Unknown: The Step-Mother

The beautiful animal, she had immediately taken to; who wouldn't? He was a handsome, lovable dog. There was actually an acute sense of over- intelligence about him which gave her an odd sensation, almost as if she were in the presence of a human being when he was with her. But his master…?

Frank had told her Vince Rivers was coming, nothing more. The moment she'd seen the white Continental swerve into the drive and the too- handsome, sleek-looking, well-dressed young man alight with an athletic flourish of movement, something unpleasant had happened in her sex- starved belly. There hadn't been time to analyze it then and in the three days he had been with them, Lisa's belligerent attitude had kept Shirley so on edge that she could concern herself with nothing else.

The vivacious young teenager despised her stepmother – there was no denying that, anymore than she could question the fact that Frank Douglas' resentful daughter was using every means she could devise to drive her from under their roof.

And Vincent Rivers gave her a distinct feeling of sexual uneasiness, made her blush and squirm beneath the steady gaze of his lewdly undressing dark eyes.

She guessed him to be between thirty-two and thirty-six, an unscrupulous bastard with women and as shady as an elm tree. Yet he had Nomad, a magnificently lovable speciman of animal, and their association confused her.

The beautiful dog was not in keeping with Rivers' obvious rakish character.

Nomad was gentle and love beamed radiantly from his big brown eyes, not exactly the emotion a man like Vince Rivers would inspire, nor be able to instill in such a noble beast. Where or how Frank had met this man, Shirley had no idea, but the basis of his being there had to do with his buying a half-interest in Douglas Electronics, a very disheartening thought!

Perhaps it was that questionable gift called woman's intuition which had made her cringe at Frank's revelation, or maybe it was the fact that she'd been associated with the business herself that long. Anyway, she'd tried to talk to her half-drunken husband, not necessary to discourage the affiliation with Rivers as much as to make Frank realize what he was doing! After all was said and done, Douglas Electronics was his baby!

"I've had it! Had it… you hear, Shirley? Right up to the top of my head I've had it!" Frank had replied, never looking in her direction, never really raising his voice in emphasis as he walked around their… her… bedroom finding the clothes he wanted. "Rivers wants Douglas Electronics. He sits on a fortune left to him by his grandfather. He's young, vigorous, full of hopes and ideas! I like that… because he reminds me of myself… but I'm too old to do the things I want for the company. He shows his money and he's in, Shirley … top man! I… we, if you want to, we'll go to Europe… play in the sun-lands… anything, I don't care! But… I've had it! I want to get away from Los Angeles and the Valley altogether!"

Shirley hadn't pressed. There'd been much more in the tone of his voice than what he'd actually said. She knew he felt uselessly old and incapable, but perhaps more than he, Shirley realized why. At that moment, she could have cried for him, for both of them, because she did love him in her own way… she did! But the company was his, all his to do with however he pleased. Not once in their six month marriage had there been anything but the indulgent husband offering security and the kindness he had proposed to her. Drunk? Yes, most of the time lately, until it had become nearly unbearable between Lisa and herself, and without any way Shirley could conceive of easing that building tension…

The distraught young wife could hear her husband's daughter splashing in the swimming pool as she finished with the canapes. The girl's boy friend, Paul Fulton, had not come by as he'd promised earlier that morning on the telephone.

Shirley had overheard part of Lisa's conversation and the teenager's mention of a two o'clock swim date. It was now nearly four and the blonde girl imagined her stepdaughter to be as razor-sharp angry as the jagged edge of a tin can, the way she usually found her. ›From the beginning, Lisa had not tried to hide her open contempt for Shirley, invariably addressing her as "Stepmother" whether they were alone or the house was filled with people. Shirley doubted that Frank had even noticed the venom that literally dripped from his daughter's pretty lips, or the bitterness gleaming in her lovely onyx eyes when the seventeen year old came in contact with her. There was no question but what she thought Shirley had married her father only for the money and security he offered, partial reasons the vibrant blonde woman would never deny, but never in the cold calculating light she knew that Lisa saw it all. How could she explain to an embittered girl who hated her the truth of her feelings toward Frank, and this… unexpected torment that was ruining both of their lives? God, she couldn't! No matter how hard she tried, and Lord knows, she'd never stopped trying – there was just no way of reaching Lisa. Even at that moment, the preparations she was engaged in were for her stepdaughter's graduation pool-party only a few hours off.

Shirley turned away from the counter, wishing that Frank hadn't insisted on making an almost social event of it. She, herself, had wanted to confine the affair just to Lisa's teenage friends, but her husband had felt it was a good time for parents and neighborhood friends to get together for a "blast" as he put it, and there was no reasoning with him these alcoholic days.

Actually, it hadn't been necessary for her to bother with any of the preparations. The hired help who were due any minute would have looked after it all. Frank had endowed her with ample people to keep her from ever using her dainty little hands in the kitchen, but she had done it because she wanted to!

God, she had to keep doing something to occupy her mind… either that, or start running as fast and as far as she could away from there… and she wasn't quite ready to throw in the towel yet… but how much longer could she go on this way?

Nomad whimpered from his corner of the kitchen, attracting her attention and Shirley smiled over at him, remembering her unnecessary shortness with him moments before. He was such a sensitive animal. His big brown eyes seemed to be pleading with her for just one kind word, his beautiful ears like regal spires on a crown.

"Oh, come here, baby… Shirley's sorry," the curvaceous, long-haired girl half-whispered, dropping onto her lushly rounded haunches as he quickly trotted toward her and she took his handsome head between small, slender hands. "She didn't mean to scold you, darling, you're such a lovable guy." She leaned close, kissing him between the eyes, the affectionate act actually surprising her… but he was such an adorable animal. Instantly, his long, pink tongue licked out to brush warmly over her lips in answer, a second surprising emotion flickering inside her. "Well… you old lover, you!" she softly exclaimed, smiling as she straightened up, still fondly petting his massive head.

"Let's see if we can find something for you in the fridge before Shirley takes a bath."

Nomad trotted along beside her, brushing against her naked thigh as if he couldn't get close enough, she thought, pleased at his warm display of attachment. She found the left-over end of a roast, little more than a tidbit for his gargantuan appetite and she couldn't help but laugh as he gulped it away in several bites of his powerful jaws. Then, he went to his bowl of drinking water while she stood watching, at the same time deciding against the swim she had planned on earlier. For certain, Lisa wouldn't welcome her presence, and she doubted their relationship would stand much more strain without bursting at the seams. Better that she bathe and rest a little to be ready for whatever stress the evening could hold in store.