Man, woman, and child(55)

"If I see Noah's ark/' said Bob, "Fll flag it over and we'll volunteer as passengers/'

'1 somehow think they'd want two younger specimens."

''Like hell. We're young. At least you are. Every undergraduate we've passed today has given you the eye."

"But still, we're not as young as Jessica and Davey."

"What? Come on. Sheila. She's an infant! This Davey nonsense is sheer anti-me rebellion."

"Bob, you'd better face up to the fact that your daughter is a blush away from womanhood."

"Years, Sheila. Years."

She lay back, plucked a blade of grass and began chewing it.

"Not even MIT professors can make time stop," she said.

He looked down at her freckled face.

"I don't want to stop time," he said with emphatic seriousness. "I just want to turn it back."

The candlelight dinner was not at any restaurant. While she was inside confronting Evelyn linger, he had dashed to Mass Avenue and bought canned vichyssoise, frozen chicken divan, salad in a bag and two bottles of very good champagne. As for the candles, there would be plenty in the house in Lexington.



They sat cross-legged in front of the fire and talked for a long time.

At one point he asked, ''Do you remember when we first made love?''

"I try not to. I was so scared."

"And I was so gauche. Do you think your parents ever guessed what we were doing while we house-sat for them?"

'Trobably. We both looked so utterly miserable."

They laughed together.

"I don't know why it went so badly, Sheil. I memorized every manual—even the Kama Sutra"

"In EngHsh?"

"I know it didn't seem that way." He grinned. "But we improved, didn't we?"

"Yes," she said. "Practice makes perfect." She took another sip of champagne.

He moved close to her.

"I've missed our practice sessions," he said quietly.

She did not reply. He moved even closer.

"You know," he whispered, "you're the only woman in the world whose soul is as beautiful as her body."

He realized as he said it that it might sound like a phony line to her. In the past he'd said such things and had been certain that she knew he meant them. Which he had. With all his heart. But now, after everything that had happened, it was possible she'd never trust a word he said.

"I mean it. Sheila," he whispered, brushing back her hair and kissing her forehead.

She did not move away. He took that as a hopeful sign.

"Do you believe I'll always love you?" he asked softly.



She bent her head down. And then answered, "I think so."

He put his arm around her and said firmly, "You believe it. Take it as an article of faith. I love you more than life."

Tears began to trickle slowly down her cheeks.

He looked at her and murmured, *'l know, I know. Fve hurt you so much."

Then both of them were silent. His heart ached for her. He was desperate to make it right again.

''Sheila, could you ever—" He stopped. It was so difficult. ''Do you think you might in time be able to forget the way Fve hurt you?"

Silence once again. Then she looked up.

'Til try," she whispered. "I can't promise more. Bob. But I'll try."

He took her in his arms. As she leaned back she spilled her champagne.

"That's good luck," he said, kissing her eyes. Her cheeks. Her lips.

At last she responded, embracing him.

"I've missed you terribly," she said. "I couldn't bear the thought of losing you. Oh, Robert. . ."

He kissed her everywhere, releasing all the tenderness pent up so long. And prayed that someday all the pain he knew that she still felt would disappear.

Please, God. I love her so.



Q

uiCK, Johnny, Tm free—pass me the ball!"

In late summer a young man's fancy turns to thoughts of autumn sports. The casual soccer sessions on the Nanuet High School field had gradually become serious scrimmages. But Davey Ackerman and his new friend, ''Jo^^^Y" Guerin, were still allowed to play with the varsity boys. And they always contrived to be on the same team. Ever since Jean-Claude was well enough to kick a ball again, he and Davey had worked out together, evolving a terrific give-and-go which would always get one of them past the defense into a clear shot at the goal. Their teamwork made Bernie ecstatic and Jessie sullen.

It was the final week of August. Afternoon shadows were growing longer. The Beckwiths and the Ackermans had come to watch the two kids match their skills against the bigger boys.

''What a combo," shouted Bernie as they scored their second goal. He slapped Bob on the back. "Terrific, huh?"

Paula clapped. Jessica sat motionless until her gallant knight waved at her as if to dedicate the goal. She acknowledged with a little wave. Sheila