“I can’t take you shopping now.I have to get dressed.What time is the party, John?”
“Five-thirty.”
“You’re going too?”Pam asked, feeling the dismay she always felt when Patricia did things with John.
“Of course I’m going.I’m on the committee.There are cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at the Parker House, then we’re all going down to the theater.After the show, there’s a light buffet back at the hotel.”
“Why isn’t Daddy going?”
“Because he’s in Maine,” John answered.
Still Pam directed her questions to Patricia.“Does he know about the party?”
“Of course he does,” she answered.“But he can’t get in, so John has agreed to take me.Honestly, Pamela, this really doesn’t concern you.”
“It does.I want to go skiing, and I can’t do it if we don’t go shopping first.It won’t take long to run down to Filene’s.”
“Ican’t, Pamela.”
Hillary spoke up.“I’ll take her shopping.”
Looking back at her, Pam saw that her eyes were on John, which wasn’t at all surprising.Hillary always looked at John.What was surprising was the edge Pam saw in the look.
“I have nothing to do until later tonight.I’d be glad to take Pam shopping.I’ve been skiing.I know just what she needs.”
Pam looked more hesitantly at her mother.Much as she liked Hillary, she’d still rather shop with Patricia.They hadn’t done it in such a long time.
But Patricia was already accepting Hillary’s offer.“Are you sure you wouldn’t mind—”
“Patricia,” John cut in, “I don’t think skiing is the best idea.”
“It can’t harm her.She’ll be busy and happy for the weekend.Hillary, wait there.I’ll get the charge card.”And she was gone.
“Thanks a lot, Hillary,” John said.His eyes were cold.
Passing Pam, she approached him.Her palm went flat against the bare flesh of his middle, fingers splaying wide.In a low, even tone, she said, “Pam shouldn’t haveto suffer because you have escort duty.Neither should I.I like your sister.She has the spunk in the family.We’ll have a good time together, maybe even catch an early dinner before she leaves.”
“And after that?Where are you going?”
Before she could answer, Patricia was back, leaning over the top railing.Hillary trotted up the few steps and took the charge card from her hand.“I’ll get her something nice.”
“Not too expensive.And not risque.Pamela, darling, be good for Hillary, and be good for the Claflins.It was sweet of them to invite you.Have Hettie pack up a box of cookies.Better still, stop at S.S.Pierce and pick up some jams.They make a nice gift.”
“We’ll be back before you leave,” Pam started to say, but Patricia was already disappearing back down the hall toward her bedroom.John was once again an immobile force on the staircase, and this time it didn’t seem worth the effort to fight him.She’d won on the issue of skiing.She wouldn’t push her luck.“I have to call Laurie and tell her I can come,” she told Hillary.“I’ll be right back.”
She took her time with the call, then stopped in the kitchen for another cookie.But when she returned to the hall, there was no sign of John.
“Where did he go?”
Hillary shot a despairing glance toward the second floor.
“I thought he’d stay and talk with you.”
“Yeah.So did I.”
“He’s a rat.”
Hillary slipped an arm around Pam’s shoulder.“What else is new?”
