Chapter 32 - Epilogue

It was late when my little car pulled up outside Gloria’s home. If I had been tired the evening before, it was nothing to how drained I was feeling now, after the tumultuous events of the day. We had accompanied the ambulance taking Arthur to the hospital where he now lay hovering between life and death. Millie had been adamant that she herself would keep a constant vigil at his side, but my client was too upset by her husband’s apparent, and possibly brief, resurrection to control her feelings. She was persuaded to come away with me. I did what I could to sooth her troubled spirit. I made milky drinks, gave her two sleeping pills and put her to bed.

My intention had then been to return to my apartment. Gloria’s troubled state of mind forbade my leaving her, however, and once I was assured that she slept, I made my way to the guest bedroom. The chamber was as we had left it that morning and across the bedstead lay the wondrous red nightgown which the lady of the house had then picked out and flaunted before my eyes. The little thing was even more brief and revealing than the one I had worn yestereve.

“You will be irresistible in this” she had exulted. “Just wait till tonight when I work my magic on that gorgeous body of yours. You can forget about sleep!”

That conversation now seemed a distant memory, and I regarded the garment doubtfully. With my would-be lover soundly slumbering it was obvious that the activity she’d had in mind was no longer on the agenda, even if I had desired it.

I sank into the bedside chair and fell into a reverie. I had some big decisions to make. What was troubling my mind was the shape of my future, both immediate and longer term. How long I remained there I have no clear idea but at least an hour passed before I surfaced and though I hadn’t formulated the answer to the weightiest issue facing me, my course of action was now obvious. Despite the demise of a significant part of the crime organisation which had been threatening us, there was no way that I could now rejoin Rachel and Georgie, thereby putting them at risk.

My family’s wellbeing was just too precious to me. It followed that if their safety was in doubt then so was my own. I had been contemplating the resumption of my male persona, but it was clear that was still not an option.

The answering of those conundrums quieted some of the turmoil in my brain though the hour was very late. I heaved a sad sigh and stirred my unwilling limbs to prepare myself for bed. It was then that the splash of red which lay across my intended couch hit me again between the eyes. The sight of the night attire, which that morning Gloria had joyously selected for my intended seduction, brought the final dilemma confronting me to the fore. How much a part of my life did I want that woman to play? There was definitely a strong physical attraction between us but if we were to be together I knew there needed to be more, much more.

As if hypnotised I lifted the little thing up and gazed at it. The action raised complex feelings; a cocktail of curiosity, apprehension and excitement. Randomly, imaginings over what the night might have held for me if I had not now been the only one awake flitted through my brain accompanied by a strong feeling of desire, alongside of which existed a reluctance to allow myself to be manipulated against my will. I couldn’t make a decision to save my life!

As if in a trance I found myself slowly stripping off my clothes. Next, I put on the little nightdress and as it slithered down over my eager body, the sensation made me shiver. I picked up the sheer panties which completed the set and stepped into them. The delicate softness of their material felt sublime against my skin.

My breasts were threatening to burst the inadequate covering which the bodice of the garment afforded so I gently eased them into a better position and straightened and smoothed the gossamer folds which descended from them. When I took a glance in the looking glass, the vision was sufficient to thrill me through and through. It left me near some kind of ecstasy!

My whole being ached for sensuality. I managed to reject the crazy idea which flashed through my mind of waking Gloria up in order to surrender to what might be her wildest demands. In an agony of irresolution, I cast myself down upon the bed and tried to sleep. Many waking hours passed me by before I finally succumbed to sleep.

It was late before I woke next morning. The advent of my hostess disturbed my slumbers and when she peeled the sheet from over my shoulders, I surfaced properly.

Seeing I was fully awake, she apologised, in reference to the night attire I had slept in. “I can see that you had prepared yourself to meet my desires last night, but it wasn’t to be, sadly.”

“It was my turn to be completely exhausted” she explained. “Our tryst was put on hold again and this time, all my fault. We are even, I guess, but I’m truly sorry, darling.”

Gloria continued “It was an emotional rather than a physical fatigue which overcame me. Also, my eyes have been opened so that I know I must continue to disappoint you. The sight of Arthur again yesterday and then to have him snatched away, possibly for ever, has been too much for whatever there might have been between you and I. I’m so sad to say this, Jennifer, but for now I need to be alone. Today I will go to him and remain by his side whatever the outcome. If…” she stifled a sob “… he is destined to pass, I will need time to come to terms with… with everything.”

A tidal wave of feeling swept over me. Though I hated to admit it to myself, relief was mingled with the disappointment I felt, though I tried hard not to let the former show in my voice as I responded. “Of course I understand. You will need to grieve all over again. Perhaps in a day or two…”

My companion interrupted me “Not days, darling. Perhaps not even weeks. It will be a long time before I would be able to get past the loss… and yet there is a chance he may live. For that I hope and pray. He has the strongest spirit, and if he can pull through, we may have the chance to build our life together all over again. Of course, we will live no longer in this land where danger still threatens him. Europe, I think, will be safe enough, so for that I will think and plan.”

“Of course.” Again, I tried to sound more disappointed than I felt. I became practical. “I ought to return to my own apartment, now that the case is closed and the danger there for me has passed. In any event, I will have a new investigation that I must start as soon as possible. It will mean my making an early departure, I’m afraid.” These statements may not have been a lie. I felt reasonably confident that Guy would have lined up some other mystery for me to take on, even if I knew nothing about it myself as yet!

I crossed the room and gave her the briefest of hugs. “You need to go to Arthur. I can dress and pack in minutes and then I’ll go too. I can let myself out. Goodbye, dear. You have my phone number if ever you need me.”

Gloria nodded assent, then with a determined air she turned and, stifling a sob, left me. It was the last time I ever saw her.

Ten minutes later I closed the front door softly and walked to my car. I had to blink back the tears as I drove. I really ought to get a grip on my emotions, I scolded myself. To dwell on what might have been was simply pointless. To get my mind straight, I forced myself to speculate upon what my next investigation would turn out to be. Something out of the ordinary I hoped.

Perhaps I ought to start keeping a journal, a book of memoirs I might publish one day. I would call this first episode… ‘The Case of the Living Dead’, or possibly… ‘The Golden Girls’, or… whatever!

A whole new life beckoned!