Free Nantucket by Harrison Young

had been more than perfunctory. “You didn’t want to go out?”
    â€œI don’t do sunshine, remember. And I would have been a fifth wheel. Or a third wheel. And think how you’d have felt if you’d woken to an empty house.”
    â€œI thought I had.”
    â€œDon’t talk until you’ve had some coffee.” She went into the kitchen. So maybe he didn’t have to manage the weekend. Why had he felt so frightened?
    Rosemary brought his breakfast and sat down next to him again, but closer. She spread a napkin on his lap and broke off a piece of the muffin. “Let me feed you,” she said. “Butter?”
    â€œPlease. I think I’d better hold the mug myself, though.”
    â€œAs you like.” She popped a bite of buttered muffin into hismouth, and prepared another one while he chewed. “This way I can keep you from talking. I don’t want you saying anything foolish. It could make you foolish all day.”
    â€œMmmm,” said Andrew. Food was good. Was it only Saturday?
    â€œShiva wasn’t trying to seduce your wife, I’m pleased to report. He was in the bathroom. The person in your bedroom was Joe. He’d knocked on your door because Cynthia needed an aspirin. Finding Cathy alone, he talked to her for a bit, which must have been a bore for Cynthia. That’s their story, anyway, and they’re sticking to it.”
    â€œMmmm.”
    â€œMy story is that I couldn’t sleep so I went and sat on the porch. My home time zone is London, remember.”
    â€œAnd what’s my story?”
    â€œYou snore. Cathy’s a light sleeper, she says. There’s something wrong about her that I haven’t figured out, but she’s playing along.” Rosemary buttered another piece of muffin and put it in Andrew’s mouth. Her fingers were long and cold.
    â€œPlaying along with what?” said Andrew, his mouth still full of muffin.
    â€œI told you not to talk,” said Rosemary. “Just listen.’
    She reminded him of Sally at the airport. All the women in his life were doing things for him except Cathy. Even Eleanor had opened a door, if inadvertently.
    â€œShiva is genuinely interested in your deal or we wouldn’t be here. I should have told you that last night. The person you need to focus on is Joe. He strikes me as a control freak. He could get on Shiva’s nerves.”
    The coffee was beginning to do its job. Rationality returned. “I think I must have had a nightmare,” said Andrew.
    â€œOh, thank you very much,” said Rosemary.
    â€œNo, sorry, that part was nice. Hard to believe. Spectacular. I’ve never encountered a goddess before. What I meant about a nightmare is, I’m abnormally anxious this morning. Don’t know why. Have to get over it. Comes with the job.” He had lots of reasons to be anxious, actually, including the fact that his wife had gone missing and the lurking suspicion that he was relieved. He couldn’t tell Rosemary that, though to be honest he half wanted to. “Why did you think your husband was seducing Cathy?” he asked her, trying to take control of the conversation.
    â€œHe does that sort of thing sometimes. He thinks it puts me in my place.”
    â€œAnd you don’t?”
    â€œOh, I throw myself at men occasionally. I told you that last night. But we can discuss ethics later. What we need now is a strategy. Here’s my plan. We have at least an hour, probably an hour and a half. You need some horizontal therapy. You will not be able to manage these monsters if you are afraid. The only answer to your anxiety is sex. Fortunately for you, I like sex – as I’ve told you. Go to the maid’s room and undress. There’s a shower in there, right? I will bring you clean clothes for afterwards.”
    She left her copy of Moby Dick on the sofa. She turned and smiled at him just before she went up the stairs. Do as