Free I’m Losing You by Bruce Wagner Page B

writer! I’m not playing games! I know a
producer
on that show—”
    â€œI can’t believe you’d even
defend
—”
    â€œIt’s
moot
that Sagabond’s no longer there, Mitch! The man extended me an
open invitation
—”
    â€œSimon, I
don’t care
! Do you understand? Can you imagine her embarrassment? A client confronting her like that? With stories that her son’s
soliciting work
—”
    â€œ
Confronting
her? What does
that
mean, Mitch? Did
Mister Vorbalid
say he was unhappy I stopped by?”
    â€œMr. What?”
    â€œHe’s a fucking
Vorbalid
, Mitch—we’re not talking Anthony Hopkins here! We’re not even talking Michael Douglas!”
    â€œThis is pointless. I’m just calling to convey a message from your mother, okay, Simon?”
    â€œBut this is
important
, Mitch, this is
subjective
. Did my mother say DeVore was unhappy about my visit or
didn’t
she? Did she actually
hear
DeVore say—”
    â€œThis isn’t
Court TV
, okay, Simon? What you did was wrong andyou know it! Calliope doesn’t want you to call, she doesn’t even want you at the house.”
    â€œOh,
really
. And what does
that
mean?”
    â€œIt means what it means. She doesn’t feel safe.”
    â€œShe doesn’t feel
safe
, Mitch?”
    â€œThat’s right and I can’t blame her. You crossed a line, Simon.”
    â€œAnd now I’m the Unabomber.”
    â€œI didn’t say that.”
    â€œNow I’m stalking my own mom, a
moser
! Pursuer of Jews!”
    â€œYou’re not to come by the house.”
    â€œThe house I grew up in. Oh. I see. Great. Wonderful, Mitch. I’m not to come by the house that I grew up in and the house
you’ve
inhabited for a relatively short while.”
    â€œDon’t drag me into this.”
    â€œYou’ve done a pretty good job already.”
    â€œThis has nothing to do with me, Simon.”
    â€œOh. And what
does
it have to do with?”
    â€œYour inappropriate behavior.”
    â€œOh. Right. To summarize. I see.”
    â€œLet’s not belabor this.”
    â€œI know you’re pissed off because she’s famous and you’re not.”
    â€œI won’t even dignify that asininity with a comment.”
    â€œYou never
will
be, Mitch. I know that must hurt.”
    â€œGoodbye, Simon.”
    â€œJust one more thing. I was just wondering.”
    â€œThis conversation is over.
Just stay away
.”
    â€œI only want to know one thing, it’s important.”
    â€œWhat is it?”
    â€œI was just wondering what your clients say when you show them your weasely non-famous little dick.”

    When Simon got to Bel Air, Serena wanted to take a drive. The new day nurse was refreshingly indifferent to the announced itinerary. They brought the sheepskin from the couch and laid it on the cracked leather of the old Jag.
    â€œThis is a bit unusual for me,” he said as they got under way.
    â€œBeing abducted by a sick old woman?”
    â€œBut I have to say I like the anarchy quotient.”
    â€œYou’re a funny young man.” Serena coughed, readjusting herself beneath the strap of the seat belt. “I’m going to take this damn thing off,” she said, trying to undo it. Simon reached over and freed her. “Thank you. Silly for me to wear it. For you, no. But for me…”
    When they got down the hill, she said she wanted to go see raccoons at the zoo.
    â€œI’m not sure they’re part of the repertoire.”
    â€œWell,
of course
they have raccoons, it’s a
zoo
.”
    â€œCould be, could be. Maybe so.”
    â€œYou
are
funny.”
    â€œRocky Raccoon,”
he sang,
“went into his room
…”
    A tear spilled to her cheek and she wiped it away with the quavering back of a hand. “I’m so worried, Simon.” It was the first time she had called him by name, and