I served Molly breakfast in bed the next morning. She was in good spirits, and the smell of her, the wild tangle of her blonde hair, the gentle outlines of her breasts stirred me.
We talked about Walt and Barbara. I thought about David and Molly. When she had finished her breakfast, I took the tray from her and sat down on the bed, our hips touching in casual intimacy. Taking her hands, I said, ‘Do you know how long it’s been since we’ve been on this bed together?’
‘About a month,’ she answered. Then thinking about it, she added, ‘More like a couple, I guess.’
‘If you want some help fixing up a house in Florida, all you have to do is ask. I’ll resign and move down to join you. Whatever you want, Molly.’
Molly considered the offer without much seriousness. ‘Strictly business?’
‘If that’s what it takes.’
‘I can’t do strictly business with you, David.’
‘That must mean you’re still in love with me.’
‘That’s why it hurts. I look at you, and I just start aching.’
‘I didn’t betray you, Molly.’
‘Doc had a girlfriend,’ she offered quietly, seemingly by way of explanation. ‘I don’t know when it started, but it went on for years. Maybe it’s still going on.
Who knows? Olga acts like she doesn’t know about it, but I knew about it when I was twelve. You know what I hated the most? I hated that Olga put up with it, and I swore it would never happen to me.’
‘It didn’t happen, Molly!’
‘Right. That’s why we had a little lover’s spat last night?’
‘You saw Denise Conway? She’s plain. Nothing about her is interesting.’
‘I’m guessing she’s more interesting when she’s naked.’
‘I wouldn’t know.’
Molly smiled without affection. ‘I read her diary, David. I read it so many times it makes me sick to think about you and her.’
‘Makes me sick too.’
She pushed me away laughing as she did. ‘You’re a lying used car salesman! You can’t help yourself. You’ll lie about this until the day you die!’
‘What if she’s lying?’
‘That doesn’t make sense. She didn’t give me the diary. Buddy did. He found it in her closet. She was hiding it from him.’
‘Buddy told her what to write.’
‘Please. This cost him his relationship. The two of them were going to get married until you came along.’
I shook my head, staying calm, pushing my case with the dispassion of a good salesman. ‘Think about it, Molly. Last summer I was here all the time. We were working ten-hour days finishing the house. When did I have time to go into town and seduce this girl?’
‘Denise looks like the kind of girl who doesn’t take a lot of seducing. Besides, you weren’t here all the time.’
‘Talk to her today. Have her tell you something about me, something only a lover would know.’
Molly looked at me strangely. ‘I’m not about to humiliate myself in front of that girl.’
‘She won’t answer you! I’ll tell you right now: she won’t say a damn thing because she doesn’t even know me. Just talk to her, Molly. You’ll see I’m telling the truth.’
‘You should have stayed on the car lot, David. You’re so earnest when you lie.’
From anger to amusement. Was I making progress or had I lost her so completely that I had become a joke?
I spent the day painting the largest room in Lucy’s new apartment. Molly called different people, then left early, intending to visit the Sloans before she went to the funeral at two o’clock. We caught snow flurries late in the afternoon. Lucy rode Jezebel in the pasture, working lead changes. I watched for a while, then worked in the barn until she brought Jezebel back to her stall.
After she had kicked down some hay for both horses, she told me she had talked to her mother about the grass. ‘And?’
‘She was glad I told her. I think she was proud of me for being honest about it.’
‘Get a lecture?’
‘It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.’
‘Olga around?’
Lucy handed me a conspiratorial smile. ‘Next room.’
Molly came back to the farm around seven o’clock.
I tried not to sound too curious about where she had gone after the funeral, but Molly picked up on my insecurities at once, and seemed almost to enjoy my discomfort. ‘After the funeral, quite a few of the faculty adjourned to Friday’s.’
She named some of the people who were there, including the men who had participated in tossing me out of the funeral home the night before. As an afterthought she mentioned Buddy Elder. ‘Actually, Buddy and Randy Winston talked me into leaving Friday’s and going to Caleb’s.’ Noting my exasperation, she explained, ‘Everyone was dying to talk about you, David. As long as I was there, they couldn’t.’
‘So you went out with the two men I dislike more than anyone else on campus?’
‘That was a plus, but mostly I did it because it was fun. I had a nice time.’
‘Anyone make a pass?’
‘Randy couldn’t stop. When I didn’t pick up on the subtle stuff he put his hand under my dress.’
‘The son of a bitch.’
‘I told him I’m staying at the farm until Sunday. If he wants to drive out and pick me up sometime for a real date, I’ll be his love slave for the night.’
‘If he shows up, I’ll break his nose.’
‘I think he knows that, David. He said he thought it might be a good idea if we met in town.’
‘You’re not going to go out with the guy?’
She shrugged indifferently. ‘I haven’t decided.’
‘I feel like I’m the one who died. Damn vultures. So what about Buddy? Was he on his best behaviour as usual?’
‘He thought I should give you another chance, considering the way Denise is.’
‘Sweet guy,’ I answered.
‘He is. Sexy, too. I can’t get enough of that southern accent. He makes whatever he’s talking about sound like hot maple syrup has just been poured over it.’
‘The guy pulled a gun on me, Molly. Twice!’
She laughed at me, imagining more lies, I expect.
She had not heard about the gun, so twice was just typical David Albo hyperbole. ‘I guess he and I have a lot more in common than I thought.’
The phone rang. Lucy answered it. A moment later she joined us, telling Molly, ‘For you.’
Molly left the living room with the phone. I heard her laughing. Lucy rolled her eyes and said, ‘ Robert.’
I snapped to attention. ‘Who’s Robert?’
‘He’s supposed to be showing her real estate, but I think he’s been showing her something else.’
I felt the blood leave my chest. ‘What does he look like?’
‘I don’t know. Old.’
I didn’t know whether to be gratified or irritated.
‘How old?’
‘Your age… maybe.’
‘Maybe?’
‘Maybe younger.’
‘Big gut, smelly, bad breath?’
She laughed. ‘Noooo. Cute. Kind of. Nice ass.’
It was our general policy not to say the really bad words in front of Lucy, so I walked out on the front porch.
Molly finished her call fairly quickly and caught me as I was coming in.
‘Robert?’ I asked.
Molly glanced at Lucy, who simply shrugged. ‘Not really your business anymore, David,’ she said.
‘Is this the guy you were out with the night I called?’
‘The night you called I think I was entertaining the Miami Dolphins.’
With that, I made a fast exit for the den. An hour later the phone rang again. I had been reading without much concentration, thinking about getting ready for bed or making a drink or driving to Florida and finding Robert. Molly had already gone to bed, and I wondered if Robert had called back for some prearranged phone sex. Curiosity getting the better of me, I walked over and picked up the extension.
A young woman’s voice said, ‘Is Dr Albo there?’
Molly started to speak, but I interrupted. ‘I have it, Molly.’ Molly hung up.
‘Dr Albo?’ I thought it was Johnna Masterson’s voice, but there was an edge of excitement or fear that made me uncertain. I asked who was calling.
‘It’s Johnna.’
‘What do you want, Johnna?’ I said this without the pretence of courtesy. If Johnna Masterson had wanted to talk she might have tried the funeral home the night before.
‘I have to talk to you.’ She spoke in near-panic tones, shuddering and gasping at the finish.
‘Then talk.’
‘Not on the phone. I’ll meet you at the Denny’s on Washington Avenue in an hour. Please!’
‘Why would I want to drive into town? You won’t even tell me-’
‘It’s about Buddy!’ She sounded scared. It sounded like she was crying.
Was Buddy’s game coming unravelled? If so, Johnna might have the information I needed.
‘Please!’
‘One hour,’ I said.
I hung up, and went upstairs to see Molly. ‘Johnna Masterson,’ I said. ‘She wants to talk.’
‘Good for Johnna. Does she keep a diary too?’
‘This could be important. I’m going into town.’
‘Now?’
‘Why not now?’
The phone rang again, cutting off Molly’s response.
Molly snatched the receiver up and spoke softly, her voice mellow. ‘Hello? Yes. Just a minute.’ She set the phone between her cheek and shoulder. ‘Do you mind closing the door on your way out?’
Through the closed door of what was once our bedroom, I could hear Molly’s voice, though not all of the words. She laughed the way she had once laughed with me.
I spent most of the drive into town contemplating just what I had lost and wondering if by some miracle Johnna Masterson was about to offer me a way to get it back.
Over my third cup of coffee, watching the door and the sidewalk outside, I was still thinking about Johnna’s motives and what it could mean for my marriage when the waitress came up to my booth. ‘You Dr Albo?’ I said I was. ‘There’s a call for you. Lady said it’s an emergency.’
When I got to the telephone by the cash register, I heard Buddy Elder’s voice. ‘Hey, Dave. You looking for Johnna?’
‘Where is she?’
‘You’re not stalking that poor girl, are you?’
‘What do you want, Buddy?’
‘I heard a rumour today at the funeral home. They’re saying letter of censure. Good news, huh? Hope nothing happens to change their minds.’
‘Do yourself a favour,’ I said. ‘Get out of my life before I decide to kill you!’
At just that moment Buddy Elder decided to disconnect. I looked up and saw the cashier staring at me.
Why not? I had just threatened to take a life. I gave her a friendly smile, but I expect it looked like bad acting.