The Ending: Chapter 4
(Startling Confessions)
Mort stepped out of the steam-filled bathroom, clad in a housecoat, with a towel loosely tied around his blonde head. For a person who wasn't all that concerned with his appearance, he wasn't bad looking. He had a chiseled jaw, high, angular cheekbones, slanted brown eyes, and a warm smile. His hair was always kind of messy, as though it hadn't been brushed, but not for lack of trying. It had always been that way. All in all, he was not great, but not bad, either. Truth be told, he knew that some of the women in town thought that he was a little bit more than "not bad". They thought he was downright handsome. That was, of course, before the...incidents that had plagued him and Amy.
- - Yeah. I get the picture. You're a real looker. Now wake up, Casanova. Somebody's knocking. - -
Mort's heart began to race. Shooter? No. Of course not.
- - You're getting a little too paranoid now, chum. Just get the door. And hey, you may want to get some clothes on first. - -
- You're right about the door thing...I guess. But no time for the clothes. I'll just have to grin and bear it. Literally. -
Mort rushed downstairs and flung open the door. It was Teresa! Mort's surprise quickly turned to embarrassment as he looked down at his tattered attire. Teresa was in mid-knock. In spite of herself, she burst out laughing. "It's nice to see you too, Mort!" Not willing himself to speak, he gestured toward the inside of his small living room. Taking the hint, Teresa followed.
- - HA! I told you to put on something decent. I just know these things. Trust me next time. - -
- Don't even go there, bud. -
Steadying himself on the couch, Mort ventured a question. "What brings you to this area, Teresa?" She grinned, revealing dazzling white teeth, and dimples on either side of her mouth.
- She's beautiful. Really, really, beautiful. -
- - MORTON RAINEY! WHAT THE HECK DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?! You can't be hitting on her! Not now! You barely even know her. I know that this is just because you're getting over a major loss right now, but still... - - But Mort wasn't listening. He was focused on her glistening chestnut hair, her sparkling eyes, lovely smile, and olive skin...so many things. She was so sexy, sitting there on his couch...
- - What the hell are you thinking, man? Yeah, she's pretty hot, but not THAT hot. Think of Amy! - -
- C'mon. Lighten up. I'm allowed to have some fun once in a while, aren't I? Gimme a little bit of time with her. Okay? - -
- - All right, but this is against my better judgment. I'm leaving you totally responsible for your actions. - -
Mort gave a small smile at the decision he'd arrived at in his mind. Ask why she'd come here, and if she wanted to stay, she could stay. There was a buzz of guilt tugging at the back of his mind, but for the moment, he pushed it away. Then Teresa began to speak. "Actually, I was down here visiting a friend, and I thought I'd stop by just to see how you were doing. I mean, you seemed so...disturbed the first time we met." Mort grinned. "Well, it wasn't the best day of my life, to say the least, but you definitely helped me out a lot!" Teresa smiled shyly, but the smile faltered. "Mort. There is one other thing. Please, forgive me for being so forward, but I like you. I really like you. I was wondering if you'd like to spend some time with me today." Mort was startled. This was playing directly into his hands. She liked him...he liked her.........AMY. What about Amy? If anything, it was the sadness over Amy that made him do it. He needed to forget. So in answer to Teresa's proposal, he leaned over and laid a gentle kiss on her soft lips.
(Startling Confessions)
Mort stepped out of the steam-filled bathroom, clad in a housecoat, with a towel loosely tied around his blonde head. For a person who wasn't all that concerned with his appearance, he wasn't bad looking. He had a chiseled jaw, high, angular cheekbones, slanted brown eyes, and a warm smile. His hair was always kind of messy, as though it hadn't been brushed, but not for lack of trying. It had always been that way. All in all, he was not great, but not bad, either. Truth be told, he knew that some of the women in town thought that he was a little bit more than "not bad". They thought he was downright handsome. That was, of course, before the...incidents that had plagued him and Amy.
- - Yeah. I get the picture. You're a real looker. Now wake up, Casanova. Somebody's knocking. - -
Mort's heart began to race. Shooter? No. Of course not.
- - You're getting a little too paranoid now, chum. Just get the door. And hey, you may want to get some clothes on first. - -
- You're right about the door thing...I guess. But no time for the clothes. I'll just have to grin and bear it. Literally. -
Mort rushed downstairs and flung open the door. It was Teresa! Mort's surprise quickly turned to embarrassment as he looked down at his tattered attire. Teresa was in mid-knock. In spite of herself, she burst out laughing. "It's nice to see you too, Mort!" Not willing himself to speak, he gestured toward the inside of his small living room. Taking the hint, Teresa followed.
- - HA! I told you to put on something decent. I just know these things. Trust me next time. - -
- Don't even go there, bud. -
Steadying himself on the couch, Mort ventured a question. "What brings you to this area, Teresa?" She grinned, revealing dazzling white teeth, and dimples on either side of her mouth.
- She's beautiful. Really, really, beautiful. -
- - MORTON RAINEY! WHAT THE HECK DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?! You can't be hitting on her! Not now! You barely even know her. I know that this is just because you're getting over a major loss right now, but still... - - But Mort wasn't listening. He was focused on her glistening chestnut hair, her sparkling eyes, lovely smile, and olive skin...so many things. She was so sexy, sitting there on his couch...
- - What the hell are you thinking, man? Yeah, she's pretty hot, but not THAT hot. Think of Amy! - -
- C'mon. Lighten up. I'm allowed to have some fun once in a while, aren't I? Gimme a little bit of time with her. Okay? - -
- - All right, but this is against my better judgment. I'm leaving you totally responsible for your actions. - -
Mort gave a small smile at the decision he'd arrived at in his mind. Ask why she'd come here, and if she wanted to stay, she could stay. There was a buzz of guilt tugging at the back of his mind, but for the moment, he pushed it away. Then Teresa began to speak. "Actually, I was down here visiting a friend, and I thought I'd stop by just to see how you were doing. I mean, you seemed so...disturbed the first time we met." Mort grinned. "Well, it wasn't the best day of my life, to say the least, but you definitely helped me out a lot!" Teresa smiled shyly, but the smile faltered. "Mort. There is one other thing. Please, forgive me for being so forward, but I like you. I really like you. I was wondering if you'd like to spend some time with me today." Mort was startled. This was playing directly into his hands. She liked him...he liked her.........AMY. What about Amy? If anything, it was the sadness over Amy that made him do it. He needed to forget. So in answer to Teresa's proposal, he leaned over and laid a gentle kiss on her soft lips.