sidneysheldon.astrangerinthemirror-第18章

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was　on　his　way　to　Oxford；　England。　That　had　been　four　years　ago；　in　1952。　David　had　returned　home　for　summer　vacations　and　at　Christmas；　but　their　paths　had　never　crossed。　Josephine　often　heard　the　other　girls　discussing　him。　In　addition　to　the　estate　David　had　inherited　from　his　father；　his　grandmother　had　left　him　a　trust　fund　of　five　million　dollars。　He　was　a　real　catch。　But　not　for　the　Polish　daughter　of　a　seamstress。　
　Josephine　did　not　know　that　David　Kenyon　had　returned　from　Europe。　It　was　a　late　Saturday　evening　in　July；　and　Josephine　was　working　at　the　Golden　Derrick。　It　seemed　to　her　that　half　the　population　of　Odessa　had　e　to　the　drive…in　to　defeat　the　hot　spell　with　gallons　of　lemonade　and　ice　cream　and　sodas。　It　had　been　so　busy　that　Josephine　had　been　unable　to　take　a　break。　A　ring　of　autos　constantly　circled　the　neon…lighted　drive…in　like　metallic　animals　lined　up　at　some　surrealistic　water　hole。　Josephine　delivered　a　car　tray　with　what　seemed　to　her　to　be　her　millionth　order　of　cheeseburgers　and　Cokes；　pulled　out　a　menu　and　walked　over　to　a　white　sports　car　that　had　just　driven　up。　
　〃Good　evening；〃　Josephine　said　cheerfully。　〃Would　you　like　to　look　at　a　menu？〃　
　〃Hello；　stranger。〃　
　At　the　sound　of　David　Kenyon's　voice；　Josephine's　heart　suddenly　began　to　pound。　He　looked　exactly　as　she　remembered　him；　only　he　seemed　even　more　handsome。　There　was　a　maturity　now；　a　sureness；　that　being　abroad　had　given　him。　Cissy　Topping　was　seated　next　to　him；　looking　cool　and　beautiful　in　an　expensive　silk　skirt　and　blouse。　Cissy　said；　
　〃Hi；　Josie。　You　shouldn't　be　working　on　a　hot　night　like　this；　honey。〃
　As　though　it　was　something　Josephine　had　chosen　to　do　instead　of　going　to　an　air…conditioned　theater　or　riding　around　in　a　sports　car　with　David　Kenyon。　Josephine　said　evenly；　
　〃It　keeps　me　off　the　streets〃；　and　she　saw　that　David　Kenyon　was　smiling　at　her。　She　knew　that　he　understood。　Long　after　they　had　gone；　Josephine　thought　about　David。　She　went　over　every　word　　Hello；　stranger。。。　I'll　have　a　pig　in　a　blanket　and　a　root　beer　　make　that　coffee。　Cold　drinks　are　bad　on　a　hot　night。。。。　How　do　you　like　working　here？。。。　I'm　ready　for　the　check。。。。　Keep　the　change。。。。　It　was　nice　seeing　you　again；　Josephine　　looking　for　hidden　meanings；　nuances　that　she　might　have　missed。　Of　course；　he　could　not　have　said　anything　with　Cissy　seated　beside　him；　but　the　truth　was　that　he　really　had　nothing　to　say　to　Josephine。　She　was　surprised　that　he　had　even　remembered　her　name。　She　was　standing　in　front　of　the　sink　in　the　little　kitchen　of　the　drive…in；　lost　in　her　thoughts；　when　Paco；　the　young　Mexican　cook；　came　up　behind　her　and　said；　
　〃Que　pasa；　Josita？　You　have　that　look　een　your　eye。〃　
　She　liked　Paco。　He　was　in　his　late　twenties；　a　slim；　dark　eyed　man　with　a　ready　grin　and　a　flip　joke　when　pressure　built　up　and　everyone　was　tense。　
　〃Who　ees　he？〃　
　Josephine　smiled。　〃Nobody；　Paco。〃　
　〃Bueno。　Because　there　are　seex　hungry　cars　going'　crazy　at　there。　Vamos！〃　
　He　telephoned　the　next　morning；　and　Josephine　knew　who　it　was　before　she　lifted　the　receiver。　She　had　not　been　able　to　get　him　out　of　her　mind　all　night。　It　was　as　though　his　call　was　the　extension　of　her　dream。　His　first　words　were；　
　〃You're　a　cliche。　While　I　was　away；　ou've　grown　up　and　bee　a　beauty；〃　and　she　could　have　died　of　happiness。　He　took　her　out　to　dinner　that　evening。　Josephine　had　been　prepared　for　some　out…of…the…way　little　restaurant　where　David　would　not　be　likely　to　run　into　any　of　his　friends。　Instead　they　went　to　his　club；　where　everyone　stopped　by　their　table　to　say　hello。　David　was　not　only　unashamed　to　be　seen　with　Josephine；　he　seemed　proud　of　her。　And　she　loved　him　for　it　and　for　a　hundred　other　reasons。　The　look　of　him；　his　gentleness　and　understanding；　the　sheer　joy　of　being　with　him。　She　had　never　known　that　anyone　as　wonderful　as　David　Kenyon　could　exist。　Each　day；　after　Josephine　finished　work；　they　were　together。　
　Josephine　had　had　to　fight　men　off　from　the　time　she　was　fourteen；　for　there　was　a　sexuality　about　her　that　was　challenge。　Men　were　always　pawing　and　grabbing　at　her；　trying　to　squeeze　her　breasts　or　shove　their　hands　up　her　skirt；　thinking　that　that　was　the　way　to　excite　her；　not　knowing　how　much　it　repelled　her。　David　Kenyon　was　different。　He　would　occasionally　put　his　arm　around　her　or　touch　her　casually；　and　Josephine's　whole　body　would　respond。　She　had　never　felt　this　way　about　anyone　before。　On　the　days　when　she　did　not　see　David；　she　would　think　of　nothing　else。　She　faced　the　fact　that　she　was　in　love　with　him。　As　the　weeks　went　by；　and　they　spent　more　and　more　time　together；　Josephine　realized　that　the　miracle　had　happened。　David　was　in　love　with　her。　He　discussed　his　problems　with　her；　and　his　difficulties　with　his　family。　
　〃Mother　wants　me　to　take　over　the　businesses；〃　David　told　her；　〃but　I'm　not　sure　that's　how　I　want　to　spend　the　rest　of　my　life。〃　
　The　Kenyon　interests　included；　besides　oil　wells　and　refineries；　one　of　the　largest　cattle　ranches　in　the　Southwest；　a　chain　of　hotels；　some　banks　and　a　large　insurance　pany。　
　〃Can't　you　just　tell　her　no；　David？〃　David　sighed。　〃You　don't　know　my　mother。〃　
　Josephine　had　met　David's　mother。　She　was　a　tiny　woman。　It　seemed　impossible　that　David　had　e　out　of　that　stick　figure　who　had　borne　three　children。　She　had　been　very　ill　during　and　after　each　pregnancy　and　had　had　a　heart　attack　following　the　third　delivery。　Over　the　years　she　repeatedly　described　her　suffering　to　her　children；　who　grew　up　with　the　belief　that　their　mother　had　deliberately　risked　death　in　order　to　give　each　of　them　life。　It　gave　her　a　powerful　hold　on　her　family；　which　she　wielded　unsparingly。　
　〃I　want　to　live　my　own　life；〃　David　told　Josephine；　〃but　I　can't　do　anything　to　hurt　Mother。　The　truth　is　　Doc　Young　doesn't　think　she's　going　to　be　with　us　much　longer。〃　
　One　evening；　Josephine　told　David　about　her　dreams　of　going　to　Hollywood　and　being　a　star。　He　looked　at　her　and　said；　quietly；　
　〃I　won't　let　you　go。〃　
　She　could　feel　her　heart　beating　wildly。　Each　time　they　were　together；　the　feeling　of　intimacy　between　them　grew　stronger。　Josephine's　background　did　not　mean　a　damn　to　David。　He　did　not　have　an　ounce　of　snobbery　in　him。　It　made　the　incident　at　the　drive…in　one　night　that　much　more　shocking。　
　It　was　closing　time；　and　David　was　parked　in　his　car；　waiting　for　her。　Josephine　was　in　the　small　kitchen　with　Paco；　hurriedly　putting　away　the　last　of　the　trays。　
　〃Heavy　date；　huh？〃　Paco　said。　Josephine　smiled。　
　〃How　did　you　know？〃　
　〃Because　you　look　like　Chreestmas。　Your　pretty　face　ees　all　lit　up。　You　tell　heem　for　me　he's　one　lucky　hombre！〃　Josephine　smiled　and　said；　
　〃I　will。〃　On　an　impulse；　she　leaned　over　and　gave　Paco　a　kiss　on　the　cheek。　An　instant　later；　she　heard　the　roar　of　a　car　engine　and　then　the　scream　of　rubber。　She　turned　in　time　to　see　David's　white　convertible　smash　the　fender　of　another　car　and　race　away　from　the　drive…in。　She　stood　there；　unbelievingly；　watching　the　tail　lights　disappear　into　the　night。　
　At　three　o'clock　in　the　morning；　as　Josephine　lay　tossing　in　bed；　she　heard　a　car　pull　up　outside　her　bedroom。　She　hurried　to　the　window　and　looked　out。　David　was　sitting　behind　the　wheel。　He　was　very　drunk。　Quickly；　Josephine　put　on　a　robe　over　her　nightgown　and　went　outside。
　〃Get　in；〃'　David　manded。　
　Josephine　opened　die　car　door　and　slid　in　beside　him。　There　was　a　long；　heavy　silence。　When　David　finally　spoke；　his　voice　was　thick；　but　it　was　more　than　the　whiskey　he　had　drunk。　There　was　a　rage　in　him；　a　savage　fury　that　propelled　the　words　out　of　him　like　small　explosions。　
　〃I　don't　own　you；〃　David　said。　〃You're　free　to　do　exactly　as　you　please。　But　as　long　as　you　go　out　with　me；　I　expect　you　not　to　kiss　any　god　damned　Mexicans。　Y'understand？〃　
　She　looked　at　him；　helplessly；　then　said；　
　〃When　I　kissed　Paco；　it　was　because　…　he　said　something　that　made　me　happy。　He's　my　friend。〃　
　〃David　took　a　deep　breath；　trying　to　control　the　emotions　that　were　burning　inside　him。　
　〃I'm　going　to　tell　you　something　I've　never　told　to　a　living　soul。〃　
　Josephine　sat　there　waiting；　wondering　what　was　ing　next。　
　〃I　have　an　older　sister；〃　David　said。　〃Beth。　I　…　I　adore　her。〃　Josephine　had　a　vague　recollection　of　Beth；　a　blonde；　fair…skinned　beauty；　whom　Josephine　used　to　see　when　she　went　over　to　play　with　Mary　Lou。　Josephine　had　been　eight　when　Beth　passed　away。　David　must　have　been　about　fifteen。　
　〃I　remember　when　Beth　died；〃　Josephine　said。　David's　next　words　were　a　shock。　
　〃Beth　is　alive。〃　She　stared　at　him。　〃But；　I　…　everyone　thought　…〃
　〃She's　in　an　insane　asylum。〃　He　turned　to　face　her；　his　fice　dead。　〃She　was　raped　by　one　of　our　Mexican　gardeners；　Beth's　bedroom　was　across　the　hall　from　mine。　I　heard　her　screams　and　I　raced　into　her　room。　He　had　ripped　off　her　nightgown　and　he　was　on　top　of　her　and　〃　His　voice　broke　with　the　memory。　〃I　struggled　with　him　until　my　mother　ran　in　and　called　the　police。　They　finally　arrived　and　took　the　man　to　jail。　He　mitted　suidde　in　his　cell　that　night。　But　Beth　had　lost　her　mind。　She'll　never　leave　that　place。　Never。　I　can't　tell　you　how　much　I　love　her；　Josie。　I　miss　her　so　damned　much。　Every　since　that　night；　I　　I　　I　can't　　stand　〃　
　She　placed　a　hand　over　his　and　said；　〃I'm　sorry；　David。　I　understand；　I'm　glad　you　told　me。〃　
　In　some　strange　way；　the　incident　served　to　bring　them　even　closer　together。　They　discussed　things　they　had　never　talked　about　before。　David　smiled　when　Josephine　told　him　about　her　mother's　religious　fanaticism。　
　〃I　had　an　uncle　like　that　once；〃　he　said。　〃He　went　off　to　some　monastery　in　Tibet。〃　
　〃I'm　going　to　be　twenty…four　next　month；〃　David　told　Josephine　one　day。　〃It's　an　old　family　tradition　that　the　Kenyon　men　marry　by　the　time　they're　twenty…four；〃　and　her　heart　leaped　within　her。　The　following　evening；　David　had　tickets　for　a　play　at　the　Globe　Theatre。　When　he　came　to　pick　Josephine　up；　he　said；　
　〃Let's　forget　the　play。　We're　going　to　talk　about　our　future。〃　
　The　moment　Josephine　heard　the　words；　she　knew　that　everything　she　had　prayed　for　was　ing　true。　She　could　read　it　in　David's　eyes。　They　were　filled　with　love　and　wanting。　She　said；　
　〃Let's　drive　out　to　Dewey　Lake。〃　She　wanted　it　to　be　the　most　romantic　proposal　ever　made；　so　that　one　day　it　would　bee　a　tale　that　she　would　tell　her　children；　over　and　over。　She　wanted　to　remember　every　moment　of　this　night。　Dewey　Lake　was　a　small　body　of　water　about　forty　miles　outside　of　Odessa。　The　night　was　beautiful　and　star…spangled；　with　a　soft；　waxing　gibbous　moon。　The　stars　danced　on　the　water；　and　the　air　was　filled　with　the　mysterious　sounds　of　a　world；　a　microcosm　of　the　universe；　where　millions　of　unseen　creatures　made　love　and　were　preyed　soon　and　died。　
　Josephine　and　David　sat　in　the　car；　silent；　listening　to　the　sounds　of　the　night。　Josephine　watched　him；　sitting　behind　the　wheel　of　the　car；　his　handsome　face　intense　and　ferious。　She　had　never　loved　him　as　much　as　she　loved　him　at　that　moment。　She　wanted　to　do　something　wonderful　for　him；　to　give　him　something　to　let　him　know　how　much　she　flared　for　him。　And　suddenly　she　knew　what　she　was　going　to　do。　
　〃Let's　go　for　a　swim；　D