466Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMfWQdavTy
She never took the window seat. It was ridiculous, probably, but she felt safer on the aisle. Janice Lester Kirk was a pretty woman in her middle thirties, dark-haired, and a shade plump. She was sitting in the jet, which was taking them home to Houston. Next to her, in the window seat, Vina Pike was chatting away.466Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUIugP6toT
"Yes, I know," Janice said now and then, not really aware of what the blonde was saying.
This was going to be a very difficult time, and it was only just beginning. Days and days to go yet, with Jim out there. Very hard, but she'd manage. Fill the time, take care of the kids, smile at friends, be nice to the press. So long as they couldn't see inside her, it was okay."
"You feeling all right, Janice?"
"What?"
"You look kinda pale," observed Vina.
Janice realized she was clutching her hands together, that her fingers had a pinched, bloodless look. "Don't tell anybody, it'd be bad for public relations," she said, "but I'm nervous as hell."
"So am I," said Vina, "I used to be afraid of flying. But I got to thinking, compared to what Chris is going through, why a ride in a jet is nothing. It's no more dangerous than crossing the street."
"I've almost been hit three times, crossing the street," said Janice.
Robbie Cox eased down, uninvited, into a chair. He flashed a brief grin at the pretty blonde across the restaurant table. He picked up the menu, studied it, muttering to himself. Snapping it shut, he said, "Mind if I join you?"
"Yes," said Abby Rojas. "It'd ruin my whole day, not to mention my appetite."
"I'm having, Abby, somewhat of a problem with a hangover," he confided. "Usually if I drink a little of what I had the night before, it cures me. I'm informed, by reliable sources, that last evening I was seen consuming Sprite and vodka, and so far I can't bring myself to...."
"Why don't you go jump in a lake, Robbie?"
"Would that help my hangover?"466Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIhiK1eDPl
Abby leaned forward, resting her hands on the crisp white tablecloth. "Buzz off."466Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdko5vAvNQ1
Cox sighed. "You're letting this network rivalry thing foul up your otherwise excellent judgment," he told the girl. "You work for CBS and I labor for NBC. That's not quite a Montague-Capulet set-up."466Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12wBmxCCev
"I wouldn't like you if you were Walter Cronkite's long-lost brother."466Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dJo1tykfC
"Gee, Abby, after the good times we had together in Lisbon I thought....."466Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFaZttc54fp
"I was never in Lisbon with you."466Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyZddEXqe5
Cox snapped his fingers. "Darn, that's right. It was that other stunning blonde who works for CBS. I'm always getting you two mixed..."466Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ364Kx3A4h
"That's another thing that's loathsome about you, this offensive macho act of yours. You're always implying that you've laid every girl from here to Timbuktu."466Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWgUrHeT7F
"No, actually I couldn't get anywhere with the one in Timbuktu." Caulfield picked up the menu again. "Since you loathe me, Abby, I think I'll ask for separate checks. Okay?"466Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WVRNVfiER
