Appointment in Samarra - John O'Hara [11]
Took some things to the Harley kids, she said. She hung up her camel s hair coat in the closet under the stairs. Bubbie said to wish you a Merry Christmas and he told me to ask you if you wanted to ride on his new Flexie. I told him I didn’t think you would, this morning. She sat down and began to unbuckle her arctics. She had beautiful legs that not even the heavy woolen plaid stockings could distort. Look, she said. I m looking, he said. Don t be funny, she said, and pulled her skirt down. I want you to listen. This is what I want to say: I think you d better take that bracelet back to Caldwell s.
Why? Don t you like it?
I like it all right. It s one of the most beautiful things I ve ever seen, but you can t afford it. I know how much it cost.
So what? he said. Well, just this. I think we’ll probably need every cent we can save from now on.
Why?
She lit a cigarette. Well, you fixed it last night. No point in going into why you threw that drink at Harry, but I just want to tell you this much, you ve made an enemy for life.
Oh, no. Naturally he s sore, but I ll be able to fix it. I can handle that.
That s what you think. I ll tell you something. Have you any idea how news travels in this town? Maybe you think you have, but listen to me. I just came from the Harleys , the only people I ve seen except Mary since last night, and almost the first thing Herbert Harley said when I got in the house was, Well, I m glad somebody put Harry Reilly in his place at last. Of course I tried to laugh it off as if it were just a joke between you and Harry, but do you realize what that means, Herbert Harley s knowing about it so soon? It means the story s got all over town already. Somebody must have told the Harleys over the phone, because I know Herbert hasn t had his car out. There aren t any tracks in their driveway.
Well, what of it?
What of it? You stand there and ask me what of it? Don t you realize what that means, or are you still drunk? It just means that the whole town knows what you did, and when Harry realizes that, he’ll do anything short of murder to get even with you. And I don t have to tell you that he won’t have to commit murder to get even with you. She stood up and smoothed her skirt. So I think you d better take the bracelet back to Caldwell s.
But I want you to have it. I paid for it.
They ll take it back. They know you.
I can afford it, he said. No, you can t, she said. Besides, I don t want it.
You mean you don t want to take it from me?
She hesitated a moment, and bit her lip and nodded. Yes. I guess that s what I mean.
He went to her and put his hands on her arms. She did not move except to turn her head away from him. What s the matter? he said. Reilly doesn’t mean anything to you, for God s sake, does he?
No. Not a thing. But you d never believe that.
Oh, ridiculous, he said. I never thought you were having an affair with him.
Didn’t you? Are you sure you didn t? she freed herself. Maybe you didn’t actually think I was having an affair with him, but part of the time you wondered whether I was. That s just as bad. And that s the real reason why you threw the drink in his face.
I might have thought you kissed him, but I never thought you were having an affair with him. And the only real reason why I threw a drink in his face was I just happen to dislike him. I can t stand his stupid Irish face, that s all. And those stories.
His face looked pretty good last summer when you needed money, and by the way, here s something you d better not overlook. Perhaps you think people are going to be on your side if it comes to the point where people take sides in this. Perhaps you think all your friends will stick by you, and maybe you think that s going to frighten him because he wants to run the Assembly. Well, just don t count too much on that, because practically every single one of your best friends, with one or two exceptions, all owe Harry Reilly money.
How do you know?
He told me, she said. Maybe Jack and Carter and Bob and the rest would like to be on your side, and