Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine. Vol. 36, No. 6, June 1991

Perversely, now she wished Kate weren’t so wrapped up in this other child. She felt like taking a break herself. It would be nice for the two of them to work in the garden or bake something special like eclairs. There weren’t any excuses now for not being with her daughter as much as she liked. Phyllis poured another cup of coffee. She stared at the white linen curtains in the living room gently breathing in, then out against the low sills. Finally, she went back to the typewriter.

Later she decided to walk down to the creek. She could hear Kate chattering away. When she pushed aside the trailing willow branches, she saw only her child.

Kate looked up. “Hi. Letty just went over to the woods to get some more ferns. See, we’re making a rock garden...”

Eddies were still swirling in the stream from a recent wading, but Phyllis couldn’t detect any movement among the trees beyond.

For a time, Kate was eager to tell her mother and father all about Letty. Gradually, however, she divulged less and less. She sensed that something about her friend made her mother uneasy.

“I’d swear this child was all in her imagination,” Phyllis told Ben one night as they were getting ready for bed. “But she’s really there... or was, until I show up. I mean, the things they do together are really there. Like checkers and doll dishes and scrapbooks.”

Ben surveyed his face in the mirror. He leaned closer. “More gray hairs. ‘Will you love me in December as you do in May?’ ”

Phyllis put down her face cream. “Haven’t you been listening?”

He turned around. “Sure, I have. It just seems to me that you’re the one with the imagination, not Kate. This friend of hers is all right, I guess. From what I gather, her folks must belong to some kind of offbeat religious sect or something. You know how strict they are with their kids. They’re pretty slow about taking up with outsiders, too.”

“I never thought of that.” Phyllis massaged her face.

Ben got into bed and folded his arms behind his head. “Why don’t you take Kate into town tomorrow? Have lunch at Garfinckel’s and go to a movie.”

She turned out the light. “Maybe I’ll do that if I can tear her away from Letty.”

He pulled her into the curve of his arm. “See, you’re tired of country living already. All I had to do was mention town, and you’re ready to go.”

She didn’t rise to the bait. Her voice was unsure. “Nothing’s ever the way you think it’s going to be.” A car passed on the road. Then, except for the frogs down in the creek, there was no sound other than the soft brush of a pine bough against the window. Phyllis moved closer to Ben. He seemed to be asleep already, and she wouldn’t wake him just to say she was afraid, for no particular reason.

The trip to town had to be called off. Kate was listless the next morning and complained of a headache. Phyllis was almost relieved. Now she could insist on Kate’s staying indoors. She walked with Ben to the car.

“I don’t think it’s anything serious,” she said, “but Kate is running a fever so I’ll call the doctor. The Warrens told me the name of a good pediatrician near Poolesville.”

He kissed her and turned on the ignition. “Give me a ring after lunch. I’m sorry about today, honey. It would’ve done you both a lot of good to get away for a change.”

She smiled. “I don’t mind. Kate and I can watch TV, and I’ll make something special for lunch.”

But Kate was irritable all day, and her fever rose that afternoon. She talked about Letty incessantly. She was obsessed with the idea that Letty might never come back. By the time the doctor arrived, Phyllis was exhausted. He reassured her. “I think she’s getting German measles. I’ve had a dozen cases within the last week. Just give her aspirin and keep her in bed for a few days.”

He was right. By Tuesday Kate was almost well. Phyllis remembered a dinner party she’d promised they would attend on Wednesday. She wanted to cancel it, but Ben said, “Kate’s all right now. Why don’t you ask Mrs. Warren to come over and watch her. You told me she’d offered to sit for us.”

Phyllis agreed reluctantly. Just before they left, she told Mrs. Warren, “Please call us if anything comes up. I feel uneasy about leaving her.”

The older woman propelled her toward the door. “Go on and enjoy yourselves. I brought up six children. Katie and me’ll make out just fine.”

It was almost eleven when they returned. Mrs. Warren was asleep, completely erect in the wing chair. Phyllis tiptoed over to her.

The woman’s eyes flew open. She got up hastily. “Didn’t even hear you come in,” she said. “I’m so used to going to bed at sundown, I must’ve dozed off.”

“I’m sorry we’ve kept you up so late.” Phyllis glanced up the stairs. “How’s Kate?”

“Not a peep out of her since I tucked her in.”