Page 64 of Private Pleasures

“Women who want something from you, you mean,” she snapped back at him. “How many times have I told you a woman needs a little time. Five pokes and you’re out, and you think I have had enough time?” She stormed into the bathroom and slammed the door.

Jeff followed her, and when he found the door locked, he put his shoulder against it and pushed it in. “What the hell has gotten into you, Heidi?” he demanded to know.

“I just realized that I don’t need you anymore, Jeff,” she said coldly.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean? I’m in love with you. I’m divorcing my wife. I went out on a limb to buy that damned co-op for us.”

“You made the down payment with your kids’ college money, and I’ve been paying the bridge loan while your divorce has been stalled,” she shouted at him. “And for the record, I don’t love you! And I’m not going to marry you, Jeff. And I’m going to Mr. Wickham Junior and tell him whose ideas you’ve been using for the agency’s clients, and who has been writing the copy. And when I’m through I’ll have a vice presidency, and you will be yesterday’s headline story. Now get out of the bathroom so I can shower. There must be a bus that goes back to the city from this place, and I’m going as soon as I can.” She gave him a shove, and then another.

Jeff Buckley’s temper-exploded. “You conniving little bitch!” he yelled at her, and then he began to hit her again and again.

Heidi screamed. When Brad smacked her around he didn’t really hurt her, and she had loved it because Brad was her master now. But Jeff was hurting her. She felt a warm trickle of blood coming from her nose. She screamed again and, pushing past him, ran from the bedroom and down the stairs toward the front door. He was right behind her, roaring his outrage. She fumbled with the locks on the front door even as he grabbed her and swung her around to slap her again. Heidi reached out for the antique vase on the hall table and, gripping it in her fingers, slammed it down on Jeff’s head. He stumbled back, dazed, and it gave her just enough time to get the door open. Then she ran across the lawn screaming at the top of her lungs.

Within minutes windows were opening in response to her cries for help. Jeff had regained his equilibrium and was trying to drag her back into the house. Heidi fought him like a tigress, and continued to shriek. Sam Seligmann and Rick Johnson, in robes, came from their houses to separate the combatants. Heidi flung her arms about Dr. Seligmann, sobbing. Sam looked somewhat startled as the girl in the black negligee clung to him.

“Don’t let him hurt me again,” she pleaded, her gray eyes overflowing with tears. “Please don’t let him hurt me again.”

“It’s alright, my dear,” Sam said. “Come with me now,” and he led her across the cul-de-sac into his house.

“The bitch!” Jeff said angrily. “The duplicitous little bitch!”

“Trouble in paradise?” Rick said softly.

“Drop dead!” Jeff snapped and, turning, went back to his house.

Rick turned, hiding his smile, and saw Carla hurrying across the lawn in the predawn light to the Seligmanns’. He sighed, and followed after her.

Heidi Millar’s face was a disaster. One eye was blacked badly, and her nose was still oozing blood as she held a cloth tightly to it. Rina was clucking sympathetically and trying to soothe the semi-hysterical girl. She waved her husband and Rick out of the kitchen, where they had brought Heidi.

“Go back to bed, both of you,” she said. “Carla and I will help here.”

The two men left, and they heard Sam climbing the stairs as the front door closed behind Rick.

“What happened?” Carla said, trying to keep the eagerness from her voice.

“Oh, Carla, it’s wonderful!” Heidi said. “And then I came back, and Jeff wanted to, well, you know, and it was terrible the way it always is, and I just lost it. I mean, why should I have to put up with him when I’ve got The Channel?”

“You told her about The Channel?” Rina said, surprised.

Carla smiled, and nodded. “What happened?” she repeated.

“Well, I told him some home truths about how he was creatively dry, and I had been doing the campaigns his partners thought he was doing, and that I was going to tell them, and get a promotion, and that I didn’t need him. Then he started beating me. I thought he was going to kill me. I honestly did.”

“You have to press charges,” Carla said softly. “You can’t let him get away with that kind of violence.” Her eyes met Rina’s over Heidi’s head.

“Yes,” Rina agreed. “You really must press charges against him, my dear. I always suspected he was violent with Nora, though she would never admit it, poor woman. And Heidi, Jeff is what in my day was referred to as a tomcat, or a hound dawg. He never met a skirt he didn’t lift, or try to lift. He wouldn’t have been any more faithful to you than he was to Nora. I think you’re well out of this. I’ll call the police for you.”

Heidi thought a moment. That would really screw Jeff with his partners, wouldn’t it? She felt a smile, and then winced because it hurt her face. She sighed dramatically. “I guess I will have to press charges so he doesn’t do this to any woman again. Do you think if his wife ever wakes up, she’ll want him back?”

“NO!” Both Carla and Rina said with a single voice.

“Would you please call the police for me, Carla?” Heidi said.

“Rina will do it,” Carla said. “Tell me what happened last night.”

“His name is Brad. He’s big. All over. And I’m going back,” Heidi said. “I can get it in the city, can’t I?”

“Sure can,” Carla responded with a smile. Nora was going to be so pleased.