Part 20 (1/2)
She was very surprised to reach Fourth Street so quickly. She had known, without thinking, that that was where she was going. In less than five minutes she had entered the little court in front of Beebo's apartment building and the old familiar trembling had begun.
She sat down on a bench in the court to gather her strength. At last she looked up the wall of dark windows behind her, twisting on the bench to see, and saw lights in Beebo's living room, and began to s.h.i.+ver.
Ten or a dozen times she looked up anxiously at the lights on the second floor. They were faint, as if only one small light were on. With a sudden rush of desire that eliminated the need to make a decision, she pulled open the inside door and raced up the stairs.
At the top she stood trying desperately to get her breath. But she knew after a moment that her whole body would shake and sweat and wear itself out with unbearable antic.i.p.ation if she didn't get the door open. She reached for the k.n.o.b, but it was locked.
She rattled the k.n.o.b hard and then she knocked.
When the door swung open a moment later she gasped in amazement. It was Milo RobinsonTris's husband.
”Milo!” she exclaimed.
He stared at her.
”Don't you remember me? I'm Laura. Laura Landon.”
”I remember,” he said quietly. ”I just never saw you fresh out of the gutter before.”
She looked down at herself and her cheeks went scarlet ”I look awful, don't I?”
”Somebody after you?” Milo asked.
”Yes. No. I don't know. Can I come in?”
”I guess you can,” he said, stepping back. ”You've got as much right to be here as me, that's for sure.”
Laura walked into the living room and just the sight of it, warm and comfortable and a little raggy, made her want to weep. She sank down on the couch, exhausted.
”Want some coffee?” Milo said, staring at her.
”No, thanks. I've had too much tonight.”
”Milk?”
”I guess so. Thanks.”
”You look real bad, Laura. You'd better get to bed,” he said frowning at her.
”Where's Beebo?”
”Tell me that and I'll tell you where my wife is,” he said sharply.
”You coming back to Beebo?” he asked her.
”If she'll have me.”
”From what I know of it, she won't. But I'm on your side, Laura. I'd do anything to pry Patsy loose.”
It startled her to hear him call Tris by her real name. ”Is Beebo in love with her?” she asked cautiously.
”Naw,” he said with leisurely disgust. ”She puts up with her but she's not in love with her.” He ambled out to the kitchen to pour her some milk. ”I should be so lucky,” he called. ”I'd dump her. Right now.”
”How about Tris? How does she feel?”
He answered her while he poured the milk. ”I don't know, Laura. I never could figure that kid. Living with her only makes it more confusing.” He sounded very tired, like a man defeated. ”I wish I could forget her, forget the whole thing.” He came back and handed her the milk and sat down in a chair near her.
They looked at each other. He was a tall young man in his early twenties, handsome and well educated. His akin was dark and satiny in the pink lamplight.
”Does she love you?” Laura asked gently.
He shrugged and gave a little laugh. ”Who knows?” he said. ”She says so now and then. But that's only when I lay down the law on the Lessie stuff.”
”What's the law?” Laura said.
”Well, G.o.ddam it, enough's enough!” he exclaimed. ”I like to see her once in a while myself. She's my wife.”
Laura thought of Jack and felt the tears start quietly down again. ”Excuse me,” she sniffled. ”I'm running like a sieve tonight. I don't know why. Did Jack Mann come over here tonight?”
”I wouldn't know,” Milo said. ”I've only been here since midnight.”
”Did he call?”
”n.o.body called.”
”n.o.body?” She had been so certain Jack would follow her here. ”When does Beebo get in?”
”You tell me, then we'll both know.” He sighed.
”What will you do with Tris, Milo?” She spoke softly, sympathetically, in a raspy tired voice.
”Take her home again.”
”Do you understand her? What makes her so contrary?”
”No.” He turned and gave her a doleful grin, lighting another cigarette from the first. ”We've been married almost two years but I don't know her at all, to tell the truth. But I sure won't let her go.”
”Does she want you to?”
”I don't think she does,” he said. ”Sound screwy? Well, not so very. She needs me. Because I'm a man.” There was a pause and Laura mopped up the useless tears and tried to think of Milo's troubles, not her own.
”How long are you going to stay?” she asked him finally.
”I guess till they get back,” he said. ”Are you sure they're together?”
”More or less. Patsy has a big thing on her.”
”Milo? Would you stay here till they get back, then? I'm afraidI'm afraid of Beebo. She might hurt me.”
He looked at her thoughtfully. ”Yeah. Okay,” he said, studying her. ”Say, haven't you been gone a while? Patsy doesn't tell me much, but I got the idea ... I haven't seen you around or anything.”