It was only then that I realized I had forgotten to bring a bottle of Galliano. I went back to the lobby and from a vending machine I bought two cans of cold A amp;W diet root beer. I was happy with my choice.
Mabel would be delighted!
She arrived about twenty minutes later, and she looked absolutely beautiful! She was wearing jeans and a pink cotton shirt, and her hair positively glistened. She was radiant, and I realized how fortunate I was that she loved me.
I took her in my arms and told her how I felt.
'Sweetheart,' I said, 'just being with you is all a man could want.
These moments are so precious to me. You look so sweet I could eat you up.'
'That, too,' she said. 'Where's the Galliano?'
'First,' I said, 'let's snuggle awhile.'
She looked at me strangely. 'Snuggle?' she said. on Tuesday morning Herm came over for a Hcup of java and gave me the motel pitch again. I figured what the hell, fish or cut bait, Shouldn't-I have fun. and I was tired of the shit I was taking So I made up my mind right then and told him okay, I'd shack up with him at noon on Wednesday If he was even half the lover he claimed to be, it would be a hoot. had Finally deciding calmed me down. I mean I been worrying the problem a long time, and now I felt with Dr. Cherry things. I had a session better about esday afternoon and tried to explain. Noble on Tu 'Look,' I said, 'I'm no great brain, and I know it. I happen to be a very physical woman, and I need my jollies. Is that so awful?'
'Quite normal,' she said, smiling.
'So I've decided to kick over the traces,' I went on. 'One time, at least. I don't like the idea of cheating on my husband, but what he doesn't know won't hurt him-right? , 'Mmm,' she said.
'I know I'm taking a chance,' I said. 'I mean if this guy turns out to be the world's greatest stud, I might get hooked.
Know what I mean?'
'I know,' she said.
'Then it would become a habit, and I'd turn into a bimbo.
But I don't think that's going to happen. I may not be brainy, but I know what's best for me. Greg has a lot of good qualities.
He's steady, a hard worker, and I guess he loves me in his own nutty way. And he brings home the paycheck. I'm not giving that up for a toss in the hay, even if the guy turns out to be Superman.'
Cherry looked at me a moment. 'I presume the man you're talking about is your next-door neighbor, the one you told me about.'
'That's right. He's a boozer, which is another reason I can't see myself getting seriously involved. But he's fun, and that's something that's been missing from my life.'
'By fun I presume you mean sexual pleasure.'
'That's what I mean all right. Do you blame me?'
'No, Mabel, I don't blame you. I'm not going to tell you that you're doing the right thing or the wrong thing. It's your choice to make.
Do you want to continue seeing me?'
That question surprised me because after I decided I'd give Herman Todd a hump, I also decided I didn't need Dr. Noble anymore. I mean I had found a cure for what ailed me, hadn't I?
So why did I need a shrink? Besides, it cost plenty.
'I think I should stop,' I admitted. 'I really appreciate your listening to all my complaints. It's been a big help talking to a smart woman like you. But maybe I'll try things on my own for a while.
Okay?'
'of course,' she said. 'I understand completely. I wish you the best of luck, and if you ever decide you'd like to talk to me again, I'll be here.'
'You're a darling,' I said.,You know that? Listen, doc, you got a guy?'
She flipped a hand back and forth. 'Sort of,' she said.
'Well, he's an idiot if he lets you get away,' I told her.
She laughed. 'Thank you, Mabel. I think so, too, but I'm not sure he does.'
'What's the problem?' I asked her.
She looked at me in a strained kind of way. 'Much the same as yours,' she said finally. 'With complications.'
And that's all she'd say.
I spent all Wednesday morning getting ready. Chester was out in the garage with Tania Todd-I guess they were playing or something-so I had the house to myself.
I was going to get all gussied up because this was a big deal in my life. But then I figured what was the point because I'd be bare-ass naked all afternoon and didn't have to impress Herm with my duds. He'd probably rip them off anyway. So after I showered, I just pulled on jeans and a cotton shirt so if anyone saw me, they'd think I was heading for Sears or someplace like that. , While I was doing my hair, Laura Gunther phoned from Hashbeam's Bo-teek.
'Mabel,' she said, all excited, 'you've got to come down right away.
We just got in a new shipment of lingerie, and you're going to love some of the things. I took one look and immediately thought of you.'
'Aw, Laura,' I said, 'I can't make it today. I promised this friend to have lunch with her at Mizner Plaza. As a matter of fact, I was just leaving when you called.'
'That's too bad,' she said. 'You'll be gone all day? '
'Probably,' I told her. 'But I'll try to stop by tomorrow.
'
'That's fine,' she said. 'See you then.'
So I finished dressing. I didn't take a purse or handbag, just my wallet stuck in the hip pocket of my jeans. I didn't want to run the risk of leaving ID in the motel room.
'Chester, I'm going out now,' I called into the garage.
'Got some shopping to do. I'll be home for dinner.'
'Okay, Ma,' he yelled. 'Take your time.'
I got into the Roadmaster, took a deep breath, and started out for Fort Lauderdale. Herm's directions were easy to follow, and I don't think it took much over twenty minutes to find the motel. What can I tell you-it looked like a motel. It wasn't the Ritz-Carlton, but it seemed clean enough. The best part was that it was way off in the woods, and the chances of being spotted by someone I knew were practically nil.
Like Herman promised, I had no trouble at the desk. They gave me his room number right away with no questions asked. Up to that point, everything had gone without a hitch, and I was really beginning to get excited at what was going to happen now.
The room he had rented was nothing special, just your standard motel flop, but what the hell, we weren't going to live there. What was a shock was Herm's behavior. He greeted me with this sappy smile, and if I didn't know better, I'd have guessed he was stoned. Not drunk, but stoned.
After the door closed and locked, he grabbed me in his arms and held me tightly. He said he wanted to snuggle awhile. So we stood there clasped together like a couple of idiots for what seemed like five minutes. 'Oh, I just love to hug,' he said.
'Don't you just love to hug?'
'Well, yeah, sure,' I said. 'A hug is okay. Sort of like an appetizer-know what I mean?'
Finally he turned me loose and led me over to one of the beds. We sat close together. Now we'll get down to business, I thought. Then I noticed a thing on the bedside table that looked like a little vending machine. it had a long wire leading to the mattress.
'What's that?' I asked him.
'Oh, that's funny,' he said. 'You turn it on, and the bed starts to vibrate.'
'No kidding?' I said. 'I've never seen anything like that.
Turn it on, Herm.'
'We don't need it, sweetheart.' , 'I just want to see how it works. Switch it on.
