Chapter 7
"Hey Mort, missed you the other day." Nina said greeting him with a smile. She was pleased to see him so early in the morning. Oddly enough he looked somewhat depressed to see her. He didn't return the smile she greeted him with he only stared down at his feet with a sad look on his face. This worried her. He never looked this melancholy before. Maybe it didn't go so well with Christine.
Mort approached the counter. "Can I have my usual." he asked in a rough voice. Nina fixed him his coffee. She never seen him like this it made it her want to cry.
"Are you alright, Mort? You're lookin' a little blue." she said putting the lid on the coffee cup. "You want to talk about it?" She handed Mort his coffee.
"I can't talk about it here." he said handing her some money.
"Why don't you come over to my apartment later? We can talk there." She gave him his change. Mort opened his mouth to respond. Before he could Nina got out her keys.
"Wait for me there. I'll meet you there in a few hours." she took Mort's hand and gave him her keys. At first Mort wanted to decline her offer, but he need to talk to her. She was the only who knew about Marta and him. Mort placed her keys in his pocket and walked out. He could tell she took it seriously it almost made him feel bad for tricking her. After all what does he have to feel sad about?
He had just spent the passed two days with Marta at her house on the beach. It was the best two days he's had a long time. From the time he left to the second he arrived at Starbucks Marta was on his mind. All he could think about was Marta. He thought about the first time they met. Never in a million and one years did he think someone like Marta would look twice at someone like Mort.
Marta was a young, exciting, full of life women and Mort was a forty-four year old divorcee. But whatever made her want to give him the time of day he was glad; glad he was able to get out of her house alive. Marta's husband almost caught them in the act, but he managed to get out without him noticing or having a heart attack at the thought of being caught. He felt badly leaving Marta to defend for herself. She knows him better then I do. I'm sure she knows what's she doing, he thought as he turned onto the road.
At the same time he knew he had to get out. He had made his way out the back door and around the house just as Marta let her husband in the house. Like the wind Mort hopped in his car and pulled out of the driveway. Now all he had to do was wait for her call. It was only ten o' clock when he left Chesney. So he decided to go pick up a cup of coffee at the local Starbucks and play a prank on Nina.
Mort looked at it as doing her a favor. She was always working now that Jess left. She would have never taken the day off if Mort came in asked her to spend the day with him. With Jess gone she was stuck paying for a nine hundred dollars a month for a two-bedroom apartment. Mort could seriously kill that guy if he ever saw him walking down the street.
He drove just down the road to Nina's apartment building. I was a nice location that was perfect for her go get to work everyday without having to drive too far. Mort was a bit surprised she was going to let him stay in her apartment until she could find someone to cover her for. Mort's been to her apartment on a few occasions. The first time she invited him over to watch a movie. But that was when she was when she started dating that asshole Jess.
Jess came home one day to find Mort and Nina sitting on the couch watching the Producers. The day before they had a conversation about the original producers, they wanted to compare it to the recent one. They were getting into the movie (watching Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane droll over Uma Thurman), when Jess opened the door in a jealous rage. From Mort's point of view the situation couldn't have been more innocent.
But that didn't stop Jess from picking a fight with Nina and Mort was asked to leave. Nina made Mort promise they would watch the movie again some other time, but they have yet to get around it to. To this day Mort and Jess cant walk into the same room without breaking into a fight.
Mort walked up the walkway to the apartment building. He climbed up the stairs to the second floor. At the end of the hallway to the left he stopped at her door. He pulled out the keys and unlocked the door. He stepped inside to see it looked just as he remembered it only cleaner. There were no empty beer bottles pilling up in the trash or cigarette butts lying around the room. Nina did a great job fixing up the place. He noticed that she finally got her bedroom door fixed after Jess knocked it down one night when he was dead drunk.
Jess tired to pull off this bad boy image, but it seemed more like he just didn't know what to do with himself so he took his anger out on other people. He was definitely one of those young rebels who think they know everything there is to know about being in a relationship. Nina deserved better than Jess. She deserved someone who would be there to take care of her. Someone like . . .
Mort closed the door behind him. He placed the keys on the coffee table before taking a seat on the couch. He suddenly felt energized; like he had just been reborn in a new younger body. He set his coffee down on the table in front of him. He didn't need it anymore. Of course he would still drive up to visit Nina once and awhile.
He decided to browse around the room until Nina arrived. He walked over the shelf where she kept her movie collection. Nina loved old movies for most of them she owned were in black and white. She loved to watch the classics like Casablanca, The Graduate, and of course, The Producers. She also enjoyed the silent films like the kind Charlie Chaplin would make. But she watched more recent movies as well. She had it bad for Jude Law. Mort reached for The Producers.
"Sorry I got here as soon as I could. I had to wait till Lacy showed up." Nina said as she entered the apartment closing the door behind her. She took off her coat and hung it up in the closet. When she turned around she noticed Mort reading the back of one of her DVD's.
"You remember when we tried to watch this?" Mort asked holding the movie up for Nina to see.
"Yes, like it was yesterday actually." Nina replied. "Are you feeling any better?"
Mort placed the DVD back in its place and moved over to the couch. He gave his thespian stills a try.
"Haven't eaten anything for days." he said in a calm yet sad voice.
"Oh, Mort!" she said hurrying over to him.
"Now all I do is smoke crack and wack off."
"You're foolin' me!" Nina said giving him a push. "You dirty bloke."
"I'm sorry. I couldn't resist." Mort said.
"Well it wasn't funny . . . alright it was a little funny. You still have to tell me what happened with Christine." Nina said taking a seat on the couch.
"Nah lets not spoil the day . . . let's order Chinese." Mort suggested. Nina didn't know how to react. Mort was acting a bit strange like he was hiding something. But she knew Mort. It was better just to go along with him then protest.
"Okay. I'm going to go change." Nina headed towards the bedroom which was right across the kitchen. She shut the door behind her when she entered the bedroom. Mort went over to the phone and scrambled around in the pile of clutter next to it looking for the menu of the nearest Chinese restaurant. Nina always kept the take-out phone numbers next to the phone, only she wasn't well organized.
When Mort finally found the right menu he took the phone and sat down at the kitchen table. He held the phone in his hands and started to dial the number when he realized he didn't know what Nina wanted. She'll probably want the noodles because she always ordered them the last time we had Chinese.
Mort looked up towards the bedroom to see the door was cracked open. He stood up from him chair and headed the bedroom. He could see Nina standing in front of the door. Mort moved closer towards the room. Just then she reached down to the end of her shirt. She slowly pulled her shirt over her head revealing a cute red push up bra.
And of course her perfect breasts that Mort couldn't take his eyes off of. He didn't know Nina was blessed with such a nice figure. He just looked at her as his charming friend who happens to be a girl. That is until now. She moved another side of the room where Mort could no longer see her undress. Suddenly Mort caught himself peeping through the door at his best friend. He quickly walked back to the kitchen. He would just order her some noodles.
He sat down at the table and dialed the number to the Chinese restaurant. What was I thinking looking at Nina like that? Sure she's beautiful but she would never want to be with someone like me, he thought as he waited for someone to pick up the phone.
Without realizing it at first Mort looked up. Nina caught his eye again. This time she stood there without anything on but her matching red underwear.
"Hello, Tony Chung's Chinese restaurant how may I be helping you?" a female voice with an Chinese accent asked breaking Mort from his trance.
"Yes. I would like to place and order." Mort replied. In the other room Nina got out her favorite blue sweater. With her back to Mort she began to put it on. Mort looked back up at Nina to see a small butterfly tattoo on her lower back. Slowly the end of the blue sweater covered up the tattoo.
"Hello! Hello! Are you there sir?" the voice asked.
"Yes. I'm here." Mort answered.
"What do you want?"
Nina began to slide on a pair of jeans. Mort stared down at her thighs. As she pulled her jeans up Mort found his eyes also moving up. Soon he was looking at her crotch. Nina quickly pulled her jeans over her was it. Mort looked up at her face as she finished putting on her jeans.
"Nina." Mort said aloud.
"Okay I get you one of everything. Thank you for your order sir." the women on the other line said. Before Mort could correct her the line was dead. Angry, Mort began to redial the number. Just then Nina opened the door to her bedroom and exited. Mort hung up the phone and watched her walk over to him.
"You order the food?" Nina asked.
I sure did. "Yes." he replied. Nina sat down at the table across from Mort. She leaned forward with both elbows on the table as she always did.
"I hope you know that your going to get me fired if I keep taking off days to see you." Nina said jokingly.
"Nah, what's one day?" Mort said also leaning over the table. "Besides they wouldn't want to loose their best employee. No one would come, they'd loose business."
"They'd loose business over me?"
"Yes. That's why I always come back."
"If I didn't know you any better Mort I'd say you were flirting with me."
"What if i am?" Mort asked.
"Then I'd say you were a load of bollocks."
"Got to love that British humor." Mort said sarcastically.
"Even if you were full of bollocks I'd still hate it if they lost their best costumer."
"Are you talking about me?" Mort asked.
"Yes you buy so much coffee you could put all the employees into college . . . plus I cant afford to be fired."
"Well . . . I could help with that if you'd like?"
"No Mort, I couldn't ask you to do that."
"You don't have to ask. I know your having some financial problems at the moment and I can understand the situation your in so as I friend I'm offering to help pay your rent for the few months until you find a new roommate or move or whatever you decided to do."
"Thank you." Nina said reaching her hand over to Mort's. She rubbed her thumb against the back of his hands.
"Don't mention it." Mort said smiling.
"And I'd pay you back."
"No. You don't have to do that."
"I could."
"No. Don't worry about it. But I do expect a hell of birthday gift."
Nina laughed. "What would I ever do without you?"
Mort looked up at Nina who was smiling at him. Her soft and warm skin felt so good against his hand. She leaned forward towards Mort with her lips puckered. She gave him a peck on the cheek and sat back down in her seat. Mort couldn't help but smile.
"Well the food will be here soon."
"You know if you wanted to drop by sometime and come in the apartment I could give you the spare key so you could come in at any time you want. After all the apartment would be kind of partly yours anyway. And I have an extra bedroom if you wanted to stay the night." Nina suggested.
It was a nice gesture but Mort couldn't accept. "Thanks very kind of you Nina but I don't want anything in return."
Nina quickly pulled her hand back. "Oh my God, I just invited you over to have sex didn't I?"
"Its okay, Nina I know what you meant." Mort assured her and laughed a little at the misunderstanding. Thankfully for Nina there was a knock at the door signaling that the food had just arrived. Mort paid the delivery man and brought in two larges bags filled with Chinese food.
"Who's going to eat all that?!" Nina asked.
"I'm assuming we are." Mort said walking towards the kitchen.
"Great now my apartment can smell like Chinese food for the next week and a half." Nina said getting some plates.
"I hope you're hungry." Mort said placing the bags on the counter.
"I'm starving." Nina replied setting the table.
"Do you want any egg rolls, cause they don't last very long once I get his hands on 'em?" Mort asked.
"No thanks. I just want some noodles." Nina answered.
"Okay--more for me." Mort put the box of egg rolls aside and dug around for the noodles. He handed them to Nina. She thanked him taking her seat at the table. He fixed his plate with a few egg rolls and sat down at the table.
"Is that all your going to eat?"
"No. I'm just starting at the top and working my way down."
"I wish I knew why you were acting so strange." Nina said taking a bite of her lunch. Mort stopped eating. It just about had it with Nina and her advice.
"Why cant you accept the fact that I'm happy for once?" Mort asked harshly.
"Happy? With what?" Nina asked.
"With . . . Marta." Mort said in a low voice.
"Marta? I take you didn't end it."
"I don't have to do everything you say, you know."
"Yes, but what about Christine."
"Don't you see . . . I'm not happy with Christine--she doesn't love me." Mort took a deep breath. Even he was shocked he admitted that.
"Did you break up?" Nina asked. Mort stood up from his chair.
"She doesn't know . . . I couldn't tell her--chickened out. She left for New York again and then Marta called. She invited me over to her house . . . I knew she wanted me. So. . ."
"You sagged her." Nina presumed and finished Mort's sentence at the same time.
"And I don't regret it. She was the best thing that could of happened to me."
"So that's where you were? Sagging Marta."
"Yea."
"So all you need to do now is break up with Christine and you'll have your happy ending."
"Well it's not as easy as that."
"I thought you didn't have feelings for Christine anymore?" Nina asked.
"It's not that . . . Marta's . . ." Mort paused. "Married."
Nina stood up. "Okay Mort. First I thought you were crazy but now I think you're completely mad! How can you break up someone's marriage! Marriage is . . . its--"
"Sacred? Yea I thought that once. Then I must have been mad to believe such bullshit; to think that a wedding and piece of paper meant something. Well I've got news for you, Nina--it doesn't! In fact it leaves the door wide open for someone else to come in and take everything you love. Your wife . . . your home . . . and your dignity. You see I was married once. To a beautiful woman who I loved and a man came and he took that away from me. So excuse me if I don't share with you the meaningless joy of marriage." Mort headed towards that door. He was half way out when he heard Nina.
"Do you really think by breaking up their marriage will fix what happened to you?" Nina asked holding back her tears.
Mort turned around. "You know what Nina? Why don't you find someone else to bullshit?" Mort left and slammed the door behind him.
Mort pulled into his driveway and got out of the car. As he walked up his driveway to the porch he could hear the phone ringing. Marta, he thought picking up his pace. He hurried up the steps and onto the porch. When he reached the front door, he pulled out his keys while his heart beating rapidly. He didn't want to miss her call.
He put one of the keys into the lock and gave it a turn. But the door didn't open. He down at his hands to see it was the wrong key. "Shit!" he cursed at himself. The key to the back and front doors of his house looked almost identical. The phone continued to ring as he switched keys.
Finally the door unlocked. The door flew open as Mort came into the house. The phone rang against but it would be the last time it would ring. Mort ran to it almost driving towards it to get it before it stopping ringing. Just in time he answered.
"Hello?"
"Mort." a voice said on the other line. It was Christine. Her voice sounded excited. It didn't shock him very much. She loved her job.
"Hey." he said trying to have the same excited tone as she did. But considering what just happened with Nina he wasn't in a very encouraging mood.
"I miss you." she replied.
"I miss you too . . . you sound happy."
She giggled. "Oh my God, Mort you wouldn't believe what a week I've having. Okay, not only did I get this amazing hotel room, but I get to the office expecting to go straight to work but it turns out everyone had planed a party for me for editing the biggest selling book of the year!"
"Wow. That's great!" Mort exclaimed happily.
"I know! It was so sweet. Everyone here had champagne and there was a cake! I mean this like never happens."
"Was is a good cake?" Mort asked.
She laughed again. "The best . . . did I mention the hotel room?" she asked.
"Yes."
"Well its more like a sweet. Its a single room with a queen size bed and a Jacuzzi."
"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself." he replied taking a seat on the chair next to the phone.
"I wish you were here." she whispered. Mort paused. He could tell she really meant it. It wasn't fair to her; Mort running around with another woman behind her back. She deserved better then that.
"Christine I have something to tell you." he started.
"What?" Christine asked.
""Remember the other night when I told you I needed to tell you something?" Mort waited for her to reply. She didn't. All he could hear was background noises.
"Where are you Christine?" Mort asked.
"What Mort? I'm sorry I wasn't paying attention. What was it you wanted to tell me?" Christine laughed. He couldn't tell her now. Not over the phone. He would wait until she got back and to break up with her. Besides he couldn't do it when was this happy, and over the phone seemed to be the heartless way to break up with someone.
"Never mind, enjoy your party." Mort said.
"Alright, I'll see you tomorrow." Christine said then hung up the phone. Mort leaned back in his chair. Christine would be home tomorrow. Finally he would break the news to her that they should break up. And all the work Jason did to the closet and probably the bathroom would be worthless. Not that the house couldn't use some fixing up. But he would have no one to share it with. It was time he faced the music. He would just have to get used to living alone.
Saying goodbye to Christine is going to be a tearfeast. And that was the last thing he wanted. Christine breaking down into tears. He couldn't stand to see her cry. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her. If only somehow she knew that it would be better her to stay away from Mort. What about Nina?
Nina? Please all she does is nag me about my life. Doesn't she think I know what I'm getting myself into by dating Marta? But she was trying to help me and all I did was yell at her. All she ever tries to do it help me . . .
Mort ran his fingers though his hair. The grandfather clock on the mantel piece chimed two times. Mort decided to put the thought of out his mind for now. It seemed like talking to himself would only make matters worse. He needed something, anything to get his mind off his problems.
"I could really use a cigarette right now." Mort sighed. But he decided to quit after Amy . . . disappeared. Even then he found every time he felt sad of angry he wanted a cigarette. Hell he wanted one even when he was sitting at his desk typing or after sex. The more he saw people smoking on the street the more he wanted one. Sometimes he'd even get the urge to run up and kiss them just so he could breathe in the smoke.
Well there's smoking then there's drinking. He could always go out and buy a bottle of Jack Daniels. He would only he's struggled with alcoholism as well in the past. No wonder the only way he knew how to deal with problems was to turn to cigarettes or alcohol.
Just then there was knock at the door. Started Mort jumped in his seat. He stood up and walked over to the door. Behind it he could see a shadow of a person waiting for him to answer the door. He couldn't make out exactly who it was. But the figure he saw looked quite feminine. Mort placed his hand around the doorknob. He must be someone selling something. With that he opened the door.
He was completely shocked by who he saw. Suddenly all the cigarettes and alcohol in the world couldn't make him feel better then what he in front of him.
"What are you doing here?" Mort asked rushing out to give her a hug.
"I came as soon as I could get away." Marta replied wrapping her arms around Mort. Mort looked down at Marta. She leaned forward and kissed him. Her arms moved from his waist to around his neck. He held her closer to him. He ran one hand through her hair and up to the back of her head.
"Come on I want to take you somewhere." Marta said. They pulled away slowly. Mort followed Marta to her car which was right beside his in the driveway. She unlocked her car and they got in. It was silent as Marta drove down the road a little passed her house. Mort didn't know where she was taking him and he didn't care. She was sitting next to him and that's all that mattered.
Ten minutes went by before Mort realized where they were going. They turned onto the main street in Tashmore Lake, Lake Drive. They had driven passed the police station and passed the old store where Mort used to get his coffee and groceries. Then she kept driving until they passed the post office not to far from the cafe. The further they drove the more uncomfortable Mort seemed to get. He couldn't let her drive him any further. People were starting to stare.
"Were exactly are we going, Marta?" Mort asked as they turned the corner after the post office.
"I saw this nice restaurant as I was driving through town the first day I got here. Never got a chance to go there so I thought we'd have lunch there." Marta replied.
The first place that ran through Mort's mind was Cecilia's. Of course it was the only real restaurant in Tashmore. They had just built it almost seven years ago. Back when he and Amy were still together; when they were happy together. Before Ted, before the miscarriage, and before he started to hate her with every fiber of his being, they were happy. A lot of memories he they shared there.
Every year on their anniversary they'd have dinner there. It sounds cliché but that's what they did. I guess when your married you need something to look forward to. Just three years ago they went to Cecilia's on their anniversary and Amy revealed that she was pregnant. A few months later they lost the baby. They haven't been there since.
"Why don't we drive to New London, I'm sure there's a better restaurant there." Mort suggested.
"Too late we're already here." Marta said pulling into the parking lot. They parked in front of the restaurant where you can view the entire inside of the restaurant. Mort glanced at the throng of people inside eating their lunch. He couldn't go in. Just imaging the stares and whispers that would start the second he entered was unbearable. He wasn't even supposed to be in town let alone walk into a restaurant.
"Marta I really think we ought to go somewhere else." Mort continued to say.
"Come on you big baby." Marta said as she turned off the engine. She put her hand on the door handle about to step out when Mort grabbed her arm.
"Okay . . . I'll tell you why I cant go in there if you promise we can go somewhere else."
"Okay. Why don't you want to go in?" Marta asked.
"Remember when I told you about how I used to be married and all?" Mort asked. Marta nodded. "Well we used to come here all the time. It was kind of our place, yea know?"
Marta sat there for a moment staring at him. Then she finally said, "Well we're just going to have to get over that now aren't we? And you could start right now. You can't just let her control you forever."
"It's not just that . . . it's the whole town and all the people in it. You see things don't stay secrets for very long in this town. So when everyone found out about the divorce they just turned their backs on me. Everywhere I went I was treated like I killed somebody."
"These people can't do that. You live in the same town and pay your bills just like every other red blooded American. She left you and you don't owe any explanation to these people."
Marta was right. He'd forgotten how much he disliked these people that he let them think he was a murderer. And by not showing his face in town in the past year probably proved them right. When it was him they were afraid of. And he did pay his bills every month like everyone else, probably more then most due to it being a 1.5 million dollar house.
But besides the fact that he's a good citizen the people in Tashmore used to greet him with such enthusiasm it made him sick. They absolutely loved that fact that someone famous lived in their shit hole of a town. However Mort always had the sense that people liked Amy more than him. It was more then obvious they did.
When Mort would go into town without her, they'd always ask how she was doing in a way that made them sound they were really asking why isn't she there instead of him. He didn't go into town often, only when Amy wasn't there or if he wanted to go buy cigarettes. He didn't want to tell Amy. The looks and the questions only got worse after the divorce. It was completely unfair that while Amy was fucking some guy he had to deal with the disappointing glares and whispers from the people of Tashmore Lake.
"I've got an idea." Marta said. "You stay here and follow my lead." Before Mort could say anything Marta got out of the car. He was watched her as she walked up to the front of the restaurant and walked in. Mort smiled when he notice everyone peeking glances at her. Every man in the room probably got hard just looking at her. And every women wished they could command the attention of everyone in a room like she did.
Marta walked right up to the host who was standing behind a podium holding a handful of menus. She began talking to him as if he were an old friend. She flipped her hair a lot and held the man's tie as she flirted with him. Marta leaned against the podium and everyone watched her as she talked her way into getting their best table.
Mort knew what she was doing. She was going to make the man think she was eating alone so he could have the chance to hit on her just like every other man in the room wanted to do. But just as one of them gets up the courage to go up to her Mort would walk in and everyone would see she was there with him. He had to hand it to her; it was a good plan.
Mort stepped out of the car. Marta continued to flirt with the host. He waited until the host would show her to her seat. Just then she looked unnoticeably up at Mort assuring him she should be done soon. Then she quickly turned back to the host. Mort continued to wait.
Finally it looked as if she was asking him for their best seat in the house. The host laughed politely. Mort started to feel a little doubtful that her plan was going to work. But just as Mort felt like should get back into the car Marta started to walk towards the back of the restaurant. She kept eye contact with Mort as she walked down the isle until she was out of sight.
It was time. Mort had to enter the restaurant. And he was ready. He couldn't wait to see the look on everyone's faces when they saw him eating lunch with Marta. With that Mort made his to the front doors of the restaurant. He flung them open as he entered. The host stared at Mort like a deer in the headlights. All eyes were fixed upon Mort with shocking surprise.
He couldn't hear them but he knew their whispers were of him. And he didn't bother to look at their faces because he knew people only shared opinions of disgust for him. The only thing he cared to pay attention to was Marta. He looked around for her. Then remembered she headed towards the back.
"Can I help you, sir?" the host asked stepping in front of Mort blocking his way to the bathrooms. His voice was shaky. Mort could tell he recognized him by how uncomfortable his appearance made everyone.
"Yes. Did you see an incredibly beautiful women walk in here?" Mort asked.
"I'm sorry sir you're going to have to either sit down and order something or leave." The man replied.
"I just want to use the bathroom" Mort replied.
"I'm sorry sir, restrooms are for paying customers only. You can try next door." the host said. Mort could see that the man was just trying to get him to leave.
"I'll only be a minute." He walked straight towards the back of the restaurant. Mort soon reached the hall that led into a smaller room which divided off into two separate bathrooms. The host luckily had given up trying to stop Mort. Now all Mort had to do was figure out which bathroom she was in. Obviously she would walk into the women's bathroom due to her being in fact a woman. On the other hand she could be waiting inside the men's bathroom for Mort.
Mort turned towards the men's bathroom. On the other hand the women's bathroom is cleaner. Mort turned around and walked into the women's bathroom. There he saw nothing but a small empty room. Suddenly he heard the door look behind him. He stood still as Marta wrapped her arms around him. Mort turned around and faced her. Mort leaned forward and kissed her.
"I thought you were never going to come." Marta said.
"I kind of had trouble figuring out which bathroom you walked into." Mort replied.
"The women's bathroom—it's cleaner." Marta said as they kissed again. Marta began to unbutton his shirt. Mort loved how adventurous and exotic she was. That only she could take his mind off the fight he had with Nina and the fact he would have to break Christine's heart tomorrow.
And how she helped show the town that he didn't care anymore what they thought of him. They weren't the ones about to have sex with a gorgeous woman in a public bathroom. For once he didn't care what they thought of him. She was all he needed. Marta finished unbuttoning his shirt and moved onto his belt. Before he knew it was off.
"You're getting good at that." Mort said.
"I've had plenty of practice." Marta replied tossing his belt to the side. She pushed him back against the wall kissing him softly. Mort ran his hair through her hair as their kissing speeded up. Mort could smell the sweet aroma that was her perfume. He absolutely loved the way she smelt. It turned him on in way that made him forget where they were and think only of how good the moment felt.
Mort took one of her legs and held it by his side. Mort kissed up and down her neck as he unzipped his pants. He could feel her breathing heavily on the edge of his shoulder. Her breathing got lower as he entered her. His heart was beating so fast it felt as if it were going to jump right out his chest. Mort continued to hold Marta in place as they moved with each others rhythm.
Marta wrapped her arms around Mort's neck. She ran her fingers through his hair repeatedly as she moved slowly against the wall. She brushed the tips of her fingers through his hair and tightened her grip around his hair and pulled him toward her. She kissed him with all her might. Her kiss was enough to distract him that he almost let her slip out of his hands.
Mort took Marta, now by both her legs, and carried her over to the counter. He carried her as quickly as he could and pushed her back against the mirror. Marta looked up at him with such arousing surprise that she took him by the collar of his shirt and pulled him in for another embrace. Her teeth caressed his lip as their lips pulled away. Mort grabbed her by the hips and scooted her up to the edge of the counter. As Mort continued to thrust Marta held onto him looking into his eyes.
The passion in her eyes screamed for more, Mort thrusted harder. Mort held leaned his hand against the mirror as he continued to make love Marta. Marta leaned with one hand on the counter and the other on Mort's shoulder as she was about to come. Nothing could be better then that moment.
He couldn't help but wonder why he couldn't have met her earlier in life. On the other hand Amy's infidelity brought them together. Marta was undoubtedly more exciting than Amy. Ironically this was a restaurant he used to go to with Amy. Never in all his years of marriage would Amy have done something like this. And that's what he loved about Marta; she wasn't anything like Amy.
Marta gently pushed Mort off her and began to compose herself. She fixed her hair and make-up in the mirror as Mort zipped up his pants. He slowly buttoned up his shirt glancing up at Marta every other button he put together. She flashed a flirtatious smile at Mort's reflection in the mirror. Mort finished up buttoning his shirt and wrapped his arms around Marta and kissed her softly on her temple.
"I'll walk out first then you follow." Marta said.
"Fine with me." Mort agreed. Marta exited the bathroom. As Mort stood there alone in the women's bathroom he thought only of Marta and how she was the only one that could ever get him to walk into the women's bathroom. She had a control of him that he would always give into. He waited three minutes before he decided to walk out. He placed his hand on the door when he heard footsteps from outside.
"Shit." Mort swore as he glanced around for a place to hide. As the footsteps crept closer Mort ran towards the end of the room. He jumped into one of the bathroom stalls and locked it shut. Just then the door to the bathroom opened. Two women laughing entered the room.
"Yes and she bought the house to get away from her husband." one of the women said. The other women laughed as she walked into a stall only two stalls away from Mort. The other women fixed her make up in the mirror as she continued to gossip.
"How's David doing?" the women in the stall asked.
"Good. He's finally taking me on our honey moon."
"Really?"
"Yea he recently came into some money with that Jefferson deal." the women said putting on her lip stick. The other women flushed the toilet and walked out of the stall.
"I'm so happy for you I was beginning to think he was never going to take you on a proper honey moon."
"Neither did I." they laughed. "Not after his divorce with Sherry. Oh, it absolutely crushed him and his son. How can that woman stand to be at work all the time and not be home to take care of her own child?"
"How is Jess handling it?" the women who came out of the stall asked as she turned the water on.
"He's been doing really well actually . . . until that girlfriend of his dumped him."
"No! That poor sweet boy?"
"Yes. And he said she dumped him for another man she's been seeing."
"Who?"
"An older man."
"I tell you that girl Nina is trouble." the women said drying her hands. The other women closed up her purse and they opened the door.
"We ought to tell Nancy and Rachel about this--tell their boys to watch out for that hussy."
Mort waited for the sound of the door closing behind them to get out of the stall. But the next thing he heard made his heart race.
"What's that?"
"It must be someone's earring."
"How do you suppose it got there?"
"I don't know . . . should we just leave it here?"
"Yes. What is only one earring good for anyway?" That was the last thing Mort heard before they left. He heard the door close behind them and he stepped out of the stall. He walked over to the sink he had just had sex on and picked up the earring. Mort didn't even notice it fell off.
I must be a real idiot, he thought as the stared down at the earring, a complete idiot. All that Nina was trying to do was help him. She apparently took his advice in dumping that no good sonofabitch and Mort didn't even have the balls to dump Christine. And no matter what Nina was doing she always found the time to talk to Mort.
Mort closed his hand into a fist and he realized something. He was jealous of Jess. Being just a friend to Nina would never be enough. But that didn't mean she felt that same way about him. Mort knew now that he could live with Nina and him never being together. If it meant never seeing Nina again he would have to settle for just a friendship.
Mort placed the earring into his pocket and walked out the bathroom. When he looked up he saw a man who just came out the men's room staring up at him. Mort stared back for a moment.
"I heard they have cleaner bathrooms then us . . . wanted to see if it were true." Mort said. Mort walked away as the man continued to stare at him.
In head of him he could Marta flirting with the host again. She was leaning against the podium as he went on about how the old Star Wars was better then the new Star Wars. It didn't take more then a second before she spotted Mort. She quickly interrupted the man mid-sentence and said goodbye. Mort hurried after her. The host watch in awe as Mort got into the same car as Marta.
Mort stared out the window as Marta pulled out of the parking lot. He continued to look out the window thinking of ways he could apologize to Nina. He could go to Starbucks and tell her he was sorry. No. That was too informal. He knew Nina more then that to not confront her with a real apology. He would have to go to her apartment and tell her there. Perhaps he gift would make the conversation move easier.
He even acted out how the conversation would go in his mind. He would show up tomorrow at her apartment with some flowers--no. He'd bring her the rent money he said he'd help her pay. Then she would of course be angry with him and he would have to talk her into letting him in to explain why he was such an asshole. That was the hard part. What would he say?
"Come inside, Mort." Marta said turning off the car. Mort looked around noticing that he was in the driveway of someone's house.
"Where are we?" he asked.
"My house, silly." Marta stepped out of the car. Mort followed her as she walked up the walk way to the front door. For some reason the thought of walking into her house made him extremely nervous.
"Um . . . why are we here exactly?" Mort asked as Marta unlocked the front door.
"We'll only be here for a second." she opened the door. "And don't worry my husband isn't home." She entered the house.
Mort couldn't help stare mindlessly into the enormous house. The foyer was the size of his entire living room. At the middle of the foyer was a grand staircase that curved at the top and wrapped around coming straight down into the foyer. The floor was a sparkling marble mixed with elegant wooden flooring that extended from the foyer and into the hall under the staircase. He could see the kitchen at the end of hall underneath the stairs.
"Are you going to come in?" Marta asked standing at the bottom of the stairs. Mort finally took a step inside the house. He closed the door behind him as Marta began her way up the stairs. He was still unsure as to why she brought him here. As she said her husband was no were in sight, but that didn't stop him from coming home unannounced.
Mort glanced around admiring his surroundings. He entered the living room taking notice of a certain photograph that caught his eye's attention. Knowing that Marta wasn't there to watch him he felt more inclined to snoop around her house. When he came upon the photo he noticed it was of Marta and a man that was strangely unfamiliar. Yet Mort knew exactly who it was.
He was tall with blonde hair and standing about six feet tall. He had a mostly muscular physique that made his look like he was about to burst out of his tuxedo. Marta looked affectionately into his eyes in her luxurious white gown. There was no doubt that she looked splendid in that gown and Mort realized why she brought him here. Mort headed over to the stairs.
When he reached the top of the stairs he saw the door was opened at the end of the hallway. He walked straight ahead knowing that Marta was just on the other side of the door. He slowly peeked open the door. Marta stood half naked in front of the bed. Mort watched her as she reached around to the back of her bra. Just then she spotted Mort behind her.
"Get over here" she demanded. Mort walked over to her. She turned and faced Mort giving him a kiss as she began to undress him.
"Didn't you just fuck me?" Mort asked.
"Yes." she replied in her sensual yet seducing whisper.
"You never told me what happened after I left the other day." Mort said as they cuddled under the sheets. He brushed his hand gently up and down her smooth skin. She was so sensual and beautiful that he knew he would always give in to her seduction. She loved having that kind of power over him.
"Nothing much happened. He stopped by to say goodbye on his way out of town." Marta replied in a low voice. Mort glanced up at the ceiling. All he could think about was Nina and how contrite he felt. Mort noticed that Marta had quickly fallen asleep in his arms. He shifted his body out from under her, placing her head on the pillow as he got out of bed.
He quickly got dressed and headed out of the room. As he come under the threshold of the door he looked back at Marta sleeping soundlessly on the bed. For a moment he wondered if he should leave a note. But he didn't want to explain to her everything that happened before she came to his door. With that Mort walked out of the room. He practically ran down the stairs and out the front door this time he did not look back.
The sky had deepened into night as he walked down the long driveway. He knew the distance from Marta's house to his was far, but he was determined to get to his house. The sooner he reached it the sooner he could talk to Nina. Mort walked as quick as he could down the driveway as he passed Marta's car. He kept going until he finally could see the dim light ahead of him that was his house.
It wasn't far ahead now so Mort picked up his pace. As he neared the front door he took out his keys front his pocket and opened it. He didn't bother the shut the door behind him as he entered the house. He immediately headed up the stairs to his desk. Opening the bottom drawer of his desk he dug around inside searching for the money he would give to Nina. After a short while of removing everything from the drawer he finally came upon a large envelope.
It was an envelope full of money in which he kept in cases of emergencies. But Mort hasn't had an 'emergency' since Amy needed to bail her brother out of jail. Mort made his way downstairs. Just as he approached the front door the grandfather clock on the mantelpiece chimed ten times. Mort didn't realize how late it was. He knew by the time he reached Nina's house it would be close to eleven. At the same time he was sure that Nina would not appreciate him showing up so late at her apartment.
Mort moved over to the couch. He tossed the envelope on the coffee table as he sat down. He stared at it for a moment deciding if he should or should not go. He lay back against the couch closing his eyes when his head hit the pillow. As soon as he closed his eyes he pictured Nina sitting at her kitchen table alone probably crying her eyes out that Mort had been so unkind to her.
Suddenly his eyes flashed open. He sprung up from the couch. Taking the envelope in his hands he exited the house. He knew he would never be able to sleep unless he made amends with Nina. Mort quickly got into his car and drove to New London. His heart was beating rapidly the entire time--not sure of what he was going to say when he saw her.
When he reached Nina's apartment he pulled into the parking lot and sat in his car for a moment. He rubbed the hair on his goatee trying to think of something to say. The only thing he could think of to say was the simple 'I'm sorry'. That I was a complete jerk . . . a complete jackass.
After a long moment he finally he got out of the car. Slowly he walked to Nina's house suddenly feeling the pressure of anticipating Nina's reaction to Mort showing up at her house at midnight. He walked up the long hallway to her room. As he neared the door his heart felt as if it were in his stomach. Before knocking he took a deep breath.
And another deep breath . . .
And one last deep breath then knocked hard on the door. I hope I'm not waking her, he thought as he pulled away his fist from the door. But it was too late to turn back he could hear Nina approaching the door. Mort started down at the envelope as he waited for the door to open. It seemed like a lifetime as he stood outside the door waiting for Nina to open it. The cold started to get to him he could feel his hands going numb.
Just then the door flung open. Nina stood there in her bathrobe staring with the up more shocking expression. Mort was at a loss of words. He could feel his mouth moving but not words came out. Nina continued to glare at him, but it didn't take long for her to speak the first words.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"I—." Mort began to speak but stopped himself. He had forgotten all that he had rehearsed to say. He looked down the hallway at the exit then turned back to Nina. He found himself looking passed Nina and behind her. What he saw shocked him so beyond anything he's ever seen before that it could easily be compared to someone taking a knife and cutting his heart out.
"What is he doing here?!" Mort asked suddenly raising his voice. Mort then realized that Nina's expression was only because Mort had shown up to witness such an unthinkable act. She was trying to get rid of Mort as soon as she opened the door just so she could get him to leave without seeing Jess coming out of the bedroom in his underwear.