Free 7191 by Unknown Page A

hysteria. ‘Oh, God, come home!’ ‘Leaving now,’ Bill said crisply and hung up.
    *
    Somehow Bill made all the right connections and arrived home in less than ten minutes. After quickly surveying the wreckage and spot-checking its seriousness, he immediately commenced to put his house back into order. He drew two steaming bubble baths and put both his women into them to soak. He divided himself between the two bathrooms, allowing each equal time to sob out her story to him.
    From Janice, he learned the incredible details of each grisly experience that had befallen her upon leaving him outside Rattazzi’s, with special emphasis on her encounter with the man, recalling every word he said to her, including intonation, inflection, and possible intent behind each sentence.
    What time did he say he’d call?’ Bill asked.
    ‘He didn’t give a time; he simply said tonight.’
    ‘He told you he took Ivy home?’
    ‘No, she told me that. He said that she was in the lobby, waiting for me, and that she was all right.’
    Bill hesitated, then asked, ‘You’re sure it was the man? I mean, moustache, sideburns?’
    ‘For God’s sake, Bill,’ Janice shouted.
    ‘Okay, okay,’ Bill placated. ‘I suppose it had to be him.’
    ‘Well, I didn’t see him. I didn’t look at him or acknowledge him in any way. I thought you’d be pleased by the way I handled it.’
    Bill placed a comforting hand on her soapy shoulder and grinned. ‘You did great, Janice, just great.’ Then, soberly: ‘I want you to know that I’ve had it with him. I’m through playing games.’
    Bill found Ivy even more overwrought than Janice. She had never seen her mother behave like that; she was absolutely freaky, shaking her and shaking her till she almost vomited. And for what? All the girls her age walk home from school alone. ‘Bettina’s been doing it since she was nine! What’s so special about me?’
    ‘You’re our beautiful child,’ soothed Bill, holding her wet hand. ‘That’s what’s so special about you. We love you and want to protect you.’
    ‘Protect me against what?’
    ‘Against lots of things that happen each day in this city, Ivy. So far we’ve been lucky; they’ve happened to other people. People who are willing to take risks, take chances with their children. We’re not willing to do that.’
    The warm bath, Bill’s tender touch and mollifying tone gradually eased Ivy’s tensions and gendy guided her back towards understanding and forgiveness.
    ‘Well, it’s really the first time I ever did a thing like that. And I wouldn’t have if that man hadn’t offered to help me cross the streets.’
    ‘Tell me about the man, Ivy,’ Bill asked in a disarming voice. ‘Did you ever see him before?’
    ‘Sure. He waits in front of the school every afternoon.’ Ivy looked up at Bill suddenly. ‘You must have seen him; he’s there in the mornings, too.’
    ‘Oh, yes - moustache, sideburns?’
    Ivy nodded. ‘He was really very nice. He walked me to Sixty-seventh Street and waited till I crossed.’
    ‘Did he say anything? I mean, did you talk at all?’
    ‘Nothing special. It was starting to snow again, and he said he liked winters better than summers. I said I like them better, too. Then he said that his daughter liked winters better, too. Things like that.’
    ‘Did he ask any questions about me or Mother?’
    ‘No.’ Ivy studied Bill with a look of suspicion. ‘Do you know him, Dad?’
    ‘No, dear, we don’t know him.’
    ‘That’s funny—’
    ‘What is?’
    ‘I felt as if he knew us. Or at least he knew me.’
    After their baths, relaxed and warm in the king-sized bed, with the electric blanket turned to ‘Hi,’ mother and daughter were left to repair their shattered relationship while Bill went down to the kitchen to fix dinner.
    When he returned, carrying a huge tray filled with thinly sliced roast beef sandwiches with the crusts removed, a pot of steaming beans, two kinds of pie, and milk, he found