minute adjustments in the way it hung. She also took advantage of the moment to fluff at her hair a little. Finally she nodded as if somewhat satisfied and hung it in the closet.
'I have to go home tomorrow,' she said.
'I have patients.'
'I know,' I said.
'You see Shirley Ventura hanging out in a terminal at DFW or someplace, grab her, and give her some psychotherapy.'
'Or call here and give you some,' Susan said.
'Either one is nice,' I said.
Susan held a black silk blouse against herself and studied it in the mirror.
'Aren't you supposed to do that before you buy it?' I said.
'And after,' Susan said.
'And every time you pick it up for the rest of your life. Does it look cute?'
'Cute,' I said, 'is far too small a word.'
Susan looked at it some more, turning to see it from all angles, smoothing it down as she did so.
'I hate to go home without you,' she said.
'Sexual deprivation?'
'And luggage.'
'At least it's both,' I said.
The phone rang and I answered.
'Anthony's registered as Ralph Davis,' Hawk said.
'There's a Mrs. Davis with him.'
'He still playing?' I said.
'See him from here,' Hawk said.
'Hundred-dollar table. He's winning.'
'Think your contact could get one of us into his room when it's empty?'
'Un huh.'
'Ventura called,' I said.
'Says Shirley's missing, thinks she might be out here.'
Susan was taking a pair of hand-painted cowboy boots out of a bag that had a polo pony imprinted on it.
'Maybe it's Mrs. Davis,' Hawk said.
'He got instructions for us?'
'Stay put, watch Meeker. Look for Shirley.'
'Better do what he say.'
'Certainly,' I said.
'Susan and I are reviewing her shopping.
I'll talk to you later.'
We hung up. Susan was holding up the colorful cowboy boots.
'What do you think?' she said.
'You know,' I said, 'what would be a great look?'
Susan put her ringer to her lips.
'I'll try them on,' she said.
She took the cowboy boots and went into the bedroom. Outside the volcano began to rumble. I got up and went to the window. It would be embarrassing to go home and say I'd never seen it. I stared down at the plastic volcano as flame and smoke erupted from the top and fire ran down the sides mixing with the water which flowed from the fountain. This went on for several minutes and then stopped. And the mountain turned back into a waterfall. I stared at it for a while. Maybe it would be embarrassing to go home and say I had seen it. I turned back toward the room. Susan came into the living room with her cowboy boots on and no other clothes.
'Howdy,' I said.
I'd seen her naked often. But in all the time I'd known her, I never saw her naked without a sense that if I weren't so manly I'd feel giddy. In fact I never saw her at all, dressed or undressed, without that feeling.
'Every time I buy boots you have the same suggestion as to how I should wear them,' Susan said.
'Well,' I said, 'you can't say it's not a good suggestion.'
'No,' Susan said.
