HELLFIRE by John Saul

Author:John Saul [Saul, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bantam Books
Published: 1986-08-29T21:00:00+00:00

Eileen Russell parked her five-year-old Chevy in front of Hilltop, and wished once more that she hadn’t agreed to come up here. She’d considered calling Carolyn and asking her to come down to the village instead, pleading a heavy workload and suggesting they just get together for a quick drink in the bar. She’d quickly rejected that idea; what she had to talk to Carolyn about couldn’t be discussed in a public place.

Perhaps it couldn’t be discussed at all, given the fact that they hadn’t seen each other for several months, and Carolyn’s life had changed so radically in the interim.

Still, for old times’ sake, she had to try.

She got out of her car, slammed the door shut, and strode up the broad steps to the front door. She pressed the bell, and, when she heard nothing, pressed it again. Then, assuming it must be broken, she raised the huge brass knocker, and let it fall to its anvil with a resounding thump.

After what seemed an eternity, the door opened, and Hannah peered out. She blinked in the sunlight, then nodded a greeting. “Peter’s out in the stable,” she said. “You can just go around the back if you want to.”

“I’m not here for Peter, Hannah,” Eileen replied. “I came to see Carolyn.”

Hannah looked momentarily taken aback, then recovered herself. “I’m sorry,” she said. “She didn’t tell me to be expecting anyone. Come on in, and I’ll go find her.” She held the door wide, and Eileen stepped into the huge entry hall. “Just make yourself at home,” Hannah went on, closing the door and starting the long climb to the second floor.

After what seemed an eternity to Eileen, Carolyn appeared at the curve of the stairs. “Eileen! Come on up. If I’d been thinking, I’d have had Hannah send you right up, but I forgot to tell her.” As Eileen climbed the stairs, Carolyn smiled ruefully. “I’m afraid I can’t get used to the idea of having someone to answer the door for me. It seems so decadent. I’d have answered myself, but I never heard the bell. I was resting and I must have fallen asleep.”

Eileen frowned, studying her old friend. “If you’re not feeling well, I can—”

“I’m fine,” Carolyn broke in. “But unfortunately, I can’t convince either Phillip or Dr. Blanchard that there’s no problem having a baby at my age.”

They were halfway down the corridor now, and Eileen came to an abrupt stop, staring at Carolyn. “A baby?” she repeated.

Carolyn nodded happily.

“Well, for heaven’s sake.” Then a thought occurred to her, and she blurted it out before she had considered it. “Does Alan know?”

Carolyn stared at her for a moment, then burst out laughing. “Of course he knows! Beth told him right off the bat.” Her smile faded slightly. “I’m afraid Beth was a little upset at first, but she’s used to the idea now. In fact, I think she’s looking forward to having a baby brother. Anyway, I hope she is.”

She opened the door to the master bedroom, then stepped back to let the other woman go in ahead of her.

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