Winter of the World

As they entered the apartment Joanne said: ‘I see your Papa around Washington all the time, but I haven’t talked to your Mama for years. I must congratulate her on her bestseller.’

‘She’s not here right now,’ Woody said. ‘Come into the kitchen.’

He filled the kettle from the tap and put it on the heat. Then he put his arms around Joanne and said: ‘Alone at last.’

‘Where are your parents?’

‘Out of town, both of them.’

‘And Chuck is in Hawaii.’

‘Yes.’

She moved away from him. ‘Woody, how could you do this to me?’

‘Do what? I’m making you tea!’

‘You’ve got me up here on false pretences! I thought your parents were at home.’

‘I never said that.’

‘Why didn’t you tell me they were away!’

‘You didn’t ask!’ he said indignantly, though there was a grain of truth in her complaint. He would not have lied to her, but he had been hoping he would not have to tell her in advance that the apartment was empty.

‘You got me up here to make a pass! You think I’m a cheap broad.’

‘I do not! It’s just that we’re never really private. I was hoping for a kiss, that’s all.’

‘Don’t try to kid me.’

Now she really was being unjust. Yes, he hoped to go to bed with her one day, but no, he had not expected to do so today. ‘We’ll go,’ he said. ‘We’ll get tea somewhere else. The Ritz-Carlton is right down the street, all the British stay there, they must have tea.’

‘Oh, don’t be stupid, we don’t need to leave. I’m not afraid of you, I can fight you off. I’m just mad at you. I don’t want a man who goes out with me because he thinks I’m easy.’

‘Easy?’ he said, his voice rising. ‘Hell! I’ve waited six years for you to condescend to go out with me. Even now, all I’m asking for is a kiss. If you’re easy, I’d hate to be in love with a girl who’s difficult!’

To his astonishment, she started to laugh.

‘Now what?’ he said irritably.

‘I’m sorry, you’re right,’ she said. ‘If you wanted a girl who was easy, you would have given up on me long ago.’

‘Exactly!’

‘After I kissed you like that when I was drunk, I thought you must have a low opinion of me. I assumed you were chasing me for a cheap thrill. I’ve even been worrying about that in the last few weeks. I misjudged you. I’m sorry.’

He was bewildered by her rapid changes of mood, but he figured this latest phase was an improvement. ‘I was crazy about you even before that kiss,’ he said. ‘I guess you didn’t notice.’

‘I hardly noticed you.’

‘I’m pretty tall.’

‘It’s your only attractive feature, physically.’

He smiled. ‘I won’t get swollen-headed talking to you, will I?’

‘Not if I can help it.’

The kettle boiled. He put tea in a china pot and poured water on top.

Joanne looked thoughtful. ‘You said something else a minute ago.’

‘What?’

‘You said: “I’d hate to be in love with a girl who’s difficult.” Did you mean it?’

‘Did I mean what?’

‘The part about being in love.’

‘Oh! I didn’t intend to say that.’ He threw caution to the wind. ‘But hell, yes, if you want to know the truth, I’m in love with you. I think I’ve loved you for years. I adore you. I want—’

She put her arms around his neck and kissed him.

This time it was the real thing, her mouth moving urgently against his, the tip of her tongue touching his lips, her body pressing against his. It was like 1935, except that she did not taste of whisky. This was the girl he loved, the real Joanne, he thought ecstatically: a woman of strong passions. And she was in his arms and kissing him for all she was worth.

She pushed her hands up inside his summer sports shirt and rubbed his chest, pressing her fingers into his ribs, grazing his nipples with her palms, grasping his shoulders, as if she wanted to sink her hands deep into his flesh. He realized that she, too, had a store of frustrated desire that was now overflowing like a busted dam, out of control. He did the same to her, stroking her sides and grasping her breasts, with a feeling of happy liberation, like a child let out of school for an unexpected holiday.

When he pressed his eager hand between her thighs she pulled away.

But what she said surprised him. ‘Have you got any birth control?’

‘No! I’m sorry—’

‘It’s okay. In fact, it’s good. It proves you really didn’t plan to seduce me.’

‘I wish I had.’

‘Never mind. I know a woman doctor who’ll fix me up on Monday. Meanwhile, we’ll improvise. Kiss me again.’

As he did so he felt her unbuttoning his pants.

‘Oh,’ she said a moment later. ‘How nice.’

‘That’s just what I was thinking,’ he whispered.

‘I may need two hands, though.’

‘What?’

‘I guess it goes with being so tall.’

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’

‘Then I’ll shut up and kiss you.’

A few minutes later she said: ‘Handkerchief.’

Fortunately, he had one.

He opened his eyes, a few moments before the end, and saw her looking at him. In her expression he read desire and excitement and something else that he thought might even be love.

When it was over he felt blissfully calm. I love her, he thought, and I’m happy. How good life is. ‘That was wonderful,’ he said. ‘I’d like to do the same for you.’