Kim and Mark, Part 6

From: stinger27@gnn.com

Chapter 6

Only two more weeks to go!  Mark had called from Seoul where he and his men
were on a weekend pass.  Everything had been going so well for him and Kim
could feel the genuine sense of accomplishment in his voice.  Just two more
weeks and he would be home!  Kim shuddered as she thought of how it would be
to finally have him home again.  She felt a sense of accomplishment herself
as she thought about her pack a day habit of smoking cigarettes. 

Kim felt as if she had been a smoker all her life.  She had only been
smoking two and a half months, but she knew that although she had started
just to please Mark, she never wanted to quit.  While she became giddy with
emotion each time she thought of how excited Mark would be watching her
smoke, smoking had taken on a new dimension in her life.  During the last
month in particular, Kim found herself waking each morning wanting a
cigarette more than anything.  This past week, she had for the first time,
lit a cigarette while still lying in bed after she awoke.  That first
cigarette in the morning was so soothing, so satisfying.  She would wake up
and reach for her pack of Virginia Slims and light one with her pillow
'scootched up' against the headboard.  The first several puffs were the
best.  Kim relished the feeling of taking two or three double pumps as she
laid there still slightly asleep and feeling the satisfaction of the
nicotine satisfying her craving.  She would finish the cigarette slowly,
inhaling deeply and exhaling long, heavy streams of smoke. 

Thirty minutes later, she would have a second cigarette with her morning
coffee.  This one was almost as good as the first and she would find herself
thinking of when she could have a third.  Usually after her shower before
putting on her makeup and drying her hair.  Kim would have a fourth
cigarette in the car on the way to work knowing it would be 10 o'clock
before she could have a fifth.  Now she fully understood why Rita often
'dropped everything' to have a cigarette when her morning break came. 

Thinking of Rita reminded her that the office party was tomorrow night.  Dr.
Robbins hosted two or three such get togethers each year and Kim was looking
forward to this one with mixed feelings.  She always enjoyed the affairs,
but this was the first one she had attended without Mark.  He always made it
a point to support her work and social life as much as she did his.  This
was just one of the many things she loved so much about him.  Rita had
agreed to stop by and give Kim a lift so that the two of them could go
together. 

Rita was especially looking forward to this party as one of Dr. Robbin's
former students (who was now himself a clinical psychologist) was going to
be there.  -Kim, he's so handsome I can hardly stand it!' Rita had told her.
This was a little unusual because since the divorce, Rita seldom dated and
rarely showed any interest in one particular guy.  But Dr. Collins was all
she could talk about the previous week.  She told Kim that he was 35,
single, and most of all gorgeous!  Rita had met him once before but it was a
chance meeting last Friday that led her to believe that there may be some
sort of attraction there!  He had been so charming at the office as they
chatted that Rita had really built this up to be more than just a typical
office party.  Kim hoped she wouldn't go away too let down if things didn't
work out the way Rita hoped they might. 

Saturday evening, Kim decided on a black, long sleeved knit dress that was
flattering but still relatively modest.  It was one of Mark's favorites and
she, too, liked the way it looked and felt.  Rita showed up 10 minutes
early.  Very unusual for her.  Rita had a tendency to run behind no matter
what the occasion.  She had no sooner come inside when she suggested they
leave immediately so that they could get there on time.  Rita had worn her
favorite red dress.  Short, fairly low cut and well...slinky was the word
Kim would have used to describe it.  Very flattering indeed! 

In the car, the girls talked and smoked.  Rita could not concentrate on
anything except Dr. Collins.  'Ron, Rita had said. '
When they arrived at Dr. Robbins', one of his best friends, Dr. Collins
hadn't arrived yet.  Rita did her best to make small talk with guests as
they arrived but found it difficult to concentrate.  'Let's go outside and
have a cigarette,' she suggested.  Kim obliged her and both of them lit
their cigarettes on the patio at the back of the house.  Two or three others
joined them and talked quietly among themselves.  No one had yet had
anything to drink and not all of the guests had arrived.  Kim knew from past
experience that this would not long be the case.  The ladies finished their
cigarettes and went back inside where they ordered a glass of white wine
from the bar. 

About 30 minutes later, Rita grabbed Kim by the arm and said, 'Kim, there he
is!  Oh, God, he's sooo cute!  How do I look?'  'You look great, hon!' Kim
assured her.  'Just relax.  Things have a way of working out so just take it
slow, ok?'  Rita wasn't listening as Dr. Collins made his way toward the
bar.  He ordered a Vodka martini and turned to see Rita smiling brightly at
him.  He immediately strode toward them and returned Rita's smile.  'Rita,
hi!  How are you?  I was hoping to see you here tonight!"  Rita actually
blushed.  Kim was nearly embarrassed herself to see how her friend was
falling all over herself for this guy.  She had to admit, he was handsome.
In fact, he was every bit as 'gorgeous' as Rita had said. 

"Oh, Dr. Collins, I'm so sorry.  This is my very best friend Kim Wilson.
She works with me at Dr. Robbins' office."  "Kim, it's a pleasure to meet
you.  And please, call me Ron."  "Pleasure to meet you, Ron," Kim replied.
"Listen, I'm going to go have a cigarette.  I'll catch up with you soon.
Nice meeting you Ron!" 

Kim lit a cigarette and watched as Ron and Rita exchanged social
pleasantries.  It was chilly outside but not uncomfortable.  Kim savored
each puff as she smoked slowly enjoying the crisp, cool evening air.  As she
was finishing her cigarette, Rita and Ron made their way toward the door. 

"Kim, don't go in yet.  Ron and I just stepped outside for a cigarette.  Why
don't you stay and visit with us?"  Rita was positively glowing.  Kim had
never seen her quite like this before.  Kim agreed to stay and talk and
decided she wouldn't mind another cigarette anyway.  She realized she had
left her purse inside and excused herself to go fetch another cigarette when
Ron reached inside his jacket and offered one of his to Kim.  Kim took one
and allowed Ron to light it for her.  It was stronger than hers and didn't
have the menthol flavor she had grown accustomed to.  Ron smoked Marlboros
in a red box she had noticed.  While she preferred her own brand, Kim
definitely enjoyed the fuller flavor of her first non-menthol cigarette.  It
was also the first cigarette she had ever smoked that had a yellow filter.
And this brand wasn't as thin as her own.  Still, all in all, she found it a
nice change of pace. 

By ten o'clock, the jazz band was in full swing.  They were great and nearly
everyone was dancing.  Ron had asked Rita to dance several times and she was
more than happy to oblige.  The song ended and Ron and Rita joined Kim, who
had been talking with Dr. Robbins.  "Kim, would you care to dance?" Ron
asked.  Kim was a bit surprised and looked briefly at Rita who nodded her
approval.  "Sure," Kim answered.  The next song turned out to be a slow one.
One of her favorites on top of that.  Ron took her hand and she placed her
arm on his shoulder.  Dr. Chambers was a very good dancer and Kim found
herself wishing he was Mark.  She closed her eyes and thought of her husband
who would soon be home.  Unconsciously, she squeezed Ron's hand and slid her
arm all the way around his neck.  He, in turn, squeezed back and drew her
near to himself.  Kim nuzzled her head close to his and pressed her body
close.  Too much wine and her sense of loneliness combined to let her forget
briefly that this was a total stranger and not her husband.  As the last bar
was sung, Kim realized how closely she and Ron had been holding each other
and pulled back, slightly embarrassed.  "Thank you, Kim.  That was very
nice," Dr. Chambers said.  "It was my pleasure," Kim replied honestly.  Rita
evidently didn't seem to mind as nothing was said. 

Later, Kim went outside to have a cigarette and Ron followed behind her.
"Here, let me get that," he said, offering Kim a light.  "Thanks," Kim said.
She now naturally inhaled like Rita and occasionally French inhaled.  "I
enjoyed dancing with you earlier.  You're a very beautiful woman, Kim.  Your
husband is a lucky man."  "Thank you.  I'm also a very lucky woman,"  Kim
talked animatedly about Mark until her cigarette was finished.  Dr. Chambers
said, "Well, I can see how in love you are with your husband.  I was hoping
that there might be some chance of seeing you socially, but I wasn't aware
you were married until after we danced.   You're very lucky, Kim.  I've
tried marriage twice and things just didn't seem to work out for me."
"Well, I can tell you that Rita is more than just a little interested in
getting to know you, Ron."  "Yeah, I like Rita.  She's a lot of fun and I'd
like to get to know her better myself.  Perhaps I'll ask her out one of
these times.  Well, it's a little chilly out here, shall we rejoin the party?" 

On the way home, Kim told Rita what Ron had said (omitting the part about
his interest in Kim).  Rita just could not stop talking about Ron and Kim
hoped that she wasn't setting herself up for a future disappointment.   

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