Rain Girl Read Online Free PDF Page B

sarcasm.
    And her voice was always the same when she said “Oh, Ben!” As if she were overcome with amazement.
    He didn’t make up the amazement part. Phrases like that never were one’s own. Phrases like that were centuries old; they came ambling down through the centuries, listening with ears like a lynx, and at the first opportunity they latched onto the right coat like a tick. His coat was just the right fit. As if gripped by an overwhelming amazement.
    He, Ben, collected phrases like this. He found it exciting, special. Like Marie. Except Marie was more special. She was the most special thing that had ever happened to him.
    The bit of apple peel stuck between her teeth would already be on its final journey.

14
    “Twins,” Felix said looking miserable. “That will be tough.”
    Franza’s eyes opened wide. “You’re kidding!” she said.
    “Nope,” he said. “It’s true. Even Angelika is shocked now.”
    They were drinking coffee from the vending machine. The coffeemaker had finally died, and no one had bought a new one. It was Wednesday morning, ten o’clock, and Franza had shown up for work on time, no detours to Port. She was haunted with thoughts of the girl, who wanted to be recognized, wanted her name back.
    They’d gone through every missing person’s report. Nothing. They would give her picture to the newspapers.
    “She’s due early November,” Felix said. “Then we’ll have five of them. Imagine that! Five! Unbelievable!”
    He sniffled a little and shook his head. “She had an appointment with the gynecologist yesterday afternoon, and that’s when she got the big news.”
    Franza pulled the container of cookies out of her bag. “Here you go,” she said. “Our daily sugar ration. You can have it every day from now on if you want. Makes you happy.”
    He nodded and made a face. “I appreciate it,” he said, “but I’ve got a toothache on top of everything else. Since yesterday. Since I ate those things you baked. I’ve hardly slept, popping pills all night. And then this news.”
    He groaned. “Do you think you could call your husband and ask if he can fit me in?”
    She shook her head slowly. “I don’t know,” she said hesitantly, “if that’s such a good idea. It could be more painful than necessary for you. Maybe you should look for a new dentist.”
    Felix looked at her with surprise. “Why is that? I always see Max.”
    Well, Franza thought, if “always see” means every five years and only when it’s urgent, then yes, “always see” is true.
    “You could almost say he is my family dentist,” Felix mused aloud and examined his tooth with his tongue, the pill-popping finally having the desired effect.
    “Explain,” he said next. “Come on, out with it. You know who the expert is in questioning here. So, what have I done? Why can’t I see Max anymore? Why can’t Max touch my teeth anymore?”
    Franza sighed and drummed on the desk with her fingernails. Ancient pictures of Max and Ben laughed out of an ancient picture frame. Even back then things hadn’t been right. All right, she thought, he won’t let me get away with it anyway. She swallowed and prepared herself. “I believe he thinks I’m cheating on him. And I believe he suspects you.”
    “Me!” Felix gave a surprised laugh. “Hallelujah! Now that’s some news.”
    He took a cookie, nibbled carefully, pushed it into his left cheek immediately, and washed it down with coffee.
    “And? Are you?”
    “What?”
    “Cheating on him.”
    Franza remained silent. Felix grinned and shook his head. “Franza, Franza!” he said. “You’re something else.”
    They did it standing up, Franza and Port, they did it lying down or sitting, elaborately and precisely, as lovers do.
    They did it like lovers.
    They had been relying more and more on words lately. She didn’t object. It felt dangerous.
    “Don’t you love your husband anymore?” Felix asked.
    “I don’t know,” she said. “So much has happened