“Let me tell Liana that we’ll eat now. I’ll be back momentarily.” Ruth gave him a kiss on the top of his head and then took a deep breath as she went down the hall to the kitchen. There sat her husband, the man she loved and admired more than anyone in the world, entirely unaware that she was about to tell him he needed to walk away from their great medical breakthrough. His life’s work.
She returned to the dining room to see Robert settled at his seat. He had filled both their glasses and, as she slipped into her chair, raised his in a toast. “How lovely to be having a civilized meal together. Thank you for insisting that we do this, dear.”
“It’s been a while.” Ruth took a sip of her wine and gave a forced smile. “I’m glad you were able to make the time for it this evening.” She stopped herself from saying more in spite of the fact that all she wanted to do was say, Lobotomy is done.
“How are things at the hospital? It’s been forever since I’ve been there,” he asked easily.
“That it has. You’re missed, by the staff and the patients.”
“Ah, nice to hear. Did I tell you that they have asked me to come to the West Coast?”
“No, you hadn’t. When do you plan to go?”
“I leave in a week.” He smiled proudly.
A week? She felt like she was jumping in front of a moving train.
“It occurs to me we haven’t had any opportunity to enjoy the summer yet,” he continued. “How about if we plan for a picnic before I go, out on the island?”
“That would be nice.” Ruth looked away from her husband. “But will you really have the time?”
“Well, I’ll just have to make the time. It’s been too long since we’ve had any fun.”
“All right. Sounds lovely then.” Ruth paused as Liana came in with their first course.
“Liana, Mrs. Apter and I would like to take a picnic out to the island this Saturday. Can you prepare something for us?” Robert asked lightly as he cut up his salad.
“Of course, sir.”
Ruth gave Liana a smile, letting her know that she could leave. “Robert, there’s something I need to discuss with you. It’s a bit difficult.”
“Difficult? Ruthie, we’ve never had anything we couldn’t say to one another. What’s on your mind?”
“I fear you’re not going to like it, Robert.”
“And have I ever been one to turn away from the unpleasant?”
“I suppose not.” She took a deep breath. “I want to talk about lobotomy.”
“Lobotomy?” Robert laughed. “We’ve been talking about lobotomy for decades. Why is this an unpleasant subject?”
In the silence that followed, she watched his jaw set tightly, his eyes harden. “Unless you’re starting to be swayed by these damned medical journals? This ridiculousness from the World Mental Health people? These ignorant Russians?”
Ruth’s heart pounded as she resisted the urge to retreat. “This isn’t about any one article or decree, Robert. It is bigger than that. I conducted a study, at the hospital.”
“A study? What kind of study?” His voice had an edge to it that surprised her.
“Well, as you know, since taking over the hospital, I’ve had very little time to spend with our actual patients. So, I decided to visit with some of them. Do you remember Albert Burdell?”
“Burdell, Burdell?”
“The one who played the piano?”
“Ah yes. The schizophrenic.”