Man and wife
Arnold could not sleep, he had always been a restless soul and the nights had always been the hardest time for him to relax. The nights had always had a magic way to make him think clearer than at bright daylight, there was something soothing in the feeling and knowledge that most of the population in the moment was asleep. A.R had always been the observer and at nights he was the absolute observer as he sat close to the window and saw the moon gently shine over the city, his city. A feeling of loneliness came over him as he gazed down at the park below. What exactly had been the turning point from the when city had been someone else's to his? When exactly had he grown up? Was it at the age of sixteen when his father had thrown him out to live on the road as a salesman? Was it been the moment he had marriage Carolyn? When he brought his and Carolyn's own home and casino, from money he had borrowed from Carolyn's father, he reminds himself. Or had it even been so long back as when he first had seen his little brother Jack and overcome by the feeling of protection? He did not know the line between childhood and grownup; it was moveable as the wave of the sea. One day he had been struggling to survive on the road as a salesman in his father´s business with a dream as one day have a business of his own. Now, he was THE man in town, they called him Mr. Big, The Brain and all kind of honourable nicknames. But was that really him? Yes, now it was. But from when?
Arnold sighted and thought it was to the best to at least go to bed and try to relax even if he wouldn't fall asleep. He walked in to Carolyn's bed and quietly and slowly lay down beside her, not to wake her up. She made a little noise as he hold her gently in his arms, her sweet scent filled his nose and an urge to give her a kiss on her cheek overcome him. As his lips gently touched her soft skin, she smiled and placed another kiss right on his lips. "What's troubling you, love?" She asked without open her eyes, but her smile was still on. "Why should anything trouble me, sweet?" Carolyn gave out a hint of a laugh before answering: "I know you, Arnold. I can sense your troubles as a dog can smell a good beef miles away." By that Arnold sneezed with a smile. "I was just thinking of our youth. When did we grow old?" Arnold said and stroke her soft hair and thought of all the times he had seen her on stage, how his heart almost wanted to burst out from his chest just by the sight of her. "Old? Speak for yourself." She said and giggled, almost a girls giggle. Arnold smiled and lay down beside her, he could hear hers soft breathing and almost feel her warm breath on his ear. "You were my prince in shining armour, so handsome." She said with eyes still shoot and a smile on her face, as if she was talking in her sleep and dreaming of old days. "You still are by the way." she continued. Arnold laughed in the dark. "Well, thank you sweet."
Silence overtook the room. Arnold though Carolyn must had fallen asleep, but she once again broke the silence. "Why did you choose me? I mean, you could have anyone. I was not the most talented showgirl, nor the prettiest." "Because you were the girl who made my breath goes away. No one had done that before, no one ever will." Carolyn snorted at his statement but smiled none the less, and said: "You are only saying that because you want some fun tonight". Arnold´s eyebrows raised and he looked a bit offended. "No, I´m not." "So you don´t want me tonight?" "I did not say that either." Carolyn laughed. "How come you can run the whole town, outsmart so many people...yet I can trick you into a corner with your own words?" Carolyn smirked. "Because you are the smartest person I have ever meet, and that's why I love you."
Margaret woke up early by the noise of two cats fighting outside the house. The sound made her anxious; it was such a foul sound. She could not go back to sleep so she went to the kitchen to make a grand breakfast to the children. I was Saturday and she and Mr. Rothstein had a meeting later on, at hers. She thought of making a cake for him; keep him on a good mood she thought. She had nothing good for him from her office, she was afraid he soon would think he had done a bad investment letting her live there for free in return of inside information. She had to give something back.
Later that day Margaret found herself sitting and waiting for him to knock on the door. She hated the waiting, she tried to read the newspaper but she could not concentrate. Finally the doorbell rang; she quickly moved to the door and opened. Indeed it was Mr. Rothstein standing there with his business smile all over his face, but there was something more, his smile felt sincere as his eyes felt as warmth as his smile did; it was a genuine smile. "Miss Rohan." he said and took his hat off. "Welcome, come in Mr. Rothstein." Arnold stepped inside and put his coat off as he said: " I know it's a Saturday afternoon, don´t worry, I won't be long." "You are always welcome, Mr. Rothstein." "Please, call me A.R at least." "Right. A.R.", said Margaret as to taste the name on her lips, it felt weird. "Why do people call you that?" Arnold gave a slightly irritated smile but a smile none the less. " The name, Mr. Rothstein always reminds me more of my father then off me, and it´s not that very pleasant for me. So it simplifies things." Margaret nodded and showed him to sit down. "I have milk and cake if you would like some. It´s freshly baked." Arnold raised an eyebrow and the corner of the mouth followed up. "Mrs...Miss Margaret, you don't have two serve cakes every time I come here to do business. If everyone I do business with would, I would soon be very fat. But I happily exempt your friendly gesture." Margaret nodded and came soon back with what she had offered. "Where are your kids?" "Outside, playing with some new friends." Arnold nodded. "I must tell you, sir, this last week has been pretty slow, there have not happened much." Margaret said and looked anxious, almost as she did at his first visit back in her old apartment. Arnold nodded, his face left no lead of what he was thinking. Then he smiled and looked up and said: "Well, at least I got some cake. My wife has got the terrible habit of hiding any sweets I could possible come close to at home. She thinks this is bad for me." he said and nodded at the cake then continued: "She is right of course. But, since I don't drink or smoke, some cake cant harm that much, can it?" Margaret smiled and exhaled her breath, both for him taking her lack of new information so good, and for his open and friendly demeanour. "I guess it would not harm so much, when you put it like that." she answered and smiled as he took his first bite of the cake.