Part Eighteen
Thursday, December 31st, 1953.
The very last night of the year.
Ailene Hastings gently slipped out into the cold night and began to walk down the sidewalk. Her heels declared her presence on the street, her picture perfect, blonde curls fluttered in the harsh wind and she placed a hand on them to try and keep them in place. Tonight was a special night, not just because it was New Year's eve but because Ailene was to meet one of her very favorite songwriters, Victor Young. She planned on singing one of his songs tonight. Perhaps he would become captivated by her voice and sign her with some record label? Then everyone in the world would hear her voice. Wouldn't that be just divine?
Don't fret, she was still a school music teacher by day, doing the very same kind of work she did nearly six years ago. Her little signing bit was just something to do, and it was extra change in her pocketbook.
Surprisingly, not much had truly changed about her, either. She still lived happily alone and husband free. As she aged, this became an increasing issue when she wished to find a place to dwell.
"And just where is your husband?" Landlords would ask her, and she would simply reply with a "Don't have one, don't need one."
Her confidence would unease them, and she would be turned away easily.
Eventually, she found a very old woman who had lost her husband during the First World War, and she was sympathetic with Ailene. She would often invite her for tea and they would talk just about everything; dresses, music, politics, or even the latest Cary Grant film.
Ailene would visit Rosa's café from time to time, mainly to drop in and inquire about her old friend. Rosa and Ailene would each ask one another where Marden had gone off to.
"He use to stop by and ask for you." Rosa would tell her. "When I tell him I not seen you, he look so sad and leave. Never see him again."
Ailene paid for her bus ticket and sat quietly as it took her down town, finding a discarded newspaper and reading about the events of the day.
As much as Ailene would rather not admit, she still had feelings for Marden. Perhaps not as strongly as he had shown a few nights ago, but he would often visit her in dreams, taking her in his arms and gently swaying to the music in her head. Their foreheads would rest against each other, and he felt so real before she would wake up, and find her bed empty.
Once she arrived at her stop, she stepped off warily, scanning the street for any sign of Marden. As much as she wanted to grab him and take him in her arms, she couldn't do it. She couldn't bring herself to destroy his life.
Ailene passed by the crowd that waited at the entrance and surveyed it, no sign of him. But she knew of his ways, and she knew he'd find a way in, somehow.
She slipped in the side door and locked it behind her. She came to her dressing room and made sure she her make-up and hair stayed intact. She was in a rose colored dress that was beaded to shimmer in the spotlight.
She quickly took the stage as the clock struck ten. The curtains lifted and the orchestra slowly rose to life. And so did her voice.
The scene is set for dreaming
Love's knocking at the door
But oh my heart, I'm reluctant to start
For we've been fooled before
She was afraid to search the crowd for him, but during a quick pause, she did, and Marden was in the back corner, a glass of amber liquid in his hand as he watched her. Their eyes met. And they did not break contact
The night is like a lovely tune
Beware, my foolish heart
How white the ever constant moon
Take care, my foolish heart
Ailene couldn't look away from him, even as she sang, she sang to him.
There's a line between love and fascination
That's hard to see on an evening such as this
For they both give the very same sensation
When you are lost in the magic of a kiss
The rest of the crowd was on their feet, swaying in each other's arms. The only person alone was the strange man in the back, and the beauty on the stage. They were connected, perhaps you couldn't see it or feel it, but they could.
Ailene blinked and felt warm tears sting her eyes. She batted them away, trying to compose herself and as the song concluded, the crowd applauded her, and she did a very quick curtsey before she walked off stage and into her dressing room.
She closed the door behind her and sat down, her hands find her face and supporting her as she cried. She tried to calm herself down, for she had several more songs to sing.
Suddenly there was a knock at her door. She wasn't surprised. He probably saw her tears.
Ailene looked at herself in the mirror and gingerly dried her eyes before she slowly stood and opened the door.
The light illuminated his face, looking up and meeting her gaze.
She let out a half-hearted laugh. "You don't know when to quit, do you?" She asked him, dabbing her cheek softly with a tissue.
"Are you okay?" He asked her.
"I'm fine," She said, turning to the side to let him in before closing the door behind them.
"Why do you keep coming? Why can't you just let me be?"
Marden was silent. She noticed a strange, almost velvety cloth in his hand.
"To be quite honest, I don't know." He said, turning to look at her. "I know I shouldn't be here, I know you told me to stop, but I just keep coming back."
"Perhaps you should listen to yourself?" Ailene said softly, stepping past him to sit down. Marden grabbed a chair and sat down next to her. She looked at him incredulously, surprised that he was so bold as to take a seat instead of take a hint.
"I just want to talk to you. I want to know how you're doing. How life has been treating you; well, I hope?"
Ailene continued to watch him for a few minutes before nodded. "It has." She
nodded. "I've been doing just fine, I still teach, and I'm still blissfully single." She added with ease.
"Well. Honestly I'm quite surprised. I was certain you'd have met someone sooner or later."
"Well, I've met a few people." She couldn't help but brag. Perhaps she was trying to push him away with her pride. Men didn't like that in a woman, right?
"Clearly they don't know how to love you properly." He said, seeming to match her equally. "I can."
Ailene was about to retort when there was a knock at the door. "Yer next, Miss Hastings."
"I'll be right there, just fixing my hair." She answered before standing, slowly. She made her way to the door and opened it. He stood and followed as if instructed. They were about to part ways when Marden gently took her hand.
"I never knew you could sing so beautifully." He said to her gently, before letting her hand glide out of his, making his way back to stage's exit. Her hand lingered in the air after a while before turning to head back to stage.
Ailene sang a few more songs, one more up beat and happy, another a sullen rhapsody, Marden had returned back to his seat. She glimpsed a few single girls that came out that night approach him and ask him for a dance, in which he kindly refused.
Towards the end of the night, a large radio was brought into the hall as the lights went up and everyone, including the singers and orchestra, came down into the crowd. Glasses of champagne were passed around as everyone mingled with one another. The countdown was to begin shortly. Ailene got the chance to talk with Victor Young, who played the violin alongside some of the singers, and his wife. They were chatting when Marden had approached her, waiting patiently for her conversation to wrap up.
She wasn't surprised to turn and see him standing there. She took the small glass of champagne that he offered her.
"Not a fan of sweet." He told her over the chatter of the crowd. "Least not with my alcohol." He said coyly, only to be met with a stern gaze.
"How did you even get in here, I told Mr. Gresham to toss you out the first sign of you."
"How nice." He said sarcastically. "Magic, darling." He smirked.
"It's 11:58 everyone! Countdown's coming up!" Someone shouted, and the crowd became quiet, Marden sticking close to Ailene, some young men eyed her as if they wanted her to be their New Year's kiss.
10!
9!
8!
7!
6!
Marden gently placed his hand on the underside of her forearm as they both shouted the numbers along with the rest of England through the radio.
5!
4!
3!
2!
1!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Everyone around them found their sweetheart and planted large kisses on each other. Marden watched Ailene look around and clap for all the other couples. Marden took her hand and brought it up to his lips, kissing the back of her hand.
Ailene looked back up at him, watching him and the two made eye contact.
Once the evening was through, Ailene made her way back to her dressing room. He soon reappeared in her open doorway, and she watched him through her mirror.
"What are you doing here, Marden?" She asked, this time desperate for an answer, and she watched their reflection as his hands gently reached down and caressed her bare shoulders. His warm touch was electrifying and it sent chills down her spine, and she visibly shook. He then touched the string of pearls around her neck. His pearls he gave her.
"I've already told you, darling." He whispered back. "All I want is to see you, to look upon you and admire you."
Her heart longed for him, but her head said to push him away. It was a going to be the internal battle of the century, and one of them will win.
His hands gently moved in over her shoulders, her skin so soft and delicate and his fingers caressed her neck.
"Marden..." She found herself sighing out loud. He leaned down and pressed a kiss on the top of her head.
"Ailene..." He whispered back to her.
Then her body came to life. She stood up fast to the point where Marden took a stumble back.
"Please Marden, please don't do this to me..." She said desperately, shaking her head. "We can't do this, we can't be together, I would only bring you misfortune for Christ's sake!"
She then pushed him away firmly.
"I didn't want your life to be ruined because of me. Because of what I am. I loved you, I really did. Apart of me still does, but I wouldn't live with myself if everything was taken away from you, like your career and your family."
He looked absolutely defeated. "I don't even know how I've managed all this time without you. I was so heartbroken the day we broke up. You know I went out that morning...and I bought you an enagement ring. I planned on marrying you that very day. I was going to marry you and make you my wife so we could spend the rest of our lives together."
"Oh, Marden..." She whispered softly. "I'm so sorry." Her hands fell from his face, but he caught them, placing them back on his cheeks.
"I love you." He whispered back. "I never stopped loving you." He said softly, and he very gently leaned in and captured her lips. He had longed to taste her again, to breath in her divine scent. It was a different scent, floral, mature, womanly. He felt like the arid dirt being quenched by the rain after a drought. His tongue slipped into her mouth, and he was met equally with passion. His arms snaked around her body, pulling her tight against him.
He felt his feet move, and she felt her lower back hit the ledge of the vanity. Within one swift movement, she was picked up and sat on the counter, her make-up and different beauty necessities pushed aside. Her legs spread almost on instinct. He felt how hot she was.
With a gasp, their lips parted, Ailene breathing heavily and her head pounding with her heartbeat.
"Marden...we can't do this."
"Just one last time, one last time...please, no one has to know. This will be our secret." Marden begged against her face, his breath smelled faintly of whiskey.
Ailene just couldn't resist his pleas, and she found her body betraying her. Her legs wrapped around his abdomen, her lips and tongue fighting for a way back in. His hands brushed the skirt of her dress up to her waist, his nails digging into her skin as he began to pull off her pantyhose.
Ailene dug her fingernails into his chest and with as much force as she could possibly muster, shoved him off of her. He wasn't expecting it, for as he stumbled, he tripped backwards over her chair and caught himself on the wall behind him.
"No Marden!" She shouted at him. "NO!"
Marden immediately put his hands up in surrender.
"I'm sorry...I'm very sorry." He said to her, practically cowering at her. He was shocked at how surprisingly strong she was. He slowly stood back up, against the wall.
"Please, forgive me. I didn't mean to overstep my bounds."
Ailene hopped off of her vanity, glaring at him venomously. She pulled herself back together and smoothed out the skirt of her skin tight dress. She took a great big deep breath, calming her anger.
"Marden. How many times do I have to tell you?" She said to him in a quiet voice. If she spoke any louder, she'd be screaming at him. She then turned and looked at herself in the mirror, wiping off the excess lipstick that was smeared all over both of their lips. She fixed her hair and the top of her dress before turning to him.
"I'm sorry. I really, truly am sorry. If the circumstances were different, then things would be different too." She finally said after a moments pause.
"You wouldn't ruin anything." He said to her. "I have my own place, my own money, my own life now. You'd only be making my life better." He explained.
"I read your uncle's letter. I read what he wrote."
"Are you really going to listen to what he had to fucking say?" Marden now stepped closer to her. "He didn't want us together, of course he'd try and say anything to get us apart. They'd all say the same thing, but you don't even know the truth. You only know a quarter of how my world works"
"Don't stand there and tell me what I do and don't know." She hissed, turning to look back at him.
"You're not the Ailene I remember." Marden sneered disdainfully at her.
"And you're not the Marden I remember either!" She screamed. "The Marden I knew would've never forced himself onto me."
"I wasn't forcing myself onto you!" He now raised his voice. "If I remember correctly, you're legs were wrapped tight around me!" He screamed. "You were wet and hot, I felt it! You wanted me!"
Ailene clenched her jaws, and she didn't really know where it came from, but her hand rose and in one swift movement, made contact with the left side of his face with a blistering, horrible crack.
She hit him so hard that he staggered back, his feet finding themselves and he watched her. Ailene had never seen such a nasty look on his face, his peircing eyes absolutely mad with rage. He swiftly turned and ripped the door open, swiftly leaving without another trace.
Everything happened so fast that the room was spinning. The same hand that had slapped him now covered her mouth, trying to stifle the painful sobs that came out of her as she sank down to the floor.