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CHAPTER 27

In The Night

      SHE SLEPT a while, rising to wakefulness now and then like a seal coming up for air after a long dive, barely breaking the water, only to slide down again.

      She never knew when Rosana left them, never roused until Tagg and Bobby and Normalade's voices rose again in the next room.

      The men must have said something about leaving, because Normalade was crying, "But Bobby — I'm terrified to be here by myself now! I thought we were friends again, and now — now you're leaving me alone again!"

      Bobby's voice was just a sound, but Normalade's was clear and pathetic, "But I'm not used to being alone. And when I hear things in the night, I get afraid."

      Bobby mumbled something, and Normalade spoke again, her voice as smooth and slow as honey, "I know you're still mad at me, but if you could only stay this one night. For the Baby's sake, Bobby. I'd be so . . . I'd be so grateful. I'll even — I'll even give in on his name, if you'll only stay this one night!"

      Lucy's eyes flickered open and she could see them all three, standing in the lighted living room like actors on a stage. At some time or other during the evening Normalade had changed her dress and fixed herself up, because now her soft hair was brushed out, and she looked very pretty and inviting. She was holding the baby in her arms.

      Seeing her like that, Lucy thought clearly, "Well of course. That's why she'd been lugging him around all this time — to keep him in front of Bobby's eyes."

      And it was working, too. Just from the way he was standing, Lucy could tell that Bobby was weakening.

      Normalade looked up at him with big soft eyes, and she said again, "Just for your Little Bobby's sake? Just for one night? Please?"

      "Well . . ." he said. And after that, of course, he was a goner.

      "Oh, thank you, Darling, thank you." Normalade stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek — just a sweet little peck, so he could smell her scent. And then she said "Oh, that's so — just so nice of you!" Then she backed off, hanging her head and looking shy as if she'd done something daring.

      All this woke Lucy up. She'd never seen Normalade act quite that way before. And she realized that she was, for the first time, seeing Normalade do what she did best. And it was educational.

      Bobby gave Tagg a desperate look, perhaps hoping Tagg would bail him out of this. But Tagg only stood and waited. Because, after all, this was Bobby's wife, and she had a right to make him stay with her if she could.

      Finally Bobby said, "Well, Tagg, I guess I'm not going' back with you tonight. So if you'll kind of take care of . . . my things. And then tomorrow I'll . . ." With his eyes, he was telling Tagg to go and break the news to Swan.

      "Yeah, Bob. I'll take care of things for you," Tagg answered, but he didn't sound eager. Then he nodded to Normalade. "Well, g'night. Think maybe you could look in on Lucy a time or two tonight? Make sure she's okay?"

      Normalade said, "Oh, sure." but the way she said it made Tagg shake his head as he took himself off.

      After Tagg was gone, Bobby said something about sleeping on the couch. Normalade didn't answer him. Instead, she sat down and said, "I got to feed this baby."

      She was sitting directly in line with the door, so Lucy couldn't help but see her. Lucy would've been glad, now, if they'd turned off the lights so she could sleep again, but Normalade began nursing the baby, and they continued talking, very softly.

      Normalade did most of the talking, but her voice was much softer now, and Lucy was hearing only the odd word or two. "Lonely," she was saying, "Missed you," and then "With the baby," and "So lonely."

      Bobby answered something.

      Normalade said again, "I always did love you," and then over and over again Lucy heard the word 'love.' It sounded sweet and plaintive, like a song's refrain.

      She had the whole top of her dress off now, as she nursed the baby. Her little white breasts looked pretty in the lamplight, bright pink at the tips, almost as if they'd been painted pink. And she made no effort to hide herself from him. And Bobby made no effort not to watch.

      Later, Normalade said, "Just look at him, he's asleep now. Isn't he the prettiest thing? Come look at your son, honey, your little Robert Vance, Junior."

      Bobby got up from the sofa and came to stand beside Normalade to look at the baby. And Normalade looked up at him, her eyes gentle. Her breasts were still uncovered, pink and white and soft.

      "Touch him," she whispered. "Touch his cheek. See how soft it is . . ."

      Bobby leaned over and touched the baby's cheek. And as he did, Normalade caught his hand and laid it on her white, soft breast. "Bobby . . ."

      He stood there a long time, leaning over her, looking at her and the baby, his hand warm around her breast.

      Normalade whispered, "It's still too soon, Bobby, but there's other things I can do. You remember how good that feels . . . the things I do for you? You'd like that, Bobby. Won't you come upstairs with me again, just for tonight?"

      Very slowly she stood up beside him until she was standing, pressing herself against him, still pressing his hand against her milky breast. "I been so lonely for you, Bobby. I love you so . . ."

      And then, as Lucy watched, Normalade let go of the hand that was on her breast, and slowly and softly her own hand slid down his body.

      When her hand stopped, Bobby started, and then gave a little shudder. And he leaned even closer to her, pressing himself against her body and her hand.

      Until that happened — perhaps because Lucy was lying in darkness and they looked so far away, there in the light, it had been as if she were watching strangers, or actors in a play. As if they were people who didn't matter to her, or people she didn't know. But now it came to her that of course they weren't strangers; Bobby was her brother, and she knew what was going to happen next. And it wasn't right for her to watch, and she was so tired anyway. So she slid down into the safe darkness, into sleep again.

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