her mind as she turned the potatoes for supper over in her hands for the
peeler's blade。 And she would turn around to see him sitting cross…legged in a
kitchen chair； looking at her with eyes that seemed both frightened and
accusatory。 Walking with him in the park； he would suddenly seize both her hands
and say — almost demand： 〃Do you love me？ Do you love daddy？〃 And； confused； she
would nod or say； 〃Of course I do； honey。〃 Then he would run to the duck pond；
sending them squawking and scared to the other end； flapping their wings in a
panic before the small ferocity of his charge； leaving her to stare after him
and wonder。
There were even times when it seemed that her determination to at least
discuss the matter with Jack dissolved； not out of her own weakness； but under
the determination of her son's will。
I don't believe such things。
But in sleep she did believe them； and in sleep； with her husband's seed still
drying on her thighs； she felt that the three of them had been permanently
welded together — that if their three/oneness was to be destroyed； it would not
be destroyed by any of them but from outside。
Most of what she believed centered around her love for Jack。 She had never
stopped loving him； except maybe for that dark period immediately following
Danny's 〃accident。〃 And she loved her son。 Most of all she loved them together；
walking or riding or only sitting； Jack's large head and Danny's small one
poised alertly over the fans of old maid hands； sharing a bottle of Coke；
looking at the funnies。 She loved having them with her； and she hoped to dear
God that this hotel caretaking job Al had gotten fo