Now that her children had left home, Elyse was free to go nude about the house just about any time she wanted, though she rarely did. It wasn't the same as being outdoors with Connor, in the free air, in a place where they theoretically could be seen but wouldn't be. Those places were becoming harder to find all the time.
The larger problem was what to do with each other now that they were "just" a couple again. It seemed strange to have their evenings and weekends unstructured after more than twenty years of a dependable routine, punctuated by moments of panic when one emergency or another threatened to engulf young Ben or Julia.
Their love was still thereβthe legacy of years spent building a home and a family together. They just needed to re-energize it now that the big shared effort was done.
"Maybe we should travel," Elyse said one night as they cleared their supper plates. "I've always wanted to see Europe or Asia, haven't you?"
"Sure, let's look into it," replied Connor.
They studied travel guides, gazing at color illustrations of different worlds, places that seemed much more alive than their dull little Midwestern city. Places that held exciting adventure for a middle-aged but still young-at-heart pair of lovers.
But they weren't quite that pair yet, and there was no guarantee that travel would convert them.
In the end, they decided that they should achieve their marriage renewal first; their adventures after that would be all the sweeter.
_______________
"Look at this!" said Connor, passing the ad pullout to his wife.
"Couples Retreat at Five Palms Spa," she read. "A full, relaxing day in total comfort, as you both are cared for together by our highly trained, compassionate staff, all in the soothing, peaceful atmosphere Five Palms is known for. Have your hair and nails impeccably groomed in a meditative setting, bathe in our temperature-controlled pool, and have your remaining tensions relieved with a couples massage from our expert therapists. A perfect opportunity to reconnect with your partner."
"This sounds wonderful," she said. "Hmm...Five Palms, isn't that where Stephanie and Ronaldo work?"
"That's right. They even brag on them, farther down in the copy. Here: 'Now featuring the latest addition to our staff, a husband and wife team of massage therapists who bring special sensitivity to the needs of couples.'"
"Wow. That's pretty good for them having learned massage only a year ago. They must really have made an impression."
"Or, you know, they're being used as a gimmick for the ad."
"Well, either way, they must be good. We should have had them practice on us before they hit the big time." She smiled slyly.
"Even better, we can have them massage us now that they're fully trained. I'm interested. Let's give them a call and ask them if they think this retreat package is a good deal. We haven't been in touch with them enough anyway."
_______________
"Oh, it's worth it if you're into the esthetic angle," said Ronaldo. "I mean, it's all standard spa services, but they go all out on the atmospherics. Hell, I practically trip out every time I go into the mani-pedi salon, and I'm not talking about nail polish fumes."
"I've never had a manicure," said Connor. He and Elyse were listening on speaker to his phone, and the other couple was no doubt doing the same.
"You might like it," broke in Stephanie. "Lots of guys get them. Pedicures, too. And not just the kind of guy you might be thinking of. They all say it makes them feel good, and they enjoy having someone help them to look their best. You know, lots of you guys don't take proper care of your hands and feet anyway."
"Okay, Steph, you're selling me," Connor chuckled.
"We're not just saying this because it's our employer," Ronaldo went on. "We wouldn't steer you wrong, you know that."
"No, of course we trust you," said Elyse. "Tell us how your couples massage works."
"It is just like a regular massage except it's both of you in the room, being massaged at the same time. Your tables are close enough that you can see each other being worked on, and each other's facial expressions."
"Would we be nude?" Elyse asked.
"You
would
ask that, Elyse! Generally you are nude for a massage, so yes. Confining underclothes that pinch detract from the massage experience, which is supposed to be about total body relaxation. We use sheets for modesty and don't uncover any part that's not going to be worked on. And of course, you know that licensed massage therapists are complete professionals."
"Yes, we know that."
Connor wondered if she sounded a little disappointed.
He asked, "So, would we each be paired with an opposite-sex therapist?"
"That's entirely up to the clients," Stephanie answered. "Usually that is what is requested, but we will work in any combination."
"Sorry to have so many questions."
"Not at all, this is good! Sometimes we have to explain all this at the start of the session, and it takes away from productive time. We want to give you full value, well, that is, if you sign up."