{Author's Note: This is Part 7 of what has become a family saga. The first six are in Lesbian Sex because the family arc began with the relationship between Kerry Neally and Suzanne Nelson. Their mothers (Eileen and Kate) are introduced in the first lines of this story. One of the relationships in the earlier parts was straight—between Eileen Neally and Tom Doyle.
{I've tried to make this a stand-alone story with references to earlier events dropped in along the way. Particularly the break between Kate and Suzanne and most of their family in California. As always, the characters and errors are my creation, and all comments are greatly appreciated.}
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"What can you tell me about Simon Douglas?"
"Hello to you too Kate." This was Eileen Neally.
"Sorry. He just left a voicemail for me and you went out with him before Tom." Kate Pugh.
"Actually, I dated both of them at the same time but chose Tom. I might have chosen Simon if Tom didn't come along at the right time."
"You're such a romantic. But now about me. I spoke to him for a long while at your wedding. His message said he wanted to take me to an opening at the Guggenheim. I know nothing of modern—"
"Nor does he. And he freely admits it. He uses openings as an excuse to ask someone for a date. Our first date was an opening in Greenwich and we spent half the time trying to figure whether the things were upside down. No. He's a real country landscape and boats-on-the-Sound kind of person. I liked him a lot. I knew him years ago when we worked together at the same bank. He then made a fortune on Wall Street with a hedge fund. He's loaded and lives in Greenwich, but he's really not a Greenwich kind of guy."
"So should I call him back?"
"You should definitely call him back. Have you gone on many dates since you moved into the City?"
Kate, then Kate "Nelson," left California to follow her daughter, Suzanne, who was married to Eileen's daughter, Kerry. She had an apartment on the Upper West Side, in the 90s off Riverside Drive, and after working at a place she did not like had gotten enough in her divorce settlement—she was officially divorced about two months before—so that she could devote herself to working for the Episcopal Church in New York. She'd been a life-long, conservative Catholic until she reevaluated her faith and her church in light of her daughter. Her ex, William Nelson, did not make the same adjustment. Which was why he was divorced civilly—neither, of course, was divorced in the eyes-of-the-Church—and living alone in his big house in Mill Valley, California.
"People at the Church set me up every once in a while and of course Kerry and Suzanne will never give up, but it's always been one-and-done."
"With Simon. Did you ever—?"
"A lady doesn't kiss and tell. You know that. Seriously. No, we never did. And he never pushed. I was never ready."
"But sometimes I just want to sleep with someone."
"Has there—?"
"No. William was and is my one and only. How pathetic is that?"
"Between us, Kate, if you want to go to bed with someone you'll have no problem. Hell, if I were into straight, older women, I'd take you to bed this afternoon."
"You Neally women do have a thing for us Nelson girls."
"Stop. Listen, I just don't know if you should do something like that to Simon too quickly. Would he do it? I'm sure he would. But I think he's worth saving for the long term. To see what happens. But for your sanity, go to bed with the next one. Just enjoy sex. No-questions-asked/no-feelings-hurt sex."
Which is how Kate Pugh came to be on Simon Douglas's arm at the Guggenheim opening. It does not explain, however, how Simon Douglas came to be in Kate Pugh's bed that evening.
Kate met Simon at Eileen's wedding. Eileen, as noted, dated Simon before she fell for Tom Doyle. They got married, and that is how Kate met Simon. Neither had a "plus-one." Kate was estranged from her husband, William. Simon had a series of lackluster relationships after Eileen told him that they had no future together, and he took it as well as could be expected, him having lost a woman for whom he'd pined for years. He thought enough of Eileen to be pleased that she found Tom.
He was not despondent. Far from it. He was an elder at his hedge fund and was becoming involved in several charitable projects in southern Connecticut and around New York City. He was wealthy, but not wealthy enough to have a foundation. He was generous with his money and generous with his time. When he got the invitation to the Guggenheim opening, he remembered that first date with Eileen and thoughts of Eileen led to thoughts of Kate and the nice conversation they had at Eileen's wedding and that led to his leaving a voicemail for Kate that asked her to the opening.
The exhibit was as mystifying to Kate and Simon as the one in Greenwich had been to Eileen and Simon and again Simon had a wonderful time with his date, sipping champagne and nibbling on finger food. They walked to a restaurant on Madison Avenue where Simon made a reservation and afterward while the car, which would take Simon to Greenwich, headed through Central Park to Kate's place off Riverside Drive—Eric, Kate's son, had moved back to Yale—they found their hands touching and remaining that way. As they approached the apartment in the car, Kate asked if he'd like to stop in for a drink. It wasn't actually Kate saying it. It was a part of Kate over which she had no control and it was something a moment before the right side of her brain had told her mouth: Do No Ask. It was like a finger pulling off a hot iron, done instinctively without the brain playing the least role in the act.
"You sure?"
She leaned over and kissed him. Her brain was sure, Eileen's caution nowhere to be seen.
Simon signed off so that the driver was paid as if he drove to Greenwich and not simply across town. He followed Kate through the brownstone's small lobby and up two flights of stairs. She fumbled with her keys before opening the door. The place was a mess—she'd spent too much time getting ready, and clothes and things were strewn about the apartment—but she didn't care and she assumed Simon didn't either.
