the last book I ever read (Meyer: A Novel by Stephen Dixon, excerpt four)

from Meyer: A Novel by Stephen Dixon:

Phone rang, waking him. Room was dark. Must be very late, he thought. Felt for his watch on his night table and pressed the face-light button on it. Ten to four. Can’t be anything but bad news. Phone kept ringing. “What’s going on?” Sandra said. “What time is it?” “The phone. It’s ten to four. It must be about your father. It’s bad news, I’m sure.” “Answer it.” “You don’t want to? I’ll bring over the portable.” “Just answer it.” He went to the phone and picked up the receiver and said “Yes?” “This is Dr. Cory at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. Is Sandra Rosen there?” “It’s about her father. He died this morning, didn’t he?” “May I speak to her, please?”