Sintown Chronicles II: Through Bedroom Windows (27 page)

When he was dressed he went to his study and played the one message on the answering machine.

“George, this is Billy. I called the restaurant, but they said you were at home. Look, Mom is terribly embarrassed about what happened at the clinic. You can understand that she was still in a bit of shock. She was trying to make a joke with the rape thing. She would like you to stay with her if you are still willing. I get the impression that she wants to spend some private time with you. She said it would give her a chance to talk with you about the offer you made her. Tracy is with her now."

George smiled as the machine tape reversed and reset. “Yes!” he shouted.

“How's she doing?” George asked when Tracy opened the front door to Dottie Frank's house.

“Okay, I think,” Tracy replied. “She's terribly sore right now, but she's in her pajamas and resting in bed. Come on in."

Bennett followed Tracy Frank to her mother-in-law's bedroom and smiled hesitantly as Tracy announced him.

“Well don't stand out there in the hall,” Dottie said. “Come on in. You act like you've never been in a lady's bedroom before."

George smiled as he approached the bedside. “It's not that, Dottie. I'm not one hundred percent certain I am welcome."

“George, I'm sorry about the rape comment. I didn't know you can't take a joke."

“Oh, I can take a joke all right—when I recognize it as such."

“Okay,” Dottie said with a smile on her face. “In the future I'll preface all jokes with something like, ‘Okay George. Get prepared. Here comes a funny.’”

“Have you had lunch?"

“No, and I'm powerful hungry."

“Good. I brought a couple of burgers and fries with me. I left them in the living room. I'll be right back."

“You mean I have to eat Korner Kafe food?"

He grinned. “Actually, I stopped by Dot's Diner and picked these up."

“Hey,” she said as he reached the bedroom door. “That reminds me. I asked Billy to call June at the diner and tell her to close up. Turns out you have Maggie Skinner filling in for me and we don't have to close the place after all."

“You're welcome,” he said.

“What right do you have to meddle in my affairs?"

“Now Dottie,” Tracy said when George was out of earshot. “Behave yourself. He was trying to do you a favor."

“I know, but let me have a little fun with him."

“Well, at least let him know up front that you're joking, like you promised."

“Not much fun doing it that way,” Dottie replied.

“Tracy,” George announced when he returned. “I have a burger in here for you, too."

“George, I appreciate it, but I'm not hungry. I'm going to get on back to the hardware store. Now Dottie, remember your promise."

“I'll behave."

“She's a good daughter-in-law, George. Billy couldn't have done any better. You gonna leave those burgers in the bag or are we going to eat them?"

George laughed and piled the burgers and soft drinks on her bedside table. As he inserted straws in the lids of two cups Dottie said, “You didn't get but three? Good thing Tracy left."

“You can have all three if you are that hungry."

She grinned at him as she took a huge bite out of her sandwich. She washed it down with a swig of Pepsi and said, “Go ahead, George. Two Dot's Diner burgers are enough for me, but I'd need three or four if they were the pitiful things you serve at the Korner Kafe."

He pulled a chair next to the bed and unwrapped his burger.

“I thought Maggie was working for the Dollars now,” Dottie said.

“She is, but I asked her to fill in for a few days until you are back on your feet."

“Don't you think you should have checked with me before taking over my affairs?"

“Dottie,” he said, “I was trying to help."

“You did good, but you should have checked with me first."

“And I suppose I should have checked with you this morning before dialing 911?"

“Of course,” she said. “For all you know I may like being pinned in my truck hanging upside down and bleeding all over myself."

“Uh, Dottie. Are you joking now?"

“Damn. I forgot to warn you,” she said as she burst out laughing.

While they finished their meal they discussed the efficiency of the Dot Rescue Squad, the expertise of the Dot Clinic and the curative powers of Alka-Seltzer Plus.

“George,” she said when he returned from disposing of the trash. “I'm not joking now. We have a little problem."

He looked at her expectantly.

“You remember the TV commercial where the little old lady cried, ‘I've fallen and I can't get up'?"

“Sure."

“Well, I have to pee and I can't get up."

He smiled as he bent over her. “You think I've never seen a woman pee before?"

She placed her left arm around his neck as he slid his right arm under her back and began to lift. “Have you?” she asked.

He scooted her around so that her feet touched the floor, knelt and put on her bedroom slippers. “There has to be a first time for everything.” He placed his hands firmly under her armpits and lifted. She groaned against the pain from her bruised muscles and for a brief moment, their bodies met. Quickly he moved beside her and placed his right arm around her waist as she moved her left arm over his shoulder.

“You trying to get a quick feel?"

“You're joking again, right?"

“You're learning."

With George's support, Dottie moved painfully across the bedroom floor, but when they were in the bathroom, Dottie said, “Now we come to the hard part. I think I can get my britches down, but I don't think I can get my butt on the toilet seat."

“Perhaps I can close my eyes and still help."

“Let's try it."

George shut his eyes and playfully put his hands to his face.

“Okay, Clown. Keep your eyes closed and slip your hands under my arms."

She tried to guide his hands but before they found her armpits, they brushed against her ample breasts. “Okay,” he said. “I've got you."

She groaned as she struggled against his support enough to push the pajama bottoms to mid thigh.

“Ready?” George asked as he felt her straighten up. “Assume the position."

She sat down with another loud groan. “All right,” she said. “Keep your eyes closed and get out of here."

George extended his arms, found the wall and groped his way to the door.

He shut the door and she immediately called out, “Damn. George, close your eyes and come back in here."

“What's wrong now?"

“I don't want you listening to me tinkle. Get in here and turn a faucet on."

George laughed as he felt his way back into the bathroom, located the faucet and turned the knob. “Anything else, your majesty?"

“Just get out of here and let me get on with it."

George stood outside the door whistling. He heard the toilet flush.

“Okay, I'm through,” she shouted. “Close you eyes and come back, but follow my directions this time."

“Beautiful lady,” he said as he exaggerated the waving of his extended arms, “your wish is my command."

“Come a little closer."

“This okay?"

“Another foot or two."

“How about this?"

“Stick your arms out. Now bend over a little. A little more. That's it.” She placed her hands on his wrists. “You're not going to feel me up this time,” she said as she guided his hands to her armpits.

“Hey, that was an accident."

“Sure it was. Now lift me up and keep those eyes shut tightly until I have my britches on."

He could feel her tugging against his hands as she struggled to reach her pajama bottoms.

“Damn, George. They've slipped down too far for me to reach."

“Never fear, my lady. Can you continue standing on your own?"

“I think so."

“Okay. I'm going to kneel down, find the floor with my hands, slip my hands over until I find your feet, locate your britches and pull them up for you."

“Don't you dare touch anything other than my hips."

They were both laughing hysterically by the time the bottoms were in place.

“Mission accomplished,” George said triumphantly as he opened his eyes.

“Now help me to the sink so I can wash my hands."

George supported her as she moved to the sink, and held her erect by placing his arms around her tummy. The warmth of her buttocks pressing against his crotch aroused him, but there was nothing he could do about it until she dried her hands. He was amazed that she didn't complain about this new bit of unintended intimacy.

“You peeked,” she said.

“Did not."

“Did too. You just pretended to have your eyes closed, but you left them open just a little. You thought I wouldn't notice."

“You're making things up."

“You felt me up, too."

“That was an accident."

“Did you like it?"

“That's a ‘damned if I did’ and ‘damned if I didn't’ question."

She laughed. “Just answer the question."

“I'm a man and you're a lovely lady. Of course I liked it."

“Right answer, but don't do it again."

“Yes ma'am."

After George managed to get Dottie safely back in bed, he sat in the chair and said, “May I ask you a personal question?"

“You may ask, but I may not answer."

“With my hands under your arms so much, I couldn't help but notice that you don't shave your underarms, but do shave your pubic hair. Most women, I should think, do it the other way around."

“George Bennett,” she shouted. “You did peek."

“Oh my goodness, Dottie. This time I was making a joke. Do you really shave your pubic hair?"

She laughed. “That's the way my husband liked it. When he died, I just kept it up out of habit, I guess. George?"

“Yes."

“When you were holding me up at the sink, your hands were on my flabby belly and my fat fanny was pressed against you. You're so slim and trim. Does my plump body disgust you?"

“Are you sure you want to discuss this, Dottie?"

“I asked the question, didn't I?"

“You already know the answer."

“Then that was an erection I felt on my butt."

He nodded. “I'm sorry,” he said. “There are some things I can't always control."

“I'm not sorry,” she said with a smile on her face. “If I turn you on after you've been screwing that little sex-pot, Maggie Skinner, I take it as a compliment."

“Dottie!"

“Don't Dottie me. The whole town knows, George. Now admit it. You bedded her while she was staying at your house."

“Even if that were true I wouldn't admit it, Dottie. I'm from the old school. A gentleman doesn't kiss and tell. Let's change the subject. Please."

“I want to know, damn it. Did you take the little hussy to bed with you?"

“I wanted to."

“I'll be damned. After all you did for her, she wouldn't give you any?"

“That's enough, Dottie."

“There are some important things I want to talk seriously with you about, George. Let's start with the diner. For a long time, you've been trying to buy me out. You said you'd give me a fair price for Dot's Diner. Well, I'm ready to sell. Let's don't haggle. What's your best offer?"

“Dottie,” he cried. “You don't want to sell. You fought me tooth and nail to keep that place."

“Yes, I did. I'm a little surprised myself, but the events of this morning have made me see things in an entirely different light. I am now very aware of my own mortality."

“Dottie, you have a cut on your forehead and some bad bruises, but you're going to be as good as new in a few days."

“True, but it could turn out differently next time and besides, I have some age on me now. I guess I didn't realize until this morning that I will not live forever. I don't want to spend the rest of my life in a kitchen. In fact, I don't care if I ever cook another meal. What's your offer, George?"

“I'm no longer interested in buying you out, Dottie. That offer has expired. I am interested in a merger, however."

“Yeah, you've mentioned that before too. Something like your deal with Billy?"

“Something like that, but not exactly."

“I'm listening."

He took a deep breath and stared at the ceiling. “Well, first we get married, then get Maggie to run the restaurants for us and then kick up our heels and have the time of our lives."

He held his breath. She did not respond immediately. He forced himself to look at her. To his surprise, she too seemed focused on the ceiling.

“Maggie is working for the Dollars now."

“I think she'll change her mind."

“I know you were screwing her, George. I'm not stupid. I think you are in love with her. What do you plan to do about that?"

“Okay, Dottie. Maggie and I did let our friendship go too far. But Dottie, she left me because she knew I was in love with you, and I swear to God, we never engaged in sexual intercourse."

She looked at him. “What's the real reason, George? Your pecker not big enough for her?"

“You don't believe me? There's a telephone on your bedside table. Call her at the diner and ask her."

“She thinks you are in love with me, does she?"

“She does, and she's correct."

“That's a little detail you forgot to share with me, George."

“You haven't given me a chance."

“Lets see, now. Your proposal is that we get married and have Maggie run the two restaurants for us as we gradually withdraw from the day to day operation. Is that it?"

“Exactly."

“Let's look at the marriage part first. You're a good-looking man, George Bennett, but I need to tell you a little story. My mother hated sex and shortly after I was born, she cut daddy off completely. They even slept in separate bedrooms. Apparently, he wasn't very good between the sheets. I found out about this when I was a teenager. I swore I would never marry a man who couldn't please me sexually. My husband is the only man I've ever been with and he was a master bed jockey. The thing is, I knew it by three months of experience before our wedding ceremony was performed."

“Are you saying I must prove my expertise?"

“Sounds cold and clinical doesn't it?"

“And a little kinky too."