The girls were already at the restaurant when they arrived. It was an unassuming building, tucked behind a couple of businesses that seemed unaware that tourists even visited the island. The lunch crowd appeared to be mostly locals, but the food smelled great and Tim was eager to reunite with Jen and hear about her morning.
Kate stood as they approached the table and he was surprised at the enthusiasm of her greeting. She even kissed him softly on the cheek as she hugged him, a habit not common in the Midwest. Jen, on the other hand, was far more reserved. She smiled tersely when he said hello and turned her attention back to her menu. He wondered if perhaps he had done something wrong.
"So, what did you girls get up to this morning?" Mickey asked after the waiter retreated to fetch their drinks.
"We went horseback riding. It was amazing!" Kate was animated in her response. "You remember that place we went to a couple of years ago? I think it's even more beautiful now. Tim, after you do one of those trail ride things they take the horses down to the beach and you get to ride them as they run in the water! I've never seen anything like that anywhere else, have you, Jen?"
The younger woman shook her head silently as Kate continued.
"Then we went shopping. We didn't find anything, but it was nice. I think it was a great morning. Don't you, Jen?"
"Yeah, it was... um... fun. Nice."
"Sounds like it." Tim lied. Jen didn't even appear to be trying to be social.
Mickey apparently sensed it, too. "Kate, I think I'm going to change my drink order. Let's walk over to the bar and see what we can find."
Tim watched them as they walked away.
"What's wrong?" he asked, as gently as he could.
"Nothing. I'm fine." Jen's tone was anything but fine.
"Did something happen? Did I..."
"Look, Tim. I'm OK, and, no, you haven't done anything. I'd just rather not talk about this morning. That's all."
He sat quietly for a minute, before speaking again. "You do realize that that doesn't make me any more comfortable."
"I know," Jen sighed, softening a little. "We'll talk about it later. Just not now. I need a little time."
Kate and Mickey seemed busy with Kate's phone over at the bar. Tim wondered if Kate had done something again this morning that might have upset his wife, but he knew better than to ask at that moment. Eventually, the older couple returned to the table with everyone's drinks.
After an awkward silence, it was, predictably, Mickey who spoke first. "Jen, I hope that..."
Again, the younger woman cut him off. "Mickey, I really don't want to talk about this morning." Her tone was polite, but firm. "Let's talk about your golf game. How was it?"
Mickey followed her lead and changed the subject. The rest of the hour passed more comfortably, though Tim was deeply concerned about whatever had happened earlier in the day.
........................................
She followed Tim through the door to their room, relieved to finally be away from Kate and Mickey. She went straight to the bathroom. She didn't need it. She just wasn't sure that she was ready for Tim's inevitable questions. She knew that she needed to tell him and that she needed to tell him before Kate said something.
She took a long look in the mirror, studying herself carefully. She still looked like the same woman that she was when they left home a few days ago. The only visible difference was the slight cleavage that peered up at her from her white top. But underneath, she knew, something very profound had happened in those few days. She had been able to convince herself that letting others see her was okay. After all, Tim had been right there.
But this. This was different. He had no idea. How could she tell him that she blatantly displayed herself in front of two men? One of whom was exposed to her, in the middle of a sex act. How could she admit that she allowed herself to be touched? And could she admit, even to herself, that she wanted him to do more?
"Are you alright?" Tim knocked softly at the door.
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and opened it.
"We need to talk."
"I was hoping you would. You've got me worried."
She walked past him, beyond the bed, down the step, and sat on the couch, silently waiting for him to follow.
