Martha squeezed her hand all the tighter and blinked back tears.
“I will bring you some information tomorrow at work. This summer, we’re planning a rally.”
“I’ll be there.”
They talked a bit more, and Martha got to her feet again, slinging her purse over her shoulder. Kim got up too and walked her to her apartment front door.
“Before I leave, can I tell you something?” The woman’s cheeks turned red again.
Oh Lord. Martha blushes anytime the discussion of men and sex comes up. This must have something to do with a man. Jack, of course.
“Yeah, what is it?”
“You told me everything that happened, right? From you giving him the basket, to the morning after?”
“Yeah. I told you every single detail… Oh, wait! Do you think we… Oh, no!” Kim waved her hands about. “We didn’t have sex.”
Martha burst out laughing.
“No, no! I’m not trying to say you did. I just wanted to tell you, as a woman a bit older than you, that, uh, I think Jack likes you.”
They looked at one another and both burst out laughing.
“I’m serious, Kim. The twenty-dollar tip you told me about, and then he rescued you from Sonny. Jack doesn’t really interact with anyone anymore. Seems to me if it were anyone else, he would have acted like the mugging didn’t even take place. Frank said he sees us all as Public Enemy Number One. I don’t really agree with that. I think he’s just heartbroken. Regardless, look at this latest occurrence. You bring him a basket. He offers to escort you back into town, fearful you’ll be caught in a storm. Worried about you as he was. And then he goes out and finds you in the wilderness… brings you home… fixes you dinner… massages your feet… tucks you in bed. He didn’t try to sleep with you. A gentleman. Honey, Jack is sweet on you…”
Kim could do nothing but stare at the woman.
“Can I be honest with you, Martha?”
“Yes.”
“I know that!”
They both started laughing again. It felt so good.
“Well then, why are you acting like this?! Go out with him!”
“I want him to make the first move. Well, technically, I made the first move by asking him out for coffee, but you know what I mean.”
“He already made the first move. Three times.”
“Martha, aren’t you the same woman who told me it was dangerous to go up there and see him? That I shouldn’t do it, and he’s trouble?”
The woman smiled bashfully.
“Yes, but to be fair, I was going more by what I’d heard from other people, than what I’d actually seen. Jack has treated me fine over the years. Our conversations are short. He tips decently. He just doesn’t take any mess from anyone.” Kim nodded in agreement. “I mean, I wouldn’t describe him as friendly, but he doesn’t make me feel like he’s going to do something to me, either.”
“Well, that’s understandable. I just feel like… I don’t know.” Her shoulders slumped. “I didn’t have plans on dating anyone right now, but him? Yeah… I’d give Jack a chance for sure. I know he likes me, but I don’t want to push him, you know? I want him to be the pursuer. I’m too old for games. I don’t have any children; I’ve never been married. Not that I don’t want to be—it just never happened. In fairness, I was into my career, and my past relationships just didn’t work out for one reason or another. I say all of this to say, he just doesn’t seem interested in anything serious, but I could be making assumptions.”
“Still, you just said that you agree with me that he likes you!”
“I mean, I know he finds me attractive. He told me I was beautiful, and I can just tell he was feeling me because I caught him looking at me many times, and I know that look.” Kim rolled her eyes and Martha hooted. “But if I get involved with someone right now, I want it to be for keeps. I’ve been through too much. I want to set up roots. I’m tired.… tired of running.”
Martha embraced her and squeezed her tight. The woman smelled like fresh roses and gave the best hugs.
“Just think about what I said, okay? See you tomorrow.” She waved and walked out the door.
Kim stood there for a bit until Martha was no longer in sight, then slowly closed the door and locked it, and made her way back to her couch. She sat down, grabbed the remote and crossed her legs. Turning up the volume a bit more on one of the music channels from her cable subscription, she swayed back and forth to the tune of Semisonic’s, ‘Closing Time.’ Less than an hour later, she’d downed two glasses of red wine, lay half on/half off the couch, her brain spinning.