Free Trouble With the Truth (9781476793498) by Edna Robinson

suit, hair, and voice described. I turned back to Ben.
    â€œI don’t want to call him,” I said. “I don’t want to get Fred up. He’s supposed to be watching us.” I indicated the sheet-tent thirty yards away.
    â€œThat’s somebody ?” she asked.
    â€œOur father’s man. He hates the sun.”
    â€œWell, I’ll call the kid. What’s his name?”
    â€œBen.”
    She held out her left arm, the unweighted one, parallel to her shoulder, and with a commanding sweep, brought it past her full bosom toher right shoulder, calling at the same time in a voice that was a worthy adversary to the ocean’s roar, “C’mon in, Ben!” and added, under her breath, “Damn it.”
    Fred’s curtains sprang apart, knocking off his hat. He risked broiling his skull for a moment. “Ben? Ben? Ben, come out !”
    Ben surged up, cognizant of us all, and without another bounce, his head moved closer and closer. Fred recovered his hat and retrenched.
    Ben approached us, smiling. “I was having a good time,” he said to my companion. He planted himself in front of us, standing abnormally straight in the constantly wetted sand.
    â€œWho could tell?” said Felicity, smiling back at him. She seemed to know and appreciate instantly the image of himself he was offering for her approval. “Even the champeens don’t fool around that far out in the ocean.”
    â€œSorry if I frightened you.” Ben didn’t look sorry about anything in this world. I was glad for him that it all came out in one register. “I’m Ben Briard,” he continued. “She’s Lucresse—my sister.”
    â€œShe told me.”
    â€œI know who you are. Felicity Gorham.”
    â€œMrs. Mead Peddicord,” she corrected.
    â€œI’ve seen you in the movies.”
    â€œYes.” She was suddenly bored.
    I didn’t remember seeing her in any movie. And if Ben had, without me, he hadn’t mentioned it before this. It was the name Peddicord, coupled with the blinding gem on her finger, that held my interest now.
    â€œOur father sure would like to meet you,” I said.
    â€œOh my God.”
    From that, and Ben’s tormented face, I knew I’d said the wrong thing. But I couldn’t fathom what the right thing might be, to a woman who had that color hair and was famous and wore a ring that wasthe reason I was trying to remember my homeroom teacher’s name.
    â€œDon’t tell me your father’s president of the Everglades Fan Club?” she said good-humoredly, as though she was afraid she had hurt my feelings.
    â€œNo. He doesn’t like movies very much.” I hoped that would lend him, and me, an aura of sophistication.
    â€œMiss Gorham,” Ben began again.
    â€œMrs. Peddicord,” she corrected again. “Mrs. Mead Peddicord, Jr.”
    â€œMrs. Peddicord didn’t come to Palm Beach to meet people,” Ben said to me.
    On top of his rebuff, she smiled at me and said, “Thanks, anyway.” She didn’t want my feelings to be hurt again.
    â€œCan you sit down?” Ben asked. It was a logical question, considering the fit of her wavy-haired bathing suit.
    â€œNo. Not here. This suit might decide to curl up and die if it got wet. I only put it on to take a walk down the beach in. I always dress for the occasion.”
    Ben laughed immoderately. “Go get one of Fred’s sheets, Lucresse.”
    I ran to Fred. “That’s Mrs. Peddicord,” I told him breathlessly. “The one Daddy has to see.”
    He peeked out at her with interest. “My word,” he said and gave me the sheet wrapped over his legs.
    When I came back with it, Ben was saying “…any one role, one great role…is there one you want to play?”
    â€œUh -uh,” she said as I spread the sheet and we all sat down on it. “I don’t want to play anything. I’m