An Indian Affair by Malek Doreen Owens

Author:Malek, Doreen Owens [Malek, Doreen Owens]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Gypsy Autumn Publications
Published: 2012-06-19T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

Five days later Cindy was seated on the floor of Paula’s living room with a stack of index cards. She was methodically sorting the cards and then clipping them to the typed pages they outlined. A casual observer witnessing her apparent concentration would not have guessed her inner turmoil.

Paula entered the room and displayed her hand like a model on television selling dishwashing lotion. “How do you like it?” she asked. “Mango frappe.”

Cindy glanced at the iridescent orange nail polish and nodded. “It’s very... shiny.”

“Not to mention seductive, long wearing, and non chip,” Paula added dryly, quoting from the sales copy.

She watched Cindy bite the cap of her pen, holding it between her teeth and nibbling at it like a ferret.

“Is that what you do instead of smoking?” she asked.

Cindy looked at her uncomprehendingly. “What?”

“Never mind. I take it you haven’t heard from him.”

Cindy shook her head.

“You have nothing to add?” Paula probed.

Cindy shrugged. “What is there to say? I have no claim on him; he doesn’t have to report to me daily as if I were his mother. He said I would hear from him, and I will. Eventually.”

“How very mature,” Paula said. “And how understanding. Everyone knows there are no phones in Georgia. Or post offices or Western Union operators.”

Cindy threw her a dirty look.

“I know, I know,” Paula said, holding up her hand. “But if you ask me, he’s using this trip to put emotional distance between you.”

“Nobody asked you,” Cindy pointed out.

“Has that ever stopped me from offering an opinion before?” Paula asked rhetorically.

Cindy sighed and uncoiled her legs, stretching them. “Paula, look at it logically. As of this moment, I have been out with him twice, only once on an actual date. Why should he feel compelled to keep me posted on his every move? I believe that he’ll call me when he gets back, and that’s sufficient.”

Paula nodded patiently. “All that sounds wonderful, but I happen to know that you haven’t eaten a square meal since he left. You may be convincing yourself with your splendid reasoning but I’m not buying it.”

“Then don’t,” Cindy said shortly, getting up. “Go back into your bedroom and frappe your toenails.”

“Oh, oh,” Paula said. “Getting a little miffed, are we?”

Cindy put her hands on her hips and stared her down. “I’m getting a little miffed, yes. Your attitude toward Fox changes with the light. One minute you’re wishing me luck and urging me onward, and the next you’re making wisecracks about his disappearing act. What’s going on, Paula? Are you trying to drive me crazy?”

Paula considered that. “Okay, you’re right. I am vacillating about this whole thing. Sometimes when I see how happy you are with him, I want it to work out and I encourage you. Then, at other times, I remember what he used to be like…” She left the sentence unfinished for Cindy to draw her own conclusions.

“People can change,” Cindy said. “They grow up and different things become important to them.”

“Possibly,” Paula said, her tone unconvinced.

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