Butterflies in Heat

by Darwin Porter

  Numie couldn't believe it! That statement was like a slap in the face. Ralph was telling a lie. Anne wasn't that way.

  A new enthusiasm came over Ralph now. "The first time I went to Leonora's apartment, she was living with a broken-down actress named Joan. Leonora was even then getting on in years. She'd long ago tired of Joan. But Joan wasn't about to let go of a good thing."

  "But how did Anne fit in?"

  "Leonora had developed a passion for girls much younger than herself. I knew she was having an affair with someone and managing to keep it a secret from Joan. But that old dyke's suspicions were hard to contain. One day Leonora took me to meet Anne."

  Numie swallowed hard. Ralph was telling the truth. He knew it.

  "Anne ran a boutique called 'bedtime fun'. She sold mechanical devices to lull a person into sleep. Lace-ruffled pillows that played Mozart concertos, muzzles to fit under the chins of snorers. She even peddled violet-sprinkled chamberpots. We talked and laughed a lot that day, making fun of the gadgets. Anne and I struck it off, right from the beginning."

  "Leonora wasn't jealous?"

  "To the contrary, she encouraged it. She wanted to have Anne around the house more. So she told Joan that Anne and I were lovers. Joan bought the story, too."

  "That sounds like a cozy arrangement." A slight bitter edge came into Numie's voice.

  "Not really. Somewhere along the way, Anne began to believe it."

  "You mean, she really wanted to make it with you."

  Again, Ralph cast Numie a strange look. He didn't say anything at first, as if he were trying to figure something out. Then, deliberately and provocatively stalling, he asked "Want a bollo?"

  "What's that?"

  "Ground black-eyed peas seasoned with Cuban spices. Deep fried."

  "No thanks."

  Ralph walked over to a street comer vendor and bought one for himself. Only then, did he answer Numie's question. "Yes, she did. She'd been married once before, and she got the crazy idea that one night with her would cure my liking boys forever. Christ, women are conceited, aren't they? Anne, you see, wasn't really a dyke. But she was ambitious. As it turned out, Leonora was financing that sleepy time boutique."

  "Leonora just buys people, doesn't she?"

  "She's always bought her friends. She was buying me, really conning me into thinking she was going to back my lousy play. But I would have liked her anyway. I had absolutely no money in those days. I was living at Leonora's apartment. Even had to ask her for cigarette money. I'd moved out of my hotel after the first week in New York."

  The summer sun was hot on Numie's head. He closed his eyes. "Did you and Anne ever ... ?"

  Ralph interrupted. "With Anne I enjoyed the first female companionship in my life. She used to be fun to be with. Bright and in those days supportive. But I never felt the faintest desire to get it on with her. Although we tried once"

  "Let's have a drink," Numie said. He had stopped in front of a former private home with a sign reading, "An inexpensive place for people with money."

  Out on its deck with a view of the ocean, Numie hurriedly downed a Scotch while sitting in the shade of a giant seagrape.

  At the far end of the deck, an elderly woman in a flowery dress was laughing loudly at a joke told by a man in a flowery shirt.

  Ralph looked disgusted, "That's Ted Albury."

  "Yeah, Numie said. "I've seen his name around town. Who's the granny?"

  "Ruthie Elvina, as she calls herself," Ralph said. "Leonora's old girlhood enemy."

  Signaling for another drink, Numie said, "You were telling me about your marriage."

  "It was Leonora who kept insisting we get married," Ralph said. "Believe it or not; Leonora's very conventional. We did, finally. But the marriage has been a sham." Ralph drifted off a bit, his eyes on one of the waiters. "Leonora wanted us married, and she got her wish. Things went downhill after that. Once she got that ring on her finger, Anne started behaving like a real wife. I felt trapped. What made things even worse was that Anne was getting a little old for Leonora."

  "She sure likes them young, doesn't she?"

  "Yes sir! Leonora took up with a little Puerto Rican girl. But she liked Anne and agreed to keep her on as a secretary. I became, 'My caddy, darling', as she puts it."

  "And Joan?" Numie asked.

  "She found out about Anne and Leonora," Ralph said. "Joan and Leonora broke up. Joan ended up on the street. But now ... " His voice drifted off. The waiter was at his table.

  "Another drink, Mr. Douglas?" the boy asked.

  Ralph eyed him provocatively. "Yes, I need servicing."

  "Look," the boy said angrily, "I told you the last time you were in here, I'll serve you drinks—nothing else." He turned and walked away.

  "That son of a bitch is not going to have a job tomorrow," Ralph said defiantly. "Albury probably offered him more money."

  The second round of drinks was brought by a different waiter.

  At the end of the drink, Numie had enough courage to ask a troubling question. "Is Leonora all there?"

  "Very much so," Ralph answered without hesitation. "She's very practical, especially about business. Though you'd never know it the way she carries on. Of course, she's got a ripe fantasy when it comes to her own charms and talent. But when a dollar's involved, she's got the mentality of Internal Revenue."

  "How does Tangerine fit in?" Numie asked.

  "Another caddy. Her duties are whatever Leonora wants them to be. Leonora's been known to change her mind in mid-sentence. Why do you want to know all these things?"

  "I'm trying to get on as Leonora's chauffeur," Numie said. "Right now I'm shacked up with Lola La Mour. That's not where I'm at."

  "You and Lola?" Ralph asked, puzzled. "That's disgusting!"

  "It is for me," Numie said. "But I'm hanging around trying to meet the Commodore. Hope to work up something with him. In the meantime, can you swing something with me and Leonora?"

  "It depends ... " He paused. The sun outlined the harshness of his face. "You did give me a helping hand the other night, and you delivered as promised on the island. Sure, I can get you a job with Leonora. No sweat, I do the hiring and firing anyway. But you have to clear it with her."

  "She practically kicked me out the other day," Numie said.

  "Leonora always pulls these stunts," Ralph said. "They're perfectly harmless. She's probably forgotten all about it now. That is, if she still remembers you."

  "I was busted," Numie said. "Yellowwood picked me up. Leonora had given me one of her favorite cigarettes and like a fool I carried it off with me. Some workout I got at that goddamn jail."

  "I know," Ralph said. "Yellowwood's a sickie. But a real nice guy when you get to know him."

  "No thanks!" Numie said. "I called Leonora from the jail and asked her to help me. She didn't know me"

  "Why should she?" Ralph asked. "That didn't mean she doesn't like you."

  "I don't understand," Numie said.

  "Leonora doesn't want to be understood," Ralph said. "If she thought anybody understood her, she'd slit her wrist. Better yet, she'd slit theirs. I'll set up an appointment for you this afternoon. I'd like you to be her chauffeur."

  "Great!"

  "Only thing is .." Ralph paused.

  Numie frowned. Now, the catch.

  "You take your orders from me," Ralph commanded. "You report to me. You check everything with me—regardless of what she tells you to do. I feel I can trust you. Also, if you drive her around the island, I want to know where you take her, who she talks to. The whole thing. Okay?"

  "I can play that game," Numie said. "You really handle Leonora's affairs, I see."

  "Yes," Ralph said, "Anne and I have to look after her." There was a long pause.

  Ralph smiled, as if he knew all along what Numie was thinking. "Okay, as far as Anne is concerned, you're free to sock it to her."

  Numie couldn't conceal his startled look. Was this another trap? He smiled. "I always like to get the hus
band's permission. "

  Ralph seemed perfectly serious. "She's horny as hell most of the time," Ralph said. "And she doesn't get anything in town--only when she goes back to the mainland. Which isn't often."

  "I think she's very attractive," Numie said. "If you don't mind."

  "Mind?" Ralph asked. "You'd be doing me a favor. If she's getting laid, she won't be picking so many fights with me."

  "You're doing me a favor, too, in more ways than one" Numie said. "I don't like being in anybody's debt. The problem is, the only thing I've got to pay you back with right now is the old bod. And you made it clear you don't like seconds."

  Ralph looked at him, his eyes traveling from head to toe. Then he glanced at the waiter who had spumed his offer. "This one time," he said, "I'm going to make an exception to my rule. Let's go back to the hotel, the place where you found me."

  "I'm not welcome around there," Numie said. "They have my possessions locked up, and I can't pay the bill."

  "You'll get them all back," Ralph promised. "The guy at the desk has been on my payroll for the past six years."

  "Fine," Numie said.

  Back at the beach, Numie looked at the volleyball players as he was getting into Ralph's sports car. So young and so healthy. Everybody ... having fun. Shoulders sagging, he sat down on the hot leather seat.

  Ralph pulled out of the parking lot.

  The deep blue sky was shining brightly, and puffy cottonball clouds were bouncing around overhead. But Numie wasn't noticing. His eyes were glued on the street in front of him.

  The first thing he focused on was the weather-worn sign of the Dry Marquesas Hotel.

  Regretful, unfulfilled, and somehow betrayed, Numie was in a dark mood. Something was welling within, but the message was unclear. It was like a shipwrecked sailor stuffing a call for help into a bottle and tossing it into the sea.

  Could he really expect an answer?

  Chapter Eleven

  In the main hallway at Sacre Coeur, Anne was extending her hand. "You are persistent."

  "That's how I got so far in the world," Numie said. "At least I'm in better shape than the last time I called."

  An awful moment passed, then she said, "I understand jails are rough. Particularly the Tortuga jail." Somehow she had managed to throw off his attempt to give her guilt.

  He decided to persevere. "I needed your help. I was desperate."

  "I hardly know you," she answered, turning away. "Besides, Leonora calls the shots around here."

  She opened the glass doors to the parlor. A gray smell of death was in the room. All the perfumed scents of Leonora were lingering in the comers.

  "Think I'll have any luck with Leonora today?" he asked.

  "I certainly do," Anne said, inspecting the dying leaf of a rubber plant. "She's in a much better mood—or was five minutes ago. With Leonora, one never knows." She twisted her fingers at her waist. "At least my husband was impressed with you."

  He couldn't understand this sudden possessiveness in her voice when she spoke of Ralph.

  "First, the watch," Anne continued. "Now calling Leonora from the factory to make an appointment for you." She paused, a wry smile on her face. "It's nice to know you're good at your work."

  He knew better than to get angry now, so he just returned her smile. "That's the kindest thing you've ever said to me."

  After the briefest possible glance, she led the way back to the patio. "Care to have a beer with me? It'll be a long wait. Leonora wants to punish you a bit."

  "Sure," he said.

  In the afternoon sun, Anne gleamed. Her hair was wet as if she'd just emerged from the pool before putting on her shorts and halter. The blouse, almost transparent, revealed her breasts, the brown nipples jutting through the material.

  "About my work," he said, taking the beer from her. The other night at the bar you made it clear what you think of my profession. Disgusting!"

  Her cool hand reached out, but had no place to go—so it fell awkwardly by her side. "I shouldn't have said that. I can never keep my opinions to myself."

  The very noise of her breathing suddenly drove him to attack. "I think it was a rotten thing to say, considering you've done a little whoring, too." He stood back, waiting for this accusation to hit her.

  "Whoring?" Her voice was incredulous.

  "That's what I said. Ralph told me you were Leonora's girl."

  Miles of open country lay between them at this point. She seemed to draw some sort of reassurance from deep within before she spoke. "Oh, that," she said softly.

  "Yes, that." He was surprised at the sharpness in his own voice. Why was nailing Anne so important?

  She slammed down her beer on the patio bar. Now, she was angry. "lowe you no confessions or explanations."

  "You ripped into me, and I know why. You didn't want to be reminded of how you got your start."

  "Damn you!" she said. Now her facade was melting. On the verge of tears, her face was contorted. Suddenly, she regained control. "Leonora wasn't my start." She wiped her brow. "This afternoon sun gets me down. In many ways," and now she was talking in just a faint whisper, "she was my end."

  "I'm sorry," he blurted out. He'd touched some response within her with which he couldn't deal. "I shouldn't have brought it up." He focused on her mouth so he wouldn't have to look into her eyes. "I was hurt the other night—that's all. Just trying to strike back."

  Anne's expression became thoughtful at that moment. "That son of a bitch I'm married to told you the truth for a change. I was her girL.sort of." Sipping her beer slowly, she said, "Now that you know that, I really have to explain."

  Turning from her, Numie didn't want to hear it, even though he'd baited her. "You and Ralph always want to explain things."

  His revelation had unleashed a damn of fury. "I don't intend to leave the impression I'm a lesbian. That's far from the truth." Sitting cross-legged in front of him, she added, "Quite the contrary as a matter of fact."

  "I didn't think you were." He was growing impatient. "Christ, I know you can be somebody's girl without being a dyke. Let's say you had to survive and forget I even brought it up. After all, you're a married woman. I can see the ring on your finger" The statement was made in awkwardness. He regretted it instantly.

  "Don't be sarcastic," she shot back. "That ring was put there by a far better man than Ralph Douglas will ever be." She settled back in her chair. "That was my first husband's ring. Nick" His name was said like a breath of fresh air. Then a frown crossed her face. Her voice was far away. "After he was killed in a car crash, I never took it off—and I don't intend to. For any man."

  The prospect of hearing her story alarmed him. "I didn't know you were married before."

  "Not only married, but very much in love. If Nick had lived, I would never have gotten mixed up with all the sickies of the world."

  "You must have been very young."

  "Sixteen at the time."

  "I assume this was up north."

  "And how. Polish parents from the Bronx. 'Polacks', Nick's parents called us. Nick was an Italian from Brooklyn. 'Wop', my parents called him. We met, fell in love, got married—even though I was still in high school and our parents were totally against it. A real Romeo and Juliet."

  "Your parents let you? You must have had to get married."

  "I did." She said that proudly. "But I lost our baby. A miscarriage. We never had another one, and I really regret that." A radio beside her was playing music softly. Abruptly she flipped it off. "After Nick's death, I've regretted it more than ever."

  "What kind of man was he?" Now he was genuinely interested.

  She looked at him, as if she weren't certain if he should know. "The wildest, most exciting man I've ever known," she said impulsively. "A real striking guy." She sat up. "A black crewcut and large deep brown eyes." She smiled to herself. "Under his left eye was a little scar. A perfect V. He never told me how he got it." Her voice drifted.

  All of a sudden, Numie was jealous. Jealo
us! He couldn't believe it. He'd never been jealous of anybody in his whole life.

  Anne's vision seemed to falter for a moment, but then it came back in full force. "He was a big man—big boned and very handsome. He had large hands and one of the most beautiful mouths I've ever seen on a man. A deep, resonant voice. And he loved to drink beer. A pleasure we shared." She sipped from her own can. With her other hand she fanned her face. "When I lost him, I lost everything."

  In the afternoon sun, Anne was getting drunk. The more she drank, the more she talked.

  Eager now for whatever information he could pick up, Numie stopped drinking after the first beer. He lay silently, letting the sun bum his face. But somehow it felt good, cleansing. "How did you meet Leonora?"

  "A girl friend of mine worked for her," Anne said, settling back. "Leonora always hired inexperienced models in those days. Said photographers gave them bad habits."

  "Was this right after Nick died?"

  "Not right away. When Nick died, I didn't do anything for the first few months. By then, I had no money and got a job as a clerk at Klein's." She sighed. "But that was nowhere. Then this girl got me an interview with Leonora. She had convinced me I could be a model."

  Numie smiled to himself, remembering all the people who had promised to help him become a model. "For a little girl from the Bronx, meeting Leonora must have been some show."

  "It was. I can't forget the first time I saw her. I was scared to death. If she told me to jump out the window, I would have. I was ushered into this big office. French furniture, everything in chintz. Lilacs all over the place. Such a sweet odor I knew I was going to be sick. In the comer was a big head of Nefertiti."

  "Who's that?"

  "A queen of Egypt, can you believe it? I didn't know who Nefertiti was either at the time, but I soon found out. Even though she doesn't have the nose for it, Leonora thinks she's a reincarnation." Anne was squirming in her chair, restless as a young deer. Her eyes were bright and mischievous now. They almost hid the fact she was drunk.

  Numie was finding some vicarious thrill in hearing about the job interview. It was a foreshadowing of what he was about to face. "Did you get the job?" he asked when she didn't say anything for a while.