Page 18 of The Housekeeper

“Is she going to die?” Sam asked.

“For God’s sake, Sam,” Harrison said. “Don’t talk nonsense.”

“She’s not going to die,” I assured my son, although I felt far from assured myself. The truth was that I was terrified, as frozen to my spot as my mother was to hers.

Elyse was instantly at my mother’s side, cradling her in her arms and stilling the spasms. “There, there,” she whispered, her voice a salve. “You’re okay. You’re okay.”

Whether it was the soothing sound of Elyse’s voice or the natural lessening of the attack, my mother soon stopped choking and flailing about, resuming her former, rigidly twisted posture.

“Why don’t I take you back upstairs?” Elyse offered to everyone’s relief.

“I’ll do it,” my father said.

“No, Vic,” Elyse told him, laying one firm hand on his shoulder to lower him back into his seat. “You stay here and visit with your family. I’ll get Audrey settled.”

“Can I go with?” Sam asked, already on his feet. “I want to ride in the elevator.”

“Me, too,” seconded Daphne.

“Sit down right now,” Harrison chided.

“There’s not really room for all of us in the elevator,” Elyse said gently. “But I’ll take you for a ride in it before you leave. How’s that?”

“Yay!” Sam cheered.

“Yay!” Daphne echoed.

“Dinner was absolutely wonderful,” I told Elyse as we were getting ready to depart. Tracy had already left and our father had excused himself to be with our mother.

“It was my pleasure. This is your home. You’re always welcome.”

“Kids!” Harrison called up the stairs to where Sam and Daphne were exiting the elevator for at least the tenth time. “Get down here. We’re leaving.”

“Aw…”

“Now,” Harrison said.

The kids climbed back inside the elevator, which began its slow descent. However, as soon as they reached the main floor, Sam pressed the button and up they went again.

“Samuel!” Harrison fumed, spinning toward me, as if I’d been the one to press the button. “Do something.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“This is my fault,” Elyse quickly interjected. “I’m the one who showed them how to use the silly thing…”

“It’s not your fault,” Harrison corrected, his frustration with the evening spilling into the open. “They know they can get away with anything where Jodi’s concerned, so it falls on me to be the disciplinarian.” He raced up the stairs to the landing before I could respond.

Elyse leaned toward me. “It’s not easy being married to someone who’s so perfect,” she said quietly.

I wanted to hug her. “Thank you,” I whispered. “Thank you for everything.”

“Anytime,” she said.

It was only on the drive home that I replayed the evening in my mind: the wonderful home-cooked meal, the presence of my mother at the table, the awful choking fit followed by Elyse’s calm demeanor and soothing words, the way she’d effortlessly assumed control.No, Vic,she’d told my father.You stay here and visit with your family. I’ll get Audrey settled.

I wondered absently when they’d gone from being Mr. and Mrs. Dundas to Vic and Audrey, then quickly embraced the change. Why insist on clumsy and unnecessary formalities? I was thrilled that things were going so well, that everyone was so comfortable.

But now I wonder if that was the moment.

The shift in nuance. The change in tone.

The moment that everything changed.