"There now, baby, it's all okay," Frank Douglas said, patting his daughter's small white hand reassuringly. Even in the torments of his hangover, the big man couldn't remember when he'd felt as good. "Look now, you dry those pretty eyes… and promise me you and Shirley'll get aquainted today."
Lisa smiled through her tears. "I promise, Daddy," she whispered. "Now, I better go powder my nose."
Frank watched her trip lightly from the room with Rivers' German shepherd not a half-step behind her. Christ, he had no idea what ever had come over her, but he wasn't about to question it. This might just be one of the happiest days in his life… if he could just find himself man enough to be a real husband to his young bride.
"It takes a lot of inner something to do what she just did right in front of a stranger, Frank," Vince Rivers said, interrupting the older man's plaguing, never absent shame. "You should be proud of her. She's a fine, lovely girl."
"Damn, you don't know how proud I am of her, Vince… of them both… and I guess I don't have to tell you that it's been a trying six months," Frank replied with a shake of his head. Then in a lowered voice, "But I think it's going to iron itself out between them now… Yes, I think it is."
"You're a lucky man having two beautiful young women who love you," the younger one said, doubting very much that the booze-blooded old fool decorating the head of his table had the slightest notion his guest was laughing up his sleeve… and that was putting it mildly.
But Shirley, re-entering the room with Lisa and Nomad behind her, easily read Vince Rivers' ridiculing tone of voice, and a sharp sensation of shame clutched at her belly. God, no matter what, she could never really forgive herself for the sluttish way she'd betrayed her wonderful husband last night with this evil man. She might learn to live with the salacious memory of it, but there was no way she could ever atone for it.
"No, don't get up, darling," Shirley said. "We can seat ourselves this time, can't we, Lisa?"
"I think so," the younger girl gaily answered, her winning smile almost secretly radiant. In truth, she couldn't remember when she'd felt so unburdened of petty hates and animosities, all of the vicious little hang-ups which had been needling her for months now… and she knew deep in her heart that only Nomad was responsible! He had gloriously made a woman of her – a thrilling enlightenment that she had awakened to that brilliant summer morning like the bursting rays of the sun at dawn! God, she was happy, and she reached beneath the table to pet the massive head of the animal resting against her thigh who had made it all possible. "We… Shirley and I… are going shopping together sometime today!" she beamed at her father. "We haven't planned it out yet, but we'll probably be spending some of your money, Daddy."
"Great! That's what it's for, eh Vince?" Frank replied, grinning from eat to ear. "And speaking of money… how's the plant beginning to look to you, young man? I don't like to sit on deals too long."
"I know what you mean, Frank," Rivers replied, assuming his business disguise. "Quite honestly, I've pretty much made up my mind… favorably that is, if you still want a partner. I'd like a couple more days to check over my notes before I call in my own attorneys to handle the legal end for me."
"Of course… I don't want to push you… but well, I'm anxious to unload the operating end of things," Shirley heard her husband say, a stronger impulse of uneasiness gripping her stomach. She couldn't help but think of an innocent lamb being led to slaughter as she watched the expressions on both men's faces. God, someway, somehow, no matter what it cost her, she had to bring Frank to his senses, make him know the type of man he was dealing with.
"Good mornin', everyone! Here it is and I'm sorry to have kept you all waiting so long!" Rachael beamed, wheeling in a cart filled with covered dishes and fresh coffee. "We've got scrambled eggs, bacon, hominy and tons of toast on the menu this morning, and anybody that doesn't like that breakfast just ain't hungry!"
Shirley swallowed tightly as the big woman chuckled, then winked at her. She looked at Frank to watch his reactions, tensing as her husband's eyes began to widen beneath a furrowed, questioning brow.
"Hominy?" he repeated.
"Yes sir! Ain't nothin' lie it to stick to your ribs and keep a man going! You agree, Mr. Douglas?" the smiling, robust woman put to him.
"Hell yes, I agree!" Frank exclaimed, his face broadening in a warm grin. "I haven't had hominy in twenty years!" Then, to Shirley, "It's about time we got a real cook around this place, honey."
It really hadn't dawned on Shirley until after Frank and Vince Rivers had left for the plant in their separate cars. Lisa had decided on a swim, asked her to join in, but the troubled young bride had wanted some time alone to decide just what she was going to do to stop Vince Rivers from really swindling the husband she loved, and she was positive that those were Rivers' crooked intentions. If anyone in that house knew their guest for what he was, she did! Her excuse with Lisa of having several letters to write was readily accepted, and after picking up a cup of coffee laced with brandy from Rachael, she had gone to her room, thinking en route of the argument Lisa had told her she and Paul had and that the teenager would like to discuss girl-to-girl with her.
Shirley had entered her bedroom wearing an elated smile at just the thought of Lisa wanting to discuss her love-life with her. She couldn't remember being any more happy over an unexpected turn of events than she was at the beautiful girl's show of character at the breakfast table. And she was truly sorry… that was the marvelous thing of it all, the gorgeous young angel had felt it, said it, and meant it! Who said the younger generation lacked depth?
Whatever had happened to make that embittered teenager do a complete about face? Shirley wondered as she seated herself in front of her vanity and sipped at the spiked, hot coffee. The so-called argument with Paul? Certainly, they must have endured a few of those after all the years they'd been going together. No… that wasn't it directly, even though it might have played a part. No… it was almost as if she'd been taken into womanhood over night… the way a lover, or a husband might sweep her up out of the world of juvenility with sensual love…!
That was the precise second that the dawning stroke raised a rash of goose-flesh over Shirley Douglas' soft, smooth curves! Nomad? Nomad? Was it possible? In all of the hullabaloo at breakfast Shirley had actually lost contact with the handsome German shepherd, remembering now that never once had he come to her, but had remained lovingly crowding Lisa's young thighs everywhere she went! In fact, he was with her right at that moment!
An emotion of unexplainable jealousy washed through the troubled housewife as she bolted to her feet and went to the pool-side doors to look out. He was! Lisa was stretched out face down on a towel, lying on the deck, and Nomad was crowded as close as he could get to her curvaceous young body! Oh God! There wasn't any doubt about it! That damn little teenage witch had used him! No wonder she was so lovingly gracious this morning! She'd seduced Nomad like some wanton slut, and had been purifying her shameful act behind open expressions of lesser meaning!
Frank Douglas sat behind the wheel of his Caddy that morning hardly realizing he was suffering from the usual pangs of hangover. Hell, he couldn't remember when he'd felt so damn buoyant at this time of day! The whole goddamn world had suddenly taken on a new glow… well, almost the whole world! If he could just somehow devise a way to whip his impotency. Damn he knew that she loved him, wanted him to make… oh hell, wanted him to fuck her! That's what he meant, wasn't it? Yeah… and if he could only shake that enervating sensation which seemed to suck the sap from his very bones when he looked down at her lying there goddess-beautiful in her soft white nakedness beneath him! If only he could!