Dangerous Women

Susa

Di

“Aren’t you hungry?” she inquired solicitously as Susa

Kate had no idea. Susa

“Aren’t you feeling well?” Tonia asked with concern, looking at Susa

The moment froze. Incredibly, Kate was not looking at her, but Tonia was, mockery in her eyes. She knew Susa

“No… no thank you.” Susa

“Something interesting?” Tonia inquired.

Susa

“Ah, the future!” Tonia rolled the words around her tongue. “I was quite wrong. You see I imagined you were thinking of the past. It’s wonderful to be here, free as the wind, with tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after that, in which to do whatever we please-isn’t it, Susa

“To choose among options, anyway,” Susa

Tonia looked surprised. “You feel limited? What is there you would like to do, and can’t? Is there something you want? Something you can’t have?” She turned slightly. “And what about you, Kate? Is there anything you want, and can’t have?”

Kate looked up, puzzled. “Not more than anyone else. Why?” She glanced at Susa

Leave, but she could not say that, and she could not do it without Tonia. She had the car, and the keys to it. And anyway, if she did run, it would seem like the confession of a guilty conscience. She had nothing to be guilty about. Ralph was a thief, pla

“I really don’t care,” she replied awkwardly.

“We could climb round the point,” Tonia suggested. “When the tide’s out, the rock pools are full of all sorts of things-sea anemones, urchins, razor shells, starfish.” She smiled. “It’s beautiful.”

And dangerous, Susa

“I’d rather walk along the beach,” she replied. “Or up in the woods for a change.”

Tonia smiled. “Whatever,” she said with quiet satisfaction. “Would you like coffee? Or tea, perhaps? That would be better in the evening. Or how about hot chocolate? Shall I make hot chocolate for all of us?” She half-rose as if it had already been accepted.

Kate said “yes,” and Susa

“What’s the matter with you?” Kate asked. “Anyone would think she was going to poison you!”

The evening passed so slowly it assumed the proportions of a nightmare. They sat around the fire facing each other, sipping chocolate after the dishes were washed. The air had chilled considerably, and the wind had risen.

“I think there could be a storm,” Kate remarked, a smile on her lips.

“Oh yes,” Tonia agreed. “I’m quite sure there will be.”

There were several moments of silence except for a low moan outside and the rattling in the eaves where a tile was loose.

“Ralph used to like storms,” Tonia went on.

“No he didn’t!” Kate said instantly, then almost bit her tongue. “Did he?” she added, too late.

Tonia looked wide-eyed. “My dear, are you asking me?”

Kate flushed pink. “Perhaps I misunderstood,” she said lamely.

“Who? Me, or Ralph?” Tonia inquired.

“I really don’t remember. It hardly matters!” Kate snapped.

But Tonia would not let it go. “Did you have a particular storm in mind?”

“I told you!” Kate was angry now, and guilty. Susa

“About likes and dislikes?” Tonia went on. “Or love and hate? How can you mistake one for the other… do you suppose?” She looked as if she were intensely interested, without emotion, until one saw the clenched fist by her side, and the rigid line of her back.

“Maybe the difference between fear and excitement,” Kate responded, staring at her, meeting the challenge at last.

“Oh yes!” Tonia agreed with satisfaction. “Excitement, the fear of danger, the roar of thunder and the chance of being struck by lightning. You mistook the fear for love?”

Kate’s face was scarlet.

Susa

“Or the love for fear?” Kate met the challenge squarely.

Tonia shook her head. “Oh no,” she said with a tight little smile. “One knows love, believe me, dear. If you ever meet it, you’ll understand.” And she stood up, smiled at each of them in turn, and wished them goodnight. She went to the door and added, “Sleep soundly,” and went out.

Kate turned to Susa

Susa

Tonia was sitting on the end of her bed, one of the pillows in her hands. For a freezing instant pure tension gripped Susa

Tonia looked amazed. “That must have been some nightmare!” she said with a shadow of amusement in her face.

“N… nightmare?” Susa

“Yes. You were crying out in your sleep. That’s why I came.”

Susa