Love Letters From the Grave(43)
Approved By: YOU AND ME
Received By: BOTH OF US
Molly’s love requisition form
To begin with, Molly was completely taken aback by the sudden attention paid to her by the handsome, sandy-haired man working in the factory supply and tool room.
She had worked at the factory for the past twelve years, but only recently did her job require her to visit the supply room periodically, usually to pick up office supplies, or the regulation smocks the ladies needed to wear over their street clothing. The supply room dispensed nearly every item needed by the factory workers to do their jobs, mostly tools and metal parts, and there were several men working there during each of the factory’s shifts. She had noticed him, of course, on earlier occasions, but she’d always been served by someone else – usually Danny, who had a roguish twinkle in his eye but seemed generally harmless.
Charlie, however, was another matter. He didn’t flirt like Danny, or banter with her like many of the other men who worked at the factory. He was somehow more serious, more intense, and his attempts to make her laugh seemed clumsy. Even the way he avoided looking at her caused her to blush, because she could tell that he was forcing himself to avert his gaze, as if she were a bright light that might sear his vision. She also wondered if he did that deliberately to make her less uncomfortable, because there could be no doubt that his presence affected her.
He was lingering over her orders, she could tell, becoming more friendly and talkative. And then it happened. As she reached to pick up her order, his hand touched hers and the effect was electric. She was sure that she blushed, and that he noticed it.
Molly had scurried away the first time, angry with herself for feeling an attraction to the man. After all, she was a married woman and had always lived by a strict moral code. She had never considered walking out with another man throughout either of her marriages, even though many had hinted at it and despite the fact that nobody would have judged her for it during her time with Tommy.
Even with George, while she had come to realise that she wasn’t genuinely happy and that all the possessions and luxuries in the world couldn’t fill the ache in her soul, she would never have countenanced breaking her vows. George was a good man and a loving husband, and he didn’t deserve that.
When she found out that Charlie was married – with three children by his very young wife, according to Annette who worked part-time in the payroll office with Amos, Charlie’s friend – that settled the matter. Under no circumstances would she even consider going out with him, now that she knew he had children. She herself had never been blessed with offspring, and it seemed unlikely now that she ever would, but she could not imagine any parent wanting to disrupt their children’s lives in any way. She had only her own parents’ marriage as her guiding light, and she knew that her father would disown her if she were to interfere in another marriage in which children were involved. Living by the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule, he called it, even though he was not particularly religious.
And yet she had to admit that there was something about Charlie. Occasionally she would catch one of his unguarded glances; they sent shockwaves through her, and she began to avoid going to the supply room in case she felt her resistance lowering.
‘He’s mighty handsome,’ Annette would say with a wink when she caught her friend trying not to watch him across the cafeteria.
‘I’m sure his wife thinks so too,’ was Molly’s firm reply.
She was determined, then, that nothing would happen. But then one morning, a few days after she’d first spoken to him at the supply room, Annette caught her by the arm and dragged her out of the food queue to the small area where the trays were stacked.
‘You have to hear this,’ Annette hissed from behind at tray tower. ‘Dolly, the cleaning lady, was going around the offices collecting crockery the other day when she overheard a conversation in the next office, and it was about you!’
‘Was it the supply office? Because if it was, I don’t want to hear about that man having lewd fantasies about me. We are both married,’ she said primly.
But Annette leaned in closer. ‘No, it was my office! The payroll office, and Charlie was talking to Amos.’
‘About me?’
‘Yes, and oh, Molly,’ said Annette, clutching her hands to her bosom, ‘he’s completely, head-over-heels in love with you!’
Molly stared at her, her pulse ticking in her throat. She could feel her skin flushing to her hairline. Love? That wasn’t possible, was it?
‘It doesn’t change anything.’ Molly shook her head as if shaking the fanciful notions of love out of her head. ‘We’re both happily married.’
Annette cocked her head on one side. ‘Really? I mean, don’t take this the wrong way, but you don’t really seem that happy lately. And as for Charlie – well, did you ever hear of a man declaring himself in love before he’s even kissed the girl? That man is not as happily married as anyone thinks. Not like he’d be,’ and she gave Molly with a mischievous nudge, ‘married to you.’
‘You’re crazy,’ laughed Molly.
‘No, he’s crazy. Crazy in love.’
Molly watched Annette sauntering away, holding her tray aloft as she swished her way through the tables. What did she know? Nobody could explain what being in love felt like.