On a beautiful Saturday morning, I was walking my dog at the park, barefoot, my mind remarkably placid.
Usually I was consumed, or obsessed, some might say, about why my husband decided to stop having sex with me.
It hasn't happened suddenly, or all at once.
But the frequency with which my husband and I had sex has, over the years, gone down to practically zero.
Just in case you're asking, I don't think it's me. I have not let myself go.
If anything I think I am in better shape now than I ever was in my 20's, thanks to my almost religious devotion to both Yoga and Pilates. I still have the same 24-inch waist I had in college.
My name? Oh, it's Eliana. Eliana Green. Hi.
So, a little about me. I'm 5-foot-1. Yes, quite petite. Brown hair, naturally curly, a mass of corkscrew curls, past my shoulders. Brown eyes that twinkle when I'm happy or blaze when I'm angry. My skin looks like butterscotch pudding.
Three or four years ago I had my boobs done, thinking they were beginning to droop, and I couldn't have that.
They aren't huge, by any means, but one benefit of the surgery was that I only need to wear a bra if it's cold.
On this particularly lovely Saturday morning, I was walking our dog, a golden retriever named Sunshine. I was wearing a sleeveless white button down shirt and denim shorts, bare feet making dainty little foot prints in the grass alongside Sunshine's.
We have no kids, at least not human ones. Instead we own a dog ranch.
They would have been lovely children, at least I hope. But we never had any, in our entire marriage, certainly not for lack of trying.
But I digress. Yes. At the park. Walking the dog.
So anyway, as I'm walking the dog, my cell phone goes off. It's David, my husband. "Hi, honey."
"Hey, babe. Listen, I got clients coming in all day today. I was hoping to get some free time this weekend but I guess not."
I just said, "Yeah. Guess not."
"Go to your friend's house, while you're at the park."
"Yeah, I might just do that. See you later, David."
"Yeah. Later."
"Bye." I hung up and flipped the phone closed.
See what I mean? We can't even spend the damn weekend together!
That's one reason, if not the main reason, why my husband and I have not had any sex. He has literally thrown himself into his work. The dog ranch has become his primary focus. Sometimes his devotion is sweet to see.
Right now, because I'm incredibly horny, it's frustrating, to say the least.
I sighed. Then my phone went off again. "Hello......"
"Hey, sugar!"
I smiled. "Hi, Jordan."
"Hi, yourself, Eliana. I'm almost at the park. You still there?"
"Yep, still here. Sunshine and I just taking our time."
"I know, right. It's a lovely morning, isn't it?"
"Yes, it's beautiful. I could stay here all day."
"Well, good. Boomer and I'll be there in a minute."
I smiled. Boomer was her Old English Sheepdog. "See you then."
Jordan Webb was my girl, my BFF. We go way back. We met in our first year of college together. College room mates, in fact. We bonded over margaritas one night and have been fast friends ever since.
She and I were completely the opposite, appearance wise. We were the same petite height, but there the similarities ended. She was several shades darker than I, her skin the same color as chocolate, her hair jet black and totally straight. Her figure was slender, almost skinny, compared to my somewhat thicker, busty build.
She had not jumped the broom. She said she hasn't found anyone she wanted to make that big jump with. I could understand that.
I mostly married my husband to make my parents happy. They continue to be disappointed in the lack of children around our house.
* * * * * * * *
A while later, Jordan and I had exercised our dogs and ourselves, and were over by our cars. Jordan had managed to find my car and park nearby.
Jordan was looking lovely, in a long pink sundress with a high empire waist and gossamer thin spaghetti straps. She had, for some reason, gotten her hair styled in a short 60's inspired bob.
I managed to get Sunshine in the back of my SUV, closed the door and turned around.
Jordan smiled. "So, where to next? Home, I guess?"
"Yeah, I guess."
"Having trouble with David?"
"Yeah."
"Let me guess, he won't have sex any more?"
"How did you know?"
"Eliana, child, you forget I'm a marriage counselor. I've seen countless women in my office just like you. I know what a horny frustrated woman looks like."
I didn't like being so transparent. "Yeah, I suppose so."
There was a few beats of silence.
Then Jordan said, "Why don't you come with me to my place and I can help you out with that."
She didn't have to explain what "that" meant.
Instead I said, "I've never.....been....with a woman before."
Jordan smiled. "Don't worry, I'm a very patient lover."
"Please don't tell me you're a lesbian?"
"Nope. I am bisexual, though. That's part of the reason why I haven't gotten married."
"Yeah, I can imagine. Male jealousy is so petty sometimes."
"So come on! Let's go to my place. I can help get that pinched look off your face."
"Deal. Except, can I follow you, instead? I don't like leaving Sunshine here all by herself."
"Sure! Absolutely, baby. You remember where my house is?"
"Yeah. Just give me a minute."
* * * * * *
Twenty minutes later, I was at Jordan's house.
Our dogs were squared away, someplace more comfortable than our vehicles, and Jordan and I were in her kitchen, shoes off again, sitting at her counter, sipping glasses of white wine.
I said, "This is really good wine."
"I know, right? I bought a bottle from a very high-end restaurant."
"I didn't think there was a restaurant in town that sold its own wine."
"Just one place here in town. I dine there regularly."
I lifted my glass. "Here's to high end dining."
Jordan smiled. "I hear that."
