The attorney turned an even deeper shade of crimson. ‘You don’t understand what this work entails …’ he started feebly.
Charlie squared up to his desk. ‘I understand this. As a couple, we have agreed to this divorce. And as a couple, we have agreed that I am in the lucky position of being able to devote almost my entire income to the support of Muriel and the children.’
‘Nearly all of it!’ agreed Muriel triumphantly.
‘Do you think that would be enough for the judge?’
Mr Cranhorn shifted uncomfortably in his seat. ‘I did not know that.’
‘No,’ said Charlie scathingly. ‘You just assumed. But you never can tell how much people know, Mr Cranhorn.’
Charlie offered Muriel his arm, and she held onto him regally. ‘Goodbye, Mr Cranhorn,’ she said with beguiling sweetness. ‘And by the way, you’re fired.’
‘I think we’ll go to Mr Lassiter, shall we, Muriel?’
‘Indeed we shall, Charlie.’
Mr Cranhorn glared at them from behind his owl glasses. ‘You’ll be receiving my bill in the mail,’ he called after them.
But Charlie and his soon-to-be former wife were already way down the corridor. On his way to a divorce, thought Charlie. That was supposed to be a terrible thing for a good Catholic like himself, but somehow, the whole thing seemed to be almost satisfying. He gave Muriel a hug as she expressed her own delight at what had just transpired, and headed for the car.
He felt like a drive.
The open road.
Top speed.
Chapter 18
* * *
A Marriage Made in Heaven
* * *
And I’m convinced the angels must have sent you
And they meant you just for me
Don Lockwood in Singing in the Rain
The day after Molly’s divorce from George was finalized, the lovers eloped to an adjacent state where there was no waiting period to obtain a marriage license, to be married right away by a Justice of the Peace.
They had taken a week of vacation, but not made any particular plans for a honeymoon. Then Danny suggested the cabin on the lake. It was available for a week, if they wanted to use it.
‘It’s a wonderful idea,’ Molly had said. ‘We can have a whole week together in solitude. Just focusing on our love for each other, without interruptions.’
‘And it does have special memories for us,’ said Charlie. ‘Not to mention a huge amount of fishing gear.’
Molly pulled a face. ‘Well, I don’t know about that. I was thinking more about romantic excursions around the lake in the boat.’
‘Whatever my love desires,’ Charlie had said, hardly daring to believe that, after all their devotion and trials, he would take Molly there as his wife.
After the service and a celebratory lunch at an old, historically famous hotel, they drove toward the cabin. On the way there, Molly discovered that her husband had a ‘lead foot’. About halfway to the lake, they were stopped for speeding by a friendly highway patrolman, who found out they were on honeymoon and issued them with a warning notice rather than a ticket. He sent them on their way after shaking Charlie’s hand.
Now, finally, they arrived at the cabin. Their haven.
They made their way to the bedroom and held each other close in the doorway before the freedom of their marriage and their new situation finally hit them. They began to disrobe, shedding all their clothing and underwear. Charlie held Molly in his arms, allowing his hands to roam over the length of her willowy body, before laying her gently on the bed. He stroked her thighs as he had before, and this time strayed higher and higher, to the delight of his new wife, before Charlie realized the dream he had held so vividly in his mind for so long, since a few weeks after first meeting Molly.
Making love with his dream lady was even more heavenly than he had thought it would be. As he rose to a climax, Molly was moaning with delight, which greatly added to Charlie’s pleasure. She was trembling with such passion that Charlie had an impulse to melt into her body, to become one with her, and suddenly she cried out and he knew that all his dreams had come true in one beautiful, united moment.
Afterwards they lay side-by-side, whispering of their love for each other as Charlie traced the shapes on Molly’s beautiful face. Ten minutes or so later, Charlie was ready to make love again. Molly seemed surprised, but she cooperated eagerly, her evident satisfaction even more intense than it had been the first time, and when Charlie made love to her a third time, lasting much longer than previously, Molly was beside herself, crying out in ecstasy.