“Not too bad. The scenery’s still there.”
“I’m going to go there someday,” said Marjorie Ventusa, knowing that she never would.
“You’ll like it.”
Mrs Merrin was looking at her and she pretended to be busy at his table.
“Let me get you some more coffee,” she said. She picked up the plates from his table and put them on her tray. Her arm touched his hand. He pulled away unconsciously, and she walked back to the kitchen.
She got a cup of coffee for him. Two other orders were ready for her. She put them on her tray and returned to the dining room.
She noticed a girl was walking over to Robert Holton’s table. She had seen the girl often before. She worked in Robert Holton’s office. Occasionally they would have lunch together. She was a pretty girl. Her hair was dark and her skin white. Her lips were full and painted a deep red. She had a slim figure and slim legs and her eyes were blue, a deep vivid blue that Marjorie Ventusa envied. The girl spoke to Robert Holton. He stood up. Then they both sat down.
Marjorie Ventusa took care of two tables and then she went to Robert Holton’s table and placed his cup of coffee before him.
“Good morning,” she said to the pretty girl.
“Good morning,” said the pretty girl absently. “I’ll have some grapefruit juice. That’s all I want. I’m reducing,” she said to Robert Holton and she patted her slim waist.