Even you would have to agree that it was a silly accident that started this whole episode of your life. All it took to distract you was a dog running loose in front of a house across the road and when you looked back you were heading into the back of the car in front of you that had stopped at the lights. Fortunately you weren't going very fast and the damage was limited to a couple of dents.
The other driver leapt out of her car and rushed towards you. You were in less of a hurry, trying to think what on earth you were going to say to excuse your carelessness. As she inspected the damage to the back of her car, you opened your door, got out, and walked towards her very tentatively. She looked up at you as you approached her. She was a woman of about your own age, with long fair hair tied up in a bun, hazel eyes, and dressed in a dark business suit. Her manner was brusque and business-like at first and it made you fear the worst, but suddenly a smile on her face and in her eyes reassured you that things might not be as bad as you'd imagined.
'It's ok,' she said, 'no damage done, well no more than was already there. Some idiot ran into me last week...' She stopped, suddenly realising what she'd said. 'Oh, I'm sorry,' she added hastily, breaking into a giggle. 'That was so rude. I didn't mean you were an idiot. You must have been distracted by the dog too. I thought it was going to run out into the road.'
'No,' you replied, 'I should've been paying more attention. I'm the one who should be sorry.'
'Well, no harm done. The guy who ran into me last week was just in too much of a hurry and he was rude, so I'm more than happy to let his insurance pay for it. And, anyway, us girls must stick together,' she said with a wink.
'Thank you so much but hadn't we better exchange details, just in case.'
'Sure, why not, and I owe you a coffee anyway for suggesting you were a jerk,' she laughed.
You wrote out your details on a piece of paper while she handed you a business card. 'Julia Williams', it said.
'It's Jules,' she insisted, 'no need to be formal. I'm on my way to a meeting just now so I must hurry but I'll call you. Bye, drive carefully. Don't bump into any more strange women!'
And so they parted.
The incident had almost slipped out of your mind when, a couple of weeks later, the phone rang.
'Hi, Carole,' the voice on the other end said, 'it's Jules here. You remember, you ran into me a while back,' she said with a laugh. 'I'm sorry I haven't called you before but things have been so hectic. Anyway, I still owe you that coffee. Sorry about the short notice but how about tomorrow morning?'
'That sounds great,' you replied after a moment's thought. 'I'll look forward to it.'
And that, in brief, is how began one of the most extraordinary episodes in your life.
During the weeks ahead you found that you were spending more and more time in Jules's company. Anyone would have thought you'd been friends for life. You began by meeting every few days for coffee, then for a weekly lunch together. She was an easy person to talk with and you found you had much in common with each other. The conversation between you was wide-ranging and increasingly intimate in a non-sexual way.
Finally, when you both had a free day, she invited you round to her place to get the sun beside her pool, have a swim, and some lunch.
'Don't forget your costume,' she said as she rang off.
You arrived at her place at about 11 o'clock. It was in an expensive neighbourhood, befitting the home of two people on excellent salaries. Jules had obviously been watching for your arrival and opened the front door as you got out of your car. She was wearing a bathrobe over her swimming costume and her hair was released from the bun in which she normally wore it. She hugged you warmly and kissed you on the cheek before asking whether you wanted to change into your costume now or later.
When you decided that now was as good a time as any, she showed you upstairs to one of the bedrooms where another bathrobe, identical to hers, was laying on the bed, along with a couple of hangers for your clothes. After pointing out the en-suite shower, adding that there was also a shower by the pool, and making sure that there was a towel for you, she left you to change. As you slipped your clothes off you took time to look around the room, which was obviously not the master bedroom but the main guest room. It was an airy room, furnished comfortably in a very feminine, chintzy way.
You put on your bikini, brushed your hair and touched up your make up before heading back down the stairs and out into the garden.
The pool was a large one, surrounded by a paved area on which were set out a couple of sun-loungers and a table and chairs. A large awning over the table and the adjacent area provided shelter from the sun, which was becoming quite intense. Jules had already removed her bathrobe to reveal a one-piece but very fashionable and obviously expensive costume and had laid down on one of the sun-loungers. You slipped off your bathrobe and laid down on the other one.
You cast a glance at your surroundings. The garden was substantial and stretched off into the distance. The lawn was immaculately mown and the flower beds neatly kept. Jules had never mentioned that either she or her husband Bob were keen gardeners so you assumed that they paid someone to look after it.
'You like?' said Jules, interrupting your reverie.
'It's beautiful; it's a very comfortable home. You've obviously found yourselves a wonderful lifestyle.'
'We enjoy it,' Jules replied. 'It's everything we've ever wanted, and more.'
The next half hour or so passed with idle chatter and then Jules suggested a swim before lunch. With the temperature climbing, the thought of slipping into the cooling water was an appealing one. The air was heavy and languid and, as you eased yourself into it, the water seemed equally so. The heat deadened all sound so that all you could hear was the gentle lapping of the water, the buzzing of insects and, in the distance, the faint sound of some children playing. It was turning into an idyllic summer's day.
You and Jules swam gently, not wanting to exert yourselves and almost not wanting to disturb the water's placid surface. You floated on your back, letting the sun shine down on you. Jules came alongside you and did the same, reaching out with her hand to slide it into yours.
'I'm enjoying this...' you both started to say simultaneously, before bursting out into laughter.