Page 87 of Brain Damage

Jamie is quiet for a minute before he lifts his eyes to meet mine. The flush in his ears enters his cheeks. “She’s beautiful,” he says.

“Well, there you have it,” Angela says, nodding in satisfaction. “Not only have we gotten a younger man to confirm that you are attractive, but we’ve managed to make both of you blush adorably.”

I don’t know why Angela went through that stupid exercise or what it proved. Obviously, Jamie only told me I was beautiful because what else could he say. He couldn’t be honest. He’s too nice for that.

61

“Who is that handsome man I saw you with in the hallway this morning?” Helga asks me while we’re waiting for our Thinking Skills Group to start.

“That’s my husband,” I tell her.

Dr. Vincent, who seems to have grown even older in the last few weeks, adjusts his Yankees cap and raises his bushy eyebrows. “I thought your husband was the one who tried to kill you.”

“No, dummkopf,” Helga says. “It was a burglar!”

I don’t bother to correct either one of them.

Angela shakes her head in disgust. “I’m still not entirely sure that the husband is innocent.”

Helga thankfully ignores Angela’s comment. “He is the most handsome man I’ve ever seen,” she gushes. “I think he is even more handsome than the one with the shaky hands.” She smiles at me. “I’m sure you agree, Charly.”

Do I? Actually, I’ve grown very fond of the one with the shaky hands, even if his hands aren’t so shaky anymore. Jamie may not be as classically handsome as Clark, but he’s boyish and sweet looking. Every time he smiles, I feel good. Clark doesn’t make me feel good. Not anymore.

“And this must be the ring!” Helga says, snatching up what I vaguely recognize to be my left hand from across the table.

Helga gazes down at the diamond thoughtfully. Valerie recently had my mother bring in my engagement ring because she thought it might help bring attention to my left hand. So far, it hasn’t worked.

“That’s a big diamond,” Dr. Vincent comments. “Eh, Helga?”

Helga drops my hand down on the table, a troubled look on her face. “Yes…”

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

Helga sighs loudly. “You know I used to be a jeweler, and I am sorry to say this to you, Charly, but this is not a diamond at all. It is what they call cubic zirconium. Fake diamond.”

Angela gives me a pointed look. “Charly, did you know it was a fake?”

I remember how impressed I was when Clark presented that diamond ring to me. It was before I knew he was out of a job. After I found out the truth, it never occurred to me that Clark shouldn’t have been able to afford a big diamond.

“It doesn’t matter,” I murmur.

Amy comes into the room, holding the box for Taboo again. I’ve gotten a little bit better at the game, but it’s still hard for me. I’ve had a total of twelve years of higher education, but here I am, struggling to play a party game. It’s sort of depressing.

“Why don’t you go first, Charly?” Amy suggests.

Do I have a choice? I select a card from the bunch. I stare at the word at the top, which I have to get everyone else to guess:

AND

That doesn’t sound right. How am I supposed to get everyone to guess a conjunction? I stare at the card, trying to figure out what clue I could give. This game is really hard.

“Are you ready?” Amy asked me.

“Not yet…”

What clue could I possibly give for the word “and”? And the taboo words that I’m not supposed to say don’t make sense either.

“I don’t think I can do this one,” I tell Amy.