What's for Dinner? by James Schuyler (to read list .txt) 📕

do that,” Mrs Brice said. “One of the ladies in my room is a heavy snorer and I know I won’t get a wink of sleep. If I don’t get my sleep, I feel dreadful.”

“I understand how you feel,” Lottie said. “I live in fear and trembling of having my medication changed. I don’t care if it does make me smell like a hearse.”

“It will be changed,” the doctor said, “soon enough. You’ll have to anticipate a certain discomfort in making the adjustment.”

Mr Mulwin chuckled. Norris gave him a quelling look and Mr Mulwin stuck out his tongue at him.

“That,” his wife said, “is childish.”

Chapter III

1

The phone rang. As always when this happened, Deirdre put back her head and howled. Norris answered it.

“Norris? How are you. This is Mag—Mag Carpenter.”

“Good to hear from you Mag. I’m fine. So is Deirdre.” With his free hand he scratched the proud dog behind its ear.

“Now I want you to tell me all about Lottie. I’m sure she’s doing wonderfully. A person like that, with so many inner resources and such a strong character. I’ve often said it, Mary Charlotte Taylor is an oak.”

Norris, who did not much like Mag, said to himself, Go soak your head. Aloud he said, “She’s doing just fine. It’s quite a set-up they’ve got there. It’s not just a rest home—they have a lot of group therapy.”

“Group therapy, I’ve heard about that. But I’d die before I could start talking about all my little intimacies in front of strangers. I simply couldn’t face it.”

“It is hard on some people, at first. You know, they have certain nights when the families come and join in. It helps the patients realize that they’re not ostracized from the community.”

“Yes. And of course most problems aren’t just one person’s. I mean, so often it seems in an emotional upset the other members of the family are in some way involved too. Oh dear, I’m making it sound as though you drove Lottie to drink. I don’t mean that, of course.”

“Who knows?” Norris said. “Maybe I did.” He stopped scratching Deirdre and reached for the highball he allowed himself after dinner. “Although Lottie says she wants me to keep on having my usual when she comes home. I think she sees it as sort of a test, and one that it’s important she pass.”

“Norris, I’d like to ask you a rather personal question.”

“Oh?”

“Would you like to come over and spend the night with me?”

“I’m flattered that you should ask me that. It’s a real compliment. But I think we’d better not.”

“I don’t know what possessed me to say that—I just blurted it out. That wasn’t why I called up. Truly, seriously.”

“I can understand that you’re lonely, Mag.”

“I guess it’s a way of missing Bartram. We had a very satisfying relationship. At the same time, I really like the idea of remaining faithful to his memory. Promise me you won’t breathe it to a soul, especially Lottie. I couldn’t look her in the face if I thought she knew.”

“No, I regard it as a confidence. And I think you’ll feel better for getting it off your chest. Sometimes saying a thing is enough. And I am flattered.”

“You should be. You’re the only one I ever said anything like that to. You’re a very attractive man, Norris. That silvery hair.”

“And you’re an attractive, pretty woman, Mag. I’ve always thought that. But don’t worry. We’ll call this our little secret.”

“I know I can count on you. I’m thinking of giving a little dinner party, or perhaps have cocktails. I’ll invite you.”

“I’ll be happy to come. Unless it’s one of the nights when I go to the hospital.”

“I’ll arrange it so it isn’t. Remember me to Lottie. Tell her I’ll come see her when she can have visitors.”

“Will do. Goodnight Mag, and thanks for calling.”

“Goodbye Norris. Don’t forget: It’s our little secret.”

After Norris finished his highball and took Deirdre for her walk he called Mag back.

“Mag? It’s Norris. Is that invitation still open?”

“Yes, Norris. It is.”

“It will take me half an hour or so to walk over there. The car would be too conspicuous.”

“I’ll be expecting you.”

When he got to the Carpenter house the porch light was off and the downstairs dark. The door opened before he could ring the bell. He could see Mag by the dim light that filtered down the staircase from the upper hall. She was wearing a flowered housecoat. Norris took her in his arms and kissed her.

“I’ve never been to bed with any woman but Lottie,” he said.

“Hush,” Mag said. “Don’t talk.” She took him by the hand and led him upstairs to her room, which was done in rose and pale blue, dominated by a reproduction mahogany four poster. “I fixed us a couple of drinks.” Two highballs stood on the dresser. “May I watch you undress?”

Afterward, Norris said, “I’d like to spend the night. But I don’t think it would look too good for the neighbors to see me issuing forth while they’re crouched over their Rice Crispies. It might look a little too good.”

“I know,” Mag said. She lay very close to him, with one leg over his. “I know this is going to sound sordid, but perhaps sometime we could meet at a motel. Then we could spend the whole night together.”

“Lottie won’t be away long. We don’t want to start something that might be difficult to handle, later.”

“Oh, I won’t make any claims on you. It’s just that I’d like to wake up once more and find a man’s body next to mine.”

“Any man’s body?”

“That’s nasty. I meant your body, Norris. It was so wonderful: don’t say anything that will make it seem squalid. I couldn’t bear that.”

Norris kissed her lightly. “I was only teasing. But I’d better warn you: I’m an independent cuss.”

“I know you are. That’s one of the things I like about you.”

“And now, I’ll get a move on.”

“Norris?”

“Yes?”

“Could you do it again?”

“Sorry, Mag, but I’ve never been able to