Chapter 10-Making It Better
Hogan held Gertrude close until her sobbing was reduced to a few muffled sniffles, and he felt her body quiet down finally. But he continued rubbing gentle circles around her back. "Feeling better?" he asked. Leaning over, he pressed a soft kiss on the top of her head.
Gertrude pulled back and looked up into Hogan's concerned face. Wiping her face again, she stepped back and blushed at her recent emotional display. "I am sorry, Robert. I so hoped this would be a happy ending to a wonderful day, but…" she sighed sadly and turned away heading toward the sofa. "…this is not to be," she continued. "Albert ruined everything tonight." She sat down on the sofa, and was soon joined by Hogan. Looking over at him, her face brightened when she saw the flowers he held in his hand.
"Happy anniversary," he repeated with a smile on his handsome face.
"How lovely," Gertrude replied taking the bouquet from him. She held them close and sniffed their sweet fragrance. "Thank you." She tilted her head for a moment studying the flowers, then glanced back at Hogan. "I thought these flowers looked familiar. They are from Klink's garden, no?"
"I had them delivered."
Gertrude chuckled while looking at the flowers. She had known they came from Klink's garden the minute she saw them. "It doesn't matter. It's the thought. I'll put these in water." Getting to her feet, she spotted the ice bucket and basket resting on the floor between Hogan's feet. "Why don't you set those up for us to enjoy while I'm gone." She nodded towards the items. "I can tell something is troubling you and we should talk about it."
Hogan sighed. Gertrude was certainly a perceptive woman. "Tonight's not about me," he answered frankly. "But we do need to talk."
"Very well. I'll be right back." She turned and left the room, only to return a few minutes later carrying a vase. Hogan was still seated in the same place, except now he was bent forward, forearms resting on his thighs, with hands clasped between his knees. She saw he had placed the other items on the coffee table in her absence.
"How nice," Gertrude smiled placing the vase on the table then eying the spread. Sitting down beside Hogan, she watched him grab the bottle of champagne from the bucket, pop its cork, and pour bubbly into a goblet before handing it to her. He poured another for himself before sitting the bottle back in the ice. Picking up his glass, he raised it turning to Gertrude. With a smile, they clinked their glasses together.
"Danke, Robert," she replied with a smile before they both took a sip of the bubbly. Gertrude put her glass down before reaching over and picking up a cracker, proceeded to spread a tiny spoonful of caviar on it, then took a bite. "Delicious," she sighed savoring the tasty morsel. "Tell me…" she began after swallowing. "…were the champagne and caviar delivered as well?" she asked with a knowing look.
Hogan had taken a bite of a cracker, swallowed, and returned her stare with a twinkle in his eyes. A lopsided grin appeared on his face.
"Yep. Got a special deal. Flowers, champagne and caviar all delivered from the same place."
"How nice of you to do this for me regardless of how you got these things."
Hogan picked up his glass again and took another drink. Even he had to admit when it came to champagne and caviar, Klink did not waste money. He bought only the good stuff.
"I believe today should be a happy occasion so, please tell me what your brother did that had you so upset?" Hogan asked.
Gertrude stared for a long moment at Hogan while trying to decide how to best explain. She believed he knew enough about Albert that nothing would upset him; yet, she didn't want Hogan to think her brother was necessarily a bad man. He really wasn't. Finally, she exhaled through her nose. "Albert made a complete fool of himself both before and during dinner; and he was not subtle about it."
"Let me guess. He made a play for Klink's girlfriend."
"He did," Gertrude confirmed, the memory still fresh in her mind.
Hogan shook his head in disbelief though he was not surprised. He grabbed the champagne bottle and refilled both their glasses.
"How did Klink and Bertha handle the General's advances?" Hogan took a sip of bubbly, his eyes never straying from her face.
Gertrude chuckled. "Klink did nothing which did not surprise me. I mean, who could blame him? Albert would have have had him on his way to the Russian front before dessert."
"And Bertha?"
"I must admit she proved herself a capable young woman who knows how to handle men. She put Albert in his place both times." Gertrude took a drink from her glass. "I was very impressed." She sighed suddenly staring into her drink. "Sadly, I don't believe their relationship will last. I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think so. That will be a sad day because she and Klink make a nice couple."
Hogan eyed the woman curiously. "I honestly think you're hoping their relationship really does work out."
"I do." Gertrude put her glass down and spread more caviar on another cracker; then picked up both. "But, I won't be surprised should it not last." After eating the cracker, she took another drink. Her eyes focused themselves on Hogan's face. "Now tell me, Robert, what troubles you so much tonight?"
"Who says I'm troubled about something?" Hogan didn't want to add to the woman's distress. He had already made up his mind after the champagne and caviar were consumed, he'd excuse himself and return to his barracks, thereby, shortening their evening together.
"I can see something's wrong from the look in your eyes, you silly boy. Now let me help you as you have helped me. Bitte. I need something good on which to end this night." She smiled. "Not that the flowers, champagne and caviar weren't nice."
Hogan bowed his head and shook it sadly. "It's not important," he feigned a grin. "Besides, I didn't come here to talk about me. This is your night. It should be all about you."
Gertrude smiled as she rested a hand on the one in which Hogan held his glass. "If something bothers you, then we should discuss it. Bitte. Please let me help."
Hogan closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. It wasn't suppose to be this way. But before things progressed any further tonight, but he needed answers to questions.
"I don't quite know how to ask you this," he began slowly.
"Then let me get you started," Gertrude began. "You think you are taking advantage of me while I am missing my Otto. Am I correct?"
Surprised. Hogan faced the woman seated beside him. How did she know? Worse, how best to answer her without sounding like the selfish, self-serving bastard he believed himself to be? He hung his head, embarrassed. After a few minutes went by, Hogan raised his head and looked Gertrude in the eye.
"Remember the very first night we made love?" he asked. He saw that she did remember that night. "Well, after that first time, both of us swore individually it would not happen again. Yet here we are, three days later, having made love six times. Either of us could have ended it at any time, but didn't. I can't explain why I'm suddenly thinking this. But it occurred to me today that I've begun believing I'm putting my own selfish physical needs before yours. And you're right. I do feel like I'm taking advantage. What does that say about me as a man?"
Gertrude didn't smile seeing the torment on Hogan's face. She lifted his head to allow her to look into his brown eyes. "Robert, you are to listen to me, and listen carefully. You are not taking advantage of me because you are not doing anything I didn't let or want you to do. Believe me when I tell you I didn't want you to stop. In fact, I wouldn't have let you stop. You've made me feel alive for the first time in three years, and for that I can never thank you enough. I don't know how I would have made it through this week otherwise. So I don't want you to feel guilty over anything. Not ever." She tilted her head to the side. "Are you being selfish? Absolutely not. You don't have a selfish bone in your entire body. You are a very giving and caring man. And if you are getting something out of it as well, then I am glad I can make you feel as good as you make me feel." She sighed wearily. "I hope this eases your mind?"
A charming smile slowly appeared on Hogan's face as he looked at Gertrude. Any problems and worries he had when he showed up in her quarters tonight were now a memory. He placed an elbow on the back of the sofa and rested his head against a fist.
"Thank you," Hogan replied. "I needed to hear that more than you'll ever know." He sighed. "In fact, I was considering leaving after the champagne and caviar."
Gertrude's eyes widened. "You mean our night would have ended early?"
Hogan didn't respond. But it was his silence that gave Gertrude her answer.
"I don't want you to leave."
"Are you sure?"
"Ja. I want you to stay the night. Say you will."
Hogan smiled. "Then I will stay the night." He saw Gertrude's face brighten. "Can I ask you something else?"
"Of course. What is it?"
"Tell me about Otto." He noticed Gertrude looking at him, puzzled by his question.
"Why do you wish to know?" she asked.
"All I know about him is that he's been missing for three years on the Russian front. But I don't know anything about what kind of man he is. I'd like to know what makes him so special."
"What do you wish to know about him?"
"Anything you wish to tell me."
"Well, he was…is…a General." Gertrude noticed Hogan's eyebrows rise in surprise. She nodded her head. "He was promoted to General the same time as Albert." She smiled as the memories flooded back. "There are a lot of things he has in common with you."
"In what way?"
"Well, he was always a very caring man, and not just for those under his command. He was also a very handsome and charming man with an equally charming smile. In fact, it was his smile which first captured my heart. The other was his beautiful bright blue eyes. They were as blue as the blue of the ocean." She sighed. As she became lost in the memories, she found her lower lip beginning to tremble. "But then again, there were things that separated the two of you that, combined with what I've told you so far, made him the special man to me that he was."
"Tell me."
"The day we first awakened as husband and wife, Otto was looking at me with a smile on his face. And although it didn't happen everyday, he would cook breakfast weekly for me and we would have breakfast in bed just like on our honeymoon. He also liked me as I was faults and all. Otto was never a man who believed in having a…what I think is called a trophy wife. What you have to keep in mind, Robert, is that I was never a ravishing beauty, not even as a girl growing up. My father and brother were constantly reminding me of that fact. So they pointed out I not only had to be the perfect wife, but that I better marry the first person who asked because of my lack of beauty."
"Didn't your mother defend you?"
Gertrude shook her head. "My mother never dared disagree with my father so she kept quiet and agreed with my father and her son." She saw Hogan shake his head in disdain.
"It had gotten to the point that I began to believe the only way I would get a husband is by my father and brother arranging one," she continued. Hogan noticed Gertrude biting her lower lip, and he silently cursed out her father, mother, and the General for their cruelty. "But not Otto. He pursued me without pressure or threats from my father or Albert. In fact, even while we were dating, he would defend me to anybody who put me down, and refused to allow me to put myself down. He even stood up to my father and brother when they put me down in front of him. He was my hero. My champion." Her face brightened in the end.
"Sounds like a good and decent man." Hogan had never known Gertrude had endured such a difficult life growing up as she had.
"He is, my Otto. And I miss him terribly."
"Then here's hoping this war ends soon so Otto can come back home alive."
"Danke, Robert. Is there anything else you wish to know?"
"Yeah," Hogan grabbed the champagne bottle again. "More champagne?"
It was nearly two hours later of champagne and caviar before Hogan and Gertrude had gotten up from the sofa and headed towards the bedroom. As they stood in the doorway of her bedroom, Gertrude suddenly turned and wrapped her arms around Hogan's neck, capturing his lips in a hungry and passionate kiss. Hogan encircled her waist pulling her close while maintaining the kiss.
Breaking apart for a few short seconds for air, Hogan started walking her backwards into the bedroom kissing her down her neck and across her shoulders while Gertrude started unbuttoning his shirt, pushing it and his jacket from his shoulders at the same time. Hogan proceeded to lower the zipper on the back of her dress. They continued backing up until the back of Gertrude's knees struck the bed.
They helped each other remove their clothes which were strewn about the bedroom floor. Hogan's crush cap landed on the bed post at the foot of the bed. Their limbs became entwined, and their bodies moving in unison each wanting to savor each moment and each other.
So intense was their lovemaking for the next hour and forty-five minutes, Gertrude arched her body and shouted Otto's name in the throes of passion causing Hogan to smile with victory. He looked at her shouting Otto's name as an achievement, and a boost to his own ego.
It was while they were basking in the afterglow of their lovemaking, their skin glistening with a fine sheen of perspiration, that Hogan began kissing Gertrude slowly and tenderly. She wrapped her legs around his waist keeping him close and sought out his mouth hungrily. A loud pounding sound caused them both to freeze, unable to move, not sure what they had heard. Raising his head, Hogan looked down into Gertrude's face, and was met with an equally puzzled look from her.
"What was that?" Hogan whispered looking down at her. Gertrude's expression indicated that she had no idea from where the pounding was coming.
The pounding became louder and now there was no mistaking the sound which was someone banging on the door of the bedroom.
"Gertrude! Are you all right? Gertrude, answer me! Gertrude!" a man's voice shouted from the other side of the door. Both Hogan and Gertrude began to panic. The voice was that of Burkhalter!
Hogan found his 'fight or flight' rush begin to kick in as did panic. If the General came in and found them in bed together, the repercussions would not be enjoyable. In fact, he had a sudden flash of being shot dead with the cover story being he was caught trying to rape Burkhalter's sister.
"Did you remember to lock the door?" Hogan asked his lover.
"I…I don't remember," Gertrude whispered back.
Hearing those words, Hogan felt his chest tighten as if his breathing had stopped. The pounding on the door grew louder until it sounded as if the door would give way any moment. Both he and Gertrude turned their attention towards the door when suddenly the pounding stopped.
Hogan's eyes widened with terror as he saw the doorknob turn.