Lorraine Talmadge Parker looked away from the thin, harassed face of Herman Carlson, who sat across the room from her with tortured eyes that begged her for help.
"I had to talk to someone, Lorraine," he had said in explaining his unexpected visit. "And since your husband is my wife's twin brother, I thought you might understand-"
She understood all too well, but she did not wish to be drawn into it. Even thinking about it hurt; it brought home to her toosharply her own position. It was better not to think about things too much, better to just let the days flow over one, and accept what could not be changed. But now Hermie had told her something too shocking to be believed. She could not escape it. For if Hermie was distraught, he was also incapable of dissembling.
"I figured you didn't know," he said a little sternly. "Lorraine, do you understand what it means? I know you love Dwayne just as I love my wife, but even more than I, you have been shutting your eyes to some pretty harsh truths."
"He loves me, Hermie; I know he does. Don't ask me to believe Dwayne would be so cruel. He knows anything I have is his for the asking."
Hermie took no pleasure in hurting her. He had come here, after long deliberation, to help her as much as to be helped. "But," he told her, "what he wants you have no power to give, Lorraine. Oh, you could forbid the sale of the stock you hold. You could do that, I suppose, but if the corporation that holds the controlling interest in Talmadge's should decide to sell out, and Dwayne raises the necessary funds to buy, you must see that he would then be in a position to turn his back on you. Lorraine, I don't want to hurt you, but I know about this. My wife told me. I'm breaking a promise to her in telling you, but things have come to such a pass in my own marriage that I just can't go on pretending I don't see what is happening. I like you. I think you deserve better at your husband's hands. As for my own marriage-" his thin, rather high-pitched voice broke a little-"I'm doing the only thing I know how to bring Debbie to her senses-or lose her completely."
For all his appearance of hollow-eyed suffering, he was, Lorraine felt, much stronger than she was. "I love him," she said helplessly. "I know he loves me."
Hermie ran his fingers through his long dark hair, his mind picking up the idle thought that he had not yet remembered to get a haircut. "Well, I had to tell you. I'm sorry to have hurt you, Lorraine, but it didn't seem fair to leave you in the dark and unprepared if Dwayne manages to enlist Uncle Nate's help."
Her tiredness weighed upon her. She did not want to believe him, but too many little things had been happening of late for a flat denial. The odd way Dwayne looked at her at times, even the way he kissed her. She had always tried to deny to herself a certain coldness about him and the impossibility of really reaching him. Oh, she was so dreadfully tired. The doctor said anemia, but it was more than that. The moments of breathlessness did not worry her so much as the moments of painless inertia in her very soul.
"It can't be," she said faintly. "I can't lose him. He's all I have. Without him, I just couldn't-couldn't live."
Her pallor and the great tragic eyes smote Hermie's conscience. He had felt she should know what he himself had known for some time. Now he wondered if he had been wrong to make her face the truth about Dwayne Parker.
He stood up and went to her. "Are you all right?" he asked, troubled. "Should I call your maid? You look ill, Lorraine."
She smiled, and it was worse, he thought, than if she had broken down in sobs. "I'm just tired," she said. "If you'll excuse me now, Hermie, I think I'll lie down." Her eyes roved over his face as she got to her feet. "Don't feel bad," she said. "I understand. You're a kind man, Hermie, and I know it wasn't easy for you-" She turned away, then back. "Why do we love them?" she asked. "Why, Hermie?"
He shook his head. "I don't know. They're not bad. In a way-I've sometimes thought-they have been victimized by Mrs. Parker. And she herself often seems a victim of her own strange worship of them. I don't know, Lorraine. I just know I can't live with it anymore-and have any self-respect left. For over six years I've drifted-even at our happiest, there was always Mrs. Parker. The unbreakable trinity." He laughed bitterly. "I'm getting out before it breaks me."
"Oh, no. Debbie needs you." A spark of life flared for a moment in her eyes. "Dwayne needs me. Don't you see, Hermie? We mustn't let go. We must keep believing it will all come out right."
His pity for her overwhelmed him. "Let me call Mattie," he begged, frightened at the way she looked. "You're ill, Lorraine. Have you seen a doctor?"
"Oh, yes, it's nothing. Just go now, Hermie. And thank you. I know you meant well. I appreciate-" She turned as a stout, matronly-looking woman came in without knocking. "Oh, Mattie," Lorraine smiled. "Mr. Carlson is just leaving. She takes such good care of me, Hermie, and scolds me-"
"It's time for your nap," the woman said as though to a naughty child, but her eyes examined the pallor, saw the trembling of the hands, then lifted sharply to the man. "She must rest, Mr. Carlson," she snapped.
"Yes, I agree." Hermie frowned at Mattie worriedly. "I had no idea," he said. "Does Dwayne realize?"
"Goodbye, Hermie," Lorraine said sharply.
Mattie shook her head at him briefly behind Lorraine's back as she led her mistress away, and signaled him to wait. Hermie moved restlessly about the room, not sure he had read her signal right, but reluctant to leave without easing his own sense of nagging guilt.
Mattie came back presently. "Mr. Carlson, she's lying down. I wanted to talk to you-someone in the family-about her. I'm very worried about her, and for all her look of compliance, she has a stubborn streak where her husband is concerned. She refuses to allow me to talk to him. Dr. Welles has wanted to consult with Mr. Parker for some time, but she will not permit it. Oh, Mr. Carlson, it just breaks my heart the way she taxes her strength to appear well for her husband. And he's so blind-"
Hermie looked angry. "Nobody could be that blind! Just what's wrong with her, Mattie? She looks terrible."
"Well, this is one of her bad days. Pernicious anemia," Mattie told him. "As you probably know, the disease comes and goes, i›ut it's more than just that. The doctor is concerned for her heart now." She hesitated, as though wondering if she were saying too much, but Hermie Carlson had such a kind face.
"She's very clever about appearing well to her husband," she went on, "so in a way he can't be blamed. I hope you'll respect my confidence, Mr. Carlson. She'd never forgive me if she knew I was talking to a member of the family this way, but I'm so worried. She's had so much illness-and now, recently, the disappointment of not being able to have the child her husband wants so much-"
Hermie almost laughed at this. Dwayne Parker hungered for fatherhood? Oh, brother, he thought, but he merely sought now to assure worried Mattie that he himself was trustworthy; and after a moment or two more of listening to her troubled voice, he escaped. He was not at all sorry he had exposed Dwayne to Lorraine, although sorry to have hurt her. Her health and happiness surely would be better served if she faced up to a few truths, as he himself had recently had to do. Still, he felt troubled. Almost without volition, Sharon entered his mind, and back at his office he obeyed an impulse and telephoned her. "Sure," she answered him. "I'll meet you, but I don't know what I can do about your crazy wife. It isn't? Lorraine?" Her voice quickened. "Okay, Hermie. I'll be right there." And to Uncle Nate she said, "You won't want the car for anything for a while, will you? I've just had the oddest call from Hermie. He wants me to meet him downtown. What do you think?"
"Meet him, of course."
"Yes, but-Uncle Nate, maybe you'd better come v me."
"Did he as, jrme?"
"No, but it's something about Lorraine. Why would Hermie want to talk to me about her? I certainly don't want any more of that family-conference business!"
"I doubt if Hermie would plead your brother's case or Lorraine enlist his help in doing so. But you won't know if you don't run along and find out. Just watch your temper, my dear. I'm here if you need me."
Sharon found Hermie waiting for her in the small cafe he had designated as the meeting place, and she forgot everything else in surprise at the change in him. He looked very tired and drawn, but older, more mature-and oddly, more attractive. And, too, Sharon decided she must like him more than she thought for she had missed him.
"Well?" she demanded brightly. "What's on your mind, Hermie? Nice to see you again."
He had been rather regretting his impulse, but now, seeing Sharon's bright, honest face, he smiled. "I guess I've just missed you," he said. "Nice to see you, too." Then, frowning, "Sharon I've been to see Lorraine-" Quickly he related the meeting.
Sharon sat back, her eyes sick. "I've never trusted Dwayne particularly, but I didn't think him capable of such a scurvy plan. And you say Mother knows?"
He nodded. "It was she who told Debbie-or hinted at it so broadly that Debbie couldn't help putting two and two together. I don't think Debbie meant to tell me. It just slipped out when we were arguing. And it was what really decided the whole thing for me, Sharon."
"I don't understand all this business about stocks and bonds, Hermie, but I know Dwayne is smart. And I guess I've known all along that he just married Lorraine to get a foothold in Talmadge's. But" -she brightened-"Uncle Nate hasn't decided yet, and he likes Lorraine. When I tell him, I'm sure he won't help Dwayne."
"I wish I hadn't told Lorraine. I tell you, Sharon, Lorraine is ill. That maid of hers, Mattie, is worried about her-"
"I haven't been to see her for some time. Are you sure, Hermie? Rainey always looks pale and tired- "
"Sharon, she's ill. She told me herself she's been to a doctor and Mattie said the doctor wanted to talk with Dwayne and Lorraine won't permit it."
"Dwayne hates ill health. He can't stand to be around anybody who's the least bit sickly." Sharon turned away from him. "Hermie," she said at last, "don't feel bad about telling her. Even if Uncle Nate refuses to help Dwayne and nothing comes of his plan, it's better that she knows him for what he is. Maybe now she'll leave him."
His eyes looked tired. "I'm afraid not," he said. "It isn't so easy to kill love, Sharon."
She frowned at him. "I suppose that means you still love Debbie," she said. "I don't understand it. How can you respect her? And what good is love without respect? I don't mean to make you feel bad, Hermie. I really don't undersatnd."
"It wasn't all Debbie's fault," he said. He looked at Sharon with a twisted hint of a smile. "You know, Sharon, you should be glad you are not your mother's favorite child. In a lot of ways you are better off than Debbie ever was." He saw her face change, grow very young and vulnerable, and he understood how his words fell upon barren soil. "I really mean it," he told her. "My mother-in-law," he added, "is a very possessive woman."
Sharon was not ready to see any advantage in having never been thought worth possessing by her mother. "I suppose you'll go crawling back to Debbie any day now," she said.
He smiled genuinely for the first time. "You know, Sharon, I've always liked you and wished my wife had more of your independence. It's just recently that I've rediscovered my own."
To be told she was liked never failed to move Sharon. "You mean, you're not going back to her?"
He shook his head. "Oh, no. I mean, yes, I mean that, but I haven't completely given up that she will find her way back to me. It's either that or it's all over for us."
Without thought, Sharon said quickly, "Mother will never let her." Her eyes widened. "Oh-is that what you mean about me being better off than Debbie?"
"Oh, yes. You see, Sharon, you can grow up. Debbie can't. Or at least as long as your mother has anything to say about it."
Sharon shrugged. "You've always acted as if you liked Mother."
He looked away. "For six years I tried to get along with everybody. The eternal optimist, I guess. I love Debbie, Sharon, and I just kept hoping something would happen-"
He laughed shortly. "Like Lorraine, I guess, I kept fooling myself it would all come out all right if I were patient. Then this move to Skyline Drive happened."
"Why didn't you just put your foot down about it?"
"I don't know. Tired, I guess. But once we were there, Sharon, something started happening to me. Pride-and anger and-" He gestured with sudden impatience. "But it's Lorraine I asked you to meet me about. I'm not really sorry I told her, and yet I am. Maybe I just wanted someone-you-to reassure me."
"It's what I'd have done myself," Sharon admitted. "If Lorraine just weren't ill! But it's better to be prepared, and ill or not, she's intelligent. Gosh, love isn't really blind, is it?"
"Well, it certainly can work havoc with the emotions," he said, and smiled at her. "I can't imagine anything blinding you for long, though, Sharon."
"Uncle Nate says we all have our blind spots."
Hermie frowned. "Well, there's nothing I can do about Lorraine now, I guess. But you will tell Uncle Nate about it, won't you?"
"You bet. We don't have any secrets."
"I probably should have gone to him myself," he said, "but after practically throwing his money in his face and stomping out of his house, I didn't think he'd care to see me."
"Oh, you're wrong!. He's not like that at all. He'd even cut off all Debbie's charge accounts if he thought it would help."
"No, don't let him do that, Sharon. I don't want my wife back for any reason but-well, the only reason that matters."
"You're a good guy, Hermie. Debbie doesn't know how lucky she is. For your sake, I hope she grows up soon."
He sighed. "We'll see. Meanwhile, go to see Lorraine, will you?"
"You bet. I really should have gone long ago. I've just been so busy."
"You and Uncle Nate," he said, smiling. "I really like that little man, Sharon. It's just too bad-" He broke off. "Well, I've got to get back to the office. Keep in touch."
"Sure. Are you living at home now?"
"No, I have a room near the office. My folks wanted me to move back home, but I think it's better this way. Parents have a way of taking sides, you know.''
She nodded. "Do you want me to let Debbie know where you are staying?"
"She knows." He slid from the booth. "She knows where to find me, if she wants to, "he added.
Sharon thought he sounded sad. "Good luck, Hermie," she said as they parted. "If it helps any, Debbie doesn't look too happy herself these days. Doin' an awful lot of bawlin' by the look of her," she added, and left him, pleased to have aroused a glint of hope in his tired eyes.
On the way back to his shabby little room, Hermie felt suddenly very much in need of a woman. Yes, that's what I'll do, he told himself, to show up Debbie. I'll get another woman.
In his attempt to satisfy his newly developed urges, Hermie went to a little bar down the street from where he was staying. He joined a fairly attractive woman at the bar, bought her a few drinks, and got what he thought to be a nice conversation going. At times, she even reached out to touch his leg, something he found very exciting.
When he mentioned that it was getting late and that he had a room nearby, the woman all but agreed to accompany Hermie. But as he helped her put on her coat, Hermie heard her ask for money. And then he realized what he had stepped into. Had Debbie driven him this far, to the point of picking up prostitutes? He paused for a moment, and then he answered, Yes! So be it.
And off they went.
Hermie told himself, while they were getting undressed, that all he wanted was some good, quick jsex. Something Debbie had been good at, true. But he was eager to see what a woman who had been around the block could do to compare with his wife. Sure, Debbie could give a great blow-job, he thought. But then again, he had never received a blow-job from any woman besides Debbie.
After the woman told Hermie how much her services cost, he decided to go for the whole thing. In fact, he even offered her enough to spend the entire night. What the hell? he thought. If you're going to pay for it, you might as well get the works.
The young woman, a sultry blonde who called herself Nancy, began by giving Hermie what she called Around-the-World. She bagan by licking his feet and toes, ever so gently. Her tongue felt so good he could hardly believe it. He thought he would start laughing, thinking her tongue against his foot would be ticklish. But the feeling was far from ticklish. That was obvious from the way his cock was standing straight up.
Slowly, Nancy made her way up his legs, pausing just long enough to make the edge of his excitement that much keener. Hermie was growing hotter and hotter just anticipating how good it was going to feel when she finally got to his cock.
Yeah, Debbie, he sighed inwardly. Eat your heart out!
Nancy eventually reached his crotch, but not before Hermie was pumping his hips up and down, eagerly awaiting the first touch of her lips on his cock.
"Easy, now," she said. "You paid for the whole night. You don't want to lose it all at once, do you?"
"Don't worry, honey," he groaned. "You keep doing it like you're doing it, and I guarantee there'll be plenty more where that came from."
"Where what came from?" she asked, teasing him.
"My cum, honey," he gasped. "My cum!"
Just a few seconds later, Hermie shot his load. Nancy tried valiantly to lick up his madly spewing drops of jism, but to no avail. Hermie was packing too much cum for her to get it all down. After a few more spurts, white globs of sperm lay all over Hermie's belly and thighs.
"Ooooo, it's so nice," she cooed, dipping her finger into his cum and spreading it around his legs. "And I hope you have more, honey. Lots more!"
After patiently caressing and licking Hermie's spent cock, the skillful prostitute managed to get his cock hard again. She was actually feeling a bit horny when Hermie sprouted his new erection, and she eagerly straddled him, jamming his penis into her wet pussy.
"There," she groaned. "Now let's see if you can't last a little longer this time, okay, honey?"
"Sure, baby," he replied. "Oh, that's good. Man, my wife never fucked me like this before!"
"Oh, so you're a married man," Nancy giggled. "Don't you know it's naughty for a married man to be out fucking with strange women?"
"Honey, you're not strange. Not strange in the least. Now why don't you lean over so I can suck some of that good tittie. Yeah, like that. Ohhhh… mmmmmpff…"
While Hermie bit into Nancy's hanging titflesh, he pumped as hard as he could into her cunt. He could tell that his next orgasm would be a long time coming, but he was prepared to wait. In fact, he was going to enjoy every second of the wait.
Nate Dugall said very little when Sharon went to him with a full report of the meeting with Hermie. He stood with his back to her in her sitting room, and a little breeze stirred the tufts of his white hair at the open window.
"Well, Uncle Nate?" Frowning, Sharon went to stand at the window beside him and put an arm about his shoulders. "I have a feeling you think Hermie did wrong."
"He meant well."
"It's only right that Lorraine should have a chance to do something about Dwayne now, before he really humiliates her,"
Sharon insisted. "Uncle Nate, she's too good for him, and she's ill. She has a kind of pride, even if she does let him walk all over her."
"Well, my dear, it is possible Dwayne may be able to raise the money he needs elsewhere, but I doubt it. And since I have already decided against helping him, it's possible that Hermie has upset Lorraine unnecessarily."
"But would you want her to go on living in a fool's paradise?" cried Sharon. "If it is any kind of Paradise," she added, muttering. "Better that she finds out what Dwayne is now than later, when she might be really ill."
Uncle Nate gave her a slanting glance. "It's just possible that Lorraine prefers not to know. I even doubt tha't she believed Hermie today," he said dryly.
Sharon scowled. "Hermie did say that she said something about how Dwayne wouldn't do such a thing. Uncle Nate, how can she not see what he is?"
He turned away from the window. "My dear, most of us believe only what suits us, and Lorraine has led a sheltered life. The reality of her husband might be too much for her."
"Uncle Nate, you make me feel awful. And Poor Hermie. Now that he sees his mistakes with Debbie, he only wanted to make Lorraine see, too, I guess."
"Yes, yes." He patted her arm, sighed, and went to the door. At least one thing I can tell you, Sharon, from now on, this money I never asked for will do no more mischief at my hands. I've turned over our affairs to a competent firm that will handle all our business and advise about investments, donations, and outright gifts. I've made a mess of it, and you are too young to have the burden of responsibility on your shoulders."
His sad face and his grave tone made Sharon want to run to him comfortingly, but it was not the time for impulsive action. She walked over to him and bent her head toward him. "I'm glad," she said. "All the gold in the world isn't worth one moment of your looking like you do right now. Uncle Nate, you're the best person who ever lived, and none of this is your fault. Everybody just has to wake up and fly right." She took his arm and drew him back into the room. "Look, Uncle Nate, I've thought a lot about money lately because I've had to see what it can do and can't do." She turned away from his now steady gaze. "I guess it was Doc who started me thinking about it. Uncle Nate, it's a wonderful thing not to have to worry about money, to have enough for your needs and a little left over, but look at the Harrows. Life would certainly have been easier for them if they had had money, but as Mrs. Harrow says, she and Dad Harrow would never have felt the satisfaction of knowing, whenever Doc saves a life, that a little of them went into making it possible. Uncle Nate, whatever you do, don't ever give them anything. I mean, anything big." She gave a tuft of his hair a little tug. "And don't tell me you haven't been fooling around with the idea of giving them their cottage for good."
His somber air had disappeared as she talked. His heart swelled with pride and love of her, this child of his heart, who was learning so fast and always must declare herself with passion. He chuckled, and hearing the infectious sound, Sharon hugged him, laughing. "You have, haven't you?" she insisted.
"No, not really," he defended himself. "I just hate to think of them leaving when John is established."
She stared over his head. "Yeah," she said.
"But that won't be for some time yet, and they will still be here in Blockings," he told her consolingly. "And right now, I must get along, my dear. I'm not looking forward to telling your mother that Dwayne must do without my help."
"Just tell her you're doing it for his own good." Sharon grinned. "To save her golden boy from a life of shame and deceit." She struck a pose. "Oh, what a tangled web we weave-Hey, Uncle Nate, tell her no matter how pretty he'd look in it, we just must save her darling from being Jost in a web of gold!"
He went away, still chuckling. A web of gold, he thought. And the world seemed more and more to value the glitter and put it above everything else. But for himself and for Sharon, the gold of sunshine, with i ecv/ coppers for bread and some silver for laughter, would do nicely. And, too, he added, enjoying his fancy, a handful of love for him from a laughing girl, all for himself,
until a world of love for another burst into full bloom from the bud he so clearly saw within her-but she did not yet see for herself.
Later that evening, Uncle Nate felt an overwhelming desire to be alone. He excused himself early from dinner and went to his study. After reading a few of his favorite books of poetry over a few drinks of his favorite brandy, he drifted into thought.
At first, his mind was filled with daydreams and casual remembrances. But then deeper, more pressing and important thoughts began assaulting him. Yes, he had to do something. Things were getting out of hand, and he knew that unless he intervened things might get chaotic and nasty.
So he spent the remainder of the evening devising what he thought would be an effective plan of action.
Early the next morning, Uncle Nate sought out John Harrow. They sat across from one another with the chessboard between them in John's living room. As John began setting up the pieces, Nate reached out and stopped the old gardener.
No, Nate had not come to play chess and share casual conversation. Nate-had important business to discuss with his friend Harrow. And it wasn't long before the two men were talking in earnest.
At first, Nate had been hesitant about his plan, wondering if he weren't being too cruel. But after talking with John he realized that his plan was perfect for the situation.
And Nate wasted no time putting his plan into action.
Two days later, moving vans were lined up in front of his house. Nate's relatives bustled about making last-minute attempts to clear out their closets and get their things in order. Because for all intents and purposes, Nate Dugall had evicted everyone in the house. He promised the servants that he would continue to pay them their salaries until he could rent the place out to some more agreeable tenants. But everyone else had to go. And his word was final.
He knew that it would take a long, long time-if at all-for his relatives to see the worth and value of his decision. But after all, he had invited them there and they had turned into unreasonable guests. He was only giving them what they deserved-and perhaps even more than that. Because out from under his protective wing, Nate's relatives would have to fend for themselves. And he knew that they would be better off for it in the long run.
Yet he made different arrangements for his niece Sharon. Nate made it plain that she was free to accompany her relatives, but that he would be overjoyed if she would agree to stay with him in the new cottage until he had rented out his home.
Sharon agreed readily, happy to be alone with her uncle at last without the negative influences of her family.
After the initial excitement had worn off, Sharon got to thinking about John. She knew he would be returning in a short while, and she hoped that he would still find her attractive and agreeable. For she was certain that she was falling in love with him.
When John did return later that month, Nate presented the young doctor with a special proposition. Nate made his announcement at a dinner gathering over at the Harrow's modest cottage.
"I've decided," he told everyone, "to subsidize John's plans for the medical center. I've worked out a plan with my financial experts and have decided to buy the lot on Tiger Tail Road. John and I can discuss the terms of the lease later."
Everyone was overjoyed. The news was almost too good for both John and Sharon to believe. And after dinner they went for a short walk to talk about their feelings.
Stopping under a tall oak tree, John took Sharon into his arms and studied the way the moonlight highlighted her smooth skin. Her eyes gleamed with excitement as she watched him say, "You know, darling, I love you very much."
"Yes, John?" she replied expectantly, intuitively understanding that he had much more to tell her.
"Well, when we get the medical center off the ground, I want you to work there, for me, in the off ice."
"That would be wonderful, John," she said, wondering if things could possibly get any better.
John then looked away, as if gathering the courage to continue speaking. Taking a deep breath, he blurted out, "And I also want you to be my wife."
"Oh, John!" she cried. "That would be wonderful!"
She moved forward and kissed John deeply, holding him as tight as she could. Never before had she felt so thrilled, and yet so at peace with the world.
"But there's only one problem," John said quietly, pulling away from Sharon. "While trying to pay off the mortgage for the center, I don't know if we'll have enough for a house. Or even an apartment."
"I think Nate took care of that, too," Sharon said. "The other day he told me he might be taking off for an extended vacation through Europe. He said I could have the cottage."
As John held her tightly, Sharon felt extremely happy and content. But she also realized that her life was just beginning, and that she would be taking on a whole new set of responsibilities. She felt a brief moment of anxiety, but then she thought about her family and her in-laws and all the problems they had created-and the way they had eventually paid for their foolishness. Having learned one important lesson from her family's failure, she knew that if she and John put their minds to it they couldn't help but succeed.