The Robe

[swiftest]

Re: The Robe

Winnie, and that was definitely her name, ordered two coffees, one black and one she had to add milk to. She was close to the table occupied by Nola and Lottie, Lottie said, "hello, is the man in the wheel chair your Father" ? Winnie glanced at her saying, "no, not that its any of your business, but that man is my husband". Nola stood, said, "my friend meant no harm, just curious, perhaps we three came very close to meeting, a long, long time ago, more than thirty years in fact....does the name Bill ring any bells" ?
Winnie poured too much milk, cursed and added a handful of serviettes to the spill. Looked at her husband and turned on Nola. "oh yeah, not bells exactly, more like a nail scratching on a blackboard, yes, good old Bill, the son of a bitch, I hope the bastard is dead and now if you'll excuse me, I hope we never meet again. Nola blocked her path and quietly said, "Bill didn't give you what you were in the hospital for, your doctor, Sprague if I remember, must have told you that, now, why not see that your husband gets his coffee and tell him you have just met an old friend, join us or we can join you if you prefer".
Winnie hesitated then said, "my husband has a heart condition otherwise your invitation would be ignored". She spent five minutes with her husband, returned to the table, sat and said, "Bill the bastard is the only man I was with at that time" and Nola said, "I said exactly the same thing, trouble is, Bill was clean, no gon, no nothing, clean, and my friend here, my darling friend Lottie, she too was seeing Bill and she too was clean, only you and me Winnie and you were infected some time before you met Bill and once I got honest with myself, I knew who I got it from". Winnie said, "wait a minute your not suggesting we got it from the same person". Nola laughed, "no, I seldom go to the Hill, have never shagged a Member of Parliament, and believe me if I were going to he wouldn't be a Conservative". A heavy sigh from Winnie before she said, "should I be taping this, perhaps file a law suit for invasion of privacy", but all knew she wasn't serious...then she smiled said, "I once called him a pervert".
Lottie said, "before or after he did you" ? And Winnie said, "after, not after he did me it was after I did him and he tried to stop me before the end....I felt so smug, had never done that before and I was in my thirties but then, I went to the bathroom, brushed my teeth, realized what I had done and told him he was a pervert and to get out of my apartment, I was raging at him, pulled the covers of him and screamed at him"...then she laughed said, "he just looked at me then said, "wiggle your ass to the fridge, I need a beer, first thing in the morning you be here and spread em"....the morning was our last time, we spoke later, after I got out of the hospital, but I just yelled at him and hung up"....Lottie said, "he phoned to see how you were".
Winnie returned to her husband's side; she had Nola's number but not sure if she would ever call.

[swiftest]

Re: The Robe

The siren ended the skating lesson. Marg and the two coaches were changing their footwear and the boys from Marg's group raised their sticks and yelled, "yeah Marg", then each gave her a high five. Lou, shoes on and ready to leave, looked at Marg nodded towards her group and said, "not a bad session but don't let that go to your head" and he was gone...the other coach smiled at Marg, "from Lou that is high praise, go on let it go to your head".
Lottie had left the cafeteria and was standing next to Marg, nudged her and Marg did the introductions. Marg had her skates dried and put away, shoes on and excused herselt because she had noticed Winnie walking towards a still seated Nola and she wanted a close up look at Winnie.
Winnie was seated with Nola and Marg went right to her, stuck a hand out and said, "hi, i'm Marg". Winnie shook the offered hand and said, "hello, would you mind giving us a few minutes" ?....Marg, a little taken aback said, "no, I don't mind, i'll just go have a coffee". She bought a coffee and noticed that Lottie was laughing with the other coach, shrugged and went to one of the benches where she sat by herself. A few minutes later all three were sitting in the car and Marg said, "let it warm up and fill me in".
Lottie said, "that fella is nice, he has my number and is going to call, but, you know, I really wanted to meet the older guy. Marg spoke, "Lottie when the other guy calls you, ask about Lou, I don't know his last name and I know nothing about him; Nola, your turn, what gives with you and Winnie". "I'm not sure, she started heavy but, I just don't know, I think she might be getting in touch with Bill, asked where he lived, oh, and her husband is loaded, was an M.P. and don't ask, because I don't know if he was her boss though I somehow doubt that.....now lets go and eat".
The ladies decided on a steak house, one that was known to Nola. It was a bit out of their way but Nola said it was worth the trip and when the meal was over, Marg and Lottie agreed. Marg was going to order a t-bone until Nola mentioned, "they cut the tenderloin off" so she ordered the porterhouse. Lottie chose a pizza, "wid everyting but I don't want no anchovies".....Nola rolled her eyes, said, "i'll settle for the buffet", and when the other two saw what she had both wished they had "settled"....but neither was really disappointed once their meals were eaten.
While the three were still in the parking lot of the arena, they watched Winnie put her husband into their vehicle...it was a van equipped with a wheel chair lift and the mercedes symbol attested to "loaded", this vehicle did not come cheap.

[swiftest]

Re: The Robe

Winnie drove home, the garage door opened by the magic eye, a manservant waited to take charge of the husband. After each hockey practice they attended, the routine seldom varied; home, Winnie checked the phone for messages, husband wheeled to a sun room, Winnie joining him while he had a small brandy, tea for her and the main topic of conversation, "will Cornelius play major junior A".
Winnie did not know. Her husband nodded, sipped, looked at her and said, "would the skating coach have an opinion" ? Winnie smiled, "you don't miss much". He tipped his head in acknowledgment, "I love you Winnie, a long time since I said I would look after you and the job isn't over.....and after we eat, I might have a suggestion". She smiled, "I will try and reach the coach and I look forward to, "after we eat".
She went to the kitchen, the domain of a lady cook. "Mistress Winnie going to eat" ? and Winnie said, "six o'clock, two salads, his scrambled eggs and I am for a steak, mushrooms, a crusty roll with lots of butter and pick a good red wine". Cook smiled said, "a wine for lovers, I think"....Winnie laughed and said, "maybe so".
Next stop for Winnie was her computer. 411 and found who she was looking for, hesitated and then thought, "what the hell" and dialed; four rings then "hello". A voice said, "hello Bill, been a while but better late than never for an apology and I am told one is due.....do you know who this is (?), by the way". Bill said, "mmmh, not really sure, I am thinking woman, ehm, very attractive, ehm, perhaps blue eyes, oh, wait a minute, would you by any chance have a freckle near your, oh dear, mustn't go too far, wait one minute, how about a small birth mark on your tongue". Winnie laughed sid, "okay, the memory is working but do you accept my apology and would you like an explanation" ? Bill said, "anything which is on offer" and Winnie said, "i'm married, Bill, booked for this evening, but who knows, if I do need a man, I will be in touch".

[swiftest]

Re: The Robe

Bill said, "you do that, but before you go I must say I am glad you called, you sound, ehm, happy". Winnie laughed, said, "you mean, not crazy, not like I was, c'mon Bill, you knew there was something wrong with me, any ideas" ? Bill said, "no, no ideas, later I had some, much, much later, years in fact"...there was a smile in her voice when she said, "then you did think about me, I am glad". Bill continued, "your looks alone make you a woman to always be remembered, and we did have our moments".......Winnie, with perhaps more than a hint of wistfulness said, "Laurier Street bridge", and Bill said, "oh yes for sure, you went from reluctant to wanting the world to witness.....but then there was the anger, the explosion and that was one time when I thought there might be a problem, just couldn't see any woman getting that angry over a pair of panty hose".......Winnie laughed again and said, "panty hose which drifted slowly into the canal but you are right, it had to do with what was wrong with my head.....I might tell you about that sometime but the reason for this call has to do with a hockey coach, a woman who knows a couple of ladies from your past.
Bill's concern was evident, "hockey coach(?) no, wait, are you talking about Marg, has something happened to Marg" ? Winnie raised her voice, Bill, settle down, nothing has happened to the woman...God, she must be special...i'm not even sure that is her name, okay (?)...it's why I called, well one of the reasons, and this woman was at a hockey practice, a practice which my husband's, grandson, great-grandson, whatever, was at and my hubby wants to know if the woman, who must have impressed him, might think that the boy has a future in hockey...the boy is an all star and plays against kids who are a year or two older......and she was with Nola and Lottie, two others you are bound to remember.
Bill laughed, probably nerves, then said, "Winnie don't you go pouty on me, you are the reigning beauty in my mind, no woman on earth looked as good as you and Marg is special, someone I want to really get to know, younger than me but she doesn't seem to mind, well "didn't" I suppose, see I might have really screwed up, anyway, I will see if she will talk to me and get back to you, I will need your married name or phone number because I don't have identi-call or anything like that". Winnie said, "I will call you tonight around ten, my fun will be over and hubby will be asleep".
Bill dialed Nola and had to leave a message, "Nola, I have had a call from someone about one of the boys Marg might be coaching, I will call later or you can call me...if Marg doesn't want to speak with me perhaps you could act the go-between".

[swiftest]

Re: The Robe

Our three ladies, comfortably full of good food, thoughts of an after dinner drink changed to talk of the same but none knew what to buy. Nola said, "just a thought but Ray might be home and how about I call him" ? Lotie said, "good idea and I can run across the street and see Paul"....Marg added, "you two do that but drop me at the apartment"....both Lottie and Nola said "no", with Lottie adding, "we are the three musketeers and will stick together, Paul will keep, I hope". A phone call found Ray at home and he said he had just what they wanted.
A twenty-five minute drive and when they arrived, Ray ushered them into his kitchen, offered seats to Marg and Nola then said to Lottie, "Paul has something for you" and when Lottie broke into a huge grin, he added, "it is something to go, Lottie, perhaps not what you are thinking". Lotie crossed the street and Paul was waiting, embraced her and said, "some cake in a bowl, whipped cream and a liqueur to be added when you get to where you are going"; he then kissed her, "Wednesday, I would like to pick you up from the hospital, perhaps you will feel like company". Lottie took his hand and kissed it, was nodding yes then said, "I would like that but Nola, you know, we know each other a long time and she will want to be with me, I eh, I would want to be with her". Paul said, "I understand but the news is going to be good so perhaps, you, me, Nola and Ray, you know, just a quiet meal or something"....Lottie hugged him and whispered, "I like the "or something", do we have time" ? The phone rang and the time to leave was five minutes; not nearly enough.
Nola drove to the front of Paul's house, a bottle of the "Bonnie Prince's" brew was cradled in Marg's arms. Lottie was escorted to the car by Paul, he carrying one of those small plastic containers which held what he supplied, neatly packed in ice. And they were off to Nola's.
Nola's machine told her there had been four calls, the first from Winnie saying she had asked Bill to call. This was announced to the other two ladies and Marg used the "f" word, said "f... im" and a laughing Lottie said, "oh I would as long as you don't mind"...Nola laughed and Marg, with a smile, said, "that's not funny" then Nola added, "yes it is, also a statement of fact because I am sure she would BUT ONLY if you didn't mind"....now do we call him now or wait until he calls...they agreed to wait and that Marg would answer the phone.

[swiftest]

Re: The Robe

Lottie opened the container which Paul had provided, said, "there's more stuff than I thought". She looked over the contents and suggested they move to the kitchen table. Lottie emptied the container and tipped the ice cubes into the sink. Marg said to Lottie, "I' like to try the cake thing you told us about"...Nola said, "hear, hear, me too". Lottie said, "okay but there are a couple of things with notes attached".
The first thing to be dealt with was a small carton of Italian ice cream, the note said, "for after a meal and topped with the creme"...ice cream into the freezer, three tiny bottles of creme de menthe placed in the fridge until Marg said, "I think the creme is sort of minty, not sure I want mine to be that cold"....another plastic container had, "citrus not to be added to the cream" attached. Marg said, "probably lemon or lime" but it was pealed tangerine and each lady was delighted to taste one leaf.
Three pieces of cake, individually wrapped, called for three bowls. A bottle had a note with, "Armagnac, add to berries and cake, better not to be too cold". Marg said, "I really don't want to wait until it warms up"...Nola added, "me either, let's pour it into another bowl and zap it fifteen seconds, just to take the chill off". They did this and were pleased that the berries were blueberries.....last thing to be added was the whipped cream....dream whip with a note which said, "Lottie, sorry this is not the real thing, but you are".
The bowls were readied and beside each, Lottie had added a couple of Belgium chocolates, also provided by Paul. Each lady took a mouthful and Marg was first to speak, "oh yes, very nice, does the real thing approve"...Lottie did and giggled before saying, "different to what i ad but I like it too"....the phone rang and was ignored.

[swiftest]

Re: The Robe

Bill was starting to wonder. He had left a number of messages on Nola's phone but no return call and no one had picked up; he was hoping for a response before Winnie called. Seven o'clock came and went as did eight o'clock and now he was getting a little fidgety. 8.45 PM and the welcome sound of a phone ringing.
He grabbed the phone said, "hello, if this is Marg please don't hang up, i'm not asking for forgiveness, not asking you to forget what I did, just asking for another chance, a chance to talk, maybe a lunch just so we don't finish before we start" and then he heard the laughter, knew it was Winnie, "oh Winnie, what the hell are you doing, you said ten, it's not even nine, God, your a real brat". And Winnie said, "Bill, surely not the Bill I knew, that Bill was a never take no for an answer kinda guy, aggressive, macho, pushy and treated women like he treated an eighteen wheeler; he was the boss"...then she adopted a little girl voice and added, "oh please Marg, pretty please, forgive old Bill"...."c'mon Bill, where's the man that had his way with me on the first date".
Bill sighed, said, "that Bill is long gone hon, besides, on that first date, you clung to me" and Winnie laughed, a hearty laugh and said, "clung to you (?), you fool I ordered you out of my apartment and you damn well picked me up, me, same size as you but with a few added pounds, I was scared to death you would drop me". Bill said, "as I recall, I did, dropped you on to your bed and you surrendered". Winnie sighed, "not really a surrender, Bill, and as I recall, I complied without much enthusiasm" Bill said, "Winnie" and Winnie said, "yes Bill, yes, later, it was later in the night when I, when you ehm, anyway, later it was okay" and she heard Bill say, "I thought it was great"....Winnie nodded to herself and agreed with a quiet "yes, it was".
Bill asked if she was happy and she said she was, "hubby has been great from the beginning. My boss gave me the gon and then denied it, said if had had anything his wife would have been infected, I knew his wife was lesbian, she had put the make on a couple of women, the Conservatives do keep secrets, anyway, my hospital stay over I did not go straight back to the hill until a phone call from bosses wife, she had been filling in and asked if I could help her with a little filing, the house wasn't sitting.....I wore a wrap around skirt, a vee necked sweater, sandals and for underwear, a bra which pushed everything up.
I let her make all the moves and this really was a surrender...she was very adept, asked if we could meet and each take pleasure from the other....I was all for this and she was pleased then asked why I had been in the hospital, she grinned and said "not an abortion I hope"...her face fell when I said the "G" word and she repeated it with, "and you let me, oh my God, how could you" and my answer was, "just keeping it in the family, your husband gave it to me...but...you should have no worries, although they did say I should have no sex for twelve days and this is only day seven".
"I went back to my apartment and the shit hit the fan in the office, the party didn't know what to do, didn't know what I would do and they sent the man who said he would take care of me, and he has, he has been very good to me Bill, he loves me and in many ways I love him"
She went on to explain that she was on medication and also told him how her husband, long a party money man, had become an MP and how he had set up a fund for her in her single name.
She said she would call him in the morning, also that one day they would have to meet.
11.30 PM and Bill received another call.

[swiftest]

Re: The Robe

Bill was not asleep, not even in bed. Playing on his computer his freecell streak had just gone back to zero when the phone rang; his "hello" was answered by Nola. "We didn't get around to calling because we were drinking and I am the only one not sleeping, I should have phoned Ray, I suppose, but what the hell I always liked the sound of your voice...she exhaled loudly....what happened to US Bill, no don't answer that, I know what happened, you were with someone I couldn't compete with so I went to bed with someone from the office, caught something and you disappeared".
Bill spoke, gently, "something like that Nola, but I think I left because of a question you asked, you asked if I loved another and I said I thought so, and maybe I did but I was scared of how I felt about you and that was before the visit to the clinic, I knew if I stayed the booze would have to go and that would have been a problem, so we parted, and although there were regrets, my life eventually got turned around and it has been mostly good". Nola said, "the divorce" ? and Bill said, "not good".
Nola continued, "well Bill I must admit I missed you for the longest time, still do now and again, but, I do like Ray, have wondered if it is because he reminds me of you; you think he is going to be okay with the booze thing"...but Bill could offer no assurances.
The he asked about Marg, would she speak with him in the morning. Nola wasn't sure but thought she would, said, "she is really serious about what she does, so might talk because it concerns a boy, in the meantime time for my bed.....but before I go, gotta tell you I am missing you right now, perhaps I should give Ray a call". Bill thought that was a good idea.
He didn't go straight to bed.

[swiftest]

Re: The Robe

Bill's mind was all over the place; memories, memories to be enjoyed, to be grateful for. Also thoughts of the present; MARG, damn but it felt so good, so easy to be with, so comfortable and so open: why, why, why did I screw it up led to thoughts of maybe and then to Nola and Ray; was that a touch of jealousy tugging at the corner of his mind (?).....a time for sleep but he knew he couldn't.
And miles from Urbania. Nola had made a call, just to talk but Ray insisted on a visit, "i'll be there in fifteen minutes, ten unless the cabby is pulled over". Marg was asleep and Lottie was snoring.
Ray arrived in ten, buzzed in and Nola met him with an open door. He took his galoshes off and Nola told him to bring them inside; he did and gathered her into his arms. Their kiss was cut off by Nola, "Ray, please, i'm sorry, not ready for this, I shouldn't have called". Ray said, "i'm glad you did, I leave in the morning, going to Guelph and I wanted to see you before I go; any chance of a coffee". Nola smiled, said, "oh yes, coffee and a hug, Guelph(?)". "yeah, not where Bill went but he says it could be good".
They were in the kitchen, chatting over a cup of coffee. Ray wondering if he could get over that Nola and Bill "knew" each other....similar thoughts had occurred to Nola. Half way through their second coffee Ray jumped up, grabbed the back of his leg and mouthed, "cramp".....Nola laughed, said, "thank God, I thought you were ready to run away". Ray sat as Marg walked into the kitchen. She was rubbing her eyes and surprised to see Ray, mumbled a sorry and turned to leave, stopped when Nola said, "wait, Marg, you aren't interrupting anything and, if you want to be a pest, why not phone Bill (?), you might have his number and you will have a chance to wake him".....Marg liked that idea and said, "i'll use the phone by my bed".

[swiftest]

Re: The Robe

Bill picked up on the second ring, he thought, "Marg" and a minute later was regretting being right. His "hello" was answered by Marg, "well, and how is the big man on campus, big asshole more than like and I only bring up CAMPUS because you were one of those "campus crew" sweat shirts, something away too young for you, good for young people, even middle men can wear them but you are ancient Bill, perhaps you should be wearing a shawl, my old grandmother wore a shawl; anyway I called because you wanted to talk with me, some phony arsed excuse about a kid"....Bill managed a "no" but Marg was not finished.
Don't give me "no" you bastard, you think I am still upset but no way, you wanted a quick shag and a return to your daydreams, I was handy and now you really want to know how your ex girl friends are making out without you...and I think I have met all of them"....Bill jumped in when the pause lingered, "maybe, how about Maureen, married to the oil guy who was in the middle east, four days and nights, almost fired"....Marg started screaming at him, called him everything she could think of, cursing like a trucker when Nola walked into the bedroom, grabbed the phone and yelled at Marg, "enough for crying out loud, they will be hearing you in the god-damned west end, it's a wonder you haven't woken Lottie" then she cradled Marg in her arms, who was sobbing". Nola said, "easy girl, let it all out, it's about time". Bill could hear them and he waited until the phone was hung-up and he was listening to a dial tone.
Marg lay on the bed and Nola covered her with a quilt, kissed her on the cheek and said, "I have to say good-bye to Ray, try and get some sleep".

[swiftest]

Re: The Robe

But Marg couldn't sleep, called Bernice and the first thing Bernice said, "you been drinking" ? and Marg started giggling, "oh, yes, my little sister has had a few" and this brought on more giggling from Marg. A few minutes and she seemed to settle down, said, "I talked to the SOB, Bernice I gave it to him, good and proper" which caused more giggles. Bernice said, "betcha the air was blue, lots of swearing" and Marg answered, "howdja know" ?
Bernice explained, "you are not a drinker, you've been drunk what(?), three, four times in your life and you go from happy to misery in a flash...I take it that you have talked to Bill and I don't know why or what is going on, what say we pick this up tomorrow, or later todays more like" ?
Marg thought for a few seconds then, "Bernice, your my sister and I need to talk to you, course if you have more portent things to do then I will let you go". And Bernice countered with, "Marg, if need be I will talk to you all night, or whats left of it, just one tthing, can I have a word with Nola after we have talked". Marg said, "good, I will tell Nola to not go to bed...think she is saying goodbye to Ray, hode on and I see".
Marg went to the kitchen and found Nola alone, said, "Ray gone ? ehm, I phoned Bernice and she wants a verd, no, (and here she started to giggle), not verd, a werd, anyway". She walked back to her room and Nola followed. Nola picked up the phone and said, "Bernice, you wanted a word, can I just get a coffee" ? And by the time she returned with a coffee, Marg was sound asleep. Nola covered her and took the phone through to the kitchen where she spent twenty minutes talking to Bernice.

[swiftest]

Re: The Robe

Bill was out of bed before seven marked time until eight and felt eight was a good time to talk with Bernice; he called and left a message on the machine. Half eight and he listened to a busy signal and part of the message from bell, "let bell notify..." etc, and said, "screw you bell". Nine AM and he left another message then started to wonder if Bernice was simply avoiding him.
Half past nine and he phoned his buddy, Stan. He brought Stan up to date, told him how angry Marg sounded. He then theorized as to how Marg really felt, how all he needed to do was talk to her and then asked, "what do you think"? Stan said, "does it matter (?) what I think, you seem to have worked everything out and haven't talked to the lady herself, you might just blunder ahead, might make rash assumptions and might win the day, BUT, you want my advice, talk to Marg or her sister if you can and if you can, LISTEN, listen to what you are told, it might very well be finished....if either won't talk to you, let it go, let go and, you know the rest. Bill went to timmies.
He was nursing a coffee and convincing himself, "if only Marg would talk to him". A man stopped by his table, said, "hi, I hear Marg is back on Thursday, is she coming be train" ? Bill said he didn't think so then, "not altogether sure, do you know if there is anyway to get hold of Bernice, not sure her phone is working" ? Monday afternoons is her choir practice, either two or three, not sure which". Bill brightened asked, "the Anglican Hall" ? and the man said, "no, the United".
Bill called the United and at one-fifteen he was knocking on Bernice's front door. She opened the door, said, "God, not you, Bill enough is enough" but Bill launched into his plan.
All he needed was time with Marg. He knew she was angry but knew she would get over it. He would pick her up at the airport, take her for lunch, get a room for her at one of the local hotels and that evening he would take her to the "Grand Theatre" for a live stage show"....he had other things in mind which he kept to himself.
Bernice said, "wait here" and she closed the door.
She called Marg and was surprised when Marg said, "okay, let him make all of the arrangements" and then she chuckled, "after the stage show, I will excuse myself and disappear, Ruby can put me up for the night, more than likely drive me home in the morning"....oh, and have him call me about the kid, who really does look good, by the way".
Bill's offer of a drive to the United was turned down but he left, a much happier man.

[swiftest]

Re: The Robe

Bill is thinking; a good mood(?) yes, definitely; buoyant(?), without question. A nip in the air felt good, going to be a good winter; he and Marg were going to be fine, wonderful, happy, a twosome for a long time. And he saw her in his place, the flat, the apartment, the hacienda, mhm, either use the vacuum plus whatever or hire a couple of women. A mental image of his tv stand, an end table really, grey, grey because of dust...perhaps he should make a start before hiring anyone...best to think about this so he buys a scratch ticket and goes to timmies.
He and one of the workers arrive at the same time, he for his coffee and she for a shift. He holds the door open and she stops, shakes her head and says, "men, who can figure them, look at you, someone who screwed up royally with one of the BEST women this town has ever seen, you had it made old man, lost it all and now you look like you haven't a care, God, I don't know". He dipped his head in a mock bow, said, "Lynda the lovely, not all is lost, MY with emphasis on the MY will be returning to moi, it's love hon and you can't beat it"......"don't know where your from, Bill, but the women around these parts are not that gullible"....Bill laughed, "nothing to do with gullible, it is love my dear, some ladies enjoy the bumps along the way". Lynda sighed, "I suppose, there are times when we are just as stupid as you lot but I wouldn't bet good money on Marg falling for any of your crap"....then she patted his face before adding, "c'mon, i'll get an extra small double double and put it on my tab".
He sipped his coffee and scratched his ticket. Another lady employee asked when Marg was due back and he said, "damn, I am supposed to call her, thanks for reminding me". Ten minutes later he was home, ready to make the call.

[swiftest]

Re: The Robe

Nola and Marg were in the living room when Bernice called. Nola had answered the phone and Bernice had said to her, "Bill is at my front door, waiting until I am finished with this call, then he wants to talk to Marg and has an idea that she will forgive him, I know my sister and I know what Bill is planning....I just wish she would drop the whole thing, perhaps you could help along those lines"....Nola agreed to do whatever she thought would be best for Marg.
Nola heard Marg's side of the conversation and was able to put two and two together. Close to the end of the call Marg said to Nola, "Bernice thinks I should just say no thanks to Bill and she wants to know if you agree". Nola said, "I agree with Bernice, you are done with him so let it go, his loss". Marg said, "you two are a pair of old foggies, he needs his ass kicked and I intend to kick it", then she hung up.
Marg offered to make coffee and while she was in the kitchen, Lottie entered the apartment. Nola said, "where have you been (?) I thought you were sleeping in". Lottie answered, "no, I had to get a change of clothes, all my stuff here needs washed". Nola said, "the hell it does, I did your wash, check the dresser, all your underwear is clean"....Lottie said, "phew, I should have known, anyway I am cleaned and changed and going to visit Paul, I seen him earlier and he wants to take us for lunch, tomorrow, after I see, you know".
Marg returned to the living room with a tray, coffee for three. She sat and Nola said, "thank you, now tell Lottie what you are planning", and she did. Lottie thought the idea of disappearing on Bill was silly, "if you hate him why bother, for me, I let him pick me up, go for lunch, get to the room and hope he is as good as he was, maybe Nola do that too but not sure, you know, that Ray seems to have interested her....and you know something, I bet he has something special planned" and Marg harumphed said, "we all know what is on the bastards mind" but Lottie did not agree, added, "no, not that, I just think he will have flowers or something, but who knows".
Lottie was ready to leave, her car had been run through a car wash earlier, a friend of Paul's had seen to that. Marg and Nola agreed not to argue. Nola also agreed to take the call from Bill but only if Marg would talk to him later in the evening. By the time Bill called, Nola had delivered a message to Winnie, "the kid looks good but needs a bit more mean, after all it is hockey".

[swiftest]

Re: The Robe

Eight o'clock in the evening, the time when Bill is to call Marg. The phone rang and Marg looked at it then looked at Nola who was looking at her. Nola shrugged, said, "it is up to you, your move", and Marg replied, "on six", picked up the receiver before the sixth ring had finished and "helloes" were exchanged.
Marg said, "look Bill" but there was no bite to it and Bill cut in, "Marg please just hear me out, I had a plan all worked out but as usual I was the only one who thought it a good idea, look, how about I meet you at the airport and drive you home, that is all, I mean we could talk but only if you want to, I, I, you know" and Marg cut him off, "no I don't know", with fire, and Bill responded, "I bloody well love you and you know that, don't say you don't", and Marg continued, "I will say what ever I want, you are not my god damn boss, you know what, go with your plan including a room FOR ME, not for you and me just me, you are staying to hell out of my bed...the plane lands at 11.45, be there" and she hung up.
Bill stared at the phone after hearing the dial tone. His knuckles were white and then he smiled, thought, "my God, not all is lost". He called Stan and as soon as he heard his voice said, "I did as you said, I LISTENED, I am picking Marg up at the airport and we are having lunch". Stan voiced his surprise and Bill said, "your surprised, i'm in a state of shock but I am not counting my chickens though I gotta admit I do feel good...two days, these will be the longest two days of my life".
A few minutes later Bill was talking with Winnie.