This story is purely a work of my imagination. Constructive comments welcomed.
I wasn't sure it was who I thought it was. The person I saw sitting on the patio at the Starbucks looked like her; same mousy brown hair, same large breasts and wide hips, crossed leg swinging back and forth and showing lots of thigh. She was pretty brazen for a 50-something-year-old with a few extra pounds. As usual, she had on sunglasses so you could never tell where her eyes were directed. I approached her table.
"Hi," I said. She looked up at me and said nothing.
"Mind if I join you?" I asked.
Again, she said nothing Ð just waived an indifferent hand toward an empty chair.
"So, you're back in town," I said.
"I never left," she replied in that sexy, smoky voice I remember so well.
"Oh," I said.
Some background is in order here. The woman I'm talking with is named Laura. She's somewhere between 50 and 55, a little over weight, and not plain but not pretty either. She likes revealing blouses and skirts some might think are too short for her age and size. Her voice is low-pitched and sexy, probably from years of smoking cigarettes.
For close to five years we had a very hot and heavy affair. We were both in terrible marriages and needed comfort and sex. After each of us divorced, I ended the relationship. I had felt trapped in my marriage and now I felt trapped in the affair. She had not taken it well since she had believed we would marry as soon as we could. While I missed her, I felt free for the first time in my adult life. As time has moved on, I still feel free but maybe a little lonely. Today is the first time I've seen her in over two years.
"I live just around the corner in that new high rise," I said.
"Good for you," she said and took a sip of her coffee.
"Seeing anyone?" I asked.
"None of your business," she replied in a flat tone of voice. She was right of course and I was stupid to bring it up.
"Look," I said, "why don't you finish your coffee and let me show you my place. It's on the 35th floor and has a great view."
"I don't think that's a good idea," she said. I couldn't tell if she was looking at me or not because of the sunglasses.
"Jasper would love to see you," I said.
"You want me to come to your place to see your dog?" she said.
"He always liked you," I said.