SUSAN'S SECRET
1
As soon as she heard the telephone start to ring, Susan knew. She didn't
know how she knew, but she knew unmistakably. It had been three weeks since she
had seen or spoken to Jerry, but she knew with absolute certainty that it was he
who was on the other end of the phone.
I won't answer it, she thought.
The phone rang.
She sat on the bed she had been making and clutched the bedpost as if to
hold herself there. I will not answer it, she told herself again.
The ringing continued.
Oh god, she thought, let me not answer.
She got up and went into the living room, where the phone was. Her heart
was pounding. Her legs trembled. She stared at the ringing telephone.
Please, she thought.
It kept ringing.
She walked over to it as if in a trance. She sat down in the chair next
to the table on which it sat. She closed her eyes.
No, she thought.
The ringing stopped.
She opened her eyes and stared at the instrument. A tiny sound came from
her mouth. The feeling that flooded over her was one of relief. Or so she told
herself.
The phone rang again.
She gave a soft cry. Then, her hand trembling, she picked up the
receiver.
"Hello?" She tried to make her voice normal, but it was no use.
"Hello, Susan."
""What--what do you want?" she got out.
"You know what I want, Susan."
"No."
"I'm coming over, Susan."
"Jerry, no. I told you--no more."
"I'll be there in ten minutes," he said. "I'm bringing two friends with
me."
Her mouth was dry. "No. I won't be here."
"I want you on your knees," he said. "On the floor. Naked from the waist
up."
"I won't," she said. "I'm going out. It's finished, Jerry."
"Ten minutes," Jerry said. "Leave the door open." He hung up.
I won't, she thought. I'm free of him. I'm finished with all that. Dr.
Alberts told me so.
She hung up the receiver, got up and went back into the bedroom. She
looked at the picture of her husband on the bedside table. I could call him at
his office, she thought. But what would I say? No. I'll go out. I just won't be
here.
She unbuttoned her blouse and took it off, laying it on the bed. Then
she took off her brassiere. She unpinned her soft brown hair, letting it fall
loosely over her shoulders. She went back into the living room in her skirt.
I don't have to let him in, she thought. He can't break the door down in
broad daylight. He'll just have to leave. I can call the police if necessary.
She walked to the door and unlocked it.
Then she went to the middle of the room and knelt down on the floor,
facing the door.
She waited.
