He went into the house after Madeline. He wanted to be the first to tell her. The telephone lay in its rack on a table in the hall. He heard a chuckle, and glancing down the zigzagging halls to the side porch where the baby lay asleep, he saw Hugh Cleveland embracing Madeline, out of sight of the lawn. Cleveland was holding Byron’s sister with both hands by the rump. Her pink skirt was pulled up in back, exposing her thighs and underwear. She was clinging to him with obscene intimacy. Byron walked out of the house into the sunlight. “I guess I’ll get back to the Devilfish,” he said to Warren.He went into the house after Madeline. He wanted to be the first to tell her. The telephone lay in its rack on a table in the hall. He heard a chuckle, and glancing down the zigzagging halls to the side porch where the baby lay asleep, he saw Hugh Cleveland embracing Madeline, out of sight of the lawn. Cleveland was holding Byron’s sister with both hands by the rump. Her pink skirt was pulled up in back, exposing her thighs and underwear. She was clinging to him with obscene intimacy. Byron walked out of the house into the sunlight. “I guess I’ll get back to the Devilfish,” he said to Warren. “Why? I thought Branch gave you a twenty-four.” “I want to write Natalie and the folks. Maybe shoot off a cable or two.” “Briny, the governor’s just invited the whole crowd over to Washington Place for cocktails with Cleveland.” “Cleveland’s in the house there kissing Madeline. I mean kissing her, and she’s going right along with it.” “Is she?” the aviator said with a crooked grin. “I guess their sponsor liked the broadcast.”...more
