[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
."And if you stay, I'll tell you everything you want to know about himand were afraid to ask.and I know everything." "I can't pass that up,"Cynthia said.She was surprised and touched when the Jewish woman, whose name was Sharon,kissed her when she left.Cynthia was not a kisser, and she suspected thatSharon wasn't either.She had been examined, she knew, and been judgedsatisfactory.Lowell and Bellmon vanished into the bar.Then she helped Barbara clear thetable, and Barbara told her about Lowell's first wife and the circumstances ofher death.In the morning, on the way to the shuttle terminal at Washington National,Cynthia said: "I was awake half the night waiting for you to sneak into myroom and steal my virtue." "Don't think I didn't think about it," he said."Well?""I didn't want Barbara to get the right idea about you," he quipped, and thenPage 222 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlcorrected himself."Barbara is a straight arrow.You don't sleep under herroof with people you're not married to.She wouldn't understand us." Cynthiathought he was wrong, but didn't press the point."I would really like to stop somewhere and get a change of underwear," shesaid."Why don't we stop somewhere and get you some underwear," he said."And thengo to the airport? The Atlanta airport?""That's crazy," she said.But they both knew that's what would happen, and itdid.They didn't even stop at the airport in Atlanta.It was only a "couple ofhours" further down the road to Ozark, and there were some other people hewanted to her to meet."Boy Scout's honor, I'll fly you to Atlanta in the morning," he said."It'll only be a couple of hours more."As they approached Ozark, he told her about Jannier and Melody."She's either going to be at the house," he said, "or we'll ask her over.Iwant you to meet her."Cynthia was not anxious to meet a woman who had begun an affair with a manless than a month after her husband had been killed, but there didn't seem tobe anything she could do about it.And Melody was at the house.The Buick station wagon had been a gift from herfather."You'll need the room for the baby's things.And you'll be safer in abig car.I read that in Time," he had said.When she heard the screeching tires of the Mercedes, Melody came to thekitchen door, with her son in her arms.She smiled when she saw Lowell, butthen the smile vanished when Cynthia appeared.She was grossly embarrassed,Cynthia saw, and that was because she was a good person.I don't know how I'm going to do it, Cynthia vowed, but I'm going to make herunderstand that I understand."God, I'm glad you're here, Melody," Craig said after the introductions hadbeen made."Is there someplace around here where Cynthia can buy someclothing?" "No," Melody said."I thought you knew, Craig, we all make our ownclothes here, from homespun cotton." "Don't be a wise-ass," Lowell said,fondly."Move your new toy out of the driveway," Melody said, and then to Cynthia:"What do you need?""A sweater and a skirt, some underthings, enough to get back to New York."Jean-Philippe Jannier came out of the house.He had obviousiy been sleeping,Cynthia saw.She also thought that he was almost as sexy as Craig Lowell.Hegot in the Mercedes, backed it out of the drive, and with a squeal of tires,raced down the street.He was back in a minute, obviously having only driven around the block.Page 223 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlWearing a wide smile, he parked the car on the street.Melody handed Cynthia the baby and got into the Buick."If all you want is asweater and a skirt," she said, "it'll be cheaper in the PX.""Can Ibuy things in the PX?" Cynthia asked, uncomfortably."Officers' widowscan," Melody said."I'm an officer's widow." Cynthia didn't reply."Did Craigtell you?" Melody asked."He told me he's very fond of you, too," Cynthia said."If I'm in this house,"Melody said, "with Jean-Philippe, or even if we're at my own house and we'realone, it doesn't seem to matter.It's only when the outside comes in.Doyou know what I mean?""You mean, I make you uncomfortable?" Cynthia asked."No.Just the opposite,"Melody said."If Craig brought you here, you must be somebody special.".""I came without so much as a toothbrush," Cynthia said."I know what you mustbe thinking.""Only that it was important to you that you come," Melody said."I thought that handsome bastard was only interested in a quick lay," Cynthiasaid."So I took him to my apartment, drank four ounces of brandy, and tookall my clothes off.I did everything but grope him.and I almost lost him.""But it worked out all right in the end, right? You're here.That makes youspecial to him." "I hope," Cynthia said, "as the girl prayed waiting to see ifthe rabbit died." "If he thought you were nothing but.what you suggested.he wouldn't have brought you here.""I've been shown off all along the East Coast," Cynthia said."A general andhis wife, and then a Jewish colonel and his wife."Then he really must like you," Melody said."Sandy Felter'is his best friend
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]