Chapter 16
The day dawned warm and clear. A faint green smell carried down on the breeze as it hissed through the high leaves of the trees across the road. The first rays of the sun began to warm the semicircle of cabins long before their occupants were completely awake.
Mrs. Bains stirred slowly as the sounds of the morning penetrated into her room. She turned over and drew the thin spread up around her face, trying to shut out the light and the faint twittering of the birds.
But it was no use. She lay quietly for several minutes, trying to find sleep again, but it eluded her. Unaccountably, she was awake.
She sat up in bed and looked at the small alarm clock on the table beside her. It was seven o'clock She sighed and looked at her pillow longingly. It had been some time since she had seen the day so young. Her duties at the desk and the bar usually kept her awake far into the night and she rarely set the clock for any hour earlier than noon.
As if waking up at this hour wasn't bad enough, she thought with disgust, I have to anticipate the clock. She peered at the small hand which indicated the setting of the alarm. The clock wasn't due to go off for another ten minutes.
She thought for a moment of lying back again and trying to catch a few more winks, then rejected it. Ten minutes wasn't enough time to fight over.
She sighed again and swung her legs off the bed. Her head felt heavy and cottony; she found it difficult to get the wheels turning. Her eyes kept closing slowly, despite her efforts to keep them open.
This is stupid, she thought. Why am I getting up so early? Why don't I just shut off the alarm and go back to sleep? I'm not going to be any good for anything today if I don't get some sleep.
She looked at the clock again. There was no doubt about it. She had set the alarm for seven-ten.
Now, why had she done that? She tried to recall the night just past. What could have made her want to arise this early?
Then, all at once, she remembered.
She sat up straight on the edge of the bed Her eyes came open and she glanced around the room. She listened carefully, but no sound came to break into the morning stillness.
She got up from the bed and padded across the room to the window which looked out into the court. The cabin doors were closed. She could see no sign of life or movement anywhere.
She turned and walked back across the room to the window overlooking the parking lot. Yes, they were still there: the black, dust-streaked sedan and the flashy white convertible.
The man-the girl-the woman-the boy; they were all still here. The little drama wasn't finished yet.
She went into the bathroom and splashed cold water on her face. The shock of it brought her completely awake. Her mouth tasted stale and sour from lack of sleep, and she brushed her teeth carefully, noting with pleasure, as she did every morning, that they were still her own.
She returned to the bedroom and listened at the door which led into the registration office. She could hear no sign of life.
She felt rather gritty and unwashed-she wanted to be sure that she would not miss the departure of either of the couples. The events of the previous night had set her itching with curiosity, and she wanted to be sure to see the finale.
At last she decided that a quick shower would be a good idea. It was still early. She doubted it either of the couples would be up and about yet. She pulled her nightgown over her head and went into the bathroom.
As the water splashed against her body, she listened intently for any sound from the office. Gradually, however, the soothing warmth of the spray drove all thoughts of urgency from her mind. She soaped her body luxuriously, letting the hot water wash the stiffness out of her sleepy muscles.
When she was done, she stepped out of the shower stall and towelled herself dry. Then she walked nude back into the bedroom. The mirror over the bureau caught her reflection and she paused to examine it.
She was pleased to see that she looked younger naked than she did when dressed. It had been some time, she realized with surprise, since she had looked upon her unclothed body. She was fat, but the plump areas of her body were without sag or wrinkle, and there was a youthful firmness in the understructure of muscle and bone.
She laughed at herself and watched her large breasts jiggle. II Red could only see me now, she thought, I wonder what he would think.
She shook the thought away and went to the bureau.
She paused for a moment over the piles of underthings in the top drawer; then, on an impulse, she reached to the bottom of the pile and pulled forth a bright red brassiere and a pair of panties to match it. This was a combination she had purchased on a whim several years ago, and she never wore it unless there was nothing else clean. It seemed rather foolish for a woman of her age and station to be wearing anything so bright and young-looking, but she felt an unde-finable urge to dress daringly for the day to come.
I'm a silly old woman, she thought as she placed the bra and panties on the bed. She glanced into the drawer again, looking for a slip. Then, she shook her head and pushed the drawer closed. She didn't own anything that would do justice to the gaiety of these red underthings. No slip today, she decided. Let's live dangerously.
When she was dressed, she went through the connecting door to the office. Red was behind the desk. Mrs. Bains stopped, startled.
He glanced up from the register and smiled at her. "Hi, Mrs. B. Up kind of early, aren't you?"
"Red-" she said in surprise, "I didn't know you were here. When did you come back?"
He laughed. "I never left. I stayed in Number 22 all night."
"Number 22? You mean, you didn't go back to town at all last night?"
He reached around the desk and grabbed her hand, pulling her in beside him. "You think you're the only one who's interested in other people's business?" he said. "You don't fool me, Elsie. You're up its early for the same reason that I stayed here last night-I guess we both want to see how this all comes out."
Mrs. Bains laughed. "Why, you're as nosey an old coot as I am. I thought only women were like that. I didn't know big strong men like to peek through keyholes."
"It all depends what's on the other side," he said.
She leaned over the desk and glanced at the register. Suddenly, she stiffened with surprise.
"Red-that man-it says here-"
"Yep," he replied calmly. "He left about fifteen minutes ago."
While I was taking the shower, she thought cursing herself. A thought struck her and she looked up at Red. "What about that young girl? Did he take her with him?"
"Nope," Red replied. "He didn't leave with the girl."
Mrs. Bains shook her head sadly. "It's a bad business, Red. That young girl-"
Red cut her off. "He left with the blonde," he said.
Mrs. Bains couldn't believe her ears. "The blonde? You mean, that woman I took to the ladies room?"
"That's the one," he said.
"But what about the boy who was with her? And the girl? Where are they?"
"They're in Number 14," Red said. "Been there all night"
Mrs. Bains felt her mouth slowly opening. "You mean-they-switched?"
"I guess that's what you'd call it," he replied with a shrug. "There are some things about what happened last night that we're never going to know."
"He left with the blonde," she said, still unable to believe it. "Did they say anything?"
"Not much. The guy paid for both his room and the blonde's, and left some extra money in case the kids wanted to stay on a while. Oh, and the blonde left this." He reached under the counter and brought up a pair of keys.
"Keys?" she said. "For what?"
He took her by the arm and led her around the front door. He pointed off into the parking lot, his finger aimed at the white convertible.
"That," he said.
"The car?"
"Yep. The blonde said she didn't want it any more. Said it reminded her of too much, or something like that. She said that maybe the kids could find some use for it. The guy said he would stop in the next town and make arrangements to transfer the ownership. Then they went out to his car and drove off. They looked pretty happy."
Red paused, and glanced down at Mrs. Bains. "Oh, and one more thing. He told me to tell you thanks. How come?"
Mrs. Bains smiled. "I'll tell you later," she said. She put her hand on his cheek and turned his head toward the cabins.
The boy and the girl were coming across the court, hand in hand.
They were very surprised when Red gave them the money.
They were astounded when he gave them the keys and told them what they were for.
Later, they watched the young people sitting in their car, counting the money and talking happily together. They kissed once-a lingering, gentle kiss. Then the boy put the car in gear and pulled out onto the highway. He aimed the white convertible north and it disappeared down the road.
"She said something about the Red Apple Inn," Red mused. "They're heading the opposite way."
"I wonder where they're going," Mrs. Bains said quietly.
"Who knows?" Red answered. "Where's anybody going?"
The morning passed swiftly. By noon, the motel was empty of its occupants.
Red was in the bar, washing up and lining the clean glasses in neat ranks along the gleaming wooden shelves. He whistled softly to himself.
Let her sleep, he thought. Poor old girl is tired out.
He glanced up at the clock, and caught it with its face toward him. "Well, I'll be damned," he said aloud. He decided it was a good omen.
I'll give her another hour, he thought. Then I'M go wake her up.
He smiled. I wonder if she knows that I could see that red brassiere through her blouse? he thought. I wonder if she knows what I have in mind?
The decision had been growing in him since the previous night. It had been the principal reason for his staying on at the motel. He was interested, of course, in the outcome of that business with the couples, but he was more interested in Elsie.
It's about time I took the bull by the horns, he thought. I've been sitting on my hands for ten years years now, and that's too long for anybody. Too long for her, as well as me.
He chuckled softly.
Why the hell should the customers have all the fun? he thought.
When an hour had passed he went through the office and into the bedroom. The shades were drawn. Mrs. Bains' bed lay in shadow.
He walked quietly over to her and sat on the edge of the bed. She stirred and turned toward him. The sheet fell away and Red found himself looking at the bright crimson brassiere.
"Elsie...." he said softly.
She remained still for a moment. Then she opened her eyes and looked up at him.
"Time to get up?" she said, smiling sleepily.
"Not yet," he answered, leaning over to kiss her softly on the lips.
She drew away, startled. "Red-what are you doing?" Her eyes were wide, but the expression was not fear. She seemed to be unaware that the sheet had fallen away from her breasts.
"Just felt like kissing you," he said. "You looked so pretty, lying there in your red underwear."
She laughed. "Why, you dirty old man! Stealing into a lady's boudoir and looking at her underwear! I'm surprised at you!"
"I'm surprised at myself," he answered, "for not thinking of this ten years ago." He slipped his hands under her arms and around her back. She felt his fingers at the snaps of her bra.
"Red-" she said faintly, as the elastic bands parted. He pulled the bra over her arms and dropped it to the floor.
He put his lips to her naked breast.
Mrs. Bains felt the old ache across her. He put her hands on his bead, drawing him close against her.
His hand slipped under the edge of the sheet and down across her round stomach. He lifted his head and put his mouth next to her ear.
"We're not so old as people think," he said, pressing her back with the weight of his body. "There's plenty of time for us yet."
"Oh, Red-" she breathed. "It's been so long."
Her hands helped and encouraged him as he struggled out of his clothing. She felt the cold touch of the air as he slipped the red panties from around her hips. Then his body warmed her.
Once, while the old pleasure was engulfing her, and she was being touched with new life, the ghost of Norman flittered across her mind.
Don't be angry with me, my love, she said to him. I'm still a woman. And you've been gone such a long time.
The figure looked at her and smiled, and suddenly she felt young again.
The rays of the setting sun touched the Happy Inn Motel with gold.