Mac returned to the Park Cameron at two-thirty in the morning, too late to call Hallie. He threw his hat, coat, and white dinner jacket on the living room sofa, plopping down in the overstuffed chair.
Betty is incredible, but she is married, with children, no less. I need to leave that alone. I wonder what Sara is doing?
There was a soft knock on the door. Mac had a pretty good idea who it was.
“Mac,” whimpered Hallie, as Mac opened the door, her hair and clothing askew. “Are you alone?”
“Yes, I’m alone; come in. You look like you had a little too much to drink, dear.”
“Perhaps. But I was just missing you. Kiss me, Mac, please?”
Mac kissed her tenderly, as she melted into his arms.
“Come, I will put you to bed.”
Mac brought Hallie to his bedroom, sitting her on the edge of the bed, after pulling back the covers. He removed her pumps and silk stockings, before zippering her out of her long black dress. He took off her pearls, so she would not choke herself in her sleep. He left her in her black lingerie, as he gently pushed her down, pulling the covers up to her chin.
Mac looked at Hallie seemingly asleep in his bed, thinking about how lovely she was, even drunk. He began to undress himself, removing his shirt and pants, before he realized that Hallie had her eyes open again, watching him, with a smile on her face. He continued, acting as if he was not aware that she was watching him. He removed all his clothing, walking around the room naked, before he pulled back the covers, getting into the bed next to Hallie.
“You knew I was watching you, didn’t you?”
“Oh my, I thought you were asleep.”
Hallie rolled over into Mac's arms, putting her leg over his leg.
“Thank you! I just needed you next to me tonight. I was so jealous seeing you with someone else,” said Hallie, as she drifted off to sleep.
Mac kissed her lovingly on the top of her head, drifting off himself, with the warmth of her body next to his. His dreams went from Hallie, to Sara, to Betty, and back to Hallie again.
Hallie woke him up with tender kisses all over, the sun now streaming into the room from the curtain-less window.
“What time is it?” Mac asked, his head pounding as expected.
“It is nine-thirty,” said Hallie, as she caressed him gently, hoping he would not get up out of bed.
“I must call the office. I’ll be right back.”
Mac went into the living room naked, calling Mrs. Appleton with his plight. He told her that he would be in that afternoon. She told him that was fine, that she would cover for him, but Allen Dulles wanted to see him around four o’clock. Mac went back into the bedroom, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. Hallie was now completely naked, stretched out on the bed waiting for him.
“Mac, please?” she begged, a coy look on her impish face.
Mac joined Hallie under the covers, making sweet love to her, despite his headache. It seemed to be just the cure he needed. By the time they got out of the bed, he felt great.
“I must go to work, Hallie. You can stay if you like.”
“I would like that. Let me sleep some more in your bed. I am so cozy and relaxed right now. I will lock the door when I leave.”
Mac showered, and he dressed somewhat casually, more for his ride with Betty, than for work. He kissed Hallie on the top of her head, as he left her sleeping in his bed, with a big smile on her face. He called down to Whitey to get him a cab.
“The Sherry Netherland,” he told the driver. “I’m a little late, so step on it please. Cut through the park.”
Mac was dropped off in front of the hotel at precisely twelve o’clock, with Betty standing outside, looking radiant in brown slacks, an Irish cable knit sweater, a boiled wool coat, and a hat that partially covered her blond curls.
“You’re late,” she laughed, giving him a kiss on his cheek.
“No, you were early. I am right on time. Let's go!”
They crossed Fifth Avenue, Betty tucking her arm under his to fight off the chill in the November air.
“Oh, I like that one,” said Betty, pointing to the chestnut foal attached to a polished red carriage.
“Do you have a blanket there, my good man?” Mac asked the groomsman.
“Yes, sir. Got a nice warm blanket for you and the lovely lady.”
“Good, take us for a ride, kind sir,” Mac told the driver, in an English accent.
The couple got into the hansom cab, and the driver threw the warm blanket over the two of them. Betty nestled into Mac, putting her arm inside his, holding his hand under the blanket. She looked up at him with a smile of a child on her face.
“Thank you, Mac, I’m so excited,” said Betty, as the buggy was on its way into the park.
“It's my pleasure. Are you warm enough?”
“Next to you, my whole insides are warm enough.”
“For real?” Mac laughed. “Or is that a line?”
“For real,” Betty cooed, nestling even further into Mac.
The driver took them into the park by the Grand Army Plaza, traveling along the south wall on the main road in the park.
“What is that?”
“That is the Dairy. The city used it as a working dairy during the Depression, providing milk to poor children.”
“Oh, my. What's that?” asked Betty, pointing to a building coming up on the other side of the roadway.
“That's the carousel. It's old. They used to pull it around with a donkey and a horse, underneath in the basement, if you can believe it. Now it is mechanized, of course.”
“That's charming. Like you,” said Betty, as she nestled into Mac once again, rubbing against him like a little girl. “You know everything! Thank you so much for doing this, and for last night. Best time ever. You’re wonderful.”
“You are wonderful too. I really do love being with you. I am sorry we didn’t get to dance together last night, but I figured you were working Costello, so I let it alone.”
“Mac, that's terrible! I was dying to dance with you. I was jealous you were dancing with that Mrs. Podunk. I was going to cut in.”
“That's not nice, but it's funny. I was going to hit that Sinatra character, trying to steal my girl. That is why I asked Mrs. Podell to dance again.”
“Am I your girl, Mac?” giggled Betty, as they turned up the Westside.
“Last night you were my girl. You are supposed to dance with the one who brought you, isn’t that the saying?”
“Then you owe me a dance, Mac.”
Betty pulled in tighter to Mac, rubbing her head into his chest. They both silently looked at the last of the colorful leaves gracing the Park. The young lovers, in rowboats on The Lake, wistfully reminded Mac of Sara. They passed outside The Ramble, proceeding up a steep hill, their chestnut foal straining.
“What's that, Mac?”
“That's the American Museum of Natural History, with Teddy Roosevelt on his horse out front.”
“You do know everything,” laughed Betty. “I like that. I feel so secure with you. I have never felt that way before with anyone. I have always had the need to be in charge, but not with you. I trust you. Oh, look at that castle! It's like a fairy tale.”
“That's Belvedere Castle, and the big field of grass is called the Great Lawn. That used to be a reservoir for the city, not that long ago.”
They rode to the south of the Reservoir, to the west of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and past The Conservatory Water, with the little boys still racing their model sailboats. Mac told Betty about each sight. Seemingly, she was fascinated by it all, but mostly, by Mac.
“Is that a zoo?”
“Yes, it is really nice, when it is warm out.”
“When I come back, will you bring me there? And I am coming back.”
“I would like that, but I am going to Italy after next week, remember?”
“Well, when you get back then,” Betty said, with a little girl smile. “I will wait for you to come back to see it.”
After the hansom cab returned to the Grand Army Plaza, Mac walked Betty back to the Sherry Netherland. They stood in front of the hotel, she looked into his eyes, waiting for him to kiss her. He did, with a passion she was hoping for. She melted into his arms.
“Goodbye, Mac. Please be careful in Italy.”
“You too, Betty, wherever you may be. It was fun. I will be in Washington next week, before I go away. Maybe, I will give you a call?”
“Are you serious? Yes, yes, yes! I will leave my telephone number with your office as soon as I get my phone. You better call me!”
“Count on it,” laughed Mac, as he tipped his hat, and walked away.
“Remember,” Betty called out, “you owe me a dance!”