He was on his way up to her flat when his cell rang. He thought of ignoring it but it could be urgent. It was. Bradley informed him that he was needed back in the office for the Adjournment Proceedings. “I’ll be right there,” he said, glancing at his watch. He had exactly half-hour to get there.
In his car, he called Martina. “Hi,” he said. “I’m sorry but I won’t be able to come this evening. Something has come up. Can we make it tomorrow evening?”
“Sure.” She was bitterly disappointed. Dinner was hot and ready for him and she was wearing a new outfit she had bought which she knew he would like. “I’ll see you tomorrow evening.”
After she hung up the phone, she walked over to the window and looked out. She could hear the muted sounds of the city below. People were out and about, going about their business. He was somewhere out there too. He should have been with her, having dinner. Afterwards, they would talk and sort things out. Then, maybe she could have persuaded him to spend the night.
She was going to have to wait until to tomorrow evening to see him. Tomorrow evening seemed like such a far way off. Sighing heavily, she went and covered the dinner. She would have it for lunch tomorrow. And she would prepare something else for dinner.
Laird could tell that she was disappointed. He heard it in her voice. He was disappointed too. He had been looking forward to seeing her all day. He could hardly concentrate on his job. And he had gone home, taken a quick shower and changed. He was out of the door in a flash, heading over to her place, his heart skipping a beat every time he thought about seeing her. He was walking to the entrance of her building when he got the blasted call. He wished now that he had ignored it.
Martina changed into her pajamas and settled down on the sofa to watch some television. She hadn’t eaten any of the dinner she had prepared. Instead, she had an egg sandwich and a salad. She wondered where Laird was and what urgent matter had come up. No doubt it had to do with his work. The life of an MP was anything but mundane. Emma had been through this sort of thing for years. Most of the time when they spoke, Bradley wasn’t at home. No doubt, Emma was sitting at home, trying to find something to do to pass the time while the kids were in bed.
She decided to give her a call. Emma was delighted to hear from her and they spoke for hours. She decided to tell her about her relationship with Laird and how things were between them since the incident at the restaurant. “Maybe that’s what he needed to knock some sense into him. Maybe it will get him to do the sensible thing and ask you to marry him.”
“You think he would do that?”
“If he loves you, he will. Call me a sentimental and romantic fool but I don’t think anyone should throw away their chance for love and happiness because of their career.”
Martina wanted to believe that if Laird loved her, he would ask her to marry him and then, their relationship would be out in the open. Would he want to marry a non-Catholic, though? Would he think her suitable to be an MP’s wife? Would she be able to deal with his hectic life. The broken plans and the nights when she would be home alone?
The following day, she went for a walk, still mulling over what Emma had said. It was a lovely, balmy day although it was in the middle of September. She was wearing the red dress Laird liked.
She remembered the last time she wore it, how he had caressed her legs, exposed by the high slits on either side before he loosened the sash. He had been pleasantly surprised and really turned on when he saw that she wasn’t wearing anything underneath.
She never wore the dress in public only at her place. Today, however, she was and it felt strange. She wasn’t sure that he would approve, especially as she was drawing admiring glances from the men she had passed along the way. Not the way the wife of an MP would dress or the kind of attention she should be drawing to herself. Contrite, she hurried back to her car and drove off.
When she got home, there was a message from Laird. He was going to be there at 7. She had an hour and half to prepare dinner.
Posted for November 2020 Writing Prompts – #9 – Sounds of the city
Notes to Women 