Martha lighted a cigarette and sat down on the edge of the bed, her borrowed robe open, her legs crossed, cream on her inner thighs.
'Have you ever gone to bed with Cordova?' she asked Caroline.
'No. Why?'
'Because you might have to. Any objections?'
'If he's good I don't have any but if he's not I'd just as soon not waste any time.'
'He's good.'
'I assume you know that from personal experience?' asked Caroline.
'Then I would have no objection at all if he wanted to plug me up.'
'That's good. I really appreciate what you're doing for me.'
'I have my motives.'
'I'm sure you do and they're none of my business,' said Martha.
'That's right, they're not.'
'We must get together more often.'
'Starting to like my pussy, are you?'
'I always have but maybe I'm at that stage in life where my needs are becoming more acute.'
'That could very well be. I'm not that old yet myself.'
'But I'm sure you can appreciate what I'm going through though.'
'You don't have to justify yourself to me.'
'I know but I want you to understand because it's important where Samantha is concerned.'
'Martha, if you want to tell me, okay but don't think or assume that I can really understand. I can lay here and nod my head and say sympathetic things but you're the only one who really knows what's going on.'
Martha studied her drink for a minute as if she was counting the tiny bubbles that made their way from the bottom of the glass to the surface where they burst and made her nose tickle.
'Yes, you're right of course. Maybe I was just feeling sorry for myself. Maybe I'm getting too lonely,' she admitted sadly.
'Well, you're certainly entitled to feel that way but we're all alone. We just have to make the best of a bad situation.'
'You're a heartless bitch, do you know that?'
'I believe you but you still like me'
'True enough. Maybe it's because I'm heartless myself sometimes.'
'You have to be. You're rich and I don't think you really know what you want and sometimes you get confused and very unhappy.'
Martha took a big pull out of her drink and took off the robe, laying it across the foot of the bed. The window was open and there was a cool breeze that seemed to sweep up from the city that lay sprawled below them, its lights still twinkling.
'I know. All of which you say is true, I won't even bother to deny it.'
'In any case, I'm going to gladly help you with your daughter, if that's any consolation.'
'It is.'
'Good.'
'I'm glad too. I'm glad we talk like this. It helps. I don't have too many close friends.'
'I know.'
'And tomorrow we'll still be our same old selves when we wake up.'
'Yes,' said Caroline. 'And you'll be worried about other things and you'll probably ask yourself why did I talk like that to Caroline.'
'I probably won't. Even I'm entitled to a moment's weakness,' said Martha.
'Of course you are.' Caroline yawned. 'Getting tired?' asked Martha. 'As a matter of fact I am. I have this boss you see who makes me get up very early in the morning.'
'I'll leave then.'
Martha put on her clothes and leaned over and stroked Caroline's breasts before she left.
'Silly old bitch,' muttered Caroline as she turned out the light and rolled over onto her side.
Martha went to her room where she undressed and finished her drink while in bed. 'Yes, she has her talents,' she said, referring to Caroline. 'Now we'll see just how good she really is.' Then she closed her eyes and fell asleep quicker than she thought she was going to.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
A week passed.
Martha kept herself busy, having several social engagements and when she was through with those, spending a lot of time working on her tan, trying not to think of Samantha.
Cordova tried to avoid both Samantha and Martha, knowing he couldn't do it forever unless he wanted to quit but nevertheless relishing the free time he had to himself, knowing it wasn't going to last.
Caroline waited patiently, wondering what Cordova was going to be like in bed, wondering what Samantha was going to be like in bed, wondering how Martha was going to arrange it all.
Samantha thought of nothing.
'So here you are,' said Martha to Samantha as she came out onto the veranda one afternoon.
'Yes, I thought I'd have my lunch here.'
'It's an excellent idea.'
'Want to join me?'
'I'll eat at my club, thanks.'
The sun was warm and Samantha wore a pair of shorts and a halter. She was braless and Martha looked with envy at her chest, remembering her own fine breasts when they were younger.
'There's something I want to talk to you about,' said Martha as she adjusted her sunglasses, facing directly into the sun.
'What's that?'
Martha took a sip out of a glass of iced tea she had brought with her and leaned back in her chair, feeling the heat and liking it.
'I'm aware of what's been going on between you and Cordova,' she said.
'Do you disapprove?'
'No, I neither disapprove nor approve. You're almost a grown woman, you're certainly free to do what you want with your body.'
'So why even mention it then?'
'I just wanted you to know you don't have to sneak around, that's all.'
'I was worried about him.'
'You thought I was going to fire him?'
'It entered my mind.'
'There's no need to worry. In spite of the propriety which I'm sometimes obliged to wear, I really run a very loose house.'
'So I'm beginning to gather.'
'Just be discreet, that's all.'
'Meaning what?'
'Meaning that I don't care who you fuck as long as you don't spread yourself too thin. We do have a certain amount of standing that we have to maintain but the rules aren't as strict as you may think they are as long as you don't try to abuse them.'
'I'll try to remember.'
'I'm sure you will and try not to take him away from his duties, will you? What he does in his free time is his own business, during working hours it's my business,' said Martha.
