Lovers and Gamblers (34 page)

‘
I
could never do a thing like that,
I
could never throw myself at anyone.’ She placed a small, delicate hand softly on his knee. ‘Did you give Al my message?’

Message. What message? He couldn’t remember any message. ‘Yes.’

‘What did he say?’

‘He – er – um, he was – er. He said – um, he was pleased.’

‘Pleased!’ Her pretty face lit up. ‘Pleased. Oh, I knew he would be. I knew it!’

‘Yes.’ Evan paused, then plunged on with – ‘I’ve saved two hundred dollars: I mean I’ve got two hundred dollars. I wanted to – um – buy you a present.’

‘How lovely,’ she giggled. ‘I think I’ll go and see Al.’

‘What?’

‘I think I should. I mean if he’s pleased… Well, I think I should just – you know – tell him personally.’

‘Tell him what?’ Evan was confused.

‘My message, silly.’ She leaned over and kissed him lightly on the cheek. ‘You’ve been such a help to me.’ And then she was clicking off her seat belt and heading for Al’s private room.

Evan watched in amazement. What had he said? Why had she gone?

Rosa stopped her as she passed. ‘Where
you
goin’, girl?’

‘I just got a message,’ Nellie replied, eyes shining.

Rosa shook her head in disgust, ‘Do yourself a favour and forget him. He’s just a user.’

Nellie smoothed down her long black hair. ‘I don’t need advice.’

Rosa shrugged. ‘Don’t come cryin’ to me again. He’s only gonna give you another glimpse of the magic horn – then it’s onto the next. I
know
it, girl. Don’t forget – I
bin
there.’

‘Oh Rosa, don’t be jealous!’ said Nellie, kindly. ‘It’s not
my
fault he likes
me
.’

Rosa sent her eyes heavenwards. ‘Jesus, save the children, or what’s left of them.’

Nellie reached Al’s door. Knocked. He didn’t answer so she opened it tentatively, saw he was asleep, and crept in.

She silently approached the bed, stared down at him. She remembered how good it had been that one time in Miami. So very good. Spoiled by the fact that he hadn’t wanted to speak to her since. But now that she knew her message had pleased him. Well, that made things different. He wasn’t mad at her after all.

On impulse she peeled off the dress she was wearing, wriggled out of her panties, then quietly she snuggled into the big bed with him.

He was in the foetal position. She curled her slight body into his back, following the curves of his body.

He turned lazily, still asleep, but hard. She opened her legs and he entered her. She breathed his name softly, moving to accommodate him.

He came very quickly, eyes still closed. Then he mumbled, ‘Go to sleep, Edna,’ and turned his back on her.

Edna! Nellie lay there unfulfilled and trembling.

How could a man make love to a woman and still remain asleep? Unless of course he thought that woman was his wife.

Oh God! She was so humiliated.

She crept out of bed, frightened lest he wake. She dressed. It was her own fault, she should have wakened him.

How
could
she have done it?

She slipped out of the room, bumping straight into Paul. ‘Oh!’ she jumped nervously.

Paul gave her a suspicious look.

‘I just wanted to talk to Al about something,’ she stammered, ‘but he’s asleep.’

‘Do me a favour, Nellie,’ said Paul pleasantly. ‘Don’t go into Al’s private room unless he invites you. He does not like being disturbed. Any problems, come to me. OK?’

‘Sure, sure, Paul, just er – I just, y’know, wanted to ask him something. Nothing important.’

He watched her walk away. Poor kid. Everyone knew how she felt about Al.

‘She was in there for ten minutes,’ remarked Linda, whose seat was nearest to Al’s door. ‘Perhaps she’s murdered him.’

Paul glared at her but walked into Al’s room anyway. His brother slept peacefully.

What he would have to do, Paul decided, was station Luke outside the door. Al’s private bedroom was becoming more like Grand Central Station every day.

* * *

Edna King felt uncomfortable in the masculine striped suit.

‘Latest fashion,’ Melanie had assured her, ‘suits you very well.’

Melanie herself was wearing an Yves Saint Laurent dress in a flattering blue colour. The sort of colour that looked good on Edna.

They sat together side by side on the huge jumbo jet. Edna had never liked flying, and her palms were wet with nerves as she waited for the take-off. Melanie was calm and collected, smiling at a man across the centre aisle and arranging her
Vogue
and
Harper’s
and daily newspapers in a neat little pile.

Edna wondered wildly what would happen if they crashed. Al would be furious with her. And what would happen to Evan? Why oh why had she ever let Melanie talk her into this trip? It was sheer madness. ‘The boys will love it,’ Melanie had assured her. ‘Once we’re there, they’ll love it!’

Of course the deciding factor had been Al’s birthday. He was to be thirty-eight years old in two days’ time, and Edna had spent every birthday with him since the day they were married.

‘You’ll be his present,’ Melanie had enthused. ‘Just think how thrilled he’ll be!’

Melanie had gone ahead and arranged everything. Even the bomb in Chicago had not put her off her plans. They were to fly directly to New York, stay there two days, and then fly to New Orleans, arriving on the evening of Al’s birthday.

Melanie had called Paul before they left and told him that she and Edna were off to a health farm for a few days and would be incommunicado. Paul had said what a good idea and asked to talk to the children.

Melanie knew that Paul would be furious when they arrived. But so what? She was his wife, Al’s sister-in-law, she was entitled to
some
of the glamour. Things had been quiet with Paul and Al away. Thank goodness Mr. Capone was around to while away several boring evenings. He might only be a hairdresser, but he did give an incredible blow dry!

Melanie smiled, patted Edna reassuringly on the knee. ‘I never thought I’d get you this far,’ she said brightly.

‘Nor did I,’ replied Edna, and she shuddered as the huge jet roared into life.

Dallas hurried home from the location and immediately phoned Diamond before she changed her mind.

‘Julio will be delighted to visit you around eight o’clock,’ Diamond said, the perfect secretary.

Julio! Dallas realized that she didn’t even know what he looked like. He could be five foot tall and seventy-three. And she was going to pay him for a service that at one time men had paid
her
for.

She drew a long, warm, bubble bath, tried to relax in it, couldn’t. She brushed her hair, creamed off her make-up, wrapped herself in a towelling bathrobe. After all, it wasn’t like this was a date. It was a business appointment. A therapeutic trip.

She smoked a little grass, not too much, just enough.

This whole scene was Linda’s idea. Why wasn’t she here to hold her hand?

At exactly ten to eight the doorbell rang, and Dallas nearly jumped out of her skin. She peeked at herself in the mirror. Wrapping her robe tightly around her she opened the door.

Cody stood there, smiling and holding a brown paper carton. ‘I ate dinner at a record pace. Listened to ten boring stories about Cleveland, and decided you were business, so I did have a legitimate excuse to get the hell out. My mother wasn’t pleased, but the only thing that would please her would be me marrying Golda Meir’s daughter – and I don’t even know if she’s got a daughter!’ He handed Dallas the carton, ‘It ain’t barbecue – but it’s Jumbo Jims from Dolores, and chocolate malts, and banana cream pie. I thought we could live a little.’

Silently Dallas took the carton.

Cody walked inside. ‘You look like you were just going to bed. I bet you didn’t even bother to eat.’

Dallas shook her head. Food had been the last thing on her mind.

‘So we’ll eat, then I’ll let you get some sleep.’

‘I thought you already ate,’ Dallas ventured.

‘You call my mother’s cooking eating? You must be kidding!’

Dallas didn’t know what to do. She didn’t want to hurt his feelings, but at the same time she wanted him out of there fast. She cringed at the thought of him bumping into Julio. And oh God – if he found out what Julio was doing there…

Why had she ever arranged it? Goddamn Linda and her stupid ideas!

Cody sat himself down on the couch. ‘It’s been a great week,’ he said enthusiastically. ‘You’re even better than I thought. I didn’t know you were going to turn out to be an actress on top of everything else. Is there no end to the surprises you have for me?’

‘Cody. The hamburgers were a lovely idea, but you did tell me you were busy tonight.’

He stood up. ‘You want me to go.’

‘No, don’t be silly. It’s just that I did sort of arrange a date, and he’ll be here any minute.’

Cody hit his forehead with the palm of his hand. ‘Stupid me! I should have called. No problem, I’ll just take my hamburgers and go.’

‘It’s not that I wouldn’t have sooner spent the evening with you…’

He laughed, but she could tell that she had hurt his feelings.

‘I understand, sweetheart. Don’t worry about it.’ His eyes flicked quickly over her bathrobe and unmade-up face. ‘I could leave you the food. I’m not really hungry. It will just get wasted.’

‘I
know,
’ said Dallas, suddenly. ‘You sit down. I’ll get rid of my date. How’s that? He was second choice to you anyway.’

‘Wouldn’t dream of it.’

‘Well, I would. Just sit down and shut up. I don’t want him to see you.’

‘Look, Dallas, I really think…’

At that moment the doorbell rang. Dallas made a gesture for Cody to be quiet. She shut him in the living room and went to the front door.

Julio was six foot two, black, and the best-looking man Dallas had ever set eyes on. He was about twenty-nine, beautifully dressed in a white silk shirt and French-cut black slacks. He smiled, displaying perfect white teeth. Parked behind him in the driveway was a gleaming white Ferrari. Business must be good.

‘Hi,’ he said easily, ‘I’m Julio.’

‘Oh,’ replied Dallas blankly. She was not sure what she had expected, but it certainly wasn’t Mr. Perfect. What’s a nice boy like you doing in a business like this? She was tempted to ask. But instead she said, ‘Julio. There’s been a slight problem. I’m afraid it’s not possible for me to keep our – er – appointment tonight. I’m sorry you’ve been troubled, but of course I’ll pay for your time. How much do I owe you?’

His smile remained. He took her hand, kissed it. ‘I have not been troubled. Perhaps you would care to make another appointment.’

She shook her head, kept her voice low. ‘I can’t right now.’

‘But you’ll call when you can?’

‘Yes.’

‘In that case – no charge.’

‘But I’ve wasted your time.’

‘My time is never wasted.’

‘If you’re sure…’

‘Of course.’

She shrugged. ‘OK then, another time.’

‘Another time.’ Still smiling, he turned, got into the Ferrari, and roared off, saluting her with a friendly wave.

She leaned against the door. Oh, if Linda had been here to witness
this
scene. She wanted to laugh, it all suddenly seemed so funny. If Cody hadn’t turned up she would have invited Mr. Perfect in to make love to her. And she was sure he would have been excellent. But no way could she have gone through with it, no way at all.

She thought of Cody sitting in her living room waiting for her. Dear, sweet, Cody, with his thinning hair and sense of humour. Why was she looking elsewhere? He wanted her, she was sure of that. So why not?

* * *

He didn’t mean to sneak a look, but he couldn’t help himself.

He was sorry when he saw a really great-looking black guy climbing into a white Ferrari.

A black guy. Let’s digest
that
little bit of information. Oh sure, he was as liberal as the rest. He had supported civil rights, equal education, job opportunities. He had watched
Roots
along with everyone else.

But shit. Sexually. Well, everyone knew that sexually they were hung like the Taj Mahal! Once a girl went to bed with a black man she didn’t want to know about a white man. Direct quote from his mother. Like she would know.

Why the hell had he pushed his luck and come running over like a schoolboy. Of
course
she wouldn’t be sitting around on her own just because he wasn’t free. Why hadn’t he learned his lesson the other night? Call first, schmuck.

Dallas came back in the room. ‘All taken care of.’

Cody stood up. ‘I think I’d better go.’

‘Hey—’ She pushed him playfully. ‘I just cancelled my date for you.’

‘But I still think…’

She wound her arms around his neck, moving her body close to his. ‘That means I want
you
to stay.’

They were the same height. If she wore high heels she would be taller than him. He wished he had had a chance to clean his teeth after eating his mother’s cooking. All these thoughts rushed through his mind as they kissed. He felt rooted to the spot. With Irene or Evelyn he would know what to do next, but with Dallas… She could feel his instant hard-on through her bathrobe. Christ, she would be able to feel it if she was wearing armour plating! He could not remember being this excited since high school when Janet Dell had jerked him off in the back of her father’s car!

Dallas was undressing him. ‘Hey,’ he objected weakly.

‘Hey—’ she agreed, manipulating him out of his trousers. ‘Oh yes,’ she added, when she noticed his bulging jockey shorts.

He was embarrassed. He didn’t want to touch her. He knew if he touched her it would be all over.

She was fiddling with the belt on her bathrobe. ‘Let’s go in the bedroom,’ he suggested weakly.

‘Let’s,’ she agreed.

It was dark in the bedroom, and when she switched the light on he turned it off.

She took off her bathrobe and lay down on the bed.

He had never seen a body like it. Legs like it. Breasts like it. Skin like it.