Revelation
I stood inside the bookstore and watched Jill toss her auburn hair as she stood impatiently waiting for me. She was wearing a green jacket and skirt set with a pale green blouse under it. There were dark green pumps on her feet with three inch heels. Over her shoulder was a matching handbag. Her wrist had a large silver bracelet around it.
My wife Sue had filled me in on her. She was twenty six. A trophy wife for Dale Patterson, a local car dealership owner. Dale was fifty, the same age as me.
I glanced at my reflection as I gathered my energy, ready for today's encounter. Greying hair in place - thick and still all mine. Beard neatly trimmed, grey eyes clear, teeth white... Christ, what was I doing? Selling a horse? I quickly crossed the concourse.
"Hey, Jill, you look great!" I greeted her.
She spun around and smiled, "You're late..."
"I was admiring from the bookstore." I indicated it with my thumb over my shoulder. "Ready to test some beds?"
"Wha..." She stuttered, "What do you mean?"
"Come on." I took her hand as I led us into the Sleep Country Store.
"How did you know my name?"
"My wife is a fountain of social knowledge. I wish I could find the tap to turn it off."
I stopped beside a queen sized bed and reached down to test the mattress. "What do you think?"
"What? The bed?" She reached down to test it too. "Too hard."
I led the way to another bed. "Is it true?"
"What?"
I leaned down to test the second bed. "Are you a trophy wife? Nope, too soft."