Free Strawberries in the Sea by Elisabeth Ogilvie Page B

cigarette.
    â€œCome on back with me, honey,” he said. “We can start back just as soon as you get your stuff together. Todd brought me out, and I’ll go down to the shore now and tell him not to wait.”
    For an instant she thought it was all over with Phyllis, and it was happening as it happened in books; that, when he believed she was dead, he knew what he’d lost. Her face felt weak and unmanageable.
    â€œI need the boat till the new one’s ready,” he went on, “and you ought to be in your own home. You made your gesture, you ran off and upset everybody—”
    â€œEverybody meaning you ,” she interrupted. No, it wasn’t happening as it happened in books.
    â€œDon’t you think I’ve got feelings?” he asked indignantly. “You were always so sensible. When you tore off like this in thick of fog, it wasn’t like you—”
    â€œHow do you know whether it’s like me or not? If I did it, it must be like me. After all, what you do is like you, isn’t it? And I didn’t run off or tear off, whatever you want to call it. I’ve moved, that’s all. I’m renting this place for the summer with an option to buy. You should be happy to have me out of sight, out of mind.” Insolently she flapped hands like wings.
    He reddened. “Well, Jesus, do you think I like knowing I’ve run you out of your own town? I may be a son-of-a-bitch but I’m not that bad.”
    â€œOh, you mean you want your mind put at rest again? I thought we had that all out the other day. I don’t care what you like knowing or hate knowing, Con. I’m here and I’m staying here.” She looked speculatively around the kitchen. “There’s enough work to keep me busy for weeks. After I finish the toilet I’ll start puttying the windows, and then patch up the roof, and after that—”
    He stood up. His face was drawn so tight he seemed to have no lips at all. “All right. You’ve had your fun. Speaking of shit, you’ve sure rubbed my nose in it. Now start picking up your gear.”
    She sat down, linked her hands between her knees, and gazed at him stolidly. “Go away, Con. Go back with Todd.” He came and stood over her. She smelled cologne; Phyllis’s choice again. She had to tilt her head to look at him, but she fixed her stare so it wouldn’t waver.
    â€œLet me take the boat and you come in on the mailboat when you’re ready. Maybe the little change out here will do you good.”
    â€œI’ll never be ready,” she said, “and you can’t have the boat. If you help yourself to her, Con, I’ll be all right. I’ll be back to call off the divorce.”
    It was almost as if his breathing stopped. Then he put his hands in his pockets and moved away from her, sidewise, lightly, as if in a dance step. “I didn’t want to tell you this, sweetie,” he said, “but everybody’s either laughing or shaking their heads over what you did. A grown woman taking off like a kid in a tantrum, taking a chance on losing herself, the boat, everything.” He overdid the amazement. “I’ve covered up for you the best I could. Said I knew you were going, it was something you wanted to do, and if you come back with me they’ll figger I was telling the truth. See?”
    â€œYou mean they’re laughing at you ,” she said gently. “Oh, I don’t doubt some are snickering at me, the same ones who always did. They’re tickled to death because I was conned. Hey, that’s a good one, Con. Get it?” She grinned at him. “But they all know that fog or clear I can find my way anywhere with a chart and a compass, so if I took off in thick fog it was for my own reasons and no tantrum. No, it’s you everybody’s laughing at, isn’t it? That’s what you think, and it’s made you sick enough to puke.”
    He