“All right, lamb, we won’t argue the point. Anyway, when she got back from the hospital she was terribly despondent. I kept telling her you’d come back. Everybody did. I didn’t believe it, of course, but I was afraid if I told her you were gone for good she’d try something worse than sleeping pills.”
“Did she drink awfully hard?”
“Are you kidding? She drank like a fish, naturally,” Lili said. “As if you had to ask. Then she got a job. But I’m getting ahead of myself. You wanted to hear about Tris.”
Again she smiled, and Laura hated her smile. “Just tell me, Lili,” she said. “Without the dramatics.”
“Certainly, darling…Well, Tris came back and the first thing she did was come looking for you to tell you she was sorry. I don’t know for what. But I was there when she arrived. I couldn’t leave Beebo alone for five minutes, it was that bad. So anyway, we were having dinner when Tris came and she looked very surprised not to see you, but if you ask me, she was thrilled to death. She’s been on the make for Beebo ever since you met at the dress shop. She strung you along for a contact with Beebo.”
“I don’t believe you,” Laura lied bravely. “Go on.”
“Well, darling, that makes it slightly awkward. It’s essential to the narrative that you believe it.” But Laura’s cold white face discouraged her sarcasm and she went on. “Well, Tris was nuts for her. That time she burst in on you and Beebo got so mad—yes, she told me about it—she came to see Beebo, not you. She didn’t care a damn if it got you in trouble. The only thing she cared about was seeing Beebo. She wasn’t very happy about the way Beebo treated her then, but she’s had better luck since.
“Well, Beebo didn’t even try to fight her off. She just let her in and they spent a couple of weeks together. And the whole time that awful Milo—Tris’s husband—I think you’ve met?—yes. That must have been jolly.” She grinned maliciously. “Well, Milo was over there all the time, just mad as hell. It’s a wonder he didn’t kill Beebo, the way Tris carried on about her. It took him four whole months to drag her away, and Tris still comes over whenever she can sneak out. But Beebo and
Milo get along better now. Since he realized Beebo’s not in love with his wife.
“For some strange reason she can’t seem to fall in love with anybody. I think she’s crazy myself. I mean, after all, you’re not that irresistible.” She paused and Laura took advantage of it to switch the subject, fast.
“What about the job? You said she had a job.”
“Oh, yes, I did, didn’t I? Well, she’s waiting on tables at the Colophon. Oh, don’t look so disappointed, lamb, she likes it. Besides, she can wear pants.” Lili knew how Laura hated Beebo’s elevator uniform, and it pleased her to point out that Beebo hadn’t reformed. “She works from five to eleven,” Lili went on. “Really very good hours. And then of course she’s free to get soused till dawn.”
“Does she?”
“Sometimes.”
“Is it very bad?” Laura asked, her voice a little shaky with fatigue. “Sometimes.”
“God, Lili, is that all you can say? Sometimes? Tell me about her, I haven’t heard anything for eight months!”
“That’s the way you wanted it, darling.”
“No. No, it isn’t,” she whispered. “That’s the way it had to be.”
“I would say—judging strictly from your very interesting diary—that you were glad to get rid of Beebo. Maybe you’re just here to ease your conscience, hm? Be sure she hasn’t done anything messy you’d have to blame yourself for?”
Laura had to look away for a minute. The shame was too plain on her face. “That was a stupid thing, that diary,” she mumbled. She started crying softly, helplessly. “Lili, cut out the sarcasm,” she pleaded, knowing it would do no good.
“Why, don’t be silly!” Lili exclaimed, enjoying the scene. “I haven’t an ounce of sarcasm in me. I’m just a reporter giving you the facts.”
“You’re a lousy gossip columnist!” Laura said. “You’re all dirty digs and snide cracks, and about a tenth of what you say is true. Tris Robischon was shy and neurotic. She hated gay bars. She wouldn’t have gone in if she hadn’t been forced. She hated gay people so much that she wouldn’t associate with them.”
“Like hell,” Lili said elegantly. “She lived In the Village, didn’t she? Who do you think her ballet pupils were, anyway?”
“Children! Men! Little girls!”
“And big girls, darling.”
“She never had affairs with them. She might have slept with one or two of the men, but not with the girls. I’m sure of it.”
“Have you talked to Milo about that?”
“No…not about that. But I know Tris!”
“Must be wonderful to be so sure of yourself, pet,” Lili drawled. “The fact is, your little pseudo-Indian slept with dozens of her pupils. She went to the Lezzie bars because Beebo did, and Beebo’s not the first girl she’s done it with. You can check it. Go ask the bartender at the Cellar. Ask the lovelies at the Colophon. At Julian’s. Go on. Scared?”
Laura stood up suddenly and headed for the door. “I’ve had enough, Lili. Thanks. Thanks a lot.” She spoke briefly, afraid of more tears, and grabbed her coat as she went. But Lili got up and ran after her.
“But darling, I want to know where you’ve been all this time!”
“It’s no business of yours.”
“Oh, tell me, Laura. Don’t be difficult,” she said. “Beebo would be interested,” she wheedled.
“Oh, I doubt it. After what you’ve told me. But just for the record, I’ve been living uptown.”
“Where uptown?”
But Laura shook her head.
“Alone?” Lili said.
“No.” Laura didn’t know why she said it. It just seemed easier than arguing. Besides, she didn’t want Lili to think she was friendless and despised everywhere.
“You know, Jack Mann disappeared from the Village the same time you did,” Lili said, her voice vibrant with curiosity.
“Yes.”
“Do
