Chapter 1 – Making New Friends
It was one of those perfect early summer days. I had finally finished the spring frenzy of planting, painting and generally getting my home and gardens looking great. I was feeling very good about life in general. After just existing through a long depressing winter, fighting to stay warm, fighting off the pounds and getting the kids through school I was back to the good life. I loved the beauty and serenity of my gardens and savored every moment spent on our country home.
The time in the sun had helped to tan and sculpt my body. I was feeling very sexy. My husband Allan just couldn't get enough of the new me. We were enjoying sex at every opportunity.
I thought about what a girl should do on a warm summer morning as a treat to celebrate having gotten to the bottom of my to do list. Shopping seemed to be the order of the day so off I went. My autopilot didn't get me past my favorite garden center. It was just so good to get a cup of coffee and wander around on a quiet weekday morning. I savored my coffee and the feeling of the soft morning warmth and moist fresh air. As I walked along I was delighted with the exotic fragrances of so many beautiful plants. The gardens were exploding with color. It had me off in a dreamland.
In my euphoric state I didn't notice a couple gentlemen had wandered next to me. A hand touched my shoulder. I jumped and when I saw the two dreamy gents I was instantly embarrassed. A tall blonde Robert Redford type apologized. "Sorry to bother you, could we share just a moment of your morning?" I thought they must have taken me for an employee and was about to explain that I could not be much help. Before I could get my wits together the other fellow proceeded to thank me for making their day. He said, "We have been watching you for quite some time. You looked absolutely serene and radiant amongst the plants."
The Redford type asked, "Are you the angel that was missing from our otherwise perfect day?" I started to thank them for kidding with me and tried to make an embarrassing retreat. Redford grabbed my hand, "Sorry, we are a little too smitten, lets try again. I am Albert; this is my friend and architect Roger. Roger brought me in this morning to make some final plans for landscaping my new home. We were having some major problems landing on a good scheme and then you floated by and we have completely lost our way." Would you mind having a coffee with us and offering up a little advice?"
Although I was still a bit flustered by the attention, I was also flattered, and yes, a little attracted to these hansom smooth talking fellows. So I smiled at them both and said, "Why not. My name is Carol." They each gave me a warm handshake. My day just kept getting better.
We had a great time going over their blueprints while sipping cappuccinos in the garden center lounge. I could tell from the prints that they were building a wonderful oasis. It would be a private sanctuary enjoyed by a fortunate few. They had elaborate blueprints for the gardens that showed every plant located precisely to scale. Albert conceded, "The house design and construction has been a great experience. I had no problem following the drawings and giving Roger some useful input. Except today. Gardening is beyond me, I can't tell a flower from a tree and am totally hopeless when it comes to visualizing the how it will all come together. The gardens will become the most important place in my world so I am counting on other talented people to make it special."
"I would love to help with the plans," I said. "Nothing in this world can feel as good as the time spent in a garden if you are careful about what you want to create. Done right you will overwhelm your senses with natures infinite variations. Every moment bring new sensations as the light, warmth, even wetness reshape your experience. Every day will offer a new look, a new feeling. It will be wonderful!" My excitement could not be contained. The look the gents gave each other caused me to flush, it seemed my excitement was catching on but perhaps they shared more than a botanical moment. I flushed; they smiled and gently led me along the garden center paths. The three of us spent several hours of just wandering amongst the gardens discussing how each plant will look in the different seasons, and over the years. We had quickly grown comfortable with each other.
The conversation had drifted around to our life stories. I learned all about Albert. He was a recently divorced plastic surgeon who was trying to anchor his new life with a new home. His friend Roger had never married and was really appreciating how the project had cemented his friendship with Albert. Neither man had a girl friend; both saying women were not worth the pain. Albert had not seen anyone since his marriage. I found it odd that these obviously successful men were accustomed to having things go their way, but had become quite timid and sincere in sharing their vulnerabilities with me. It was very clear that they wanted me to understand and know who they were.
They gradually steered the conversation around to me, probing feelings I had not shared with others. The more we talked the more personal it became. Roger finally got right now to subjects I had never even explored in my dreams. "Carol, you are amazing, your life could not have been more sheltered if you had grown up in a church. Have you never been curious?"
I confessed, "I was very innocent when I married and have no idea what a relationship with anyone but my husband would be like. I have at times wondered what sex would be like with someone else but never so curious to want to actually do the deed."