happening to you right now is Sam Boylston’s doing. You tweaked him about his woman, and you come down with a hard case of finance-yool leprosy. Don’t mess with Francie on the way out, you hear?”
When Sam got back to his office there was a note that his wife had called him. He called her back, knowing the call would be about Leila, and that she had heard. He told her that he didn’t know anything new, and that he was going over to the Bahamas the evening of the next day. When she asked about Jonathan, Sam said that Jonathan might be in Nassau already, but he certainly would be there by the time Sam arrived.
When she was silent for a few moments, Sam said, “Aren’t you going to say it?”
“Say what, dear?”
“If it wasn’t for me, she wouldn’t have been on the cruise.”
“There’s no point in you blaming yourself, Sam. You had no way of knowing anything would happen. And why do you think I’d say anything like that to you at a time like this? Do you think I go around looking for chances to be nasty?”
“I don’t know what to think about you, Lyd. I don’t know how much resentment there is. There has to be some, wouldn’t you say? Or you’d be home where you belong.”
“That isn’t the kind of attitude that’s going to make me hurry back.”
“I should get used to your new rule, I guess. No matter what I say, it’s going to be wrong.”
Her long sigh was audible over the line. “Darling, let’s start this conversation over. We both love Leila. We’re both very worried about her. I would appreciate it if you would let me know what you find out. And I hope everything turns out for the best, and that she’s safe. And—please don’t take any chances over there, like flying around in some little airplane in bad weather looking for her.”
“I want to make certain they’re doing everything.”
“Please be nice to Jonathan.”
“For God’s sake, Lydia Jean!”
“Don’t try to shut him out. He’s as concerned as you are.”
“I’m not the one who goes around shutting people out.”
“We have such happy talks, don’t we, Sam?”
“So let’s try a new area. An old friend of yours will be looking you up next week.”
“Really? Who?”
“He had the needle out. And he was enjoying it. Maybe you can tell him your troubles.”
“Who are you talking about?”
“Big Tom Dorra.”
“Damn you, Sam! Damn you!”
“Did I say something wrong?”
“He is not an old friend and you know it. Do you really think I’d talk to
him
about
us?
He is physically repulsive to me. He looks—buttered. And he is absolutely convinced he’s God’s gift to womanhood.”
“You’re a legitimate target, Lyd. You turned yourself into a target by leaving me. So you’ve got to expect Tom Dorras to come around. And there isn’t a damn thing I can do about it.”
“Do you think I’m incapable of handling the situation?”
“Does it make any real difference? Tom D. will have a little smirk and a little wink for anybody who asks him if he saw you when he was up in Corpus.”
“So what fools believe is more important to you than what you know is true?”
“A lot of things I thought were true haven’t turned out so good.”
“So I’m supposed to come home just to keep you from feeling inadequate?”
“Honey, I’m adequate. Some day Tom Dorra will sign a testimonial to that effect if anybody asks him to. What’s the matter now?”
“I’m crying. Do I have your permission?”
“For the love of …”
“I don’t want to spoil the Sam Boylston image. Oh God, I thought we were getting somewhere the last time we talked.”
“The day you tell me exactly where we are supposed to be getting to, then we can start getting there. Try writing it down. It might help.”
“Good luck about Leila.”
“Thanks for calling.”
“Don’t mention it,” she said and hung up.
After thirty thoughtful seconds, he picked up the hand microphone, pressed the dictate button, and
When Sam got back to his office there was a note that his wife had called him. He called her back, knowing the call would be about Leila, and that she had heard. He told her that he didn’t know anything new, and that he was going over to the Bahamas the evening of the next day. When she asked about Jonathan, Sam said that Jonathan might be in Nassau already, but he certainly would be there by the time Sam arrived.
When she was silent for a few moments, Sam said, “Aren’t you going to say it?”
“Say what, dear?”
“If it wasn’t for me, she wouldn’t have been on the cruise.”
“There’s no point in you blaming yourself, Sam. You had no way of knowing anything would happen. And why do you think I’d say anything like that to you at a time like this? Do you think I go around looking for chances to be nasty?”
“I don’t know what to think about you, Lyd. I don’t know how much resentment there is. There has to be some, wouldn’t you say? Or you’d be home where you belong.”
“That isn’t the kind of attitude that’s going to make me hurry back.”
“I should get used to your new rule, I guess. No matter what I say, it’s going to be wrong.”
Her long sigh was audible over the line. “Darling, let’s start this conversation over. We both love Leila. We’re both very worried about her. I would appreciate it if you would let me know what you find out. And I hope everything turns out for the best, and that she’s safe. And—please don’t take any chances over there, like flying around in some little airplane in bad weather looking for her.”
“I want to make certain they’re doing everything.”
“Please be nice to Jonathan.”
“For God’s sake, Lydia Jean!”
“Don’t try to shut him out. He’s as concerned as you are.”
“I’m not the one who goes around shutting people out.”
“We have such happy talks, don’t we, Sam?”
“So let’s try a new area. An old friend of yours will be looking you up next week.”
“Really? Who?”
“He had the needle out. And he was enjoying it. Maybe you can tell him your troubles.”
“Who are you talking about?”
“Big Tom Dorra.”
“Damn you, Sam! Damn you!”
“Did I say something wrong?”
“He is not an old friend and you know it. Do you really think I’d talk to
him
about
us?
He is physically repulsive to me. He looks—buttered. And he is absolutely convinced he’s God’s gift to womanhood.”
“You’re a legitimate target, Lyd. You turned yourself into a target by leaving me. So you’ve got to expect Tom Dorras to come around. And there isn’t a damn thing I can do about it.”
“Do you think I’m incapable of handling the situation?”
“Does it make any real difference? Tom D. will have a little smirk and a little wink for anybody who asks him if he saw you when he was up in Corpus.”
“So what fools believe is more important to you than what you know is true?”
“A lot of things I thought were true haven’t turned out so good.”
“So I’m supposed to come home just to keep you from feeling inadequate?”
“Honey, I’m adequate. Some day Tom Dorra will sign a testimonial to that effect if anybody asks him to. What’s the matter now?”
“I’m crying. Do I have your permission?”
“For the love of …”
“I don’t want to spoil the Sam Boylston image. Oh God, I thought we were getting somewhere the last time we talked.”
“The day you tell me exactly where we are supposed to be getting to, then we can start getting there. Try writing it down. It might help.”
“Good luck about Leila.”
“Thanks for calling.”
“Don’t mention it,” she said and hung up.
After thirty thoughtful seconds, he picked up the hand microphone, pressed the dictate button, and
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