relief to spend the time with Crystal and her roommate, Geraldine. They could indulge in harmless girl talk and that would soothe her frazzled nerves. Thank goodness she would never guess what a wanton her sister had been last night! Poor darling would never understand in a million years! Her baby sister was as innocent as a new-born lamb!
The first thing that Gail did when she arrived at Crystal’s apartment was to look around with an appraising eye. She wanted to remember just how the apartment was laid-out so she could tell their mother. At least she looked as if she were eating right, so far away from home. The young girl seemed to be blooming with good health, although there was a bit too much pink in her cheeks.
“Well! How was your flight, Sis?” Crystal asked, trying not to let her nervousness show. Last night had been a frantic night, moving Jerry’s things out of the apartment and into his friend’s. Of course Jerry hadn’t been too happy with the new arrangements but that couldn’t be helped. She knew that Gail would be shocked beyond belief if she ever found out that Geraldine was really Jerry! Gail would never accept the fact that she was living with a man! Why Gail was practically an old maid and Crystal was sure that her older sister had never even kissed a man, much less fucked one or lived with one!
“Here’s our room,” she nervously announced, leading Gail to the bedroom and blushing as she realized what she had said. “I I mean the room I share with Jerry… er Geraldine, that is.”
“It’s very nice, Crystal,” Gail said, gazing critically at the small bedroom. She frowned slightly as she noticed the double bed. “It’s really a pity you don’t have room for twin beds. Have you thought about bunks?”
“Uh… yes,” she lied, two bright spots of color showing on her flushed cheeks. “We… we’re saving up money now. Bunks would be a lot more comfortable.”
“Mother asked me what you wanted for Christmas before I left,” Gail smiled. “Shall I tell her bunk beds?”
“Uh… let me talk to J-Geraldine about that first,” she hedged, shoving clothes over in the closet to make way for Gail’s things. “Here are some extra hangers, Sis. Just unpack if you want to.”
“My Goodness!” Gail exclaimed, examining the clothes in the closet. “Your roommate certainly doesn’t have many clothes, does she? Most of these are yours!”
“Er… yes… yes, they are!” Crystal stammered. “Geraldine’s such a wonderful girl, Gail. When she found out you were in town, she took most of her things and went to stay with a friend. Wasn’t that nice?”
“Oh, but I don’t want to put anyone out!” Gail exclaimed, shaking her head. “I could just as well stay in a hotel. Are you sure it’s all right?”
“P-positive!” Crystal gasped. “Uh… I’ll tell you what. I’m going to cook us a good dinner, but I have to run to the store to get a few things. Why don’t you unpack and take a little nap until dinner’s ready. Doesn’t that sound like a good idea?”
Gail nodded slowly, still frowning. She was acting awfully nervous. It wasn’t all in her imagination. It was almost as if her baby sister were hiding something and Gail was determined to get to the bottom of whatever it was. If Crystal went out to the store, she’d have a little time to poke around the apartment and see what she could learn. There was more going on here than met the eye, Gail was sure.
As soon as the door closed behind Crystal, Gail hurried out into the living room. She turned around and saw no evidence of Crystal’s roommate’s things. Didn’t the girl have anything or was Crystal actually living here alone? It was a puzzle and Gail intended to solve it before she left.
Gail stopped short as she opened the bathroom cabinet. A small bottle of aftershave lotion was on the shelf behind a pile of towels. Aftershave? That was an odd item for her to have in her bathroom!
At that particular moment, the telephone rang. Gail hurried to answer it, thinking that perhaps it was her parents, checking to see if she had arrived. She was very surprised to hear a male voice on the other end of the line.
“Hi… is Jerry there?” the voice enquired. “We need him down at the lot right away. Tell that old man of yours to get over here immediately. The Emmerson’s are here and his sales pitch worked. They’re going to take that Cadillac he showed them yesterday.”
Gail was so flabbergasted she couldn’t find words for a moment. At first she was certain that the man had gotten a wrong number, but he had thought she was Crystal. The surprised teacher was so shocked that she said the first thing that came into her head.
“Gerry?” Gail choked. “Do you mean, Crystal’s roommate, Geraldine?”
“Geraldine!” the man roared. “Come on… don’t play games with me. Just tell Jerry to haul his ass down here, okay?”
There was a sharp click and all at once the connection was broken. Gail stood staring at the receiver for a long moment before she finally hung up the phone. So that was it! Geraldine, Crystal’s roommate wasn’t really Geraldine at all. Her little baby sister was living with a man named Jerry!
For one shocked moment, Gail felt like calling her parents and telling them she was bringing her home. Imagine! Living with a man all this time! And Mom and Dad thought Crystal was living with another girl!
Gail was already dialing the phone when she reconsidered. Perhaps she should have a little more positive proof before she upset their parents. People were always playing jokes and perhaps this had been some sort of practical joker with a sick sense of humor. Gail certainly wasn’t going to call their parents before she confronted Crystal, or at least had some positive evidence. The shaving lotion could have been left here by a previous tenant and the phone call could have been a prank. She deserved to give her the benefit of the doubt. She’d find out soon enough if Crystal actually was living in sin with a man. She’d just tell her baby sister to invite Geraldine for dinner tonight. That ought to be proof enough.
Even though it was still early afternoon, Gail decided to have a drink to calm her nerves. She was simply too nervous to confront her sister without something to bolster her courage. There was a bottle of brandy in the cupboard and Gail poured herself a generous drink, downing it much too quickly. Then, because she was still nervous, she had another. By the time the phone rang again, Gail was feeling much more courageous and more than a little tipsy.
“It’s me, Sis!” she said quickly. “I just ran into a friend of mine and we’re going to take you out for dinner… how’s that?”
“Fine,” Gail replied, trying to keep her voice light. “Why don’t you invite your roommate too. I’d really like to meet her.”
“I… I’ll see whether Geraldine’s busy or not,” Crystal replied quickly. “Do you think you can find the restaurant by yourself? It’s a small place, THE BEEF amp; BOTTLE, and it’s three blocks down on Seventh Avenue. Go ahead and take your nap and meet us there at six.”
“I can find it,” Gail agreed, sipping the last of her drink. “I’ll be there at six and do see if Geraldine can make it. I’m looking forward to meeting her.”
A slight smile formed on Gail’s face as she hung up the phone. Crystal must think she was a complete idiot, trying to put one over on her like this. She could hardly wait to see what excuse her baby sister gave for the absence of Geraldine. It was going to be quite an amusing evening but it wouldn’t be pleasant when they got back to the apartment if Crystal didn’t produce Geraldine. Gail knew she’d give her little sister a piece of her mind and a warning about fast men in the big city. If Crystal really was living with a man named Jerry, it was her sisterly duty to warn her. Girls who slept with men without benefit of marriage always got into trouble, one way or the other!
“Oooooh!” Gail exclaimed, her hand flying to her mouth. Wasn’t that exactly what she had done last night? How could she give her baby sister a lecture on promiscuity when she had behaved like a wanton last night, herself? It was hypocritical!
Gail’s anguished thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the peal of the doorbell. When she opened the door she looked straight into the face of one of the most handsome men she’d ever seen in her life!
“Uh… she’s not here right now,” Gail stammered, feeling her cheeks aglow with heat. Was this the man Crystal was living with? He certainly was good looking!
“I’m Jerry’s boss, Frank Harris,” the man introduced himself. “You’re Gail, right?”
Gail mutely nodded, recognizing the man’s voice almost immediately. He was the man who had called for Jerry earlier.
