Janice was waiting at the outside cafΓ© when Earl arrived. They kissed and Earl hugged and kissed her several times before settling down at the table. They ordered lunch at talked about the old days and the many changes that occurred in their lives the past eighteen months.
They talked about moving back together and started to plan how Earl would make the transition with his business. Clyde wasn't immediately brought up in any subject. Earl was avoiding what took place the night before and Janice didn't know that Clyde was his business partner.
They were holding hands and Earl went as far as stretching her arm out to be able to kiss her hand while they ate. They looked like they were dating again rather then two married people that had been separated for eighteen months.
Earl told Janice that he had considered opening an office in the Tampa Bay area for the past few months but wanted his partner in a position to be able to handle the Miami office.
"Who is your partner and when do I get to meet him or her?"
Earl hesitantly told her. "You already have met him. It's Clyde."
Earl kept talking about moving back home but he could clearly see that something was bothering Janice.
"What's wrong, Janice? Are you worried about Clyde? Don't worry about him I understand that I wasn't there for you in the past but things are going to be different now."
Janice was still kind of quite as she wiped her mouth and took a sip of her drink. She took Earl's hand and rubbed his fingers as she looked into his eyes.
"Doesn't it bother you with what you saw happen last night?"
"I understand what you were going through and don't blame you for this at all. You were lonely and Clyde somehow came along and it happened."
Janice held his hand tight and still had a lot of concerns. "I was supposed to go out with Clyde tonight at the club again. I'll have to give him a call and tell him I can't make it."
Earl rubbed her hand and played with her empty ring finger. He didn't want anything to jeopardize his relationship with Clyde. How was he going to explain to him that Janice was his wife? He might be so embarrassed that he'd want to give up the partnership. "Why don't you wait and let me figure out the best way to handle this situation. I wouldn't want Clyde to get pissed off with me and somehow back out of our partnership."
"Wouldn't it be better if e found out t truth now?"
Earl stroked her hand feeling the smooth texture of her skin as he thought about what to say. "Think how embarrassing he would be to find out he was screwing my wife in the next room."
Janice's cell phone rang as Earl let go of her hand. He watched her pickup the phone and flipped it open.
"Hi. How are you feeling this morning?"
Janice motioned to Earl that it was Clyde on the phone.
"Yes, I know we have a date tonight."
Earl was waiving his hand and trying to get her not to break the date.
"Listen. Can I call you back in a few minutes? I have a real estate client holding on the line. I'll talk to you in a few."
Janice closed the phone. "What did you want me to say to him? I didn't think you would want me to see him again."
Earl nervously replied. "I didn't want him to get suspicious and find out what was going on himself."
"What are you suggesting that I do?"
Earl's mind was working hard to come up with a solution until he blurted out. "Why don't you call him back and tell him you'll meet him tonight at the club."