05-01-2022, 02:23 AM
But the togetherness was abundantly exploited. Their eyes met again and again, their hands, and although not many words were spoken, both knew what the other was thinking.
But then Martin's sense of reality came to the fore again.
He put his hand on hers:
"Marilyn," ... he began in an uncertain voice, "I think we should have a talk about which way we are going. You know I love being with you. I haven't often said this to a woman, but with you I can say it easily and safely: I've fallen in love with you, yes I love you. But you are married. I just let my feelings get the better of me. But I thought about it on the couch today, and I had even considered leaving right away and not being here this morning."
He had expected Marilyn to now look at him with wide eyes and start crying. But she remained calm. Only her happy expression changed to a thoughtful one.
"Yes Martin, I too have fallen in love with you. I would have loved to stay on the couch with you tonight. And if I'm honest, I actually didn't sleep at all tonight because I was thinking about the same thing. And I was also obeying if you weren't leaving because I was actually afraid of that too. However..." she smiled again, "I would now be standing in front of your door with fresh cake and these home-baked rolls!"
Now it was up to Martin to laugh out loud. "I think I've come across an incorrigible woman there!"
"Yes maybe," then she became serious again, "but tonight, when I just couldn't hold back any more and cried without restraint, I realised what I've been missing over the last few years. Sure, Robert is a fine guy in his own way, but he's not a man for me. I realised today what I'm missing out on, what this relationship is costing me in strength. Maybe these are just feelings born out of the situation, but I don't think so. Tonight I experienced what two people can give each other, what closeness and togetherness can really mean. And I don't want to do without it any more. We are two grown-up people. We know that we hardly know each other now and maybe in a few months many things would be different. But somewhere there is the man who gives me what I long for. However, and I would like to say this now: I have also fallen in love. In love with a lonely man who sat abandoned on a bench in the middle of winter and who looked at me with wide eyes as if I were a Christmas miracle and who gave me more in one week than my husband had given me in many years..."
The two now sat silently opposite each other. Breakfast tasted nowhere near as good as it had in the beginning.
But neither wanted to call an end to it now, or do or say anything that might mean that.
Only when they had finished breakfast and were clearing the cutlery together did Marilyn look at Martin:
"Can you give me a few days, maybe until the weekend? By then I'm sure I can tell you what I'm going to do."
"I think that's a good idea," Martin agreed, though it was now up to him to ignore the lump in his throat.
Marilyn snuggled up to him once more. Her arms went around his neck and then she looked up at him.
His eyes were wet now: "I love you!" she whispered.
"Me too!" he whispered back and then went to the front door.
But just as Martin was about to close the door, he heard Marilyn still calling, he turned again, "Yes?"
"Can you please help me. Robert picked up another laundry basket full of old things from his parents yesterday, which I want to take away tomorrow. But the boot lid won't hold. All you have to do is hold this stupid lid, is that still possible?"
Martin nodded, even though he realised that this would only be an excuse to keep him near her for a few more minutes.
But why shouldn't he do her this favour. For him, too, every minute with her was still precious, no matter what would happen after this week.
She threw on another jacket and then came running with the garage key.
Soon the garage door swung upwards with a loud squeak.
And if the discussion with Marilyn and his thoughts about their relationship had not been enough, there was now a Chrysler in the garage.
Even though it was not blue but white, the memories of the accident came flooding back...
But then Martin's sense of reality came to the fore again.
He put his hand on hers:
"Marilyn," ... he began in an uncertain voice, "I think we should have a talk about which way we are going. You know I love being with you. I haven't often said this to a woman, but with you I can say it easily and safely: I've fallen in love with you, yes I love you. But you are married. I just let my feelings get the better of me. But I thought about it on the couch today, and I had even considered leaving right away and not being here this morning."
He had expected Marilyn to now look at him with wide eyes and start crying. But she remained calm. Only her happy expression changed to a thoughtful one.
"Yes Martin, I too have fallen in love with you. I would have loved to stay on the couch with you tonight. And if I'm honest, I actually didn't sleep at all tonight because I was thinking about the same thing. And I was also obeying if you weren't leaving because I was actually afraid of that too. However..." she smiled again, "I would now be standing in front of your door with fresh cake and these home-baked rolls!"
Now it was up to Martin to laugh out loud. "I think I've come across an incorrigible woman there!"
"Yes maybe," then she became serious again, "but tonight, when I just couldn't hold back any more and cried without restraint, I realised what I've been missing over the last few years. Sure, Robert is a fine guy in his own way, but he's not a man for me. I realised today what I'm missing out on, what this relationship is costing me in strength. Maybe these are just feelings born out of the situation, but I don't think so. Tonight I experienced what two people can give each other, what closeness and togetherness can really mean. And I don't want to do without it any more. We are two grown-up people. We know that we hardly know each other now and maybe in a few months many things would be different. But somewhere there is the man who gives me what I long for. However, and I would like to say this now: I have also fallen in love. In love with a lonely man who sat abandoned on a bench in the middle of winter and who looked at me with wide eyes as if I were a Christmas miracle and who gave me more in one week than my husband had given me in many years..."
The two now sat silently opposite each other. Breakfast tasted nowhere near as good as it had in the beginning.
But neither wanted to call an end to it now, or do or say anything that might mean that.
Only when they had finished breakfast and were clearing the cutlery together did Marilyn look at Martin:
"Can you give me a few days, maybe until the weekend? By then I'm sure I can tell you what I'm going to do."
"I think that's a good idea," Martin agreed, though it was now up to him to ignore the lump in his throat.
Marilyn snuggled up to him once more. Her arms went around his neck and then she looked up at him.
His eyes were wet now: "I love you!" she whispered.
"Me too!" he whispered back and then went to the front door.
But just as Martin was about to close the door, he heard Marilyn still calling, he turned again, "Yes?"
"Can you please help me. Robert picked up another laundry basket full of old things from his parents yesterday, which I want to take away tomorrow. But the boot lid won't hold. All you have to do is hold this stupid lid, is that still possible?"
Martin nodded, even though he realised that this would only be an excuse to keep him near her for a few more minutes.
But why shouldn't he do her this favour. For him, too, every minute with her was still precious, no matter what would happen after this week.
She threw on another jacket and then came running with the garage key.
Soon the garage door swung upwards with a loud squeak.
And if the discussion with Marilyn and his thoughts about their relationship had not been enough, there was now a Chrysler in the garage.
Even though it was not blue but white, the memories of the accident came flooding back...
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