Now he lay his hand in an affectionate gesture on her knee. It felt reassuring resting there, and it did give her strength. She resolved to herself that she would not tell him that Natalie had been unfaithful with his father. She would simply inform Kevin of his own wife's infidelity. That was the important thing for him to know.
"Drink your scotch, Ma. That's a good introduction to any conversation."
"How does that work?" she asked, glad to be diverted for a moment from her difficult task.
"I guess it loosens your tongue enough so you can blurt out the first thing that comes to your mind!" he half laughed. "It's like pulling out the cork so you can get at what's in the bottle."
"Oh, God," she cried out. She did feel bottled. It was exactly the right word to have used. Her eyes once more welled with tears. "It-it was Natalie, dear. She's been unfaithful to you, Kevin. Yes, she's been making love to another man!" The words came then in a fast stream, punctuated by quick sobs. "I saw it in your new apartment. She did terrible things with someone. I-I don't know how you could stand her after all this. I saw it. God, dear, I can't stand to think what she's done to you!"
Kevin sat up straight on the bed, the towel falling carelessly down his waist and baring the pubic hairs of his groin. He clenched his hands across his knees and clasped and unclasped his fingers in a nervous, almost impatient gesture. "I can't follow exactly what you've said," he sighed in slight irritation. "What has she done? She's been unfaithful to me?"