She’d finally fallen asleep—it was after two—when the telephone woke her.
“Are you alone? Can you talk?” Hannah asked her in a whisper.
“Definitely alone,” Ruth said. “But why would I want to talk to you? You traitor.”
“I knew you’d be angry,” Hannah said. “I almost didn’t call.”
“Is that an apology?” Ruth asked her best friend. She had never heard Hannah apologize.
“Something came up,” Hannah whispered.
“Something or some one?” Ruth asked.
“Same difference,” Hannah replied. “I was suddenly called out of town.”
“Why are you whispering?” Ruth asked her.
“I’d rather not wake him up,” Hannah said.
“You mean you’re with someone now ?” Ruth asked. “Is he there ?”
“Not exactly,” Hannah whispered. “I had to move to another bedroom because he snores. I never imagined that he would snore .”
Ruth refrained from comment. Hannah never failed to mention some intimacy involving her sexual partners.
“I was disappointed that you weren’t with me,” Ruth finally said. But, even as she spoke, it occurred to Ruth that if Hannah had been there, Hannah would never have let Ruth be alone with Eddie. Hannah would have been too curious about Eddie—she would have wanted Eddie all to herself ! “On second thought,” Ruth told her friend, “I’m glad you weren’t with me. I got to be alone with Eddie O’Hare.”
“So you still haven’t done it with Allan,” Hannah whispered.
“The main thing about this evening was Eddie, ” Ruth replied. “I never saw my mother as clearly as I can see her now.”
“But when are you gonna do it with Allan?” Hannah asked.
“When I get back from Europe, probably,” Ruth said. “Don’t you want to hear about my mother?”
“When you get back from Europe !” Hannah whispered. “That’s what? In two or three weeks ? God, he might meet someone else before you get back! And what about you? Even you might meet someone else!”
“If either Allan or I meet someone else,” Ruth replied, “then it will be an especially good thing that we haven’t slept together.” It wasn’t until she put it that way that Ruth feared she cared more about losing Allan as an editor than about losing him as a husband .
“So tell me everything about Eddie O’Hare,” Hannah whispered.
“He’s very sweet,” Ruth began. “He’s quite odd, but mainly sweet.”
“But is he sexy ?” Hannah asked. “I mean, could you imagine him with your mother? Your mother was so beautiful . . .”
“Eddie O’Hare is a little beautiful,” Ruth replied.
“Do you mean he’s effeminate?” Hannah asked. “My God—he’s not gay, is he?”
“No, no—he’s not gay. He’s not effeminate, either,” Ruth told Hannah. “He’s just very gentle. Surprisingly delicate-looking.”
“I thought he was tall,” Hannah said.
“Tall and delicate,” Ruth replied.
“I can’t see it—he sounds odd,” Hannah said.
“I said he was odd,” Ruth told her. “Odd and sweet, and delicate. And he’s devoted to my mother. I mean, he would marry her tomorrow !”