By Rachel Torrent

On Friday of the following week, exactly one week since the initial upheaval, Julie called Earl Ray over at Sahndra’s house. She’d been keeping tabs on him through Sahndra because she was still genuinely concerned about his well-being. Sahndra vowed that he’d been making a little progress in getting over her. And she was glad for this.

He answered the phone. “Hello?”

“Hey……….” It was exactly as she always used to greet him on the phone.

He hesitated. An unguarded moment. “Hey.”

“Are you doing okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” Julie thought he didn’t sound fine. “You?”

“I’m okay too, I guess. I worry about you, Earl Ray,” she said.

“I worry about you too, even though I know I’m not supposed to.”

“Are you eating right and all that?” The chef, always concerned with culinary habits.

He hesitated again. “Well, I’m eating……….and drinking. I’m making it.”

“I’m………sorry………about all this, honey. Really.”

“Julie, I was willing to have a baby with you.” He caught her in one of her own unguarded moments.

Tears welled up in her eyes. “I know. And I love you for it too. I do still love you. I hope you know that. Please forgive me. Please.”

“I still love you too. I don’t think I can change that. And I’ll forgive you. Just give me some time.” Julie remembered a flash from their not-so-distant past when she was asking him for some time to accomplish forgiveness.

“I’d give you to whole wide world if I could, Earl Ray. I mean that.”

“Is he treating you okay?” He surprised her again by changing the subject. Sahndra had told her that he refused to say Roger’s name.

“He’s very good to me,” she said. She didn’t feel like elaborating.

“As long as you’re happy……..”

Her turn now to change the subject. “Earl Ray, we need to discuss the………….the divorce.” She was crying.

“Yeah…….I know. I was just waiting for you to bring it up. I won’t make trouble for ya. Whatever is quickest and easiest.”

Julie choked back a sob. “God, this is sad……..I’ll call Michael Dobson Monday morning and get the ball rolling.”

“Fine.”

“I’m sorry, Earl Ray.”

“Me too, sweetheart. Me too.”

Julie had an extended cry after that conversation. She was ruining his life for her own happiness. And he couldn’t muster any hostility or hatred for her at all.

Roger wanted to take her out that night and finally “street” her as he put it, but she didn’t feel up to it yet. So they took some Renaissance dinners home to his loft and spent the night there. Julie wondered how much longer it would be before she didn’t have to drain every possible ounce of comfort out of Roger, before she could just enjoy him and love him.

On the next Monday, while Julie set the divorce in motion with Michael Dobson, Earl Ray arranged to have his buddy Van represent him. He also got started on making the warehouse area above his Army/Navy store livable.

When he’d bought the building years before, he hadn’t dreamed he’d ever consider living up there. But now he thought this was the most feasible idea. The warehouse contained a functioning bathroom and kitchen, and it was certainly spacious. It just required a little work and the connections of some utilities. Besides, he’d been staying with the LaMonts over a week now. And it was time to shove on with his life, what was left of it.

Sahndra, however, wanted him to stay. She was overtly concerned about and protective of him. She’d successfully kept Julie from his line of sight, for his own good. He’d wanted to see his wife ‘cause he missed her terribly. But he understood the danger. He didn’t want to “undo” all the progress he’d made in his recovery process.

* * *

Sometime during that second week, Sahndra went over to Julie’s house to get a few more of Earl Ray’s things. Julie was working the lunch shift at the restaurant and had told Sahndra to meet her at home around two o’clock. When Sahndra pulled up in the driveway, she saw Roger’s Jeep, but not Julie’s car.

Wondering what he was doing there, she went inside. She hadn’t seen him at all since this whole catastrophic situation had begun to unfold.

He didn’t hear her come in. He was just getting up from being under the kitchen sink and looked startled to see her standing there. Damn! One more minute earlier, and I could have seen him lying down, Sahndra thought. What a sight that must be.

“Hi, Roger. What the hell are you doing here?”

“Well, now. I was just about to ask you the same thing.”

“I’m meeting Julie here. I gotta get the rest of Earl Ray’s things.” She stressed Earl Ray’s name. In case Roger didn’t get the hint about whose side she was taking here.

“Fair enough. I’m tightening up these pipes. She said they were leaking some.”

“You just surprised me. She didn’t mention that you’d be here.”

He smiled and looked down at the wrench. “She didn’t know.”

Sahndra smirked. “So that means you’ve got a key?”

Roger looked up at her quickly. Smile erased. He heard the negative tone in her voice. “Yeah……you gotta problem with that?”

“Roger, don’t you see anything wrong with what you’re doing?”

His eyes narrowed. “What exactly am I doing?”

“Fucking another man’s wife! Do I havta spell it out for ya? Jesus! Couldn’t you find somebody, anybody else to get you off? Why couldn’t you just leave Julie alone?” She was talking louder than she wanted to. But she had known for some time that she had anger to vent on Roger. Now seemed to be perfect.

Roger slowly and methodically laid the wrench down on the kitchen counter. Then he walked closer to Sahndra and, staring at her with his narrowed eyes, said, “This might come as a shock to you, but it’s a little more than ‘getting off’ for me. And yes, I’m sorry that Julie happened to be married. Married to the wrong guy, as it turns out now. I’m not enjoying what’s happening to Earl Ray, if that’s what you think.”

Sahndra took a deep breath. “You were his best friend, Roger! My god! Why not use a little self- restraint, for Christ’s sake? You should see him now. He still won’t say your name, and who knows what the fuck will happen when he sees HER again. You’re a cold-hearted bastard!”

He pursed his lips and hesitated. Then he said, “Yeah, I’m not winning any popularity contests right now, am I? Look, Sahndra. I know you’re friends to both of them. And maybe someday you’ll be civil to me again. I know it looks bad, what has happened. But—”

“But what, Roger? As long as you got what you wanted, screw everybody else? Is that it?” Sahndra was furious.

“I did get what I want. What I’ve wanted for a long time. And I think Julie got what she wants too. After all the flack dies down, you’ll see that.”

Sahndra turned her gaze away from him and took another deep breath. She felt better. Vented.

“You love her?”

“Yes.”

“And I know she loves you.”

“So you’ll try to accept me then?” Roger asked her quietly.

She looked back at him. He was stunning. Even without smiling. “I’ll try. Julie’s happiness is important to me too. But you gotta understand that Earl Ray is my friend and living in my house. I’m partial.”

“Fair enough.” He held out his hand to shake.

“But if you fuck up and hurt her, I’ll come after you.”

He laughed a tiny laugh. “Yeah. You and everyone else in this damn town.”

Instead of shaking his hand, Sahndra hugged him. He hugged her back. Then she got them some iced tea from the fridge while he washed grease off his hands. They sat in the kitchen and talked small talk until Julie got home ten minutes later.

* * *

By the end of week number three since the upheaval began, Earl Ray’s warehouse was habitable. Despite Sahndra’s pleadings with him to stay, he’d planned to move in over his store on Saturday. So he insisted on taking the LaMonts out to dinner that Friday night. In a feast of appreciation and celebration. Together, they’d chosen “Seevuplay,” the French bistro downtown that was Renaissance’s only half-worthy competitor, if Renaissance could be said to have a competitor.

No one mentioned Renaissance, though. No one had to. It hung in the air like everything else about Julie that never got mentioned out loud.

And Seevuplay turned out to be a wonderful little experience, as long as you didn’t compare it to Renaissance. And no one did that either. They saw Tyler Barnes there with a pretty date and Roy Dean Bream there with Lonnie from the Matthews’ store. Sahndra thought she’d seen Jack French’s Range Rover in the parking lot, but Jack wasn’t around.

Earl Ray and Scottie seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves, she thought. After several drinks, you forgot about the inferiority of the food and the wait staff. So she tried to join them and have a fine time despite what she had on her mind to discuss with Scottie sometime in the near future. Maybe she’d even bring it up later tonight even though he was leaving for Denver the next day.

Then the worst thing of all happened.

Julie and Roger walked in.

Sahndra thought she heard herself gasp. But it was her imagination. She hadn’t told Julie about their plans. And vice versa. Big mistake.

There was a wait (believe it or not), so they took a couple of seats at the bar. They didn’t see Sahndra, Scottie and Earl Ray. And since Scottie had parked around back, they’d had no clue that the other party was in the restaurant.

She looked over at Earl Ray. He’d been facing the door, so she knew he’d seen them first.

And he had.

He just watched them, calmly, until they sat down at the bar. Julie was beaming and laughing. Roger had his hand on her back. They were obviously happy. And together. The first time he’d convinced her to go out in public with him. The first time Earl Ray had actually enjoyed himself in three weeks. And both events had to occur in the same place.

Sahndra watched Earl Ray sigh heavily and then put his fork down. He never picked it up again. What he did pick up lots after that was his drink glass. He never said a word about them being there. Despite Sahndra and Scottie’s gallant attempts to gloss over the whole situation. Earl Ray drank drink after drink while they finished eating. He laughed at their jokes, but they knew he was only being polite.

Finally, Scottie got his fill of the mess. He put his napkin on the table. “I’m going over there. How dare they march their asses in here?”

Sahndra put her hand on his arm. “Don’t, Scottie. Don’t make a scene. Please. We’re leaving soon anyway.”

He shrugged her off. “The goddamn divorce isn’t even final yet. Couldn’t he wait two more fucking weeks?”

Earl Ray made a little sound in his throat then. As if remembering that in only two more weeks, he wouldn’t be married to Julie anymore. He looked at Scottie. “Leave her alone, Scottie. She wouldn’t have come in here if she’d known we were here. They’re not doing anything wrong.”

“They’re ruining your dinner. And mine. Fuck both of you. I’m gonna have my say.”

He was up and walking over to the bar before Sahndra or Earl Ray could stop him. Roger saw him coming, but didn’t even acknowledge him. As Scottie came up on Julie’s right side, Roger kept an eye on him.

“Julie, is this the only place in town where you could flaunt your new boyfriend?”

Julie turned around, surprised. “Scottie! Howya doing, sweetie! What are you doing here?”

“Trying to have a decent meal. But you’ve pretty much ruined that now.” He glared back at Roger for a second. Roger said nothing.

“Oh………Is Earl Ray with you?”

Scottie laughed, briefly. “Of course he is. Where the hell else would he be?”

“God…….I guess this wasn’t a good idea after all.” She looked at Roger. He still said nothing.

“So why don’t you bugger off to some other nice dining establishment and leave him to his misery?” Scottie wasn’t raising his voice. He was angry, but he tried to control his temper.

Julie turned back to Scottie. She had tears in her eyes. “I hurt him again, didn’t I?”

Scottie laughed the short laugh again. “Crushed him. And just when he was beginning to stick his head out from the shell again. Nice going, Jules. Bravo. What’s that old Rolling Stones line? ‘In her glass was a bleeding man.’ Why don’t you just get the hell outta here?”

Roger stood up then and came around behind Julie. He kept his hands on her bar chair, but he glared at Scottie. “Get out of her face, LaMont. She hasn’t done a damn thing wrong.”

As Scottie was standing up to Roger, Julie stood up between them. She backed into Roger. “Stop it. Please. We’ll leave.” She reached down and took Roger’s hand. Reluctantly, he walked with her through the restaurant and out the front door. Into the night.

Earl Ray had paid the check by the time Scottie returned to the table. He still wasn’t talking, and this worried Sahndra. At least before, he’d been talking out his pain. All he wanted to do now was drink. They drove home in silence.

At home, no one mentioned the incident. Scottie seemed to return to normal, normal for Scottie. He put some jazz on the stereo and had a drink and cigarette in the living room. Earl Ray, still virtually silent, sat down too had one drink with him. Sahndra joined them after she’d undressed and put on her robe. Then Earl Ray went to bed, and Sahndra wished he’d stick around a little longer and talk about what had happened. He looked dejected again as he walked slowly to his bedroom.

Well, maybe now is as good of a time as any to bring up this sticky subject with Scottie, she thought. He was calmer now. He could handle the subject: children. Their children. Her clock was ticking, loudly lately.

They’d discussed it before and established that they both wanted kids, but finding the right time to have them was the point they’d disagreed on. He was ready to start immediately. She wanted him to stay home more if a child was to be around. And tonight’s chat/argument took the same route the others had.

“Scottie, I can’t even begin to think about raising a child without you being here.”

“I’ll be here! What are you talking about?”

“You’re never home for more than three days at a time. I want you here permanently. All the time.”

H looked up. “All the time? Are you suggesting that I quit my job?”

“Retire, honey. You could retire. We don’t need the money anymore. We’ll be fine. And we could enjoy the baby together.”

He laughed the short laugh. “You’ve got to be on drugs. I’m not retiring. What the fuck would I do around this sleepy little town all the time?”

Sahndra felt her eyes fill with tears. “Do you want a baby, Scottie?”

“Of course I do, sweetheart. You know that. You and me and baby makes three.” He winked at her.

“Then you’re gonna have to be as responsible for it as I am. And that means you sacrificing those damn road trips you leave on every few days. I can’t take you being gone all the time anymore. Not if we’re gonna have a baby.”

He stared at her, letting the words soak in. “So this is an ultimatum?”

“If that’s the way you wanna take it. I’ve thought long and hard about this. And that’s the way it has to be. The ball’s in your court, Scottie.”

Sahndra took her glass of wine into the den and closed the door. She sat there for an hour, drinking and crying. When she came out, Scottie was gone. With the bags he’d packed for his trip the next day. She cried some more that he hadn’t even said goodbye. He could be so incredibly heartless sometimes. Then she went to bed and fell asleep quickly.

A few hours later, she was awakened by a loud scream. She thought. But she didn’t hear it again. So she decided to check on Earl Ray. Maybe he was awake now and needed to talk.

She quietly opened his bedroom door and peeked in. He was sitting up in bed with his back against the headboard, eyes closed. The lamp beside the bed was on. She couldn’t tell if he was awake or not, so she tiptoed into the room. And watched him.

He looked mouth-watering to Sahndra. No shirt to hide that well-toned, tanned and heaving chest. Muscled arms. Boxers pulled up to reveal firm, athletic legs. And that golden hair all over his head where he’d been running his fingers through it. Never had he looked so appealing to her before. She stood there and admired him.

For a good five minutes.

Then he opened his green eyes and looked at her. He smiled. “I heard you come in. Are you just gonna stand there and stare at me all night?” She should have known he’d sensed her in the room.

“I’m sorry, Earl Ray. I thought I heard you scream out in your sleep. I was checking on you,” she said. She knew she hadn’t explained why she was standing there oogling him.

He patted the bed beside him. “C’mere. Sit down. I did scream, I guess. I was dreaming. About you know what.”

Sahndra slowly walked over and sat down next to him. She said, “You okay now?”

He took her hand. His was sweaty and moist. She felt her nipples harden under her flimsy gown. “Yeah, I’m fine,” he said. “Thanks for checking on me. Is Scottie gone?”

She frowned, remembering Scottie. “Yes. That asshole.”

“I heard your fight. Sorry. Couldn’t help but hear it. You okay?”

His smile was gorgeous. Why had she never noticed before? He was definitely turning her on. “I’ll be okay, Earl Ray. I guess we’re both up shit creek now, aren’t we?” She tried to laugh.

He smiled again and squinted in the not-so-good light. “Yeah. So maybe we deserve some of our own happiness. C’mere. Give me a hug.”

She was in his arms in a half heartbeat. As he pulled her to him, she wrapped her arms around him. They held each other tightly, comfortingly, for a while. Then when they got tired of denying it, tired of fighting the other urges they both felt, they quickly started touching each other, groping and kissing like two inexperienced adolescents. It happened quickly after that.

Mel couldn’t seem to get enough of her hands on his hard chest, and Earl Ray fondled her breasts eagerly. She felt his hard penis almost immediately, and reached into his shorts to rub it with her palm. He groaned against her neck and pushed her down on her own guest bed in hot anticipation. She felt him push into her and gasped out loud. He filled her up and rammed into her as she felt the length of his body on hers. It only took him a few minutes to release himself inside her and moan out loud as he exploded.

As he lay half on her and half off her, gasping, she brushed his wet blonde hair off his forehead. When he could talk, he said to her, “I’m sorry, Sahndra………It just happened.”

“I’m not sorry, Earl Ray. I loved it.”

He propped himself up on his elbows and looked at her. “Really? You don’t hate me?”

“Hate you? What are you? Drunk? It’s what we both needed. Don’t ya think?”

“I know I needed it. You could probably tell. Sorry if I was too quick.”

“You can make it up to me next time.” She smiled at him. She’d already decided that once with this man wouldn’t satisfy her.

He looked puzzled. “Next time? What about Scottie?”

“He won’t be back ‘til Tuesday.” She was still smiling, mischievously.

Earl Ray laughed. “Are you suggesting a little fling? You and me?”

“Why not? What have we got to lose?”

He sucked in his cheeks and looked down. “Well……..I guess………when you really think about it……….thirty times ain’t any worse than once, now is it?”

So began their little secret, three-day rendezvous. And Sahndra loved every single second of it. They were never away from each other. They made love together, showered together, cooked together, and fed each other. They took turns kissing each other’s body from head to toe, slowly, teasingly. They pulled the blinds and made love in every room of the house -- except in Scottie’s bedroom. The unspoken off-limits.

He was more gentle and tender than any lover she’d ever had. He could bring her to ecstasy with kisses alone. She watched him sleep, all the time wishing he’d wake up and make love to her some more. She even enjoyed the few times when they did nothing but talk. He listened to her every syllable and laughed at all her little jokes.

Sahndra got used to the way he smelled and tasted. She discovered exactly how his body reacted just before he exploded in orgasm. She couldn’t touch his strong arms and chest enough. She loved watching him eat, laugh, and talk. She loved just watching him. And he seemed to love everything about her too. He blew her tiny, one-finger kisses when he left for the bathroom.

He was in no hurry to leave for the warehouse. He’d be all alone there. And this little jaunt was much more fun. They didn’t mention the inevitable – Scottie’s return. Tuesday would be here soon enough.

Sahndra was happy to see him alive and joyful again. Neither of them mentioned anyone else in their lives. They were secluded in their private little world. Together and satisfied.

So on Monday night, they cleaned up the house, removing any and all signs that might incriminate them. As they did this, Sahndra couldn’t help but ask him, “Earl Ray, what happens now? I mean with us?”

He turned around with a knowing expression. Like he’d expected this question. He shrugged. “It’s up to you, baby. I’m the free one. Remember?” Sahndra looked down. He saw that he’d made her sad. “I’m sorry. That sounded cruel. What do you WANT to happen?”

“I don’t know. I guess that’s the problem. And then there’s Julie.”

His face darkened. “Julie’s not a problem you need to worry about. There’s no chance of her coming back. And I understand that. She won’t be a consideration. Scottie will be the problem.”

“You’re right………..And I guess I have to deal with that.”

He came over and hugged her close to him in the gentle, affectionate way she’d come to adore. As he smoothed her hair, he whispered to her, “Sahndra, honey, this was a fantastic experience for me. Maybe saved my life. And I hope you got something out of it too. If this is all there is, then I’ll learn to live with that. And if you decide you want more, you’ll know where to find me. I ain’t going anywhere.”

She was crying now. She held onto him and felt his warmth. He was as good as gold. Maybe better. Now she had a choice to make. Was this wonderful man what she really wanted out of life? Or should she try to get Scottie back? Scottie who she’d been married to for over six years.

If Scottie even decided to come back, she thought. Didn’t HE leave HER? Was that his answer to her ultimatum? Was this little tryst her solution in disguise?

Sahndra knew she had lots of contemplating to do.