beach. The bridge lamps were now shedding gold circles on the salty darkness.
The men exchanged looks and snickered, snapping the Venetians down. Both spoke. At last Curly managed, âWeâd both been around enough to know what we wanted. We were ready.â
As Julie with James rode up in the air she thought how the magazines said things just like that about deciding in the right way to get married.
âWhereâve you been? Youâre soaked. No umbrella again?â
She described their pleasant walk.
Jeremy made a face. âQueers are useless. Thatâs why I donât like them.â
âIs a tax accountant useless?â
âWho does Fatty work for? Other queers? And what does Pretty Boy do?â
Julie quit, though in fact Curly was the numbers guy and Sam the waiter.
âWe need to get out. This isnât what I had in mind.â He shoved a newspaper at her and stood waiting by the door into the master.
After skimming Houses Julie studied Furnished Suites. Some buildings said Small child accepted . What size might that be? How could she pay? She perused Board & Room. Water dripped off her hair on to the babyâs smile.
âNothing today.â
The door closed. Shut out.
Now Julie did feel changed, though she still waited greedily for Jeremy to come to bed. Sometimes he slept on the sofa.
Time went on being.
James grew bigger, bigger. With pain he acquired teeth. He looked about, inquiring. He shook and pulled at his playpenâs bars. Visiting the eleventh floor, he demonstrated how he would crawl soon.
Mr. Schatz chuckled. âHe reminds me.â
Julie silently ached to ask Of whom?
âToday Mr. Alexander is tired. He fights cancer,â his wife sighed. She pointed at the tiny poppyseed pastries veiled in powdered sugar. âHis favourites.â For James she had baked rusks.
âHe also is exile by a war,â said her husband.
From the Schatzesâ windows, the distant Olympic Mountains shimmered aquamarine. The stereo was playing classical. Nearer, Mount Baker shone like pearl. Victoria was clouded in drifts of white, invisible.
On leaving, Julie felt revulsion at the prospect of entering the apartment where she lived. She pressed Jamesâs thumb on L for Lobby.
By the mailboxes stood the bald man. He held a map.
âAn impossible city,â he said. âVancouverâs a simple place, the mountains are always north. Even New Yorkâs mostly a grid.â
He was Julieâs age. So thin in his sharply pressed Bermudas, paler even than bone. The map showed London, England.
âAre you going there?â
âParis too. New York on the way back, if Iâm not arrested.â He tucked the map into a travel agentâs folder. âSee the galleries one more time.â
âAre you Mr. Alexander?â
âGary.â
âJulie. This is James.â
âDear Mrs. Schatz,â he said, âalways wanting to feed me. Their sadness is unbearable, but Iâll see them before I go.â
âI hope you have a good time.â What else could be said?
âThank you.â He inspected the baby. âSuch sharp teeth! A little animal. So Julie, where are you off to?â
After a moment she said, âI have no idea.â
Garyâs eyebrows went up. âBetter get one! Up and down, to and fro, then suddenly itâs all over.â
They shook hands warmly.
Soon after this, Jeremy began again about the oral contraceptive.
âYou have to. We canât risk it. I insist.â
Three things just like that with no breath between.
âYou know it makes me sick.â In disbelief she heard the shaking voice.
âThen I wonât have sex with you.â
After that there was only the morning dialogue before he departed for office or court.
âWill you?â
âNo.â Again, again. â No. â Julie gripped James so he howled and shoved his head into her armpit.
In the
Aubrianna Hunter
B.C.CHASE
Piper Davenport
Leah Ashton
Michael Nicholson
Marteeka Karland
Simon Brown
Jean Plaidy
Jennifer Erin Valent
Nick Lake