

He didn’t need to repeat it. She was learning. Her mind was growing. Maybe she wasn’t as retarded as everyone thought. Maybe being cooped up here with Fern and old Harry for so long had retarded her more than was necessary. He’d stop in again soon. This was very interesting.

They both heard the truck pull up in the drive. Doc went to the door and looked out in time to see a rusted pickup truck slide around in a cloud of dust, its headlights sweeping the field, then disappear down the long driveway, three pinprick taillights winking out around the corner.

“Were you expecting someone?”

“No.”

“Must have had the wrong house.” He turned back to Martha. “I’m going to come back and visit next week, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Do you need anything?”

“No.”

“Well, good. I’ll be going, then. Take care of yourself, Martha. Remember. No more potatoes and bread.”

“No more.” Martha stood up. She reached around his neck and gave him a big hug. He hugged her back in surprise.

“Bye, now.”

“Bye.”

She stood on the front porch and watched him drive off in his van. Such a nice man.

“Shut up, you little asshole.” The words whistled through the space where a front tooth should have been.

“Come on, Leslie. You don’t really want to go there.”

“Which driveway? This one?”

“Yes.” Ned slumped down in the seat of the rattletrap pickup. He would give anything to be somewhere else. Anywhere.

They slid around the turn, throwing rocks and gravel behind them, Leslie gunning the engine and racing up the long drive. His belly was full of beer and his eyes had dollar signs in them. He was out to get some tonight. They drove around the corner and almost ran into the bronze van parked by the front door.

“Doctor Withins. Oh, shit, it’s Doctor Withins’ van! Let’s get out of here!”

Leslie hit the brakes, cussing, spinning the wheel, sliding the truck around in a circle. His luck. Well, that was fine. He’d hit on her tomorrow night, and he’d leave this little wimp somewhere else. He lifted the capless quart of beer to his lips and drank deep. He looked at Ned out of the corner of his eye, cowering by the door. I should just dump that little fucker out on the turn, he thought. What a jerk. Instead, he turned toward town.

“Let’s get some action.”

Ned said a silent prayer of thanks.

Leon showed up bright and early the next morning, pickup filled with lumber and paint. Martha was feeding the chickens, watching them squawk and scratch at the hard earth, pecking at the little bits of seed she threw on the ground.

“Good morning!” he called, as he jumped out of the cab and grabbed a plank.

“Hello.”

“I’m going to start on the chicken coop.”

“Okay.” He looked so smooth. He looked so young and energetic, long muscles sliding under his skin. She watched him unload, then went into the house and sat at the makeup table.

With nervous hands she worked meticulously on her nose, looking carefully from all angles. She powdered once, then again as an immediate shine crept through the heat and the powder. The lipstick was crayoned on next, and she smiled in the mirror. Leon would like her. He was going to be here for a lot of days. They would become good friends. She wished she had some of that light blue that Priscilla put on her eyelids. Next time she went to the store, she would get some.