"I could get used to this," Jane said. They lay side by side in bed. It was a warm spring afternoon and they had removed all their clothes.
"I already have," Paula replied, her hand on Jane's belly. They had started lazily in the direction of having sex. It did not matter to either woman whether they did or not as long as they were together.
"I don't mean just lying here together for an hour every afternoon. But I do love this and never want it to end."
"You mean living together."
"You've thought about it, too?" Jane asked.
"A lot, but it would never work. Walt hates Michael." The child was asleep in the crib near the window.
"But I love you," Jane said. She wanted there to be no doubt in Paula's mind.
Paula playfully moved her hand down toward Jane's crotch. "So that's what this is really about? You never said it until now."
"I guess I wasn't sure."
"I know how you feel. This isn't enough for me. I love you, too. I'd rather be together all the time. But if I didn't have you at least for
this
, I would go crazy." At that moment Michael woke up and started to cry. "Speaking of going crazy..." Paula said as she got out of bed. "I might as well start dinner. He's not going back to sleep."
She went downstairs and looked in to check on Walt. He was not in his chair. She called out, several times but got no reply. Jane heard her and came down.
"What's wrong?" Jane asked.
"Walt's not here," Paula said. Jane immediately panicked. "Let's call the police."
"Not yet. He can't have gone far. Did you lock the door?"
"I always do." Paula replied, trying to stay calm.
"It shouldn't matter; Walt's never shown any interest in going outside."
"So what do you think happened?"
"Maybe he heard something. Or saw something," Jane said.
"Maybe somebody rang the bell?"
"I've told him to ignore it. He always has." They ran outside
He was down the block, standing in front of one of the other houses, and calling for Jessica. She had been Walt's 10-year-old friend. He fixed her bike he and taught her to make wooden toys. But that was in their old neighborhood, a long time ago.
He did not know where he was or how he got there. He said he 'heard' her calling him. He somehow figured out how to open the door, and then went down the block. Jane did not scold him. She did not want to frighten him or he might run away again. She calmly walked him home, pretending they were just out for a stroll.
Almost the same scenario happened a week later. Walt's doctor told Jane Walt had started hallucinating and it was no longer safe for him to live at home. He needed constant observation and protection. She was crushed. She had already lost Walt's mind, now she was about to lose his body, his presence. Then Walt would really be gone.
Walt smiled when the orderlies came to get him. He thought he was going to have some actual fun instead of watching other people have fun on TV. Jane went to the institution and helped Walt settle into his new room. He was so excited by the other patients that he ignored Jane and the doctor told her it was best to leave.
She went back home and fell apart. Paula took care of her and was there any time Jane needed someone to talk to or cry with. When she tried to go home Jane panicked, cried, and begged Paula not to leave her alone. Paula moved in with Jane.
"I'm just moving next door, with Jane," Paula said. She put her house up for rent and Marc was the first person who looked at it. She liked Marc from the moment they met and thought Jane would like him, too. "Why don't you meet Jane?" she insisted, before showing him the house. After he was introduced, Marc assumed they were lovers, and immediately liked them.
He looked like a college professor in his late 40's, - paunchy, gray beard, jacket with patched elbows and rumpled pants; but he was a software engineer. Both women noticed he had a sparkling (and charming) sense of humor.
Marc and his daughter, Caroline, moved in right away. She was in her early-20's. She had just graduated and was looking for a job. Marc was thrilled to have her in the house. They had spent a lot of time together before she started college and he had missed her when she went away. After Caroline left, Marc and his wife, Sarah, decided they no longer wanted to be married. Marc moved here to get a clean start.
After they finished moving in, Jane and Paula asked them to dinner. As soon as they were all seated at the table, Jane turned to Caroline and asked her how she liked college.
Before she could answer, Marc smiled and said, "While the other kids were spending their summers doing internships at law or engineering firms she was working with teachers at inner city schools."
"Oh?" Paula asked, genuinely curious.
"I wanted to get to know those teachers," Caroline said. "They're the only people who care about the inner city kids."
"What do you mean?" Jane asked.
"Our society denies those kids just about everything they need to grow up to live decent adult lives. Instead of schools teaching them to thrive, all they learn is how to survive. It's as if they were living in a jungle surrounded by wild animals." Caroline's passion impressed Jane.
"See why I'm so proud of her?" Marc said. Caroline blushed.
"I feel like I'm monopolizing the conversation," she said, "Could we change the subject?" They spent the rest of the meal in an enjoyable conversation that ranged from music and art to car repairs and computer problems, with some unsolicited career advice for Caroline thrown in.
After dessert they went into the parlor to continue their talk.
"So, are you guys working on anything right now?" Caroline asked Paula and Jane.
"Our lives have been crazy the past year. We're just beginning to settle down now."
"I understand there is a great Gay and Lesbian group in the city; but you probably know about it." Caroline offered. Paula looked at Jane and they both smiled.
"Gay?" Paula said, feigning surprise.
"Lesbian?" Jane added. They both fixed their eyes on Caroline.
She was embarrassed and looked at Marc, "Um, yeah, I thought you two were..."
Paula laughed, "Lesbians??"
"Yeah," She turned to Marc, "Dad, didn't you tell me...? "
