Chapter 20

           WhenDickgotoutoftheelevatorhefollowedatortuouscorridorandturnedatlengthtowardadistantvoiceoutsidealighteddoor.Rosemarywasinblackpajamas;aluncheontablewasstillintheroom;shewashavingcoffee.

           "You’restillbeautiful,"hesaid."Alittlemorebeautifulthanever."

           "Doyouwantcoffee,youngster?"

           "I’msorryIwassounpresentablethismorning."

           "Youdidn’tlookwell—youallrightnow?Wantcoffee?"

           "No,thanks."

           "You’refineagain,Iwasscaredthismorning.Mother’scomingovernextmonth,ifthecompanystays.ShealwaysasksmeifI’veseenyouoverhere,asifshethoughtwewerelivingnextdoor.Motheralwayslikedyou—shealwaysfeltyouweresomeoneIoughttoknow."

           "Well,I’mgladshestillthinksofme."

           "Oh,shedoes,"Rosemaryreassuredhim."Averygreatdeal."

           "I’veseenyouhereandthereinpictures,"saidDick."OnceIhadDaddy’sGirlrunoffjustformyself!"

           "Ihaveagoodpartinthisoneifitisn’tcut."

           Shecrossedbehindhim,touchinghisshoulderasshepassed.Shephonedforthetabletobetakenawayandsettledinabigchair.

           "IwasjustalittlegirlwhenImetyou,Dick.NowI’mawoman."

           "Iwanttoheareverythingaboutyou."

           "HowisNicole—andLanierandTopsy?"

           "They’refine.Theyoftenspeakofyou—"

           Thephonerang.WhilesheanswereditDickexaminedtwonovels—onebyEdnaFerber,onebyAlbertMcKisco.