We'll Meet Again

69

“ Cal, what is the matter with you? You’ve done nothing but bark at me, when the worst thing I seem to have done is suggest you get away from here for a few days and maybe get some golfing in.”

“Jenna, I should think that simply reading the daily papers with all the coverage about that nurse’s death and Molly’s arrest might help you understand why I’m on edge. You should realize, my dear, that a fortune will slip through our fingers if American National gets these HMOs and then proceeds with a hostile takeover of Remington. We both know you married me for what I could give you. Are you willing to scale back your lifestyle?”

“I’m willing to concede that I’m very sorry I took the day off,” Jenna snapped. She had followed Cal into his office, alarmed by the obvious tension he had displayed at the breakfast table.

“Why don’t you visit your friend, Molly?” he suggested. “I’m sure she will be delighted to be comforted by you.”

“It really is bad, isn’t it, Cal?” Jenna asked quietly. “But I’m going to tell you this, not as a wife, but as another fighter-I know you; no matter how bad it is, you’ll figure out how to make it pay off for you.”

Calvin Whitehall’s laugh was a short, mirthless bark. “Thank you, Jenna, I really needed that. However, I believe you’re right.”

“I am going to go over to see Molly. I was really concerned when I saw her Wednesday night. She was terribly down. Then when I spoke to her yesterday, after Mrs. Barry quit, she was positively reeling from the blow.”

“You told me about that.”

“I know. And I know you agree with Mrs. Barry. You wouldn’t want to be alone with Molly either, would you?”

“Precisely.”

“ Cal, Mrs. Barry brought Molly some twenty sleeping pills that were from a prescription for her son. I’m very worried about that. I’m afraid that as depressed as she is, she might be tempted to-”

“To commit suicide? What a perfectly wonderful idea. That would be just what the doctor ordered.” Cal looked past Jenna. “It’s all right, Rita, you can come in with the mail.”

As the maid entered, Jenna went around the desk and kissed the top of her husband’s head. “ Cal, don’t joke, please. I honestly think that Molly is considering suicide. You heard her the other night.”

“My opinion stands. She’d be doing herself a favor if she exercises that option. And she’d be doing a favor for a lot of other people too.”