Thirty-seven
Lanes hand trembled as she applied eyeliner. Its not a date, she told herself. Just a school function. Nothing more than a glorified field trip, really.
Shed been telling herself that all day, but it never seemed to help.
I probably wont even have a chance to be alone with him.
The door bell rang, and her stomach gave a sickening lurch.
Hes here.
Lane took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, then brushed mascara onto her lashes. She put the makeup away. She took her purse off the dresser and stepped back in front of the closet mirror.
I cant go dressed like this! she suddenly thought, and saw her face turn red. No, its okay. He doesnt want us in evening gowns. He said its not the prom.
Besides, shed worn this outfit to mass a few times. If its good enough for mass, its good enough for Hamlet.
And I do look good in it, she thought. And its me.
Lane lifted her arms. Though her armpits felt wet, no moisture showed on the tie-dyed blue denim. Probably because the blouse fit so loosely. Most of the perspiration just ran down her sides.
Lane! Mom called. Mr. Kramers here.
Ill be right out!
Quickly, she popped open the top snaps. She plucked some Kleenex from a box on top of the dresser, reached inside the blouse, dried her armpits, and applied a fresh coating of roll-on. Pinching the snaps shut again, she hurried from the room.
I amtoo casual, she thought when she saw Mr. Kramer in the foyer. He wore a necktie with a white shirt, blue blazer and gray slacks.
Good evening, Lane, he said. Then he turned back to her father and raised the copy of Night Watcherin his left hand. Thanks again for the autograph, Larry.
Thanks for buying the book, Dad said. Im glad you could find a copy. His face was a little more red than usual, his voice a little thicker. But at least he didnt slur his words. Hed had a lotto drink before dinner. Lane hoped Mr. Kramer didnt realize he was pretty well polluted.
And I can count on you for October thirty-first?
Ill be there.
Thats terrific. The kidsll get a great kick out of having a speaker like you on Halloween.
Ill read em some really disgustingstuff from my books.
Im sure theyll love it. He nodded at Lane. Well, I guess wed better be on our way. Are you all set?
Am I dressed okay? she asked. I could put on something more...
No, no, youre perfect.
Mom, smiling, nodded in agreement. You look just fine, honey.
You shore do, little pardner, Dad said. Ifn you run into Hoot up the trail, be suren tell him howdy for me.
Oh, Daaaad.
Mr. Kramer laughed. It was very nice meeting you, Larry, he said, and extended his hand.
Dad shook it. Nice to meet you, too. And Ill see you on Halloween.
Shaking hands with Mom, Mr. Kramer said, A real pleasure meeting you, Jean. I can see where Lane got her looks.
She blushed. Why, thank you.
As he opened the door, Lane kissed her parents. See you later, she told them, and they wished her a good time. Then she was on the walkway with Mr. Kramer. His station wagon, parked at the curb, looked empty.
He didcome here first!
Lane hoped it wasnt just a matter of geographical convenience, hoped hed chosen to pick her up before the others so they could have some time alone.
Are you warm enough in that? he asked.
Did he realize she was trembling? Oh, Im fine, she said. Her shivers, she thought, had little to do with the chilly night air. Im just excited, she added.
He smiled at her. Its great to have a student actually excited about going to a play.
That isnt it at all, Lane thought as he opened the passenger door. She climbed into the car. He shut the door, walked around the front, and got in behind the steering wheel.
Excuse me, he muttered. Leaning sideways, he reached in front of Lane to open the glove compartment. Dont want anything happening to the book. For just a moment, as he slipped the paperback into the compartment, his shoulder pushed against her upper arm. There, he said. Safe and sound. He sat up straight and started the car.
Have you read it yet? Lane asked.
No, unfortunately. He pulled away from the curb. I should be able to get to it next week, though.
After you read that, you may want to reconsider having Dad speak to the class. She grinned. You may not want him anywhere near a group of high school students.
That bad, huh?
That nasty.
He seemed like a very nice man, Mr. Kramer said.
Oh, he is. Youd think he was a monster, reading that stuff, but hes awfully sweet. He had kind of a bad time today, though. In case you thought he was acting a little... weird. See, he went out shooting in the desert. With our neighbor, Pete. Im running off at the mouth like a kid, she thought. He doesnt care about any of this. Anyway, Pete had some kind of an accident.
Not shot, I hope.
Oh, no. Nothing like that. But he fell off some rocks and got knocked out cold. He actually broke his nose. Dad had to take him to the emergency room. So anyway, he wasnt exactly himself after he got done with all that.
It doesnt sound like much fun.
No. It wasnt. So, how have you been?
No complaints. How about yourself? You havent had anymore run-ins with Benson, I hope.
No.
Hell probably leave you alone. But let me know if he causes you any trouble.
I think you put the fear of God into him.
Mr. Kramer shook his head. You never know, a guy like that. Youll have to keep your eyes open. Dont let him catch you alone. Theres no telling what he might do, and Id sure hate for anything to happen to my best student.
Ill be careful, she said.
Speaking of which, maybe youd better buckle up.
Planning to crash? she asked, and reached up for the safety harness.
Ill sure try not to. But you may have noticed, you keep getting hurt when youre around me.
Yeah. Guess youre bad luck. She drew the strap down between her breasts and snapped its metal tab into the buckle by her left hip.
Now you wont have to worry about a rendezvous with the windshield.
Yeah. Id look lousy at the play with blood all over my clothes.
I do like that outfit, he said, glancing at her. You havent worn it to school, have you?
Not this one.
Ive seen you in something similar, though. A blue denim jumper with white lace. A mini, as I recall.
Oh, that. She felt a warm stir, pleased to find out that he actually remembered what she wore to school, but slightly embarrassed that he recalled the jumper. Probably too short, she said.
I wouldnt say that. Youve got the legs for it.
Thanks, she said, heat rushing to her face.
He swung the car to the curb and stopped. Lane gazed at him, her heart pounding. Whyd he stop? He turned on the overhead light. He smiled at her. Then he reached inside his blazer and took a sheet of paper from his pocket.
Just checking directions, she realized.
Okay, he said. Aarons at 4980 Cactus. Should be just on the next block.
Lane felt a pull of disappointment. Their time alone was almost done.
She hoped she would get to sit with him in the theater, but it didnt work out that way. Sandra, bending his ear about something, followed him down the aisle and into the row. There was no way for Lane to get past her without making a spectacle of herself.
Mr. Kramer took a seat beside a college student. Sandra sat beside him, and Lane found herself between Sandra and George, with Aaron at the other side of George.