The Boston Girl(26)

“Love is in the air,” said Leslie.

I said, “But he’s married!”

She shrugged. “The wife is crazy as a bedbug—a real nightmare. They’ve been separated for years but he won’t divorce her because of the little boy. Bob is the last of a dying breed—a true gentleman.”

I couldn’t believe she was talking about adultery as if it was no big deal. As if Filomena wouldn’t get her heart broken—or worse.

When they came inside, I said it was time we got back to the lodge.

Instead of answering me, Filomena turned to Morelli, who looked at his watch and said, “I have to go into town to make the telephone call I told you about.”

Then she said, “Okay, Addie, let’s go.”

Filomena was silent on the way back so I rattled on about what it was like wearing pants and my conversation with Leslie about college. “I know you don’t like her,” I said, “but she’s not such a bad egg.”

When we got to the porch, Filomena stopped before we went inside and said she was going back later. “And tomorrow, too. I don’t need another hike through Dogtown.”

But the next day wasn’t a hike; it was a schooner sail around Cape Ann and we had talked about how much fun that would be.

Filomena just shrugged.

“He’s married,” I said.

“What does that have to do with me studying with him?”

I wanted to shake her and tell her not to be a fool and that it was going to end badly. I wanted to say, do you think he really cares about your pottery? Why can’t you see he’s a wolf, too, just like Harold Weeks?

But all of that stayed inside my head. What I said—and it came out sounding prudish and angry—was “What are you going to tell Miss Case?”

Her answer was just as chilly. “I am not going to miss the chance to learn from a master.”

It was awful. We never talked to each other like that, so I tried to lighten things up. “I suppose it doesn’t hurt that the teacher looks like Rudolph Valentino.”

Filomena didn’t think it was funny. “I know what I’m doing.”

—

I didn’t see much of her for the rest of the week. She left before breakfast and didn’t get back until right before the door was locked. There was one night she didn’t come back at all. I worried about her but mostly I was mad.

I had been looking forward to staying up late and talking—and so had she. We never ran out of conversation, and even when we talked about other people, it was never gossip. I always felt I understood myself better after we spent time together. And the way she laughed at my wisecracks and thanked me for my opinions made me think maybe I was as smart and funny as she said I was.

But she had chosen to be with Morelli instead of me.

I suppose I was more hurt than angry, but I walked around in such a foul mood, Irene handed me a bottle of Lydia Pinkham’s and said, “I figure you’re either constipated or you have cramps.”

“You don’t think this stuff works, do you?” I asked.

“Whatever’s bothering you, there’s enough spirits in there to cheer you up.”

I decided not to waste the rest of my vacation stewing about Filomena and threw myself into everything: lawn tennis, croquet, cards, charades, you name it. The only thing I didn’t do was go to the dance; I told everyone I had a terrible headache that night.

After Filomena disappeared, there was a lot of whispering and staring at our table. Gussie moved the empty chair—Filomena’s—and we sat closer together and acted as if nothing had changed. Someone saw Filomena walking with Morelli on Main Street and Miss Case stopped talking to any of the Mixed Nuts, as if it was our fault.

We didn’t talk about Filomena among ourselves until Friday morning, when Rose said, “Do you think there’s a chance she’ll show up for the banquet tonight?”

Gussie said, “I don’t know if she has that much brass.”

Irene said, “I bet she’d come if Addie asked her.”

Helen chimed in. “Would you?”

They were all looking at me when Rose said, “You know, Helen is getting married this year, so it would be the last time with all of us together at the lodge.”

I couldn’t say no to that and the truth was, I was glad for an excuse to see her.

Leslie’s door was open, so I walked in and found Filomena and Morelli sitting on one of the couches. Her head was on his shoulder and he was running his hand through her hair. He said, “Hello, Addie.”

I had never seen Filomena’s hair unbraided and loose like that, and it was as if she was naked. I kept my eyes on the wall behind her and asked if she was coming to the final banquet tonight. “The girls wanted me to ask you. Rose, especially.”

I looked at Morelli. “There’s a singing contest and skits.”

“It sounds like fun,” he said.

“It’s childish, but we enjoy it,” I said. “I’d better go; lots to do before tonight.”

Filomena gathered her hair and stood up. “I’m coming with you.”

She offered Morelli her hand. “Goodbye, Bob. I can’t begin to thank you.”

He drew her fingers to his lips and kissed them slowly, one at a time. I had never seen anything so sexy or so sad.