Cupidity Page 6

  It was kind of Mae to allow her to have a lie in and get the boys up. She probably wouldn’t have been so generous if she knew Martha was masturbating over her husband in her good bed sheets, thought Martha.

  She had forgotten about Mae for the last few minutes.

  Martha began to panic. What if Mae could tell how she was beginning to feel? She realised that while she had been consumed in her debauchery, the clattering noise from downstairs had escalated into what sounded like a row between Peter and Mae. Martha tried to listen in, but she couldn’t make out what was being said.

  ‘Now I really must get up’ she said trying to break her nervous silence.

  She would have to get up and face them.

  ‘It’ll be ok’ she said quietly to herself, ‘they can’t possibly know what’s been going on in this room,’ but Martha knew she was not very good at keeping secrets. She had a guilty face for crimes she hadn’t committed, let alone ones she had. She decided to bite the bullet and throw on some clothes.

  She went into the bathroom and freshened up. She looked at herself in the mirror. Her big eyes were sad, she felt so guilty and had a horrible feeling that things weren’t going to get better anytime soon. She topped up her flicks of eyeliner and put on her favourite crimson red lipstick. She tidied up her victory rolls and then took one last look in the mirror.

  ‘You are not a bad person Martha. You haven’t done anything wrong. Oh, for God’s sake.’ She covered her face with her hands and sighed.

  With that, she went to make her way out of the bathroom. Someone was coming up the stairs. It sounded like Peter. Her heart fluttered. She opened the door and Peter came right at her. He put his hands at the top of her arms and manhandled her out of the room so that he could get in.

  ‘Sorry Martha, in a rush.’ he said as he picked up his toothbrush.

  ‘Oh uh, no bother. Sorry if I took too long, I… I… seem to have slept in’, she blushed and tucked her hair behind her ear.

  ‘Not at all.’

  He was drying his mouth with the towel. He looked around at her and she realised she was just standing there.

  ‘You look lovely today, Martha, the sleep must’ve done you good. You’ve got a glow about you.’

  Martha blushed. She knew her face could not hide a lie. Did he know? Could he tell? she thought.

  He smiled and moved past her and skipped down the stairs. She was still just standing there watching him go down the stairs.

  ‘Bye, darling, give us a kiss,’ she heard him say to Mae.

  ‘Oh, clear off and leave me alone,’ said Mae.

  ‘You really are a piece of work,’ Peter said back to her, and with that, he left the kitchen, stormed up the hallway and slammed the front door.

  Martha stood at the top of the stairs, wondering what had happened. Had they argued about her? Did Mae think Peter was attracted to her? Was she going to ask her to leave? Martha’s panic was on full steam.

  ‘It’s ok, Martha, you can come down you know.’

  Martha made her way down the stairs into the kitchen to find Mae at the table smoking a cigarette and looking slightly peeved.

  ‘Morning,' said Martha gingerly, ‘Sorry I was late up today, I…’

  She was interrupted by Mae.

  ‘Men. They think they are God’s bloody gift sometimes. Why should we have to bow to their every beck and call? So, what if I can’t be bothered to wake him up with sex.’

  Martha gulped and began to make a pot of tea.

  ‘One day, Martha, one day you will see that we will live in a world where we are equal. More and more of the women I know are now out working. Women. Working. Who would’ve thought that twenty years ago? But what I say is if we have to work like a man then we get the same rights as a man.’

  But you don’t work thought Martha as she got out two cups and saucers.’

  ‘He comes and goes as he pleases in this house, quite literally sometimes…’ Mae went on, although Martha wished she wouldn’t because it wasn’t helping her current predicament.

  ‘You know, so what if I don’t want to have sex with him.’

  Martha dropped a plate on the floor and smashed it.

  ‘Oh god, I am so sorry. Where’s the dustpan and brush? I’m so sorry, Mae, I will replace it.’

  ‘Don’t worry about it Martha; it’s not one of my favourites. I have about five other sets in the larder. This is the set Peter’s mother, the old witch, don’t tell him I called her that, gave us, so I don’t care what happens to these. Break them all for all I care, in fact, I might help you.’

  She handed Martha the dustpan and brush she had got out of the cupboard and sat back down and finished her cigarette. Martha swept up the broken crockery and placed it all in the bin. She looked out of the window and saw the two boys playing in the garden. Martha’s heavy heart lifted when she saw how happy her little boy was. She took the teapot to the table, placed a cup and saucer down and sat to face Mae.

  ‘Look, don’t worry about Peter.’

  ‘I’m not.’ Mae retorted. ‘He should worry about me. I am capable of looking after myself…’

  You are not, thought Martha, not without his money anyway.

  ‘… Oh, I don’t know, men. I suppose I shall have to bounce his balls this evening and make amends.’

  They both giggled. Mae was so outspoken compared to Martha. The words she used, the way she talked. If it wasn’t for Peter she would be no more than a common fishwife but the exclusivity that Peter brought to the table allowed her potty mouth to be excused and some people loved it, men mainly.

  It made Martha feel uncomfortable.

  ‘Well I’ve been thinking, you and Peter need to have some quality husband and wife time and I’m here getting in the way so why don’t the two of you go out for an evening and I’ll stay in with the boys? It might be just what you need to get that lust back.’

  Martha was smiling encouragingly at Mae.

  ‘What if I said I would rather Peter looked after the boys and we went out for the evening, that would be more fun to me.’ said Mae, dismissively.

  ‘Oh, look really, we are alright. I just get fed up with him being around sometimes. You know, he is away for days at a time and I get the house to myself. I have gotten used to being by myself and I like things the way I like them, and then he comes back and everything has to be his way. Sometimes I wish he just didn’t bother coming back.’

  Mae huffed and picked up another cigarette. Some women would give anything to have their husband around thought Martha. Martha was jealous of what she had with Peter and thought her friend was ungrateful and unappreciative.

  ‘You don’t mean that, Mae. I had that one day. That one day where Johnny didn’t come home. You don’t want that, believe me,’ said Martha calmly, thinking it would make Mae feel bad for being so insensitive.

  ‘I don’t know, try me,’ said Mae with a face so straight and cold that it caused a wave of anger in Martha.

  Mae put out her cigarette and got up from the table. She went to the back door and called to the boys.

  ‘Charlie. Willy. Come on in now. Let’s have some lunch and maybe we can go for a walk to the pond.’

  The two boys raced each other in and Willy hung off his mother’s arm. Martha picked him up and put him on her knee.

  ‘Oh, you are almost getting too big for Mummy’s knee now, darling,’ as she smoothed down his hair.

  ‘I love you, Mummy,’ he said and rested on her chest.

  Willy had calmed the scene once again. She wouldn’t think of anything when she cuddled him. She would just feel love. Charlie started laughing and chanting;

  ‘You love her. You love her.’

  Willy got embarrassed and jumped off and chased Charlie. The boys would be starting preschool soon and she worried that the other children would toughen him up too much. She liked him being a Mummy’s boy.

  After lunch, the women got the two boys ready and ventured out for a stroll. Mae still seemed a tad irr
itable, so Martha hoped the fresh air might do her some good. She was, however, relieved that the attention was not on her and realised that her earlier fears about them discovering her growing crush on Peter was silly.

  The two ladies walked to the end of the road, which should’ve taken a couple of minutes, but with the number of people that Mae knew and stopped to speak to, it took them about twenty minutes.

  ‘Right then,’ said Mae, ‘If we go left we can swing by David’s garage and say hello. That said, I know how upset you get about being introduced to new and somewhat attractive men so we can go right and walk past the factory, and gaze in awe at the women doing the jobs of men, and paving the way for a new world where men and women are equals,’ she said, jokingly.

  ‘Well, Mae, I think your certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ could be rubbing off on me. Let’s go left,’ said Martha as she glided along with her back straight and shoulders pulled back.

  ‘Ooooh’ scoffed Mae, ‘I think I like where this is heading. So, the lady wants to see David. Maybe all of that talk at the breakfast table this morning got you all fired up,’ she beamed at Martha.

  ‘Not everything is about that, Mae, but I do think you have a point. Johnny is gone. He is not coming back. It’s been two years now, so maybe it’s time to move on. I’m not sure I am ready mind you, but, I am happy to start talking to strangers, you could say.’

  Martha had decided in her mind that perhaps if she started talking about David, it would distract everyone, including her, from her growing feelings for Peter. She had no intentions of anything happening with David; she just wanted to talk about her feelings and use someone else’s identity to cover up her secret.

  Martha noticed that Mae’s mood had improved significantly as they walked along the street, and knew that this was probably because she had a plan up her sleeve.

  ‘Mae, I know I said I am happy to walk this way, but that doesn’t mean I want to rush into anything, ok?’ said Martha, trying to be as assertive as she could be.

  ‘Martha, I can lead a horse to water… let’s just go and say hello, ok?’

  Martha nodded but wasn’t convinced. As the two women approached David’s workplace, they could see his head under the bonnet of a car working away. Martha noticed he had quite big arms, not huge but more muscled than the average man. He was wearing some overalls that he only had his legs in with the top half tied around his waist revealing his grease marked white vest. On his head, he had a very worn flat cap that had seen better days.

  ‘Hi, David.’ Mae cooed.

  David pulled away from under the bonnet and removed his hat. He took a cloth and mopped his brow. ‘Afternoon ladies, you both look lovely today. How are you?’

  Martha noticed he had a boyish charm about him. He had a friendly smile which she hadn’t noticed before. The two boys found some tyres in the corner and used them as seats and began bouncing on them.

  ‘Willy, don’t bounce on those they’re not for children,’ said Martha, and motioned for him to get off.

  ‘They’re alright’ said David, ‘Probably the safest thing for them to play within here. I don’t mind if you don’t.’

  Martha met his eyes, and smiled sheepishly.

  ‘Ok, boys, but just the tyres, don’t touch anything else.’

  Mae piped up, ‘So what are you working on here then? Looks nice.’

  Before David could answer, Martha chipped in. ‘That’s a Morris Minor. Well, it is, isn’t it?’

  David laughed, and said, ‘Yes, it is, so you like your cars then?’

  Mae stood behind him smiling and raising her eyebrows rather animatedly.

  ‘Oh, I don’t know much really; I just recognise that one that’s all.’

  ‘I’m impressed’ said David, and Martha suspected he was.

  ‘This little lady isn’t in too good a condition though, well she wasn’t when she came in, but with a bit of work I’ll have her back on the road in no time. Should be working again by tomorrow, I think.’

  He rubbed the side of the car with what looked like genuine love and care. Mae piped up again. ‘So, you’ll have to take it out for a test drive when you think it’s fixed again, won’t you, you know, to make sure it goes ok?’

  Martha knew precisely what was coming next.

  ‘Yes, I will, just a quick jaunt around the block just to make sure she is ok,’ replied David.

  ‘Well you could take Martha out with you seeing as she likes them so much. Swing by my place when you’re done and take her out for a spin. You’d like that, wouldn’t you, Martha?’

  Martha wanted to say, ‘no not really’ but she remembered her earlier plan to keep the distraction going, and agreed that it would be nice. David was shocked.

  ‘Really? You'd come out with me? Ok, then, I’ll pick you up. We won’t go out for long, you know in case. Well, I won’t keep you, is what I mean.’

  ‘Perfect.’ Mae squealed. ‘That’s agreed that then, we’ll have Martha waiting for you looking all pretty.’

  Martha hated the way Mae was talking as if she were her mother but agreed for the time being this was not a bad idea.

  The two women arrived back at the house with two exhausted boys who had run all the way home.

  ‘Right, boys, wash your hands, and I will get you some water and start dinner.’ Mae called after them as they ran through the house.

  Peter was back and instantly Martha’s heart fluttered and began to race.

  ‘This is ridiculous’ she said softly.

  Mae began to busy herself in the kitchen, which Martha noticed she had become quite accustomed to. She hoped Mae didn’t think she was allowing her to do everything but at the same time, Mae seemed happier in charge of everything, maybe happier in charge of everything and happier busying herself away from Peter. She didn’t even acknowledge him when they came in. Martha did.

  He was sitting at the table smoking a cigar. He had his shirt sleeves rolled up and his top button undone. Also on the table was an open bottle of scotch with almost a quarter of it gone, of which only a tiny bit of that was sitting still in a crystal tumbler on the table. Peter picked up the expensive looking glass and knocked back the remainder of its contents.

  ‘Pull up a chair, Martha, and tell me about your day.’

  Peter beckoned her to sit.

  ‘Oh, I should see if Mae needs some help with dinner…’

  ‘I’m fine thanks, sit.’ Mae interrupted Martha.

  Martha wanted to help. She was almost sweating at the thought of sitting with Peter.

  ‘See, the Führer said you could sit,’ he laughed to himself.

  ‘I heard that.’ Mae sneered.

  ‘You were meant to.’ Peter called back jokingly. ‘Grab a glass and sit.’ He beckoned Martha again.

  ‘Oh, I shouldn’t drink; I normally wait until William is in bed.’

  Peter got up and got a glass from the cupboard, took it to the table, sat down and poured a drink and slid it across to where Martha should sit, right in front of him.

  ‘Young, beautiful Martha.’

  Her heart fluttered.

  ‘You need to relax a little. We like to have fun in this house, don’t we, darling?’

  Mae clattered about. Martha was sure she heard and that the pots and pans being clattered was an act of defiance on her part. Peter leaned over to Martha. He whispered,

  ‘Miserable goat,’ and leaned back grinning. He winked at her.

  His breath smelled strongly of scotch and she found that it lured her in like a moth to a flame. Martha pulled out the chair and sat down gingerly, her skin tingled into goose bumps all the while she tried to pretend that everything was normal.

  ‘I like your blouse, you look pretty in it,’ Peter said, while sipping on his scotch, not taking his eyes off her.

  Martha’s heart was pounding. She was certain he was not being ‘just polite.' He wanted her and she knew it and somewhat ashamedly, she wanted him too.

  Mae came to the table and joined them.
She took a glass and poured herself a drink.

  ‘Doesn’t she look pretty, Mae?’ Martha began to feel extremely awkward, nervous, and on display.

  Mae looked at Martha and looked at Peter.

  ‘Yes, she does rather, I suppose.’

  With that, she knocked her drink back in one. Martha sat there in silence. Was Peter flirting with her or was he deliberately wanting Mae to bite? Was she a pawn in there dwindling relationship? Perhaps Peter didn’t want her after all. Perhaps he just wanted to feel real love from his wife again and to get it he would flirt with her friend. It might not get him the reaction he wanted but it would be a reaction and that was good enough for a breaking heart, right? A flare of jealousy would be enough to reassure him, Martha pondered.

  It suddenly became clear that they were all sitting in silence, and it was too loud for Martha.

  ‘Well anyway, David certainly thinks she is pretty. He is taking her out tomorrow.’

  Mae broke the silence with this new information to Peter and poured everyone another drink.

  ‘Is he?’ Peter said, swiftly sitting up straight. ‘Well, that’s great. Good for you girl. Get back out there, get back in the saddle, as it were.’

  Martha didn’t believe Peter was genuinely happy about it. If anything, she thought his response seemed quite unnatural despite his best efforts to hide his dismay.

  ‘I don’t know about getting ‘back in the saddle,’ shrugged Martha, nervously.

  ‘Oh, shush, Martha, you like him, he likes you… who knows what could happen. The back of the car looked quite roomy to me.’

  Mae joked causing Martha to blush and feel a surge of anger. Peter fixated his eyes on Martha and she could tell that the two women in the room began to feel not quite happy with the way this conversation was going.

  Peter clearly thought things weren’t awkward enough as he probed Martha with more questions.

  ‘Do you like this man then? Is this what you want in the next man? Are you attracted to him? A mere mechanic? I thought you had better taste.’

  Martha saw that Mae was getting more agitated.