Free Ira Levin by Son Of Rosemary (v0.9) (htm) Page A

weeping, tiles dropping from her cheek, the mascara holding up surprisingly well. "I hate Andy!" she cried, tearing her button away, tearing silk, flinging the button against the window. "I only wore it because I didn't want you to guess! I hate him! I'll make my own button to say how I really feel! Oh Rosemary, if you knew the whole story, if you knew what goes on up on the ninth-was
        "Shh, shh." Rosemary hugged and soothed her. "Shh, calm down, dear," she said. "Ssh. Take a good, deep breath. That's it… Atta girl… There… That's a little better. Now why don't you go pat some cool water on your face and then we'll have a good long talk. Would you like something to drink? There's room service, so if you're hungry, just say so." t@lzandrfand*itand-9 f" caret hey sat on the sofa.
        JL "He spoke at a benefit for Indian flood relief," Judy said, dabbing. "Last summer at Madison Square Garden. I brought a proposal I had written for improving methods of food distribution, and was able to hand it to him personally. Right then, there was a little spark between us."
        Rosemary nodded, listening.
        "A few days later," Judy said, "he called me here, to his office, and invited me to join GC, as a secretary at first but with the prospect, the promise, of going higher. We began a relationship-as equals-but within days, nights I should say, he gained complete mastery of me. You can't begin to imagine what an incredible lover he is."
        "No," Rosemary said, "no, of course not, being his mother. No, I certainly can't. No."
        "I meant that in the general sensest" Judy said. She leaned closer to Rosemary. "In my culture," she said, "women readily confide in one Another about intimate matters. I have two married sisters, and my roommates at Vassar liked nothing better than to discuss their sexual activities. So even though I've only known one other man myself-a slimeball named Nathan about whom the less said the better-I know that all men, not only he, are more concerned with their own satisfaction than that of their partners. And in truth, as the climax approaches, women are too, n'est-ce pasl Don't we all ultimately become involved solely with our own mounting excitement?"
        Rosemary nodded.
        "Not Andy," Judy said, and sighed. "It's as if a part of him is always in control, always aware of me and my needs and my feelings. And now it's HER needs he's aware of, HER wretched feelings! I can't bear it!" She grabbed at her hair.
        Rosemary caught her wrists. "Whose?" she asked. "Who?"
        "The woman he's in Rome with!" Judy cried. "And going to Madrid with! His new beloved! The woman he was with after your dinner on Thanksgiving, when I waited all night for his call! The one he took to the retreat for the weekend instead of me! There has to be someone! Why else not a word, Rosemary, not a single WORD, in eight days and nights right-brace Why elsel" Rosemary stayed silent a moment. Shrugged. Said, "still don't know…"
        "And if only that were the worst of it…" Judy drew a breath, shook her head, cast a sidelong look at Rosemary. "He led me into-practices I didn't even know were-was
        "Stop right here," Rosemary said, pressing a hand on Judy's arm. "I really don't want to hear details. You're upset for no reason. He isn't going to Madrid; he's cutting the trip short because there's someone here he misses very much. He told me so yesterday morning."
        "He did?" Judy stared at her.
        Rosemary nodded. "Yes," she said. "He's coming back tomorrow. I'm absolutely certain he'll be calling you. I'll bet on it. And I'm sure he'll have a good reason for not having called you. I'll bet on that too."
        "Oh, Rosemary, do you really mean it?" Judy asked. "Are you sure you're not saying this just so I'll feel better?"
        Rosemary smiled at her. "Judy," she said, "I'm Andy's Mom. Would I lie to you?"
        Judy shook her head, smiling. "No," she