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asked as we made
    our way down the front yard pathway, dogs at our
    heels.
    I followed her gaze. My mother’s Brillo Pad
    head was clearly silhouetted behind the frosted
    glass of my front door. She was sneaking a peek,
    not too subtly, to see who was in the yard.
    I chuckled. “Come meet my mom.” But by the
    time we reached the house and made our way
    inside, Mother was no where to be found. I
    shrugged, and said, “I guess the commercial break
    was over.”
    After depositing our coats and boots in the
    foyer, I directed Errall to the living room. It’s the
    largest space in the house, meant for grand parties
    of which I’ve had one or two. The centrepiece is a
    gigantic, stone-covered, octagonal fireplace.
    Surrounding it is a collection of couches for fire-
    side chats with close friends, a grand piano for
    rousing singsongs with show-tune-loving homo-
    sexuals and women over a certain age, a fully
    Anthony Bidulka — 65
    stocked bar for that lounge-lizard atmosphere and
    an empty space near the windows that sometimes
    ends up being a dance floor and would soon
    become home to a Christmas tree.
    “Wine?” I offered as she headed for the fire-
    place and I for the bar.
    “You have any Scotch?”
    I had some Oban I’d purchased for a special
    someone who’d never come over to drink it.
    “Coming right up.”
    While I poured our drinks Errall expertly laid
    in a small fire. Her hair was in a tidy ponytail and
    she wore an oversized sweatshirt and jeans. Our
    tasks done we retired to the couch.
    We weren’t small talkers so as I took a first sip
    of a purple and peppery Via Aurelia Cabernet I’d
    poured myself I asked, “What is it? Is it Kelly?”
    “Sort of. I…we need a favour.”
    “Sure, anything, you know that.”
    Errall glanced over at Barbra and Brutus who
    had splayed themselves out with the meekness of
    Penthouse models in front of the fireplace, soaking
    up heat. “Actually, Barbra needs to agree to this
    favour too.”
    I said nothing. Barbra did the same.
    “We were wondering if you two would mind
    keeping Brutus for a while.”
    I smiled. “Finally!” I enthused. “Where are you
    going? It’s about time. Somewhere hot I hope.”
    More accustomed to Barbra staying at Kelly and
    Errall’s house whenever I have to be away for
    work or fun, I was more than happy to return the
    favour. “You and Kelly really need this after what
    66 — F l i g h t o f A q u av i t
    you’ve been through these past months.” The
    whole experience of the diagnosis and process to
    remove the cancer from Kelly’s body had been
    stressful on both women and their relationship.
    The disease had curdled Kelly’s usual sunny dis-
    position. She’d become a carbonated drink gone
    flat. Even months after the surgery, Kelly seemed
    to be having difficulty getting over the dismal
    sense of mortality that had overcome her. Of any-
    one I knew, Kelly needed to get away, have some
    fun and learn to get on with life.
    “Actually we’re not going anywhere.”
    “Oh.” So much for that idea. “Well, you
    know, sometimes just sitting at home and doing
    nothing is good too. It’ll give you time to spend
    together, we could…”
    “Russell, just stop it!” She tried to keep her
    voice down but she couldn’t hide the raw emotion
    in it. And I couldn’t quite identify its source. She
    sounded angry…but that wasn’t it, not really.
    “Will you just take Brutus?”
    “Of course,” I quickly agreed. “He’s always
    welcome. I just thought it meant you were going
    on a vacation.”
    “I know, I know.” She sounded remorseful at
    her outburst but didn’t address it. Instead she took
    a healthy swallow of her alcohol and stared into
    the fire. “I need a cigarette,” she said. I thought I
    saw some extra fluid near her eyes but Errall is not
    a weeper so I figured I had to be imagining it.
    “Kelly just thinks it would be best if she didn’t
    have Brutus to look after right now. She’s still not
    feeling