Midge Gette - The more the sexier

"You can say that again," Sally said.

And reflected in each face was a vague worry over the atmosphere of imperma-nence that existed in this fine mansion. Trouble was in the air. And change. 147

Sharon sat quietly by the young doctor's side as he drove. Five nights and five days, she was thinking. And I feel as if I've known him all my life. She knew with sighing wonder that the past days had been the happiest she had ever known, and she was secretly delighted that their three elders had been content with farewells said at home. She wished Doc would drive slower. Another fifteen minutes and they would be at the airport, and he on a plane for Park City. He had extended his visit, but now on this warm summer evening, with church bells echoing in the distance, it was all but over.

"I've never been on a plane," she remarked. "Imagine, Doc, almost twenty years old and I've never been anywhere."

"I'll be glad when I can stop catching planes and just settle down in dear old Brookings."

He would be back. It was all that saved her from feeling completely maudlin about his departure. They had had such fun. Even the times they had been alone together had been without any constraint. They had gone to a movie one night, and swimming twice. She smiled to remember with what reluctance he had consented to use the pool at the big house. And he had absolutely refused to enter the house itself. She had no idea why this had made her appreciate him more.

"Don't forget to let me know about any luck the real-estate broker has," he remarked.

Her heart gave a small jump. "Don't worry," she said. "I won't forget to write." She bent forward, hugging herself in laughter. "Dear Doc," she recited. "Hurry home. We've bought out the whole block."

He laughed, turning his head to enjoy the sight of her. He was surprised at how much he wanted to kiss her. A little worried, too. His feelings for her were mixed. The passing of days-and nights-had seriously changed his first avuncular attitude toward her, and he took less pleasure than before in regarding her as just a kid. He could not afford to let himself think about her too much. He did not fancy marrying a rich young woman; with Uncle Nate in the background, it was impossible to consider Sharon anything else.

Sharon stole quick looks at him, wondering if he were quiet because he, too, hated the moment of parting ahead. She did not like to think of him going back to that big hospital with all those nurses-she scowled. Doctors always seemed to marry nurses.

"Doc, do you suppose there would be any kind of job for me in the clinic when it's finished?" she asked.

He heard the wistfulness behind her words. "Hard to tell, Sharon. But why should you want a job, honey? You don't need to work."

"Maybe I do. I told Uncle Nate I wasn't just going to let him keep me-I mean, after we get settled in the cottage. John-" She was not aware that she had dropped,the familiar "Doc" at that moment. "You know I've already told you how it is. Uncle Nate's being rich is just an accident. He doesn't like it any better than I do. We're just stuck with it."

Since she was all child for the moment, he found it easy to laugh at her. "Well, we'll see," he comforted her. "It's too bad you've neglected your education."

"I can type. I've worked before. I'm just not college material, Doc," she replied stubbornly. "It seems silly to go to college without some definite aim in mind, and I don't have any aim. I may take some courses this fall-Oh, shoot, I'm just a no-talent flop, I guess."

"What about all that talent for motherhood? "he teased.

It was unexpectedly difficult to laugh. "Oh, that's out," she muttered. "You've got to figure on getting to be a wife before you start the motherhood bit."

"I think you'll make it all right," he said. "I think you'd make some young fellow a very nice wife."

Some young fellow. Sharon stared out at the passing scene, and the silence returned between them. At the airport, he slid from beneath the steering wheel and reached into the back seat for his luggage. "Don't wait, Sharon," he said. "My plane; about due, anyway." He stood watching her as she moved behind the wheel, and he smiled a little crookedly. She looked so solemn, and so darned young. "Goodbye, kid," he said. "Don't forget to write."

"I won't." She stared up at him, her mouth vulnerable.

He found himself staring at it. "Be good," he muttered, and bent forward, kissed the trembling lips briefly. "See you in a few weeks," he added, and hurried away.

She put her fingers against her lips, swallowed hard; then, with a horrible grinding of gears, she put the car in motion and roared away, blind to the indignant glances cast her way by outraged drivers.

She was hardly in a receptive mood when, upon arriving at home, she was confronted with a summons from her mother's room. "Okay, Andrews," she said to the butler, but without interest. She could not help feeling that, John's kiss had been a casual gesture. Goodbye, kid. Be good. Well, she had acted like a silly kid, getting all choked up just because he was leaving. He probably thought of her as a little sister, not a grown woman like those darned nurses who were probably all after him.

"What do you want?" she demanded when she entered her mother's bedroom without knocking. "What's the matter, Mother?" she added. "How come you're in bed? Are you sick?"

"If she is, it's your fault," said Debbie, who was sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Now, Debbie dear," her mother cautioned. "No quarrel, please. Debbie doesn't mean that, Sharon. Come in and sit down."

Sharon moved to the foot of the bed, but remained on her feet. She waited, her face sullen and her eyes on her mother, ignoring Debbie.

Mrs. Parker moved restlessly against her pillows. She was in bed because it had seemed wiser to feign illness for the servants' sake. "I had a talk with Uncle Nate today," she began, frowning faintly at her inability to avoid Sharon's eyes. "We-we wanted to talk to you about him. Debbie called Dwayne and he should be along any minute." She looked toward Debbie a little helplessly. "Perhaps we should wait for him," she said falteringly.

Sharon's eyes had narrowed. A family conference in which she was included was unheard of. So Mother had had a talk with Uncle Nate, had she? Her expression became sardonic. If they had any idea of thwarting her life with Uncle Nate, they'd just better not try. Uncle Nate would never let her down, no matter what.

"I wish you'd sit down, dear," her mother said.

Sharon complied to the extent of resting a hip on the polished carved bar between the bed posters. She remained silent.

"Oh, for heaven's sake!" Debbie exploded. "Get that silly look off your face! If you could see yourself-"

"Debbie, please. Don't antagonize her."

Sharon's eyebrows winged. What is this? she wondered, and broke her silence. "Look," she said brusquely, "if you have something to say to me, say it and get it over with. I'm busy."

"Busy, she says," scoffed Debbie. "Monkey business, that's what she's been up to!"

"Oh, thank goodness you're here-" Mrs. Parker raised herself to extend arms to her son. "Dwayne, you talk to Sharon-you explain-"

"I wish somebody would," Sharon said, shrugging.

Dwayne wasted no words, having been apprised of the situation by telephone. "What's this about you and Uncle Nate being partners?" he demanded of Sharon. "Just what's your game?"

Sharon removed herself from her perch, but her mind was racing. -She took a few steps away from them and turned; studying their faces individually, she saw the fear in their eyes.

"Oh, dear," her mother was saying, "Dwayne, I don't think that's the way to-"

Sharon laughed.

"Now, look here," her brother shouted, but his mother's white face restrained him. "Look here, Sharon," he began again in a more conciliatory tone. "It's just that Uncle Nate could do me a big favor, and it seems you'll have something to do with his decision."