“The Emergency” by Karen Moulding
--page 6

         “That’s right,” he said. “I talked to my mother. I asked her for money for the trial, and she said yes.”
         The Al-Anon literature said this could happen. (“...changed attitudes can aid recovery.”) But I hadn’t expected it, Eugene’s change, to follow mine so closely. There it was before me, everything I wanted: Eugene caring for his daughter, Eugene working on his own life, his own custody case, and not a trace of resentment I could see.
         “But what about...not taking last week? Won’t that hurt the case and...?”
         He blushed. “I don’t think so. I already asked Marion if we could have Christmas week to make it up, and she said yes, she wanted to go on a church retreat. Oh, and I talked to Philip today.”
         “You gu-uys!” said Courtney. “No more of this stupid talk! Let’s finish cooking now, Dad.”
         “Congratulations,” I said. I was shocked at the chill in my tone.
         Hurt flashed in Eugene’s eyes. He looked down at the Decision in his lap.
         “I’m going to take a bath before dinner,” I heard myself say. I had no idea why.
         I walked back to the hall and into the bathroom alone.

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