Topaz - Leon Uris [38]
“Hon, I’d like to take in the movie tonight with the Bowmans.”
“What’s playing?”
“Lolita with that deliciously decadent James Mason.”
“Sure.”
Liz put a tall iced tea before him as he thumbed through the Sunday papers, stopping at “Peanuts.” He laughed and commented that Snoopy fractured him.
“The stationwagon is on the blink again,” Liz said.
“Well, get it fixed.”
“It spends half the time in the garage. Hon, do you think we’ll be able to trade it in by the end of the year?”
“Huh?”
“I said I’d like to trade it in.”
“Well, maybe. This Koufax is something. Struck out ten again last night.”
Liz tasted the stew testily, adding a pinch of onion salt and replacing the lid. Mike was in earnest in the sports page.
“Put the paper down, hon.”
“Liz, don’t talk about the car now.”
“How are things with the Devereaux?”
“So-so.”
“I dropped in to see Nicole this morning. I guess André had just left the house on his trip. She didn’t take him to the airport.”
“That’s not a federal offense.”
“It is with them. She was a little tight. Not drunk, just tight. A lot of tears and babbling. I’ve never seen her that way. I spent quite a bit of time with her ... that’s why lunch was late.”
“You know how it is. He’s under pressure, she folds.”
“What about his women? I understand he has a lot of them.”
“Not a lot, just enough. When he travels he gets down, tired, lonely. You know, like a human being. Hasn’t got a damn thing to do with loving your wife.”
“She’s at an age where she’s very uncertain about herself.”
“For Christ’s sake, Liz, what does Nicole want? André hasn’t let any women give her a moment’s worry or challenge her position. He’s discreet and he hasn’t dumped it on the doorstep. Nicole writes much more into this than she should.”
“Yes, I suppose you’re right.”
“Right for Nicole’s husband, not yours. Come on, Liz, we’ve played out the same damn scene. She’s got him feeling guilty about things he hasn’t done wrong.”
“Are they going to make it?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Lord, I wish there was something I could do.”
“People don’t change, Liz. One by one the reasons to remain married fade. Most families hang together out of economic necessity. Then there’s the children. Or the dread of loneliness. But there comes a saturation point where none of the fears equals the torture of a deteriorated marriage. I think she’s pushed him over the edge.”
“Nicole said something very strange. She said that she was getting the feeling more and more that he wants her to have a lover.”
“We all go through that,” he answered.
“Mike, it scares me to see this. Are we all right?”
“We’re all right.”
“It’s not easy to learn, but I came to know that all the rest of it means nothing if you don’t deliberately hurt me. I’ve really tried to make things more comfortable for you.”
“You have, Liz.”
The dreaded sound of the phone ringing stiffened Liz, then she answered and handed the receiver to him and saw his face grow tense and heard him say he’d be right down. Oh, damnit! Why can’t they leave him alone just one Sunday?
“Something came up. I’m not sure when I’ll get in.”
“Of course, dear.”
“You go on to the show. I’ll heat up the stew.”
“No, I’ll wait for you, Mike.” She put her arms about him and rested her head on his chest. “Try not to be too tired when you come home,” she said.
15
SANDERSON HOOPER ARRIVED AT the Bethesda Naval Hospital simultaneously with Nordstrom and they proceeded together quickly down the corridor toward the guarded wing housing the Kuznetov family.
Boris Kuznetov was propped up with pillows. He smiled wanly as they entered. The Russian appeared much better. Some of the chalk had faded from his cheeks. “I regret to inform you I am making excellent progress,” he said, “although American television is no help. It’s quite bad.”
Nordstrom pulled a chair close to the bed so Boris would not have to labor while speaking.