Part 58 (2/2)
”Thank you . . Maureen.” Straight out to Thirty-ninththen over to the Paseo? Or Prospect and out as far as Swope Park? Would she let him take her that far? Oh, for a thousand miles of open road and Maureen beside me!
”I like the way you say my name, Theodore. Do you remember where you took the children for a picnic not long before the war started?”
”Near the Blue River. You want to go there, Maureen?”
”Yes. If you don't remember the way, I can guide you; I suggested it for that picnic.”
”We'll find it.”
”It need not be that spot . . but somewhere quiet-and private. Where you need not give your attention to driving.”
(Hey! Maureen, my darling, you don't want us to be too too private-I might shock you dreadfully. Private enough for a good-bye kiss-fine! Then let's deliver you home safe and sound. You are private-I might shock you dreadfully. Private enough for a good-bye kiss-fine! Then let's deliver you home safe and sound. You are this this century, my sweet! I'd rather have one kiss-and your love and respect-than entice you into more and have you think of me with regret. I decided that many months ago. You darling.) century, my sweet! I'd rather have one kiss-and your love and respect-than entice you into more and have you think of me with regret. I decided that many months ago. You darling.) ”I should turn here?”
”Yes. Theodore, Brian Junior said that the new throttle he installed made it possible to drive with one hand.”
”Yes, that's true.”
”Then do do drive with one hand. Is that plain enough, or must I be still more bold?” drive with one hand. Is that plain enough, or must I be still more bold?”
Cautiously he put his arm across her shoulders. She promptly reached up, took his hand, pulled it down, and pressed it to her breast, saying quietly, ”We haven't time to be shy, dear Theodore. Don't be afraid to touch me.”
Firm-soft breast. Nipple erect to his touch. She s.h.i.+vered and got closer to him, again pressed her hand to his and gave a tiny moan. Lazarus said huskily, ”I love you, Maureen.”
She answered, just loud enough to be heard by him over the engine noise. ”We have loved each other since the night we met. We simply could not say so.”
”Yes. I didn't dare tell you.”
”You would never have told me, Theodore. So I had to be bold and let you know that I feel it, too.” She added, ”The turn is just ahead, I think.”
”I think so too. I'll need both hands to drive that lane.”
”Yes,” she agreed, surrendering his arm, ”but only till we get there. Then I want both both your arms . . and your arms . . and all all your attention.” your attention.”
”Yes!” He drove in carefully, avoiding ruts, until the lane widened into the level gra.s.sy spot he remembered. There he turned the car full circle, in part to head it out but primarily to see that no one else was there. His headlights picked up nothing but gra.s.s and trees-good! (Or was it good? Oh, my darling, do you know what you are doing?) He switched off the lights, stopped the engine, set the hand brake. Maureen came right into his arms; her mouth sought his, opened wide to him. For long moments they needed no words; her mouth, her hands were as eager as his and even bolder, urging him on.
Presently she chuckled happily against his lips and whispered, ”Surprised? But I can't say a proper good-bye to my warrior with bloomers on . . so I took them off when I went upstairs, and my corset, too. Don't hold back, dear one; you can't harm me-I'm expecting.”
”What did you say?”
”Theodore, must I always be the one with bold words and bold actions? I am pregnant, seven weeks now. Certain.”
”Oh.” He added thoughtfully, ”This seat is narrow.”
”I hear that the young people sometimes take the back seat out and put it on the ground. Or do chiggers worry you? Audacity, darling, a warrior must be audacious-so says my father, and my husband agrees. There is a lap rug back there, too.”
(Maureen, my love, there is no doubt where I got my own audacity-or my ruttiness. From you you, darling.) ”If you'll let go of me, I'll get them out. I'm not afraid of chiggers-nor of the loveliest woman I've ever held in my arms. I just have trouble believing it.”
”I'll help!”
She was out of the car without waiting; he slid across the seat and followed her. She opened the tonneau door-and stopped. Then she said loudly and happily, ”Woodrow, you're a scamp! Sergeant Theodore! See who is sleeping in the back seat!” As she spoke, she fumbled behind her, trying to reach b.u.t.tons of his that she had unb.u.t.toned. Lazarus quickly took over the task.
”Sergeant Ted promised to take me to Electric Park!”
”That's where we're going, darling; we're almost there. Now tell Mama-Shall we take you home and put you to bed? Or are you big enough to stay awake and go to Electric Park?”
”Yes, Sport,” Lazarus agreed. ”Home? Or Electric Park?” (Maureen, did Gramp teach you to lie? Or is it genius? I not only love you, I admire you. Pers.h.i.+ng should have you on his staff.) He hastily refastened b.u.t.tons at the back of her dress.
”Huh? Electric Park!”
”Then settle back down and we'll have you there in no time.”
”I want to ride in front!”
”Sport, you can ride in back to Electric Park. Or ride in back till we get you home and into bed. I won't drive with three in the front seat.”
”Brian does!”
”Let's go home, Mrs. Smith. Woodie doesn't know who's driving this car-he must be quite quite sleepy.” sleepy.”
”I am not either! I had a nap. All right, I'll ride in back-to Electric Park.”
”Mrs. Smith?”
”We'll go to Electric Park, Sergeant Theodore. If Woodrow will lie down and try to get another nap.”
Woodie promptly lay down; they closed him in and Lazarus got them out of there. Once there was enough engine noise to blanket her words, she said, ”I must telephone. Back where we turned off, you'll find a drugstore farther along-that's on our way to Electric Park.”
”Right away. How much do you think he heard?”
”I think he was asleep until I opened the door. But nothing of importance if he was not and would understand less. Don't worry, Theodore-audacity, always audacity.”
”Maureen, you should be a soldier. A general.”
”I would rather be loved by soldiers . . and I am, and it makes me wonderfully happy. Now you can drive with one hand again.”
”That's just gla.s.s, he can see us.”
”Theodore, you can touch me without putting an arm around me. I shall sit up straight and pretend to ignore whatever you find to do. But-I I am a very frustrated woman-and I want to be touched touched. By you.” She chuckled. ”Aren't we a pair of ninnies?”
”I suppose so. But I'm not laughing.” Lazarus squeezed her thigh. ”I'm too frustrated.”
”Oh, but you must must laugh, Theodore.” She pulled up her skirt, moved his hand onto bare thigh above round garters. ”When you have as many children as I have, you laugh, Theodore.” She pulled up her skirt, moved his hand onto bare thigh above round garters. ”When you have as many children as I have, you must must laugh. Or go crazy.” She pushed her skirt down over his hand. laugh. Or go crazy.” She pushed her skirt down over his hand.
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