Mac rang Hallie's doorbell, just as the door was already opening. Sara was lounging on the couch, shoes off, looking incredibly comfortable. Hallie was standing at the door with a glass of wine in her hand, with her shoes off, looking particularly comfortable as well. Obviously, given their posture, the ladies had started without him. At least they were both smiling.
“We had a nice chat, Mac,” said Hallie laughing. “You are right, Sara is wonderful.”
“As are you, Hallie,” slurred Sara, from across the room. “We have had a delightful time together, drinking wine, and talking about you, my dear.”
The two ladies laughed in unison, as Mac turned crimson. Hallie got Mac a scotch and invited him to join them on the couch. Sitting in the middle between the two lovely ladies, Mac did not know which way to look first. He took a sip of his single malt, and he started to laugh himself, while lighting a cigarette.
“So, we trust your business went well?” asked Hallie, grabbing a cigarette out of Mac's pack sitting on the coffee table, handing it to Sara. She took another for herself, as Mac lit both from the lighter he picked up off the table.
“Yes, it did, but I can’t talk about it,” responded Mac.
“So now I have two spies in my living room,” chuckled Hallie, having no idea how true her statement really was.
“Not exactly,” said Mac. “Just a little dinner with some friends of a friend. Business.”
“I’m sure it was more than that, if you left us two lovely ladies here alone, you dog,” giggled Hallie.
“Hallie told me how you have spent lots of time together,” laughed Sara, as she put her delicately manicured fingers on Mac's thigh. “Don’t worry, Thomas, I told her she should take care of you while I am gone. I will be back, but you should not be a monk in the meantime. Life is short, my dear. I really am fine with your friendship.”
“I love you, Sara,” said Mac, somewhat pathetically.
“I know, my dear boy. I love you as well. So does Hallie. We both want to see you happy and content.”
“Yes, my dear, I love you too,” slurred Hallie, putting her equally well-manicured fingers on his other thigh. “We have reached an understanding in your absence. We both love you,” she chuckled. “You are such a lucky man.”
Mac was dying from embarrassment, but he realized that the women had been drinking wine for hours. He put out his cigarette, and he turned to kiss Sara on the lips. He then turned and did the likewise to Hallie. He grabbed Sara by the hand as he got up from the white sofa.
“Time for us to go, Sara. You must get up in the morning. I’m taking you to your ship. We have a lot to talk about first.”
Hallie chuckled at the thought of these two needing only to talk before Sara left, maybe forever.
“Thomas, I don’t want to put you in danger. I will go alone.”
“No, I have taken care of your friends. They will not be coming around anymore.”
“What does that mean?” asked Sara, while Hallie was still sipping her wine, keenly listening now.
“We will talk about it downstairs. Let's go. Thank you, Hallie. You are the best. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
“Oh sure, just when it's getting good,” said Hallie, with her favorite pout.
Hallie got up from the couch, somewhat disappointed, walking her friends to the door. Mac saw she was a little hurt, but that could not be helped. He would deal with that tomorrow. Mac gave Hallie a kiss on the cheek, as did Sara, and they left her to be alone. This night might have to last a lifetime, Mac realized.
When they returned to Mac's apartment, Sara went to sit on the sofa, motioning Mac to join her. She kissed him tenderly on the lips, and she took his hand in hers.
“Mac, who knows what will happen with this war. The Germans are overrunning Europe. There is no quenching their thirst for conquest. What's next? England? Russia? It will certainly become worse before it gets better. I must go home for now, but remember, I will always love you. Always! And I know you will always love me,” she said, putting her finger to his lips, telling him to let her finish. “I have chosen a dangerous path with my life, as I had nothing so important for which to live. Now, I have you, my love. I will do my best to survive, and I will dream always of being in your arms again. I will be back, God willing. I would never ask or expect you not to live your life in the meantime. Please, Mac, promise me, you will live your life.”
“Sara, I do understand what you are saying. My life is not as genteel as you think it is, though. I am interested in what you do, and I am being pushed in that direction myself. If war never touches America, so be it. But, if it does, and it looks like it will, I will do my duty to my country, whatever that turns out to be. If we survive, I will find you, Sara. I love you, and I always will.”
“Mac, are you telling me that you are a spy?”
“No dear, I am not a spy. But apparently, Mr. Dulles is grooming me for Naval Intelligence. We are not at war, so there really isn’t much to worry about. Yet, if I am called upon, I will do what is asked of me.”
“Mac, just be careful. You are a babe from the woods, at this point, which is part of your charm. I find that incredibly sexy about you. Do not take any unnecessary chances.”
“I could say the same to you, Sara, about taking chances. You have something to live for now. Me!”
Sara smiled at him, as she squeezed his hand tightly. Mac leaned in to kiss her, as she opened her mouth to receive him. The two young lovers kissed passionately on the sofa. Sara leaned back, gazing into Mac's blue eyes.
“Now, Mac, I want you to love me good before I go. It may have to last us a very long time.”
Without a word, Mac took Sara to his bed, and made slow, beautiful love to her until morning. They rested in each other's arms until it was time to go, neither willing to miss a minute by falling asleep.
“What did you mean last night when you said you took care of my problem, Mac. I am nervous about going to the ship and putting you in harm's way. I could not live with myself, if something happened to you, my love.”
“I had a meeting with some people in Little Italy last night. They assured me that it would be taken care of immediately.”
“Mac, what are you involved with? You are a lawyer, for God's sake.”
“I’m fine, Sara. The guys are just going to help on the waterfront, to get things in order. I met with them at the direction of my boss, and with the blessing of Frank Hogan, the District Attorney.”
“Mac, please be careful. These men are not people to fool with.”
“Sara, I will be fine. I am not the boy from the woods that you imagine.”
“Yeah, you did really well with the guy at the Castle yesterday,” Sara laughed sarcastically. “We both could have been shot.”
“Not one of my better moves, I admit,” chuckled Mac, somewhat embarrassed. “Thanks for saving us. You will have to teach me your moves someday.”
Sara put her head back down on Mac's shoulder.
“I don’t want to leave, Mac. I love you.”
“I love you, Sara. Stay.”
“I can’t, baby. I must do my duty, as well.”
They lay there for a few minutes, neither saying a word, before they got up to get ready to part.
Mac called a cab, directing the driver to Pier 86 on the West Side. They held hands during the ride down the West Side Highway, neither breaking the silent thoughts between them. Upon arriving at dockside of the Europa, Mac took Sara in his arms, with tears in both of their eyes. He kissed her with passion, as she held on to him, clearly wishing not to have to go. Finally, as the liner's whistle blew, she stepped back, holding onto his hands for as long as she could, before walking up the gangplank.
“Goodbye, Mac,” she sobbed softly, as she walked away, her hand raised to wave.
“So long, Sara,” replied Mac, wiping a tear from his own eye. “I love you!”
Mac lit a cigarette, watching Sara ascend the gangplank, and take a place at the rail of the Europa. They waved to each other, along with the throngs of other well- wishers, and they blew each other kisses. The gangplank was pulled away from the ship, and the boat slipped into New York Harbor. Mac dropped his cigarette, smashed it out on the pier with his foot, and he walked away into the mist of the city morning.