Two blocks and two cigarettes later, Nick arrives at Molly Asher's brownstone apartment structure. Standing in front of the staircase, he gathers his nerves. The black swinging fence between him and the stairs. Placing a hand on the grating, Nick hesitates.
Stepping back he rubs his chin to feel the stubble, and notices where Johnny's head hit his mouth, leaving him with a fat and split lower lip. Tucking in his shirt, followed by unsuccessfully adjusting his tie. Raising his hands over his head in frustration. Annoyed with his nervous dance, he curses at himself under his breath. Something about seeing her always makes him edgy. All but sober, he contemplates lighting another cigarette. After weighing the pack in his hand, he pushes it back into his pocket.
It's been five minutes of this awkward shuffling back and forth. Hand on the grill and off again. He knows she's home as her second level single bedroom apartment lights are on.
Realizing if he stands here much longer it might be suspicious. Nick pushes the gate, the hinges groan in protest, and walks up the stairs. He hesitates before hitting the buzzer for 'H. Asher'. Taking a breathe, he presses it down in two quick buzzes.
"Yes?" The question asked by the woman's honey dipped voice on the other end.
"Moll'?" Nick asks knowing full well it could be no one else.
"Nicky!" Her voice elates and sounds even sweeter now that he can hear her smile. "Come on up." The door unlocks with a buzz and Nick lets himself through.
He walks casually through the empty lobby, which is more like a hallway. A couple of dehydrated ferns adorn the inside of the doorway in their clay pots. He makes his way to the door marked 'stairs' at the rear right of the entry way. Uninentionally, he quickens his pace. With each step up he feels his heart pounding louder. Although that could be the drink, the smoke, or the stairs.
The second floor has four seperate one bedroom apartment units. Mary's is the second one on the right, unit 211. Standing in front of it for a moment, he hesitates. Taking off his hat and pushing his hair back as neatly as possible, then replaces the hat. Nick removes his coat and pulls at his tie. He stops moving. Discovering yet again that his nerves are getting the better of him. He needs a drink.
He reaches for the door knob, but before he can get to it, the door is pulled open. Standing in the doorway is the lovely sight that is Mary Asher. She's not what she was before the war, but Nick's known that for a long time. A naive girl of 19 then, now a woman of 25.
Wearing a pearl coloured silk negligee stopping just above her knees. A piece of clothing that softly hugs her quite womanly figure. Bottle blond hair brushing her bare shoulders. Her face, no longer marked by the acne of her youth, is clear, powdered, her cheeks flush. Her left arm holds the door open, and a tumbler of scotch on ice in her right. Soft red lips forming the words. "Hi baby. Drink?"
He swallows hard and steps forward toward the door as she steps in. "Yeah, thanks Moll'"
She saunters back into the apartment and lets him follow. Stopping a few feet in, she puts the drink down on the couch side table. Turning to face him, she gestures him close with her arms reaching out at her waist. "Come greet me properly."
He puts his jacket on the rack next to the door, forgetting to take off his hat. Taking off his shoes with his feet he steps forward to her and into her embrace.
She puts his arms around her waist and looks him in his eyes, craning her neck up to meet his gaze. She kisses him deeply. He winces as the cut lip throbs due to the pressure, but doesn't move. Nick doesn't hesitate anymore and tightens his arms around her body. He breathes in her lavender scent. This moment is the most natural thing in the world for him. The embodiment of all emotions associated with coming home, he finds the most natural comfort in her embrace.
With the immense and deafening silence around them, his heart pounds almost audibly. A train runs through his brain. The euphoria of her kiss over taking his body as if he was floating six inches above the ground.
As the kiss ends, she crinkles her nose and rubs it against his with her eyes closed. She reaches up, takes his hat off and puts it on herself. Smiling at him playfully and looking into his eyes as if inspecting his soul. "I love you." She says quietly.
The words feel manufactured to him. As though they've been said to many lips and eyes before. A stamp to be placed over the chest of any man who'll have it. He doesn't know how she means it after everything. Still, they feel as genuine as they did seven years ago. Even if he's not the same man, unsure of what love actually means anymore.
He looks into her eyes as if searching for something. Maybe the courage to share her sentiment. "I - " His words cut off by the shrill ring of the telephone.
The Lieutenant always had a knack for timing.
