As ordered, I followed Lois's big white SUV. She led me to the gated community with its huge masonry monstrosities and perfectly landscaped lawns. Cruising up the steep drive, she parked in the garage while I parked out in front. What was I doing there and what was I expecting?
Lois had stopped me after my workout right before I had time to disappear into the men's locker room where normally I would have showered and put on clean clothing. But she said she was leaving, not to worry about it when I pointed a finger toward the entrance to the showers. 'Just follow me', she had protested, promising that he didn't live far away.
Still dressed in gym attire, except for the clean loose fitting polo shirt I had thrown on over my sweat soaked sleeveless t-shirt, I had barely had turned off my engine before Lois appeared at the back of her big white SUV, beckoning to me to join her in the garage. Quickly I locked my economy car and scrambled the drive to meet her. "Follow me," she again ordered as the garage door closed behind us.
Lois' attire of the day was black and lime green yoga pants, a sleeveless white tank top under which a lime green elastic gathered halter top lay. She was her nearly flat chested normalcy today so I imagined whatever a minimizer was, it lay underneath the halter top. Stepping up out of the garage and into the mud room, I stared at Lois' painted on yoga pants from close behind. There was no panty line evidenced. Beyond the mud room was the kitchen where Lois stopped and dropped her stuff at the island before turning back toward me.
"So..." she sighed. "I can make it spicy or bland. Which do you prefer?"
I cannot account for why I didn't reply to her question. I just stood there looking at her with her hip pushed out and her right hand resting on it.
"What are we doing here?" I heard myself question. "I presume your daughter is at school and your husband is at work." I paused to let the question settle in. "Do you really feel comfortable having a strange man here in the house while everyone is away?" I watched as Lois made a quarter turn and place both hands on the island. Her lips puckered and her head gave one of those barely noticeable sideways ticks before answering as she looked down at the floor.
"I know you probably think I'm a bad person for asking you here."
"No," I quickly answered her. "I'm the bad one here. I'm the one who agreed to come here hoping beyond hope that more than eggs and bruschetta were on the menu." A silence grew up between us in that big silent house. Her breathing was filled the room.
"To be honest with you, Wayne, I'd be lying if I said I didn't know what to expect. I'm going to be completely honest with you. Is that okay?"
Whenever someone asked you that, they are never really expected you to reply. I just remained where I was and stared at her.
"Yes, I was hoping for more than eggs and bruschetta. Do you want the whole story or the short version."
Now it was my turn to give one quick click of my head and answer, "Your call."
"Right. Brian and I had been going to counseling before we flew off to England. Long story short, the counselor told me that Brian had confessed that his interest in me, sexually, wasn't what it use to be -his words. That he had cheated on every girlfriend he ever been with and that our marriage was no different. So, I guess his thing is that he loves having sex with strangers. In our last session I told him that for Meagan's sake, I didn't want a divorce. I told him I would try to be more provocative in our sex life if he would just try to give it a go and to continue the counseling. He agreed. The first week on that boat wasn't too bad. It wasn't honeymoon night or anything wild. But it was ok. I guess being in a strange place made up for me not being a stranger. But before the end of the first week, it was back to normal. Truthfully I didn't think it was going to be any different. People don't change. Not really. So I had already warned my sisters that I might need some company. We share just about everything. Brian got a phone call and used it as an excuse. Some work emergency and he had to fly back home. Not here home. But Boston, or New York. He met me at the airport in New York and we flew home together. Other than holding my hand and giving me a kiss on the cheek when he greeted me and my sisters as I got off the plane, he hasn't touched me since. And this morning he flew off for god knows where for god knows how long with heaven knows who with. That's the short version of my story. And I won't blame you if you want to turn tail and run."
The air-conditioning clicked on, breaking the silence.
"You should have let me shower at the gym. I'm a sweaty mess." was how I considered best in responding to her confessed situation. I winked at her and smiled.
Lois stood back up in that well studied regal posture, turning back toward me. Walking over to me, she extended her hand. Once again she commanded, "Follow me."
Walking on through the large, well equipped kitchen we turned toward the back of the house and down a small flight of stairs to the back door and then turning down another short flight of stairs into the basement. Lights came on automatically revealing a wide screen tv and a large white leather sectional on the right. There was a foose ball table between us and the back of the couch and a large, regulation size billiards table to the left of then. Lois explained all that came with the house. The previous owner had owned the town pool hall and had one of his tables lowered into the basement before the rest of the house was finished above it.