* * *
Thursday after school arrived much more quickly than I expected. I was nervous about going to the gynecologist especially after realizing I hadn't been there since Jake's death. Way past time for an annual check up. The very helpful nurse practitioner was only too happy to reprimand me for failing to care for my womanly health needs. I smiled at her and didn't say anything. All I needed was for her to give me a prescription for the pill and I would be on my way hopefully into a bed with John.
It turns out, birth control was much more advanced since I last had inquired. I could be on the pill, or the patch, or ring, or even a shot.
"The ring?" I asked.
The nurse practitioner, clearly not having a good day, gave me an exasperated look and told me the ring was a form of vaginal birth control that lasted for three weeks at a time. Unfortunately, the ring needed a month to build up in the system so John and I would still need condoms for the next month. I hadn't been on birth control for a very long time, and really didn't like the idea of popping a pill every morning. I settled for the ring and decided John could handle condom duty for another month.
I walked out to the waiting room with a prescription and free sample in hand. John rose and kissed me.
"How did it go?" he asked.
I didn't respond to John because I was noticing the looks I was getting from other women sitting around the waiting room. Raised eyebrows, pursed lips and other looks of disapproval appeared to be a common theme.
"Great," I mumbled. John's eyes followed my own and soon his eyebrows went up as he began to realize what I was looking at.
"Come on," he said while circling his arm around my waist.
"Of all the nerve," I practically screamed and slammed the car door far louder then necessary. John got in his car while giving me a worried look. Where did those women get off? Great, they probably thought John was my sugar daddy or something disgusting like that. Was it so wrong that a younger woman found it well worth her time to spend it with an older man? Where did they even get off judging me? I drove home far faster than necessary still fuming about how people perceived my relationship. I groaned when I thought about my coworkers and students finding out. The rumors and whispering in corners would become irritating to say the least.
I made a sharp turn into my driveway and skidded to a hard stop. I hopped out of my car and made for the door.
"Jan," called John. I kept walking. "Janet! Please stop walking so fast. We should talk," John said finally catching up to grab me by the wrist.
"Not out here, ok? I don't need the neighbor's to pass judgment too."
"Fair enough," John said while guiding me the rest of the way to the door. He waited patiently for me to unlock it and then took me in. Once inside, he turned me around and pulled me into an embrace. We just stood there holding one another for awhile. I let the heat of his body soak in and relax me.
"Feel better?" John asked.
"A little," I mumbled.
"Come on, let's getting something ready for dinner. We can talk while we prep."
I was happy to have something to do with my hands. I felt agitated. I was becoming more nervous about the idea of somebody, namely a student, discovering the relationship between John and me. John poured me a glass of wine and I took one large drink.
"Look Jan, you can't get that upset about this. We both agreed to keep our relationship quiet. Beth is the only one that knows, and she is kind enough to keep quiet too. Even if there weren't an age difference, the rumors would still fly. We're coworkers enjoying the same bed. That's bound to get people talking. And we don't exactly work with the most mature people."
"I'm sorry John, I didn't mean to get so upset. I haven't been in a relationship in such a long time. I'm very happy with what we have between us and I don't need people ruining it."
"So don't let them. You aren't going to dump me over a few raised eyebrows and the same holds true for me. Nothing's perfect. We'll just have to deal with whatever comes our way. I am willing to do that if you are."
I smiled at John. His words were definitely making me feel better. "Don't worry John, you'll have to do a lot better than a few raised eyebrows to get out of this relationship."
"I'm happy to hear it. Now about that birth control. Do I get to do you senseless without the use of our latex friend tonight?"
"Not for another month."
"A month?"
I went over to the kitchen table and found the paper bag holding the ring. I pulled it out the bag to show John.
"Correct me if I am wrong, but that doesn't look like a pill."
"It's not. It's a ring. I insert it vaginally and have three weeks of steady protection, starting next month. It takes a month for the ring to build up in your system, but after that no more latex."
John groaned and walked over to embrace me. "You mean I have to wait a whole month for a morning quickie. I was looking forward to walking around the school with a stupid 'I got some' grin on my face. In a month school will be out."
"There's always summer school," I responded dryly.
"Don't sound so annoyed. You'd have the same grin on your face."
I smiled, but didn't say anything.
"Speaking of summer school, are you teaching it this year?" John asked.
"Yes, I'm teaching a make up history course. How about you?"
"I'll be teaching a make up physics class."
"I guess we're still coworkers for the summer."
"Don't worry Jan, I promise not to do you on your desk, even if there are less people in the building."
"You wouldn't dare," I said, while attempting to shove him away.
"I just promised you I wouldn't, even if you are very tempting."
"I hope you aren't offended when I tell you I have a hard time believing you.
I can see I'm going to have to lock my classroom door."
"Not to worry, I'm sure I could strike up a friendship with at least one custodian."
"You're impossible!"
"I prefer horny and persistent."
