Chapter 14
Quietly Naomi let herself into the apartment, wincing in pain as she pulled her aching body through the door. It was dark, and she stumbled as she reached for the light switch on the wall. The voice from the living room stopped her before she could turn on the switch.
"Is that you, Naomi?" Randy called and she heard him get up from the chair by the window.
"Yes," she answered in a weak tremor. "It's me."
"Come in here. The living room. There's something I want to tell you."
Naomi wondered what he wanted to talk about as she moved slowly toward the other room. She blinked in surprise at the bright light that bathed her in its illumination and though she tried to avert her face, she wasn't quick enough.
"I want to tell you about tonight. Where I was," he said as he came toward her.
An arm's length away from her, he stopped.
"Your face! What's happened to your face!"
Gingerly she felt the bruise that puffed out her chin. Her crusted, swollen lips were stiff. Dropping her hand to her side, she straightened up as she looked at him. His obvious concern sent a warmth through her.
"What happened to you? Who did that?"
Her answer was a slow shake of her head.
"I can't tell you that, Randy," she whispered.
"Why not?" he demanded. "Why can't you tell me? Why won't you tell me?"
Then she shuddered as she saw his eyes drop from her face to her open rain coat. To the red dress.
Quickly he came over to her and spread the rain coat apart so that he could examine her. With embarrassment she tried to clutch the torn material about her. But she was aware of the impossibility of concealing herself completely. Aware that the rents and tears in the cloth permitted her bronzed flesh to show through.
"You've ... you've been with a man, haven't you?"
She answered automatically, "Yes."
"Someone you knew!"
It was an accusation, not a question.
Naomi agreed with a slow nod of her head. She was too tired to talk.
"It was that-that Line, wasn't it? Not a stranger! Not someone new! But your old boy friend!"
This time Naomi didn't even nod. She merely stood limply in front of him.
Quickly he pulled the rain coat from her and forced her hands away from the ragged dress. The fact that she was no longer wearing a brassiere, the ravages of passion on her body, everything-pointed to an uncontrollable liaison. The evidence was there. Now all that remained was the verdict. It came quickly.
"You gave yourself to him!" his loud voice was a condemnation instead of an accusation. "After all I've done for you. All I've given you. You went back. Back to him!"
She wanted to deny it. She wanted to shout and to plead her innocence, but she realized that a denial was unacceptable.
"It's true. It's true! You're nothing but a tramp! A slut! Available to anyone who wants you! You're nothing but a cheap, common whore!"
His face was distorted with anger and her eyes closed with the ferocity of his attack.
The verdict was there.
"Get out! Get out! I've paid for your services. Now get out!"
Naomi opened her eyes and looked at him. He was still an arm's length away and he was pointing a finger first at her and then at the door. Instinctively she knew there would be no changing his feelings. His mind was made up.
He thinks I don't know what he's doing. What he's saying. It's the only way he has to get rid of me. And that's what he wants to do. Get rid of me! I'm too much trouble. I've caused too many problems, so he has to get rid of me! Then he can still hold his head high. Make it look like it was my fault that it's all over. And then some day in some locker room, he'll be able to boast about the hot-pants colored broad he shacked up with. But he's worse than me. He was all right when he got what he wanted. Now that the price is too high to pay, he doesn't want it any more! So he's making it look like it's my fault!
Suddenly her body stiffened and was rigid. She looked at him defiantly.
"I'll go, Randy," she said quietly. "I'll go as soon as I change my clothes."
"No! No!" he yelled. "Those aren't your clothes! I paid for them. They belong to me! You get out of here, just the way you came in-with nothingl"
Naomi looked at him contemptuously and then silently turned and walked out the door.