Chapter 3
The rest of the day Carol kept focusing on what had happened with Larry Gilbert.
She thought about the situation and how her resistance had weakened. Perhaps the answer was to find the right man as soon as possible, she thought. Carol recognized that she was a young girl who possessed a great deal in the way of female passions. She concluded that if she did not find the right man, she might be tempted into more relations like those with young men like Larry.
She was still in a troubled state of mind when she got home from work late that afternoon.
She entered the apartment, not even having to unlock the door, which was open. That meant that her room mate, Betty Johnson, an attractive red -haired secretary of twenty-four, was home.
Betty was reading the newspaper and sipping a martini as she entered the room.
"Hello, Carol," Betty looked up from the paper and smiled.
"How's it going, Betty?"
"Oh, just fine. How about me fixing you a martini?"
"Yeah, I think that I can use one," Carol nodded.
"You say that like you're frustrated or something."
"Oh, not any more so than usual, I guess," she shrugged.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I mean that the work gets kind of tough at the hospital. Particularly for somebody like me who is pretty far down on the ladder as far as seniority goes."
"Then I guess what you're telling me is that you get the dirty end of the stick more than the girls who have been there a little while."
"To put it precisely, that's it. You're right."
"That's what I thought you were saying," she nodded. "That's the way it was for me when I was at the office starting out. Now it's a little different, but I really sympathize with those girls who are just beginning. The bosses always put them through the most difficult chores to see if they've got that certain stick-to-it-iveness."
"That's what I'm going through."
"I really sympathize with you, honey. Like you said, you can use a drink."
Actually Carol was dominated by what had happened late that morning. She still couldn't get young Larry Gilbert off her mind. But what had caused the apprehension was not so much the fact that Larry had had sex with her, as it was the fact that she had succumbed the way that she hadn't thought possible.
Betty served up the martinis and she quickly bolted it down.
"Wow, that's not like you to drink that fast," Betty said.
"Maybe I'm a little thirstier tonight," Carol shrugged.
"I don't think it's thirstiness, I think you're disenchanted."
"Maybe so."
"Would you care for another drink?"
"No, better leave it at that."
"Shrewd girl," Betty acknowledged. "I've got some good news for you."
"What's that?"
"Well, a friend of yours just called a few minutes ago."
"Who was that?" she asked curiously.
"Oh, it's Gary Peterson. You certainly remember him."
"Oh yes, the insurance salesman that I double dated with. The one that you introduced me to."
"That's right. We double dated last week. Gary's the guy."
"What did he have to say?"
"He wanted to talk to you."
"Is that right?"
"He left a number for you to call."
"When does he want me to call?"
"He said he'd appreciate a call as soon as you got in. He left a number at this cocktail bar where he was."
"Then I guess I'll give him a call."
"He's really pretty nice. He seems to be doing very well. And, on top of that, he's good looking."
"I noticed that myself," Carol smiled. "Good luck with him."
"Thank you."
Carol walked into the other room. Betty remained in the living room, not wanting to eavesdrop on her friend when she was on the telephone.
Carol dialed the number. A man answered the telephone.
"Marty's Bar," he said.
"I'd like to speak with Gary Peterson, please."
"Sure thing," the man said.
She could hear the commotion emanating in the bar. She heard Gary's name called.
A few moments later Gary Peterson picked up the telephone.
"Hello," he said in that smooth voice of his.
"Gary, this is Carol MacDonald."
"Yes, dear. How are things going with you?"
"Well, kind of hectic."
"I know. I've gone with a few nurses before. I can sympathize with you. It's really a tough type of work."
"Yes, but you've got to keep things in perspective. It also has its rewarding side."
"Yeah, that it has," he concurred. "Listen, I was wondering if you would like to have dinner with me tonight and take in a play. I've got two tickets to the Huntington Hartford Theater."
"Gee, I've been wanting to see the play that is appearing there. Is the Shakespeare troupe still there?"
"Yes, it is."
"I'd love to go."
"Good. Do you happen to know where the Fifth Street Restaurant is?"
"Yes, on Fifth Street," she chuckled.
"Right on," he laughed. "I mean, whereabouts on Fifth?"
"Yes, I do. I haven't eaten there, but I've been by it many times."
"O.K., I'm right down the street from there. How about you driving over this way and meeting me at the restaurant? We can go from there to the play."
"Alright. Yes, I can meet you."
"I have my main office in this same section. I would offer to drive over and pick you up, but that would take more time than you coming over to meet me here."
"Yes, I agree. This will be a whole lot simpler."
"So when can you meet me?"
"Oh, I can be over there in less than an hour."
"Good. So I'll see you then."
"Thank you for asking me."
"You're quite welcome. I had a good time the other night."
He hung up the phone.
Carol was feeling very happy about things. Perhaps this would be the man for her. He had acted like a gentleman when she had dated him on that other occasion. In addition, she liked the fact that he was articulate and polite. He seemed to have a good deal of class.
Carol showed up in forty-five minutes at the restaurant. There she enjoyed her dinner with Gary Peterson, who talked to her in a highly charming manner.
They then went to the theater, where she thoroughly enjoyed the Shakespeare production.
As she left the theater, walking hand in hand with Gary, she was beginning to feel that perhaps she had met the right man. If only she could find somebody who was genuinely interested in her, a marital possibility, then she would not have to fear incidents such as that which occurred earlier that day with her young patient.
"Why don't we stop at the bar and have a drink?" Gary suggested. "Besides, your car is parked right near there."
"Alright, that will be fine."
"Then we'll do it."
"Certainly we will. I really enjoyed the play."
"You know, not just any girl would be able to fully appreciate a play like that. You're a very high class young woman."
"Thank you," she smiled.
Carol was feeling very good when they arrived at the bar. They sat at a table in a darkened corner of the room.
"I'll have a Scotch and soda," Gary said, when the cocktail waitress appeared at the table.
"I guess I'll have the same thing," Carol smiled.
The girl nodded, walking to the bar and picking up a drink. She then set the drinks down at the table.
All of a sudden Gary started to look at Carol pensively. She wondered what he was about to discuss with her. He took several quick sips from his drink, then resumed conversation.
"You know, Carol, I think quite a bit of you."
"I like you too, Gary."
"That's good, that's very good."
At that point Gary startled Carol by reaching underneath the table and stroking her thigh with his right hand.
It stunned her, since it did not in any way comport with the image she held of him.
"I'd appreciate it if you'd remove your hand, Gary," she said.
"Come on now, what's a little affection between friends?" he laughed.
"I'd really appreciate it, Gary."
"O.K., honey, but there's really no need to be touchy."
"We are in public."
"Alright, have it your way," he finally conceded. "Honey, I just wanted to tell you a few things about my situation. I do very well in the insurance business. I make an awful lot of money."
"You strike me as being very successful. You are to be commended."
"Thank you. But there's something that I've got to tell you."
"Go ahead, Gary."
"I'm married."
At that point Carol's chin dropped with great disappointment.
"I know what you're thinking," Gary said. "It doesn't have to interfere with our relationship at all."
"It doesn't?"
"Not in the least."
"Just what would you suggest?" she looked at him curiously.
"I'd suggest that we keep right on having the same type of relationship that we have now. Except for one thing. I want it to be more intimate, more physical."
"I see. How do you get along with your wife?"
"I get along o.k. with her, except for one thing. I want somebody with a little more sex drive. I want more sex than I am able to get at home."
"Then I suppose that's where I come in."
"To put it quite bluntly, yes."
"Let's put things bluntly. I don't like phonies of any kind."
"I know you don't. I'm sure I can see that. As a successful salesman, I naturally have to be very good at reading into human instincts and tendencies."
"I suppose you do."
"So here's what I'd suggest. I'd certainly make it worth your while for sex."
"How do you know I'm worth it? You've never had sex with me."
"I hope that we can correct that situation quickly," he smiled. "You're young, very beautiful, and have an overpoweringly lovely figure. I know that I'd love you sexually. I just know it. As a matter-of-fact, I hope that after we've discussed this matter, we can go to a motel not far from here and have sex for the first time."
"Just what is it that you want to discuss with me?"
"As I said, I could make it very worth your while, if you'll continue this relationship with me, but in a more sexual way. I just wish that you would be my mistress. I know how that sounds. I want you to think this over and think it over carefully. It's really nothing to be shocked about. I'll furnish you with beautiful clothes, a beautiful apartment. All the trimmings. In addition to that, I'll arrange for you to meet me in different places for vacations. You know, combining business and pleasure."
"What about my nursing position?"
"I think that you ought to give that up. A beautiful girl like you should be living a lot more comfortably."
"And you'll foot the entire bill?"
"Yes, I will. Now what do you say, darling?"
He was smiling broadly. She was fuming underneath, even though she had done her best to control her temper.
Now she had heard his entire story. And she was fuming more noticeably than ever.
She reached out with her right hand and slapped his face.
Then she jumped up from her seat.
"Don't be hasty about this," Gary said, obviously stunned by her abrupt reaction.
"I'm not being hasty about anything," she exploded. "You filled me in on all the details. That's all I've got to know."
"But honey, it would be a wonderful way to live."
"Maybe for some people. Not for me."
She turned and stalked angrily out of the bar. All eyes were focused on her, in that everyone in the bar had observed her slapping Gary's face.
Her fingers were trembling and the tears were rolling down her cheeks as she got into her car and drove back to the apartment.
Betty was watching a television program when she entered the apartment.
"How did it go, honey?" Betty asked.
"Downright lousy."
"How come?"
"The sonofabitch is married, and asked me to be his mistress," Carol exploded.
"The hypocrite," Betty said. "He told me he was single."
"Well, he lied to you."
Carol went immediately to her room, closing the door behind her.
Now she was more frustrated than ever. The man she had hoped would apply some badly needed stability to her life had been anything but stable himself.