She wanted some support. Support was what the women she knew said to each other, which had once made Rennie think of stretch stockings for varicose veins. Firm support, for life crises or anything else you could mention. Once Rennie had not intended to have life crises and she did not feel in need of support. But now she did. Jocasta was a little too surprised to hear from her, a little too pleased. Rennie made it to the restaurant in the usual way, one foot in front of the other on a sidewalk that wasn’t really there; but it was important to keep your balance, it was important to behave normally. If you did that enough, Daniel said, sooner or later you would begin to feel normal. Jocasta drank red wine and Perrier and gobbled up her spinach salad in no time flat. Then she started on the bread. She didn’t ask Rennie how she was, she didn’t ask her anything. Politely, elaborately, she avoided the subject of Rennie. If anyone brought it up it wouldn’t be her. Rennie picked at her quiche, watching Jocasta’s angular face with the huge mime’s eyes.
