It had nothing to do with Luke being black. It was just not a good time.
We were barely getting by on Rick's meager earnings driving cab and our rented house was just big enough for our daughter and us. Taking in a lodger would be pushing it.
Luke was one of Rick's school buddies and down on his luck. He had no job or money and needed a place to crash.
Try as I would I could not convince my husband it was not a good idea.
"It will just be for a little while." Rick promised.
We had to move our eight-year-old daughter into our bedroom with us so Luke could have her bedroom in our tiny two-bedroom bungalow.
It was really an inopportune time as Rick and I were working on our second child. I would be so embarrassed with the bed squeaking knowing Luke was lying in the next room listening to every moan I made.
Not having a job Luke was around all the time. Rick offered to get him a cab to drive but he thought he was too good for that. Instead he would sit around all day watching TV and smoking my cigarettes.
At first it was a bit strange having another man around. I could not walk around in my undies any more and had to remember to lock the bathroom door. Eventually I became more comfortable and even let him see me in only a bra and blue jeans.
I think they call it propinquity, being close to somebody until you gradually start liking them. I don't know if I sent out the wrong signals but Luke started making suggestive remarks about him and I "getting it on". I assure him I wasn't interested in anybody but my husband but I don't think he believed me.
We were sitting around watching reruns on TV and finishing off a bottle or red wine. Rick was working and I was only wearing my robe having showered after putting Jessica to bed.
I guess the wine made me careless. I was unaware that the belt on my robe had worked loose allowing Luke a generous view of my bare breasts.
Without warning Luke reached over and put his hand in my robe. Gently he squeezed my left breast.
"What are you doing?" I cried.
Without answering his other hand released the belt and opened my robe exposing my crotch. For some stupid reason I felt embarrassed as he looked at my tangled bush.