Melissa Singleton got up in the morning, took a shower and got dressed. The print-decorated man-tailored blouse and gray slacks she chose looked terrific on her, but she wasn't aware of that. Then she straightened up the house.
Tom was due home from another overnight trip today, and Melissa made a practice of having the house look extra-good when her husband got back from a trip. The phone rang. She walked over and picked it up.
"Melissa," Tom's voice came through the receiver. "Honey, I hate to tell you this, but I picked up another contract, I won't be home until Monday."
"Oh, Tom," Melissa replied. She made no attempt to keep the sound of disappointment from her voice. She planned an all-out effort to revive their sex life and get their marriage back on track this weekend. "Do you really have to?"
"Afraid so," he replied. "You know we need the extra money."
Melissa for the first time allowed herself to speculate about what Tom might really be doing on the trips he seemed to be taking more and more lately. Upsetting thoughts rushed from the far corner of her mind where she had buried them because they were too painful to consider.
"Look, Melissa," Tom said. "I have to get going. I'll see you Monday."
"When will you get home?" Melissa asked.
"Probably by noon," he said.
"Tom, I...I love you," Melissa said softly.
"Yeah, me, too," Tom replied. Then he was gone.
Melissa felt tears welling up in her eyes. She didn't understand what was happening to them. For the past eight months, their marriage had been coming apart at the seams. Tom, once a loving, attentive husband, was gone all the time. And when he was home, he hardly paid any attention to her any more. She couldn't remember the last time he'd even tried to make love to her. She was lonely. And, although she wouldn't admit it to herself, she was horny, too.
As part of her preparations for the weekend, Melissa had made an appointment to get her hair done. Dorrie McNamara, the girl who did Melissa's hair, was a divorcee. She was a bit brassy, but Melissa liked her. Dorrie always seemed to be up and happy.
Melissa, depressed after Tom's phone call, did housework until it was time for her hairdresser's appointment. Knowing she'd get to spend time talking with Dorrie gave Melissa something to look forward to.
At one, Melissa pulled her station wagon into the parking lot in front of Dorrie's salon. She was surprised no other cars were there.
"You weren't planning to take the afternoon off, were you, Dorrie?" Melissa asked when she got inside.
Dorrie grabbed her arm. "No, I wasn't," she said. "Take off your coat and get over in the chair. Let's get started." She led Melissa to the special sink used for shampooing customers, sat her down in the chair, and put a protective cover over her.
"Talk to me, Melissa," Dorrie said. She had Melissa lay back and began to wet her hair. "You look and sound depressed."
Melissa felt herself relaxing when Dorrie began to work the shampoo into her hair, filling it with luxuriant white foam. Her scalp tingled delightfully from Dorrie's fingers massaging it. "Well," she said, "Things between Tom and me haven't been going too well..." She was surprised how easily all of her troubles came out once she started talking.
Dorrie finished applying the shampoo, rinsed the lather out of Melissa's hair, had her sit up, and wrapped a towel around her head.
"I know what I'd do if I were you," Dorrie commented as they walked to the front of the shop, "If my old man wasn't taking care of business, I'd find someone who could."
"You...you mean take...take a...a lover?" Melissa stammered, startled. "I...I could never...ever do that."
"I'm not telling you to do it, or not to do it," Dorrie said. "I'm just saying what I'd do. I'd find me a nice, horny young stud who could screw me silly."
Melissa felt her cheeks get hot and knew she was blushing. "Tom...he's...he's the only man I...I ever..." she stammered.
"My personal point of view..." Dorrie commented as she clipped a little off the back of Melissa's hair, "...is that monogamy is highly over-rated. But that's me. Like I said, I'm not telling you to do anything you don't feel comfortable doing. I'm just saying what I'd do. You have to do what you feel OK doing."
Melissa had to admit that the idea of an affair was exciting, but try as she would, she couldn't picture herself going to bed with anyone but Tom. She had a good reputation, a good life, and she didn't want to risk losing it.
"I couldn't do that," she said at last. "I just couldn't."
Dorrie was blow-drying her hair. Melissa closed her eyes and enjoyed the warm blast of hot air and the feel of the comb sliding through her tresses.
