Dorothy Garlock (34 page)

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Authors: More Than Memory

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Nelda slipped by the door and returned to the living room. Obviously Norris was talking with someone he cared very much about. He seldom mentioned anyone in his life away from Clear Lake. He had spoken of his two daughters, both college students, who attended school in California. He wasn’t speaking to one of them, she was sure.
When Norris returned to the living room, he was in high spirits, and they left for the doctor’s office.
Norris let Nelda out of the car in front of the medical building without mentioning the six o’clock appointment back at the apartment.
“I’ll park the car and wait for you in the lobby. You have the appointment card? Okay. Don’t be nervous. You’ll like this doctor. Every pregnant woman I bring to him falls in love with him.” She knew he was trying to tease the serious look from her face.
Nelda walked into the building smiling. She was already comfortable with the idea that she was going to have a baby—and confident she’d be able to handle rearing one as a single parent. Despite her small bone structure, she had borne one child and she could do so again.
An hour later, over a cup of hot tea at a small
cafe near the medical building, Nelda told Norris about the doctor.
“I like him. I had thought to go south somewhere, but I may stay here until after the baby comes.”
“Not back to Chicago?”
“No. I had many acquaintances there but not any real friends. All the people I know there are deep in careers.” She sank into thought. “I can work on my prints here as easily as anywhere else, once the baby comes. Right now the smell of the paint makes me sick.”
Norris looked at his watch. “Do you have any prescriptions to be filled?”
“I’m afraid so,” she said apologetically.
He covered her hand with his. “We’ll stop at a pharmacy on the way back to the apartment. Meanwhile, I have a couple of stops to make. If you’ll come along and wait for me, it’ll save a trip across town to the apartment. I’d like to get there a little before six. There’s someone coming over I’d like you to meet.”
There seemed to be a special brightness in his blue eyes.
He’s in love with this woman
. She was glad for him and hoped the woman returned his love.
Aloud she said, “I hope you’re not trying to fix me up with one of your friends.”
“Hardly, sweetheart.” He laughed and helped her up from the booth, then whispered in her ear. “You’ve already been fixed up, or had you forgotten?”
“That was crude!” she complained while he was fumbling for money to pay the bill.
“Yeah. Come to think of it, it was.” He laughed and flung his arm around her. “But I thought it was rather clever.”
“You would,” she retorted, pretending huffiness.
It was dark by the time they returned to the apartment. The lamps were lit, and the music was playing softly. Norris helped Nelda with her coat, hung it in the closet, then excused himself and headed toward the back of the apartment.
Nelda went to the window and looked down on the street. The thought of returning to Chicago or going somewhere totally unknown in the Southwest had never been a pleasant one, she finally admitted to herself. She would come to Minneapolis, start her new life here. As long as Lute didn’t know where she was, she could be as removed from him as if she were two thousand miles away.
“Nelda.”
She turned to face Norris and the woman at his side. She hoped that her surprise wasn’t written on her face. This was hardly the sleek, sophisticated type the world would expect Norris Smithfield to be attracted to, but a lovely, mature woman with soft, dark hair. She was not yet middle-aged, but she was no longer a young girl. There were tiny lines at the corners of her green eyes and her full, generous mouth. She was slender, yet the soft silk of her dress revealed her gently rounded figure.
Norris was looking at the woman with a happy smile in his eyes, as if she were something infinitely precious.
If Lute ever looked at me like that, I’d melt away
.
“Nelda Hanson and Marlene Lindon, I’d like for you two ladies to know each other.”
“Hello, Marlene.” Nelda held out her hand.
“It’s nice to meet you, Nelda.” Marlene’s handshake was firm.
“Now that we have that out of the way, let’s have some supper.” Norris was practically beaming with pride. He put his hand gently on Marlene’s back and urged her toward the kitchen. “C’mon, Chicken Little,” he said to Nelda. “We’ll have our orgy in the kitchen.”
“Norris!” Marlene chided gently, then stage-whispered to Nelda, “I suppose you’re used to him by now and know that he’s the one who’s chicken.”
“Oh, yes, and he knows that I know that he’s a fraud.”
“I’m not sure that I like having my two favorite women talking about me as if I were a naughty child.” Norris tried to form a frown, but it turned into a happy grin. “What did you bring us to eat, sweetheart?” He reached out an arm and hooked it about Marlene, as if compelled to keep her close to him.
“Chicken and rice and later chocolate cheesecake. You must share it with Nelda. She needs the extra calories.”
“And I don’t?” Norris protested in a wounded tone.
They spent a pleasant hour over dinner. Norris made no effort to conceal the fact that he was very much in love with Marlene. She, in turn, seemed totally happy to be with him. Nelda watched and smiled and felt something a little bit like envy. Such
reciprocated love was so beautiful, so rare. She realized their relationship was not a new thing when Norris mentioned Marlene’s daughter, Jenny, who was starting her first year in college.
“She’s going to be every bit as pretty as her mother, though I didn’t think so when she was going through that gawky stage.”
Marlene positively glowed when she looked at Norris. Her face had a soft, luminous beauty, and her eyes held a passionate tenderness. Nelda wondered if Marlene knew about her and why she was here. Her next words told Nelda that Norris had no secrets from his lady love.
“What did Dr. Wilkins have to say? Do you like him?”
“Very much. And I thank you for making the appointment for me.”
They spent some time talking about her condition and how she felt about having the baby. No mention was made of the baby’s father, but somehow Nelda knew that Norris had discussed that with Marlene, too. She felt no resentment—she instinctively knew that Marlene could be trusted.
“I’ve got a full day tomorrow, Nelda,” Norris said, as he and Marlene were preparing to leave. “Marlene will come and show you an apartment we thought might be suitable.”
“Oh, please . . . I can’t afford something as expensive as this.”
“We’ve taken that into consideration. The present occupant will be leaving the fifth of February. There’s an acute shortage of apartments here, and
you almost have to get your foot in the door before one becomes vacant.”
“I appreciate it.”
“You’ll be just fine under Dr. Wilkins’s care.” Marlene gave her a hug. “When you get settled here and need a friend, I’d like to apply for the position.”
Norris put his arm around the calm, beautiful woman and kissed her gently.
“That’s one reason why I love her so much. I left a number by the phone if you need anything. Oh, yes, go ahead and sleep in. The maid will let herself in in the morning. She won’t be surprised to find you here. She’s used to finding beautiful women in my bed.”
Marlene rolled her eyes. “Come on, Romeo. Nelda’s tired.”
“You’re not jealous?”
“Of course, I am. I’m breathing fire. Can’t you tell? I’ll call before I come over, Nelda. Good night.”
“She wants to get me alone so that she can have her way with me,” Norris whispered to Nelda, as they got into the elevator.
• • •
Marlene came for her in midmorning. They had breakfast together, then went to look at the apartment. It proved to be perfect for her needs. It was small—one bedroom, a combined kitchen and dining area—but the living room was large and had floor-to-ceiling windows along one wall. It was completely and tastefully furnished, including linens and dishes, and within walking distance of a shopping center.
“A rather long walk,” Marlene mused.
“I’ll have my car, but I’m going to need exercise,” Nelda reminded her.
The manager of the building who had showed them the apartment explained that the present renter would be out of the country for two years and wanted to sublease. Nelda told him that she might not want to stay the full two years. He said he required two months’ notice should she decide to vacate.
“There’s a catch,” Marlene said. “It won’t be available until February fifth. That’s four weeks away. Can you hold out until then? If not, come stay with me. Or I’m sure you can use Norris’s apartment if you want more privacy. He may not be back for a while, but if he does come to town, he won’t mind staying someplace else.”
“Norris mentioned it wouldn’t be available until the fifth. I’ll be fine where I am until then, but thank you. I’m so glad I met you and Norris.”
“Me too. I’m looking forward to having you near me. If anything comes up, and you want to come sooner, let me know.”
Before they left, Nelda wrote out a check for a deposit and the first month’s rent. She was disappointed about the delay, but didn’t want to complain to Marlene.
How was she going to manage to avoid Lute for another month?

 

 

C
hapter
T
wenty-one
N
EW
Y
EAR
’
S
E
VE WAS SPENT IN
N
ORRIS
’
S
apartment, a decision he left to Marlene and Nelda.
“Everything will be so crowded,” Marlene said.
“I didn’t bring anything fancy to wear.”
“Will you be disappointed if we stay here?” Norris’s eyes went from one woman to the other.
“I’m not much for night life,” Nelda confessed.
“You know how I feel.” Marlene moved close to him and laid her cheek on his upper arm.
“We don’t go out much,” he explained to Nelda after he placed a kiss on Marlene’s nose. “I’ll have dinner brought in.”
The caterers arrived at seven-thirty. Marlene had set the table beside the windows overlooking the city with beautiful china and silver, tapered candles in crystal holders, and a ring of fresh flowers. Norris poured the wine, and they made the first of many toasts to the New Year. He served the Peking duck, wild rice, and fresh spinach salad.
“This is wonderful. The food is not only superb, we don’t have a waiter swishing back and forth
behind us or hovering.” Nelda smiled and lifted her wineglass to Norris.
“Not so fast,” Norris teased. “I’m getting ready to hover.” The evening was relaxed and fun. Nelda forgot to be lonely until the last few minutes of 1958. Norris adjusted the elaborate sound system, then dimmed the lights. He pulled Marlene to her feet. She went into his arms and they began to dance to the music of the Platters.
Nelda went to the window to give them some privacy. The moon was riding high in the sky above the twinkling city lights. She tried not to think about Lute dancing with Meredith at Rhetta’s party or if he would take her home and spend the rest of the night with her.
Next New Year’s Eve I won’t be alone, Baby
. She placed her palm over her stomach, where her child had been growing for three months.
It’ll be just you and me—
In the window, she could see Norris and Marlene reflected as they danced, her head on his shoulder, his lips in her hair. Nelda’s heart felt as heavy as a rock in her chest. Then she felt their presence beside her.
“Happy New Year,” Norris and Marlene said together, each planting a kiss on her cheek.
“Oh, is it midnight?”
“A whole minute ago.”
“All this running around in the big city has worn me out. Would you mind if I took my aching feet and my tired body off to a warm bath and then to bed?”

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