BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
The alarm rang and woke up Mark. He could hear Jamie in the kitchen so he put on a robe and joined her. Mark saw Jamie with her tablet opened. She's probably checking Facebook he thought. "You're up early." he said as he poured some coffee.
Jamie did not reply. As he turned to her he could see her making faces. They were more like grimaces. Mark started toward her to see what she had on the tablet that was causing the grimaces. As he did she quickly closed the tablet and looked up to face him.
"Yes" said Jamie "I have an appointment after work and will be leaving work early. I'll be home a little late. Not too late. Maybe 6:30. We can go out and get something for dinner then."
"I don't have a busy schedule today. I just have to get some office supplies and review some papers. I can make us something."
Jamie rose and picked up her tablet. Without any further conversation she started for the doorway.
As Jamie left, Mark was concerned. She hadn't told him about an appointment earlier and the looks on her face while she was on the tablet worried him. He figured she would tell him sooner or later, so he brushed concern aside.
Mark showered, dressed and headed for town. He would get some breakfast at the diner. As he left the diner and headed for the office supply store, he passed a clothing store. The male manikin in the window reminded him of his dream and he stopped. A girl was preparing to dress the manikin. She put a pile of clothes in front of it, adjusted the manikin, then turned around and bent over to pick up the clothes. As she did Mark was taken back into his dream. He could almost see this manikin moving rhythmically. Mark's mouth dropped. As Mark starred wide eyed, the girl looked up and then realized her position. She stood back up and gave Mark a stern look, then wagged her finger at him. Then she smiled and winked. Mark smiled back and moved on.
Mark wondered. He had no idea why he had the dream. Maybe it was just a secret desire that manifested itself in a dream. Was this a boundary to be tried? They had done many things in three years of marriage but nothing involving other people. Mark had no idea how he would go about making something like this happen even if he wanted to. And who would be the third person. Certainly not anyone that Jamie worked with. That would just be inviting trouble. Mark eliminated his friends as well. He was sure he could avoid any problems there, but as his friends visited it might cause uncomfortable situations for Jamie or the friend. As Mark reached the office store he decided it was a dream that would probably not go any further.
On the way back Mark took a different path. He didn't want to be haunted by the manikin again. Mark reminisced about the sci-fi movies he saw as a boy. Perhaps this was a story where strange cosmic rays brought manikins to life and made them anatomically correct. His mother always told him that all those sci-fi flicks would give him nightmares. She never said they would come 20 years later.
At home Mark set about work. Then later in the afternoon he prepared dinner. He set the table for a nice romantic dinner...wine, candles, even some music. His purpose was two-fold. He thought it might put Jamie in a better mood. All the many times she told him he was a romantic she was right. The other purpose was that putting her in a good mood might lead to sex. As of right now Mark was a horny romantic.
When Jamie arrived home she looked like she was in pain. Mark also noted that she was not wearing the clothes she had on in the morning. She was now wearing a loose fitting warm up suit. As Mark indicated that dinner was ready, Jamie said that she needed to do something first and went to the bedroom.
Jamie returned, sat and ate. The romantic setting was lost on Jamie. As Mark suggested sex Jamie declined. She said she was not feeling well and would make it up to him on vacation.
The next day was busy with packing, and the following day was the flight out. The flight departed in mid afternoon and they did not arrive at the resort until early evening. This left no time to go sunning, so they looked at the beach from their balcony, and set out for a restaurant and a night club.
At the night club Mark and Jamie took seats at the bar and ordered drinks. Mark continued to search for a table. Jamie wanted to get out on the dance floor but Mark wanted to wait until they got a table.
As they discussed this, they heard a voice say, "I'll take the lady out onto the dance floor."
Mark and Jamie both looked at the gentleman at the next seat.
"Hi, I'm Todd." he said, "Look; they are basically just jumping up and down so there is no physical contact, if that's worrying you. Looks like a bunch of people doing aerobics."
Mark shrugged his shoulders at Jamie indicating it was her call. Jamie accepted the offer and the two walked out to the dance floor. Mark watched with some concern but knew Jamie was not a defenseless woman. In fact in a real argument Mark was intimidated by the intensity her rage could assume. He had come face to face with it while dating her. Mark pitied the man who tried to take advantage of her. Never the less he kept an eye, as best he could, on the two dancers. The meeting seemed so coincidental. Was it really?
