"I'm not close to my family either, and it's none of my business, but as distasteful as it might be to visit your mother, the guilt of your staying away seems to be bothering you." Before I could reply, we were off on another dance. And another and another, until the band called it a night.
When we rode the elevator to my floor and I stepped out the door, Paul smiled and took my hand.
"This was too much fun for one time only," he said, but offered no plans for more. He bent down, kissed me lightly on the lips, hopped into the elevator and waved as the door closed.
I stepped off the carousal of his company, back to the mundane world of still-missing luggage and an empty room. Without turning on the lights I dropped my borrowed clothes where I stood, untangled hose from toes, my tired body from day-old under things and slipped naked between the chilly sheets. I stretched arms and legs wide, unable to touch the sides of this bed designed for two. Engulfed in a boozy but maudlin state I replayed the evening. It was a warm feeling that forced me to admit how long since I'd enjoyed this much fun. Paul's parting words echoed in my brain as I tried to chase them away. He'd never telephone me, I told myself, but it was a nice thing for him to say. All that, and my sister and I had finally spoken.
I woke with a shock and a throbbing head to the shrill cry of the telephone. The room remained in semi-darkness with the velvet drapes muting the outside light. My surroundings were a momentary blank until I heard the morning sounds from the Avenue below and felt the chill of my nakedness.
"Hello," I mumbled as I gradually swam back to reality. I was startled to hear my sister's voice.
"Can you talk?"
"Barely," I muttered, my sour breath assailing my nostrils. "What time is it?"
"It's nearly six o'clock. Are you alone?"
"Of course I'm alone!"
"I was going to come by your room but Maureen was positive you'd have company."
I rubbed the sleep from my eyes. "Maureen has a dirty mind. I'm just an old widow lady . . . who drank too much."
"You didn't bring that man up there with you?"
"God, no! He just introduced himself because he was alone too. Didn't Maureen tell you?"
"I wasn't speaking to her after she told me what she'd done; sent you a note to please come to the wedding and signed my name. I nearly fainted when I saw you."