Part 6 (1/2)

I looked at my watch. It wasn't ten o'clock yet.

CHAPTER 8.

The Giacomin house was on three levels. I had a room on the first. There was a lavatory with a shower across the hall from me. There was a family room with a Ping-Pong table next to me, and next to the lavatory across the hall was an office where Mel Giacomin had worked out of his house occasionally when he'd lived there. The next level was living room with a dining el and kitchen. The third level was a bathroom and three more bedrooms. Patty Giacomin slept up there and so did Paul.

The next morning I drove Paul to school at seven twenty-five. He didn't eat any breakfast. When we left, his mother was in the bathroom with the door closed. I delivered him right to the school door.

When he got out, I said, ”What time does school get over?”

He said, ”Five after two, I guess. I don't know exactly.”

I said, ”When it gets out, I'll be right here at this door. Don't come out another one. Don't go anywhere with anyone but me.”

He nodded and walked into the school. I noticed his hair wasn't combed. I sat in the car and watched him until he was out of sight, then I turned and drove back to Emerson Road. Patty Giacomin was out of the bathroom, bathed and powdered and s.h.i.+ny with makeup. She had on a red ap.r.o.n with yellow flowers and underneath it a maroon silk blouse, white tapered pants, and white sandals. There was polish on her toenails. Coffee was perking in an electric pot, bacon was frying. Toast was in the toaster. The dining room table was set for two and the orange juice was all poured. There was jam out and b.u.t.ter on a plate.

”Sit down,” she said. ”Breakfast is almost ready.”

”Paul doesn't know what he's missing, going off to school like that,” I said.

”Oh, he never eats breakfast. Hates it. I'm glad actually. He's such a grouch in the morning. How do you like your eggs?”

”Over easy.”

”Sit,” she said. ”It's almost ready.”

I sat ”Drink your orange juice,” she said. ”Don't wait I'll sit right down in a minute.”

I drank my orange juice. Frozen. The toast popped. Patty Giacomin put the four slices on a plate, put four more pieces of bread in to toast and put the plate on the table.

I said, ”You want me to b.u.t.ter it?”

”Yes, thank you.”

I b.u.t.tered the toast Patty put four strips of bacon and two eggs, over easy, on my plate and put my plate in front of me. She served herself one egg and two strips of bacon. Then she sat down and drank her orange juice.

”This is very nice,” I said.

”Well, if you're going to be stuck here with a woman and a kid, I felt you should at least be treated right”

I poured some coffee first into her cup and then mine.

”You men will have to rough it this weekend though,” she said.

I ate a piece of bacon and a bite of egg.

”I'll be going away for the weekend,” she said.

I nodded.

”I'm going to New York to visit friends.”

I nodded again, and ate some more.

”I go down every month, go to the theater, to a museum exhibit. It's very stimulating.”

”Yeah,” I said. I finished up my eggs.

She ate a small bite of her egg. ”Do you know New York, Mr. Spenser?”

”I know what everyone means when they say that. I know midtown Manhattan.”

”Yes, I suppose that's true, isn't it. That is what we mean by New York when we go to visit.” She drank some coffee.

”Who stayed with Paul before when you'd go? Pinkerton man?”

She smiled at me, ”No, I hired a woman, Mrs. Travitz, normally. Sometimes Sally Washburn would come in. I always got someone.”

”You think Paul will mind staying alone with me?” I said.

She looked a little startled, as if I'd asked a dumb question.

”Oh, no. Paul likes you. He understands that I have to get away. That I must find some fulfillment of my own. He realizes I can't just be a mother, as I couldn't just be a wife.”

”Of course,” I said.

”It's remarkable, I think, how long it took women to realize the value and need of self-actualization,” she said.

”Isn't that amazing,” I said. ”How long it took.”

”Yes, New York is my safety valve in a sense.”

”Get a chance to shop while you're there,” I said.

She nodded. ”Yes, usually I spend a day on Fifth Avenue.”

”Ever take Paul?”

”Oh, G.o.d, no. He wouldn't have any fun and he'd just drag along. No, he'd spoil it. You don't have children, do you?”

”Nope.”