Casawhat?

Genre Writing Challenge April 3 at The Haunted Wordsmith

Today’s genre and image:
Romantic Thriller: a thriller in which the protagonists are romantically involved.

Casawhat?

Jerry grabbed her, pulled her close. He looked in her eye like she’d never been looked at before and may never be looked at again.

“Listen, Ilsa, we both know you’ll regret it. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life.”

Karen folded the dish towel and set it down on the kitchen counter. “Jerry, stop it.”

“But, Ilsa-”

“And stop calling me Ilsa!”

“Alright. If that’s what you want. But will you call me Rick?”

“Jerry?”

“Will you?” he said behind what he hoped was his charming grin.

“Jerry?”

“That’s a no?”

“That’s a no, sweetheart.”

Jerry broke the hug and stepped back. He sat down. “I don’t see what the big deal is. I mean so what if once in a while we pretend we’re in Casablanca. It doesn’t hurt anyone.”

“By “we” you mean you?”

“Yeah, maybe, but you like the movie though. You didn’t argue when I said it was the greatest love story ever made. “Better than “The Notebook” you said.” ”

“Almost just as good as “The Notebook” is what I recall saying.”

“That’s just about the same thing. I mean come on, it’s got it all. It’s a wartime romance, a thriller, political intrigue, love – unrequired love.”

“Unrequited.”

“Whatever, it’s there, it’s all there, and I don’t see what the big deal is.” Jerry stood up and walked into the den. He threw himself down on the couch, threw his arm over his eyes and forehead. He was ready for a sulk. He felt Karen sit down on the couch, felt her hand on his arm.

“But what about us?” Karen said. “I said I would never leave you.”

Jerry moved his arm, opened his eyes and looked up at Karen. Took hold of her hand. “And you never will.”

“But?”

“But I’ve got a job to do, too. And what I’ve got to do you can’t be any part of. Ilsa…”

“Yes, Richard?”

Jerry smiled. “I’m not good at being noble and it doesn’t take much to see that the problems of three little people don’t amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. Someday you’ll understand that.”

“You know what I don’t understand right now, baby?”

“What’s that?”

“I don’t understand why I’m so crazy in love with you, you weird fool.”

Jerry pulled her down closer. “Here’s looking at you, kid,” he said right before he kissed her.

####

(With many thanks to Messrs. Julius Epstein, Philip Epstein and Howard Koch)