By Rachel Torrent

Earl Ray was holding a huge, fully loaded cheeseburger with both hands and biting into it greedily. Sahndra watched him and thought, “You’re gorgeous…….And I still can’t believe you’re mine.” He looked up and winked at her.

It was Saturday afternoon, and they’d been grilling out – like the joyous domesticated couple they’d become. Earl Ray, a former explosions expert in Vietnam, handled the big gas grill on the deck very well. Sahndra had been forced to sit down before she fell down when she walked out there and saw his grilling attire.

After a long morning of yard work, he’d showered and put on some tight, faded, torn jeans and a white knit shirt with three open buttons at the neck. No shoes or socks. And on his head he wore the long, black scarf that he knew took her breath away.

“This damn grill…….makes me sweat,” he had said, half laughing at her open-mouth stare. Sweet Jesus, this is mine, she had thought. How did I get so freaking lucky?

So now they sat in the dining room consuming their feast. It occurred to Sahndra that she couldn’t remember ever sharing a grill-at-home Saturday with the non-homebody Scottie. Not Scottie’s style. But she loved Earl Ray’s style. More and more every day.

“Did Julie and the prick set a wedding date yet? I forgot to ask her when she was here the other day.”

Sahndra was jolted back into reality with his simple question. And she smiled at the fact that Earl Ray had begun using her favorite nickname for Roger.

“No, they haven’t. I don’t think they will for a while,” she said. “They’re not in a hurry or anything.”

“He just wants to own her……….let everybody know she belongs to him,” Earl Ray plopped a French fry in his mouth.

“She DOES belong to him, honey. And besides, he loves her………..…a lot.” Sahndra felt a little uncomfortable today discussing his ex-wife and her new love. So she was relieved when Earl Ray moved on to another subject.

“Wanna go check out a movie tomorrow, angel?”

“Sure, Roge—” She caught herself before she even finished speaking the name. But the cruel, yet unintentional damage had been done. She cringed.

Earl Ray held his half-eaten burger in mid-air. His eyes widened. “What did you just call me?”

“I’m sorry, Earl Ray. It was just a slip of the tongue! We were talking about him and—”

“That’s enough.” He calmly put down his food but still stared at her. “Of all people on the planet, ya gotta call me by THAT motherfucker’s name? Guess that proves who’s on YOUR mind……..Ain’t that something?” He was hatefully sarcastic, but quiet.

Sahndra wanted to cry. “It was a simple, little mistake, sweetheart! I’m sorry!”

He pushed his chair back and stood up. Sahndra felt her heart ripping in two pieces, down the middle. “Well, ya’ve ruined the whole mood for me…….I think I’ll take a drive or something………..anything.”

“Earl Ray, don’t go! I’m sorry!”

Too late. He was already gone, as the Eagles song said long ago. He’d stepped into his brown loafers in the bedroom and grabbed his keys to the Explorer. On the way to the front door, he said to Sahndra, “Don’t wait up for me.”

She couldn’t finish eating. She cried as she cleaned up the leftovers of what had been a fabulous afternoon. Julie had warned her about his short fuse. The demolition specialist couldn’t control his own fiery ignitions.

I need to find him quickly and get this cleared up before it escalates, she thought. She despised fighting with him. And she missed him terribly. Already. So she fixed her tear-stained face, changed clothes and set out looking for her lover. The one she loved above all else.

Earl Ray wasn’t at Seevuplay’s bar or Le Bec Fin. So she tried Renaissance. She found Julie’s Saab and Scottie’s new Porsche in different areas of the parking lot. But no Explorer. She decided to go inside and ask Julie if she’d seen Earl Ray or heard from him at all. Julie remained one of his closest friends. Even after the divorce. And assuming that Scottie was there having a nice lunch with Christine, she had no intention of encountering him.

But Scottie was there alone. Shooting pool in the bar area with Evan Freed, his new buddy. When he saw Sahndra walk in and look around the place, he put his pool stick down and came over to her.

“Hey, miss! If you’re looking for the best thing in the building, then here I am! In the flesh!” He spread out his arms, holding a drink in one hand.

Sahndra grinned uncontrollably when she saw him. Scottie never failed to make her smile. “Hiya, Scottie! Whatcha doing here?”

“Drinking and playing a little pool……….That’s the kinda things ya do in a bar,” he said, grinning too. “What are YOU doing here?”

“Came to talk to Julie.” Simple enough. He was well aware of how close they were.

“Is that some rock Lococco gave her or what? Whewwww! I didn’t think the asshole had it in him!” Scottie feigned astonishment.

Sahndra laughed. Scottie was so blunt. “We were all kinda shocked………especially Julie……And God, is she excited now,” Sahndra said.

“You ain’t kidding……Well, SOMEBODY has to love his ass, right?”

Sahndra laughed again. He was making her forget her troubled heart. Her missing other half.

“Julie and Roger would both kill anybody who even looked at the other one wrong………..Such an exclusive, obsessive love………They deserve each other.”

Scottie laughed now. “Let’s get a table and sit down, why don’t we?”

Sahndra looked at her watch. “I don’t have much time………and what about Evan?”

“Aw, don’t worry ‘bout Evan. He spotted ya first and told me you were here.”

Sahndra felt elated that Scottie had actually discussed her with Evan. She must be in his thoughts, still.

“So………fill me in, doll face. How are things in your little world, huh? How’s ol’ lover boy?” Scottie asked her with a slight laugh still in his voice as they sat down at a table.

Sahndra saw in his eyes now that he was a little more intoxicated than she’d first thought. But not all-out drunk yet. “Things are great, Scottie. Earl Ray is fine too. We made that trip to Washington, D.C………..that veteran’s ceremony.”

He scoffed in his usual way. “I didn’t even open that fucking letter……..Lococco told me about it.”

Sahndra never expected Scottie to go in for anything that honored him for his war days. Yet another way in which he was Earl Ray’s opposite. Oh, Earl Ray, she thought. Where are you, my darling?

“You been doing okay, honey?” Sahndra asked him. He’d certainly looked better.

He didn’t respond immediately but looked down. Then he smiled slightly. “Aw…….I’m fair to middling…………I guess.”

“I don’t mean to nag, but………it’s kinda early to be drinking, isn’t it?” Sahndra knew he was bothered by something, but she couldn’t determine how much.

Scottie glanced upwards. “I miss that aboutcha, sweet cheeks……….always looking out for my sorry ass.” He smiled at her.

“I don’t remember your ass as being sorry at all, Scottie.” Several delicious bedroom memories flashed through Sahndra’s mind.

“How’s Christine?” she forced herself to ask. She was at once thrilled and disheartened over the issue of Scottie’s new girlfriend.

To this, Scottie visibly shuddered. Sahndra saw it. He tried to look around the restaurant and act nonchalant, but she’d seen it.

“Oh, well………..Maybe I was wrong about that whole thing,” he said as he signaled to the waiter for another drink.

“Wrong ‘bout what exactly, Scottie?”

He faced her now and peered at her. “I think…………she’s cheating on me.” He swallowed back something. Sahndra didn’t know what. Pride? Anger? Jealousy? Hurt?

“With who, pray tell? Surely you’re mistaken, honey! I thought you guys were getting along famously!”

Scottie let out a sigh. “Me too, Sahndra………but I saw her in that little shop of hers yesterday with that Dunne guy………Redmond, I think………Things between them looked a little too cozy for my taste…….And he’s younger than me and everything.”

Sahndra’s heart sank for him. He was in pain. On some level. “I’m sorry, Scottie………..Really, I am.” And she was. She preferred a happy, undaunted Scottie to this blue, insecure one.

He was still looking into her eyes. “I guess I know now how you felt………….all those years………..knowing about that Claudia bitch……..”

Sahndra was more than stunned. She hadn’t expected this introspective Scottie. A Scottie who willingly brought the past out into the light of this bar.

“That’s behind us now, Scottie. Forget about it.”

He shook his head, still looking at her. “No………not behind us yet………not ‘til ya forgive me, Sahndra, honey………..I’m sorry ‘bout that shit……………Claudia AND Jacklene, or whatever her damn name was…………I never even WANTED to sleep with that one…………….And I want ya to know that…………that I’m sorry……….for all the bullshit.”

Sahndra’s turn now to swallow back a lump. “Okay, Scottie……………I forgive you.” He’d never asked her before, never said he was sorry for that long-ago affair. And for the girl she’d found him with at the shooting range that day.

“And I’m sorry you had to live with knowing about it all that time, sweet cheeks.” Scottie sounded far more emotional than she was used to.

“Don’t worry ‘bout it…………..Really, Scottie.”

His glass was almost empty again, so there was a pause while he ordered a refill. Sahndra was at a huge loss for words. But she sensed that Scottie had enough verbiage in him for the both of them.

He swallowed back more whiskey and looked at her again. “Is he really good to ya, Sahndra?”

He’d thrown her off-guard once again. “Earl Ray?”

“Yeah……….He’s THAT amazing? Or do I still have a chance?”

She wasn’t even drinking, and she felt herself spinning. For one single moment, Sahndra wanted to shout, “Lord, yes! I want nothing more than to have our life back to the way it used to be! Just you and me, babe!”

But then she quickly understood that it was only “habit” talking, a shallow yearning for the old status quo. Not reality at all.

“A chance?” she managed after all that.

Scottie was evidently feeling more brave than usual. “Do I have any chance in hell of winning you over again, sweetheart? Could ya ever take me back?” He searched her face.

Sahndra gasped. He could always be counted on to shock her. “Scottie………are you asking me for a reconciliation?”

“I’ve thought ‘bout it lots, Sahndra………..Didn’t have the nerve to ask ‘til now.”

“Oh, Scottie………..I love Earl Ray…………in a different way altogether from how I love you…………..He’s everything to me now…………I live for him……………I’m sorry, but I can’t go back now.”

Scottie looked down into his drink. Sadly. Knowingly. Resignedly. God, I wish I hadn’t had to do that, Sahndra thought.

Without looking up, he said, “Somehow………I knew you’d say that………… And somehow, I don’t know how, but somehow…………I’m very glad for you……….and for Michaels.” Scottie smiled.

Sahndra couldn’t smile. “Things will work out for you, honey………..And I’ll be here for ya………Ya know that………I’ll love you always, Scottie.”

Abruptly, Scottie stood up. He looked at his ex-wife with a brighter, healthier countenance. “How ‘bout giving me a hug, gorgeous?”

Obediently, Sahndra got up. He embraced her tightly, warmly. She returned the full emotion. A long, nostalgic embrace that felt good to both of them.

“Stay and have just one drink with me, love. Okay?” Scottie had returned to his normal outward self.

“Just one, Scottie. I gotta talk to Julie and then go.” She didn’t offer to tell him about the mission she was on. She didn’t want to talk about it. Not with him.

Scottie kissed her lovingly but quickly on the mouth while he still held her arms. Only a brief kiss. “One drink with the ex it is then. After that, you’re free to go home to the new man in your life.” No sarcasm or hostility in his voice. Just good naturedness.

Sahndra laughed. “You’re so much damn fun, Scottie.” And she sat down again.

“Yeah. Yeah. That’s me all right. A real fun guy.”

Little did either of them know, Earl Ray had been standing in Renaissance’s lobby watching most of this charming scene.

Without the benefit of audio.

And in his current state of paranoia and unsureness, he was using his imagination to fill in the missing words he couldn’t hear. His version of the events he was witnessing was not a happy one at all. And nothing like what had actually taken place.

He gritted his teeth and marched through the fine dining area to find Julie in the kitchen. She was still his friend and would allow him to blow off some steam if he so desired. And right now, he thought he might implode if he didn’t release some of what he was feeling inside.

* * *

Earlier that day, around noon, Julie had arrived at Renaissance to get things started for the Saturday night menu. She had had a refreshing and romantic morning with Roger, and she couldn’t wait to get back home to him that afternoon. She was in her office when Jack French showed up at the door.

“There she is………..the lovely and skilled cook. And my, how delicious she looks from behind.”

Julie turned around to find him leaning against the door frame, legs crossed, arms folded. He was smiling. She returned it.

“Hey, Jack. And the correct title is ‘chef,’ not ‘cook.’ I went to school long enough to be called a chef.”

“Okay………..Chef. How are ya?”

“Couldn’t be better, Jack. Couldn’t be better………And where the hell’ve you been? I haven’t seen ya in ages.” Julie gulped his image in. Even on a casual Saturday, he was well-put-together.

“Well………..I thought it best to let Roger cool off a little before I came by again……..I, uh, pissed him off at that last party.” Jack didn’t sound remorseful in the least bit. He was merely stating facts.

Julie laughed. “Oh, he’s just big-time protective…….Don’t worry ‘bout him.”

Jack moved his eyes over her body. “Does that mean we can still dance together?” His whole face seemed to shine.

“Of course, Jack. Just not as ……….close…….when Roger’s around. Okay?”

He looked down and smiled bigger. Julie felt reactions in her private parts. “Sure, Julie…….We can play by your rules……..as long as we still get to play at all.”

Jack and his innuendoes, Julie thought. Jack and his smile. Jack and his nice clothes. Jack and his sexy disposition. She enjoyed him very much, no denying it.

“Are ya here for lunch, Jack? The pork is particularly good today.”

He licked his lips ever so slightly, and Julie knew he wasn’t imagining eating pork. He never gave up. “I just stopped in to see you……..when I saw your car in the lot. I’ll be back for dinner tonight.”

Jack was flustering for sure. But Julie didn’t have much time to dwell on it. For the next three hours she prepared things for the evening dinner at Renaissance. With all of this prep work and detailed instructions for Alex and Caleb, she would be freed up to spend her Saturday night with Roger. And she could think of nothing better than that.

Sometimes she wondered if she should back off from him some, give him more breathing room and time alone. Almost as much as she feared losing him, she feared smothering the infamous loner, the man not known for personal relationships, especially close ones. But he never seemed to feel smothered. And he always seemed to want to be with her. Or so she was happily convinced.

As Julie blindly sautéed and braised, she contemplated Roger and all the complicated issues surrounding him, surrounding them. Then, like a freaky, unexplained hail storm that sometimes springs up on a sunny day, Earl Ray was suddenly before her in the kitchen with a harrowed face Julie knew too well. Something was actively upsetting him, and he couldn’t contain it by himself. It must be about Sahndra, she thought, since he’s here, alone.

So she turned her duties over to Alex and led Earl Ray to the rear of the kitchen, near the back door. It was private back there. As she listened to his tortured words, she admired his well-taken-care-of body dressed in the white knit shirt, the worn jeans, and the brown loafers. You’re really something to look at, she thought.

“Earl Ray, that slip of the tongue thing could happen to anybody,” Julie told him. “And you guys had just been discussing Roger anyway, right? Isn’t that what you said? Give me a break!”

“C’mon, Julie. If that bastard of yours called you some other bitch’s name, you’d go ballistic on him. You know you would.”

Julie gave it a thought or two. “Yeah………It would piss me off. But I doubt that I’d up and leave…….like you’re always doing………That’s childish, Earl Ray. You need to hang around and fight it out sometimes. Grow up!”

He looked away and pursed his lips. “It………bothered me………especially with THAT name.” Then he glanced back at her. “I’m sorry, sweetheart……….I know you love him now and all………but I don’t wanna be associated with him ………in any way.”

Julie sighed. This was not news to her. “And Sahndra knows that too, honey. It was an innocent mistake. I’m telling ya. Cut her some slack.”

Earl Ray looked to his right, thinking, remembering. “What about Scottie, hmmm? What was going on with THAT bullshit?”

Julie was getting frustrated with him. Like old times. She walked over to him and grabbed his upper arms which dwarfed her hands. “Look at me, Earl Ray.” He did, and she still held him. “I didn’t even know Sahndra was here, let alone that she was out there with Scottie. But I DO know that she worships you and everything about you………What you saw was probably just a friendly chat between ex’s………like you and I have, hmmm?”

He was staring into her eyes now. “Ya think so?”

“I’d bet money on it,” she said.

“They kissed.”

“Earl Ray, don’t be an infant! They used to kiss all the time, damnit! But then she left him for YOUR insecure ass!”

He shrugged off her touch. “I don’t know, Julie. It looked like more.”

“Lemme go out there and get her for ya, honey. You two can go in my office and work it out.”

“No………Don’t disturb her……… I wanna just be alone for a little while,” he said quietly.

“Earl Ray, you don’t need to—”

The kitchen’s back door opened then, and Julie looked up and watched her lovely knight in shining black armor slowly saunter in. Roger. Black jeans, black dress shirt with a tiny yellow design in it. Scuffed boots. He took off his dark sunglasses as he smiled at her. She was speechless.

Earl Ray had been watching her face and now turned around just in time to see Roger say, “Hey, baby………..How’s it going, Earl Ray?”

Julie then felt the entire cramped atmosphere fill up with tension immediately – just like Sahndra had described when these two men faced each other. It was Julie’s initiation into their little macho standoffs.

“I didn’t expect to see YOU here, Roger,” Earl Ray said to him. Julie heard the hostility that he hadn’t even tried to conceal.

Roger had heard it too. “Well, obviously……..And you’re about the last person I thought I’d walk in here and find with………..her.”

Julie knew instantly that Roger had contemplated using a much more intimate, more cruel and damaging way to refer to her than merely “her.” But he’d decided not to. And she silently thanked him for it. She saw in his eyes that he had understood her appreciation.

“Don’t worry ‘bout it, man………I just needed some advice……….if ya don’t mind.” Earl Ray was beginning to clench his jaw.

Roger noticed this too. He held up one palm. “Don’t mind me……..Knock yourself out……..I’ll get outta your way.” And like a big, swift cat effortlessly on the move, he was past Earl Ray in a half second, grabbing Julie around the waist and kissing her wetly on the neck. “I’ll be in the bar, sweets,” he said softly. Then he was gone. Julie was panting.

Earl Ray looked back at her. “I hate that sonofabitch………..What’s the fucking attraction, Julie?”

“Don’t start, Earl Ray. Please.”

He let out a deep, tense breath. “Well, I’m done here……..I gotta go.”

“Where ya going?”

“Don’t fucking know………Don’t fucking care……..See ya……..sweets.” He kissed the other side of her neck quickly and looked at her sarcastically. Then he was gone too.

Goddamn men, Julie thought. She went back to work and tried to forget them. Twenty minutes later, she was stopped again.

“How the fuck was I supposed to know he was here?” Sahndra almost screamed at her. She’d left Scottie to Evan and hurried back to the very popular kitchen. She was more desperate than ever now to find Earl Ray.

“There’s no way ya could have known………just like he didn’t know what you and Scottie were talking about.”

Julie now knew all about Sahndra’s sad conversation with Scottie, and Sahndra was now aware that Earl Ray had witnessed it all from the lobby.

“Goddamnit! What am I gonna do with that man?” Sahndra was visibly agitated.

“When Roger walked in, that just pissed him off more, I’m sorry to say.” Julie swallowed involuntarily when she remembered Roger walking in.

“Oh, the prick’s here? I didn’t see his smart ass out there anywhere.” Sahndra wasn’t really in the mood to deal with Roger that afternoon. She was glad to have missed him. And she had missed him because he’d spotted Ben Farlow and Tyler Barnes having lunch in the dining room and had gone over to chat.

“Why don’tcha try my old house? Didn’t ya say he’s been over there a bunch lately going through old shit?” Julie prodded her, getting back to Earl Ray.

“Yeah,” Sahndra said. Seeing him now in her memory wearing the fatigues and the black scarf saddened her.

“I’m guessing he’s over there. Go check it out.”

* * *

Roger had decided to show up and surprise Julie at Renaissance that afternoon because…………because he just wanted to be near her.

And this realization still shocked him most of all.

The epiphany had come to him in a slow-dawning manner after they’d gotten together. He discovered, over time, that he’d done more than fall in love with her. He found himself wanting to be around her, needing her around him. He would sleep on her pillow if she wasn’t there with him at night just because it smelled like her facial lotion. He would wait impatiently to see her again.

He couldn’t remember ever feeling so attached to a woman before. He’d cherished his isolation, his aloneness. All those years. But now, after this woman, all that seemed less significant. What seemed more important now was how she’d view all the things he so wanted to show her, and what she might say to enlighten him about stuff he’d never considered before.

Sharing. Touching another’s soul, allowing your own soul to be touched in return. Concepts he was learning to enjoy. As frightening as this opening up had felt at first, he was sure he didn’t want to return to the cold solitary plane.

He sat on an empty counter in the kitchen now and watched Julie in her element. Khaki pants and an open-neck white blouse with white Keds sneakers. She refused to wear the bulky chef’s hat, so her short blonde hair was pulled back with a red ribbon. Her huge apron was doubled over and tied just under her breasts. She moved with grace and agility in her kitchen. He smiled to himself. Yeah, I’ll take this one forever, he thought.

He remembered fondly how excited she’d been after he came home last month with those boxes of copper cookware. Her mouth had almost watered when she opened them.

“My God, Roger! It’s the real thing! Nickel-coated and everything! I’ve wanted this stuff for home forever!” Her pretty aqua eyes had been huge.

“I know, baby. Ya told me.”

“Jesus! And you even got the tiny little butter-melting pot! Oh, thank you, honey! I know you spent some big bucks!”

“It was nothing. I ordered it special from New Zealand,” he’d said.

“You’re amazing, Roger. I love you so damn much.”

And that had been worth it all to him. That she loved him. No one had ever loved him like Julie did. Or maybe he’d just never let anyone love him that much. But he was willing now to let her. He prayed to his gods that she always would.

* * *

When Sahndra got to Earl Ray’s and Julie’s old house, she saw right away that Julie had been right. His Explorer was plainly parked in the driveway. A dim light was on in the living room window.

She rang the bell on the front door without hesitating. He opened the door after only a few seconds. He looked the same as when she’d last seem him earlier that afternoon except that his hair was tousled now, and he was no longer jovial and smiling. He was barefoot again too.

“Can I come in, honey?………..I need to talk to you.” Her voice sounded meeker and quieter than she intended.

He didn’t speak a response. He just stepped back and opened the door wider for her to enter. He sucked in his cheeks and squinted his eyes as he waited. Sahndra walked in and turned around to face him. He closed the door but still didn’t speak.

“Earl Ray, I’m sorry for calling you a different name. I didn’t mean to, honestly, honey. And I’ll never do it again. I never dreamed it would upset you so much.” Am I groveling? she thought. At this point, she didn’t really care.

“Sit down in the living room, if ya want.” It was his manners coming through the anger. She walked on in and took a seat on the sofa.

He sat on the other end of the same sofa. “I saw ya with Scottie, Sahndra. I’m sure Julie told ya.”

She saw that he had a glass of liquor on the coffee table. But it was still full, and he didn’t seem drunk. The stereo was playing very low. “She did………..And that was nothing too………..Scottie was upset ‘cause he thinks Christine is screwing around on him.”

Earl Ray laughed a tiny laugh. “Oh, him too………”

“That’s not fair, Earl Ray. I’m not cheating on you. Not with Scottie. Not with anybody……….I love you……..more than anything.”

He peered up at her. “Maybe I AM insecure like Julie said………But can you imagine what it felt like for me to walk in there and see you kiss him, Sahndra?”

“Honey, he’s part of my past. YOU are my future. I’d do anything for you, Earl Ray.”

He looked down. “Is that all you discussed with Scottie?”

Sahndra couldn’t lie to him. “He half-heartedly asked me to come back to him…………But he was kinda drunk too.” She choked on the words.

He jerked his head up quickly and stared at her. “And?”

“Oh, c’mon, Earl Ray! Of course I told him no! How can you doubt me?”

“I don’t doubt ya, baby. I just gotta be totally sure.”

“Lemme ask you something, sweetheart…………If Julie came to you and begged you to come back to her, would you?” She had to know.

He paled a little bit and couldn’t answer at first. Sahndra felt very frightened. A moment of truth was coming that she wasn’t sure now she really wanted to see.

“I thought for a long time that she would come back……….hoped she would, I guess…………and yes, I would have welcomed her back gladly then…………..But now things are different………….I don’t wish for that anymore……….I don’t need to……….I’ve got you………So I guess I’d havta to tell her no.”

Sahndra let some tears fall down her cheeks. She sighed. “I’m so damn glad to hear you say that.”

He seemed surprised. “You didn’t know it? It’s not obvious, sweetheart?”

“Maybe not……….like it’s not obvious to you that I don’t want Scottie back either.” She smiled at him.

“Touché, baby………..Come over here.”

They both moved and met in the middle of the long sofa. In each other’s arms. Their mouths on each other.

“I missed you, angel. I’ve been miserable.”

“Me too, Earl Ray. I don’t care what you saw with Scottie, I was thinking about you the whole time. I only went there to find you anyway. I’ve been all over town looking for you.”

He pulled away. “Really?”

“Really.”

“Well………if I mean THAT much to ya, maybe I should do something special for ya………..like in a horizontal position. That was supposed to come after the grilling anyway,” he said, smiling now.

“Then let’s go, buddy.” She made a motion to stand up.

He held her down with his strong grip. “No……..wait……….Let’s stay here……..There’s a bed down the hall.”

A light was coming on in Sahndra’s head. “Your old bed………..with Julie?”

He smiled again. “Why not? It’s a damn good mattress. I picked it out myself two years ago……….And that bed is probably lonesome……..Whadaya say?”

Sahndra grinned. She was overjoyed. He wanted to make love to her in his old bed from his married days. What a romantic lover she had. And, after they’d rushed down the hall, anxious to touch each other all over, she was reminded of what a fabulous lover she had. That white knit shirt and those torn jeans looked as good on the floor as they had on his beautiful body.

“I’m sorry, baby, for running out again,” he said later, in the shadows of his old bedroom.

“Let’s forget about it, Earl Ray………….’cause you were right………this IS a damn good mattress.” She was on him again, and he willingly hugged her to him.