Part 35 (2/2)

He looked at her. His heart leaped within him at the disappointment in her voice. ”Yes,” he said. ”Have you forgotten? I'm going to California in the morning.”

”Oh, Johnny,” she said, and this time there was genuine disappointment in her voice. ”Must you go?”

He nodded his head. ”I have to. Business.”

She tossed her head angrily. He liked the way her eyes flashed at him. ”Sometimes I think that's all you really care about! Business! The trouble with you is don't know how to relax and have fun.”

He smiled at her. ”A guy like me isn't set up to have fun. All I can do is work.”

She leaned forward, her face very close to his. ”Stop feeling sorry for yourself, Johnny!” Her lips parted a little, showing the white ends of her teeth. ”You're no different from anybody else! What happened was an accident and doesn't really make any difference to anybody and shouldn't to you.” She closed her eyes and waited for him to kiss her. ”That should do it!” she thought triumphantly.

She felt his hand press hers and heard his voice. She opened her eyes, feeling a little ridiculous. ”It's kind of you to say that, Dulcie,” he was saying. ”I won't forget it.”

He looked at his watch. ”My G.o.d, I didn't realize it was this late!” He looked at her. ”Ready to go?”

She looked back at him. For a moment anger flared through her. What the h.e.l.l was he doing, she thought, playing with her? As quickly as the feeling had come, it vanished. No, he really meant what he was saying. He didn't want to impose himself upon her. She took her lipstick from her evening bag. ”I'm ready,” she said. ”Be with you in a minute.”

They were silent in the cab on the way home. He paid the driver and followed her into the lobby. They waited silently for the elevator and rode up to her apartment.

He waited while she opened the door and then followed her into the foyer. There was a small light glowing and it cast a dim shadow over their faces. She turned to him.

He held his hat awkwardly in his hand. His free hand reached for hers. ”So long, Dulcie,” he said.

She took his hand. ”Will you be gone long, Johnny?” she asked wistfully.

”Till March,” he said.

”Oh,” she said disappointedly. ”That's a long time.”

He smiled at her. ”It's not so long, Dulcie. I'll see you when I get back.”

She turned her face away from his in the darkness. ”Maybe you won't,” she said, her voice small and plaintive. ”Warren wants me to go home and give up the idea of going on the stage.”

He watched her. His voice wasn't steady when he finally spoke. ”Maybe Warren has the right idea. It's a pretty tough life.”

She turned her face toward his. In the dark it was glowing with an inner incandescence. True feeling rushed into her voice. ”No, it isn't right, I know it!” Her shoulders drooped helplessly. ”But there isn't anything I can do about it. I guess I'll have to go home.”

He put his hand under her chin and turned her face up to his. His voice was sympathetic. ”Don't feel blue, Dulcie. If you really want something, you'll get it.”

”Do you really think so, Johnny?” Her voice was excited. ”I want to be an actress, a great actress. Do you think I will be?”

He looked down at her rea.s.suringly. ”You will be if you want it bad enough.”

She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. He almost stumbled in his surprise; then his arms went around her. She let her body press against him. ”I don't know what I'll do without you, Johnny,” she said against his ear.

He drew away from her stiffly and looked at her. He was suddenly aware of his clumsiness. Coldly his mind told him that she couldn't be interested in him. A man with only one leg. He felt a pain stab through his breast. All she could really do was feel sorry for him.

”I've got to be going, Dulcie,” he said uncomfortably.

She stared at him unbelievingly. The man was crazy. What did he want? A written invitation? In a sort of daze she held out her hand.

He took it. ”Good-by,” he said.

She didn't answer. Still dazed, she watched the door close behind him. Then suddenly she came to life. In a rage she took off one of her shoes and flung it at the door.

The light flashed on in the foyer and she whirled around. Warren stood there mockingly, leaning against the inner door. He silently clapped his hands together. His voice was low. ”Curtain, act two,” he said.

”What did you want me to do?” she snarled at him. ”Hold him by his trousers?”

He walked over to her, shaking his head gently. ”Temper, temper,” he said. ”Can't you see the man has ideals and is a gentleman?”

With an effort she controlled herself. She smiled and came toward him, put her arms around him, and looked up into his face. ”What are we going to do now, Warren? I tried.”

He disengaged himself from her clasp. ”I don't know what you're going to do, honey,” he said quietly, ”but you're going to have to leave here.”

She stared at him for a moment. Rage flashed across her face, and suddenly it was gone and she smiled. She turned, walked over to the door, and picked up her shoe from the floor. She walked back to him slowly. ”Darling,” she said, sweetly, ”did you ever want something you couldn't have?”

His face was puzzled. ”No,” he answered. He watched her walk past him to the inner door. ”Why?”

She turned and faced him. The light of the room fell across her. She let her evening wrap fall from her shoulders. ”Then take a good look, darling,” she said slowly, ”because some day you're going to want it an awful lot and you won't get it!”

Johnny looked out the window of the train. They were rolling through the Jersey meadow. He settled back against the cus.h.i.+ons comfortably. There was a knock on the door.

He looked up. It must be Rock with the papers. His hands were probably filled and he couldn't turn the k.n.o.b. He got up and opened the door.

”Can I come in, Johnny?” the voice asked him plaintively.

He stood there for a moment in shocked surprise. ”Dulcie!” he exclaimed. ”What are you doing here?”

She came into the compartment and closed the door behind her. ”I wanted to be with you, Johnny,” she said breathlessly, looking up at him.

Happiness gradually replaced the look of surprise on his face. He reached out an arm to her. She took his hand. ”But what about your plans?” he asked bewilderedly.

She put her arms around his neck and clung to him. ”Last night when you kissed me I suddenly knew what I wanted. I didn't want to be an actress any more. All I want is you!”

”But-” Johnny insisted.

”No buts!” she said swiftly. ”I'm free, white, and twenty-four and I know what I want!” She pressed her lips to his.

He held her close to him. Her lips told him what she said was true. He could hear the words in his ears: ”I know what I want!” The only thing the matter was that he didn't know how true they were.

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