(As simple as that?) (Yes, Boss. We both were free but we were careful never to hurt each other. Only a second-class contract—since I was licensed for children and Joe was not. Either of us could have registered a dissolution on three days’ notice.)
(But what did Joe say?) (Nodded and went on painting. He kissed me good-bye and told me to have fun; Joe was always sweet. But he may not have missed me. He was painting from a new model, a beautiful boy who was a frimp type. Joe may have been changing his luck; he sometimes did.)
(And you didn’t mind?)
(That beautiful boy? Boss, you’ve got to move into the twenty-first century, now that you’re me. What possible harm? I’ve told you and told you that Joe and I were always careful of each other’s happiness; what more could I ask? Besides, I don’t know that Joe had his eye on him other than as a model but—well, if they had invited me to move to Troy with them, I wouldn’t have minded, for a night or two. I’ve always preferred older men—but the boy was pretty as a Palomino and clean as a sterilized cup; I wouldn’t have found it boring. Plus the fact that a woman is flattered if two males like her enough to let her watch what they do.)
(Eunice my love, you continue to startle me. That angle I would never have thought of. Yes, I guess it would be a compliment, in a way. I think that men—even men today—are shyer about such things than women are.)
(Men are horribly shy, Boss—whereas women usually are not. We just pretend to be, when it’s expected of us. Look, a woman is a belly with a time bomb inside, and women know it and can never get away from it. They either quit being shy—no matter how they behave to please men—or they go crazy; it’s the choice we have to make. And high time you made that choice, dear. Accept your femaleness and live with it. Be happy.) (I think 1 have.) (You’re coming along. But sometimes it feels like the bravado of a little boy who says, 1 am not either scared!’ when he’s ready to wet his pants, he’s so frightened.) (Well, maybe. But I’ve got you holding my hand.) (Yes, dearest. Mama will take care of you.)
Joan went into Jake’s bathroom, primarily to snoop. She had just found something she half expected to find—when she heard Jake’s voice. “Hey! Where are you? Oh! Coming, or going? Fixed you Chablis over ice, best I could do.”
“That’ll do fine. Jake. Was this hers?” She held up a luxurious negligee—two ounces of cobweb.
Jake gulped. “Yes. Sorry.”
“I’m not sorry.” Suddenly Joan stripped off the ClingOns, shoved down her frill-skirt panties and stepped out of them, leaving her bare from sandals to eyebrows, put on the negligee. “Do I wear it the way she would? Wups, I wrapped it man-style.” She rewrapped the lap-over to the left. “Do I do her justice?”
“Eunice! Eunice?’
She folded it back, let it slither to the floor, went into his arms, let him sob against her face: “That’s enough, darling, Eunice doesn’t want you to cry. Eunice wants you to be happy. Both Eunice and Joan Eunice. Hold me tight, Jake. We’re lost and lonely—and all we have is each other.” While she cuddled him and soothed him, she opened the zipdown of his shirt. (Eunice, I’m scared!) (Easy does it, dear. Chant the Money Hum to yourself; I’ve taken over. Om Mani Padme Hum.) (Om Mani Padme Hum. Om Mani—)
Joan was jerked out of it by the telephone signal. She pulled her mouth from Jake’s and started to cry. “Oh, damn!”
Jake said huskily, “Ignore it. It’s a mistake, no one knows I’m here.”
“Uh—If we don’t answer, they’ll try again and interrupt us again. I’ll take care of it, dear. Where is the pesky thing?
Living room?”
“Yes, but there’s an extension over there.”
“Keep thinking nice thoughts.” Joan hurried over, high heels tapping, stood close to the pickup so that only her face would be seen, flipped the switch—said in Eunice’s most crisp secretarial voice: “Mr. Salomon’s residence. Who is calling?”