"The reluctant neighbor" - читать интересную книгу автора (Jenkins Peter)

CHAPTER TEN

Fred was amazed that Vivian should still be upstairs, putting the daughter to rest for the evening. He looked at his watch, couldn't remember at what time he had left the house, to go to his own with Anna, decided that it didn't really matter. He sat and marveled at his own sexual powers, at the pleasure that Anna had given him and he apparently her, and watched Vivian descend the stairs without hearing what she babbled about.

And babble she did. For somewhat close to an hour she talked, Anna mumbling "Yes," or "No," or "Really?" occasionally. Fred didn't listen, couldn't have repeated anything the woman said, until she mentioned his name. His ears perked up, he tried to focus his mind on what she was saying. He was horrified. She was questioning Anna about him, what he had done in bed with her, how he had reacted. His face, once he realized what she was talking about, was suddenly hot and, he knew, red.

He was relieved for a minute when he heard a car pull into the driveway, certain that it would be Peter and Marily, then a near panic seized him when he considered what his wife would think unless Vivian shut her mouth. He forced a question, by speaking loudly, to change the course of her conversation: "How long has Peter been practicing law?"

"About five years he's had the same office here in Mill Valley but he's been out of school before that, say about one year, we looked for a place to live, to raise the child in nice surroundings and be near a good school, all things that one must consider when the yoke and pleasure of parenthood is looped about one's neck and…" She droned on, until the doorbell momentarily interrupted her. Not that she stopped speaking, she simply changed subjects, opened the door wide and caught a surprised Marily in her arms, then started talking to Peter about their daughter, some clever thing that she had said.

Fred stood when Marily entered the room, hoped that he was not blushing, tried to assume a calm and normal voice when he asked her, "How was the meeting?"

Marily was looking closely at Fred, putting him at a disadvantage. She wanted to see if there was any outward sign that he had participated in the plot for his happiness, but she could discern none. She had received a nod from Anna, meaning to her that the act had been completed, that he was well on his way to becoming a member, but she wanted to see it on his face. She couldn't. "Oh, Fred, it was wonderful. There is so much going on here, in this community you'd never believe. You would enjoy it very much. I know you would." She turned to Anna, then.

"What did you people talk about? Did you get acquainted?" Fred was undergoing mixed emotions. He had been afraid that talkative Vivian would let the cat out of the bag, but now that his wife was talking, he feared for a moment that she would know how to get any information that she desired from another woman. Then, when he heard Anna answering his Marily, he knew that the former was too bright, too intelligent, to give anything away. He relaxed. Shortly, Peter came and maneuvered him out to the kitchen, mixed both of them a drink over Fred's protestations, and talked.

Marily didn't know what to say to Fred once they were alone. She had no fear that he had been told anything about her weekend just past, but she wanted him to tell her how he had felt, how he had gotten along with Anna and Vivian. She didn't know that the plans had been modified, that both women had felt that the two of them might be a bit much for him, coming all at once. She said nothing, however, but she did ignore the disarrayed bed, hurriedly turned back the covers and pulled the sheets back, trusting that he wouldn't remember or think about how he had left it. She felt a slight pang of jealously when she came to him, in bed, and he told her, "Marily, not tonight, O.K.? Let's forget about it for this week. The trip and all…"

She went to her own bed, lay down and smiled to herself. For the first time, even after the assurances from Anna, she knew that Fred was undergoing a change of character, that he was, quietly and unto himself, thinking about her for the first time in a long time. She went to sleep as soon as she heard his soft snore.