Nadine couldn't believe her mother when Susan told her that she was going to dance in the casino of the Diamond Dell, and the amount of money she would be paid as a performer. Susan had expected her daughter to fly into a fit of shamed rage over her contemplated, semi-nude act, but the voluptuous young blonde had reacted exactly the opposite. She had been both excited and delighted with the thought of her mother in show business, and had even suggested that one day they might be on the same billing together.
Of course, Susan knew different… knew that had she not been forced into the role in order to protect her daughter and Jamey, as well as pacify Max Bovino, that she never in her most remote dreams would have considered such a thing. Nevertheless, she was pleased that Nadine was in favor, rather than offended by the idea; at least, that was going to make it somewhat easier. But next, there was Jamey, and she couldn't forget Max's warning. "Don't ever see that fink, Halo, again. That's an order!" Somehow, she had to cool their association without letting Jamey know the truth, even if she had to hurt him to do it: there was no telling what Max might do to all of them. God knows, he wasn't a man to be taken lightly, she was thinking as she picked up the telephone receiver and dialed Jamey's number, and she had only to refer her mind to the light soreness between her legs for emphasis of that fact… yet, thinking about it, she couldn't contain the tiny feelings of memorable provocation that rippled through her, either.
"Jamey…? This is Susan," she greeted. "Nadine said you called…"
"Hi," he replied thickly. "Yeah… but she said you worked until eleven."
He was drinking, and by the sound of his voice, rather heavily, Susan decided. She said: "I do ordinarily, but I'm not going to work in the dining-room anymore. I start in the casino tomorrow night, Jamey… dancing."
There was a moment of silence, then, he said: "Y-You what? Did I hear you right, Susan?"
"Yes… I'm sure you did, Jamey. I'm going to dance in the Diamond Dell casino," she said evenly.
"You… you mean topless… naked?" he questioned incredulously.
"Well… somewhat, I guess."
"You guess? Jesus Christ, don't you know what those girls have to do? Have you ever seen a show there… or any of their props?" he blurted, his voice assuming a fevered pitch. "Now, listen to me, Susan, you can't."
"Yes, I can Jamey," she snapped, cutting his words short, "I can, and I will. I've already made up my mind and have talked with Max Bovino about it…"
"Max Bovino! That Godamned crooked bastard!" Jamey half-screamed into her ear. "Listen to me, baby, you don't know what you're getting into! That hood is poison. I won't let you get mixed up with him. You've got to listen to me, Susan, for God's sake… think of Nadine if you don't care anything about my feelings. What's she going to believe once she finds out her mother's dancing bare-assed in front of the whole Goddamned world…"
"Jamey… Jamey! Now, you hear me!" Susan said, interrupting him again, and with a determined voice. "I've told you that it's all settled. I start tomorrow night… and you let me worry about Nadine. I'm sorry if I've hurt you," she added, biting at her lower lip, a little tear popping into her eyes, "but my mind is set. Now… I'm going to hang up."
"Wait! Don't hang-up," he pleaded. "Wh-w hat about me, Susan… you and me? Are… are you telling me it's all over between us?"
"Y-Yes, Jamey… I think it's best," she said, trying to keep her voice steady as the tears spilled down her cheeks. "Really… it was silly in the first place. I'm old enough to almost be your mother…"
"Stop that stupid talk!" he barked thickly, and she knew that he, too, was crying. "You know I love you, and have long before Cal… died. Christ, Susan, don't do this to us… please. You love me… I know you do."
"G-Good bye, Jamey," she said, forcing the words from her lips. "We've got nothing more to say to each other."
"I'm not going to say goodbye, damnit!" he shouted at her. "Susan? Susan…?"
Slowly, she replaced the receiver in its cradle, then, quietly cried into her hands.
Nadine couldn't help the little feeling of elation she felt at her mother's words to Jamey. She hadn't meant to listen, but their apartment didn't offer that much privacy and she couldn't help overhearing as she sat at the kitchen table working on an essay for English she should have turned in a week before. In truth, she knew that she should be ashamed of herself, not from the listening aspects, but from the actual enjoyment of hearing her mom break it off with him, when she felt certain that they had strong feelings for one another… maybe, were even in love. Still, she couldn't help herself. Damnit, she wanted him, too!
There was no use trying to deny that any longer, either. She was in love with Jamey Halo! And what could be more natural than that? He was nineteen and she fifteen… fifteen in years, but with the sensuous body of a grown woman, and God knows, she was constantly aware of that with the little prurient gnawings of desire that were ever increasing inside her each day.
Boys like Rickie Thompson made her sick with their juvenile antics. Oh, sure, she liked Rickie all right, but only as a friend. Lord, all he had to do was put his arm around her and kiss her, and she was immediately overwhelmed with the feeling that she was robbing a cradle. After all, he was only fifteen, himself, and a boy at that age was so immature… with his airplane models and his fossil collection. Dear God, she just couldn't stand any more of that. Besides, she had her future to think of, and who could help her more than Jamey?
It was destiny… that's what it was, she convinced herself as she sat there staring at the paper before her. Why her mom had suddenly brought the whole affair to an end with Jamey, she couldn't possibly imagine, and she'd almost bet that at that very moment her mother was crying, but she still couldn't restrain the sensation of delight she was experiencing within herself.
Dear God, she loved her mom so much… but she loved Jamey Halo, too…