Julia began spending two or three nights at Arthur's little apartment, reacquainting herself with her husband in every wayâphysically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. She wouldn't say that things were perfect between them, but they were good enoughâfar better than the last several years of their marriage. It was
comfortable
to be with him; she knew him so well, and he knew her so well, that there was little need to explain the little things of daily life that you might have to do with a new lover. And Arthur did seem genuinely contrite, perhaps overly so; at times she wished he wouldn't seem quite like an eager puppy doing everything in his power to ingratiate himself with his mistress.
So the only real obstacle, as far as Julia was concerned, was how to explain the situation about Rod.
Well, there's nothing like taking the bull by the horns. Just come out with it, girl. What's the worst he can do? Chide meâand Isabel and his own daughtersâfor being sluts and run away? Very unlikely, after all the effort he's made to come back into my arms. Still, it's a lot for anyoneâespecially a manâto swallow. Men are so possessive.
But Arthur in some ways anticipated the showdown by remarkingâafter a vigorous evening of lovemaking that involved not one but two bouts of anal sexâin a plaintive voice:
"Julia, where do I stand with you?"
She was winded after Arthur's manhandling of her, and not entirely prepared for a long, difficult discussion. So, lying prone and looking over at him with tousled hair and glowing cheeks, she said:
"Arthur, I think you know."
"No, I
don't
know!" he whined. "You've not really said."
"Arthur, dearâ" she began.
"Do you forgive me?" he cried almost angrily.
Julia in turn became a trifle miffed. "No, Arthur, I don't forgive youânot yet. I probably will someday, but not now."
"So . . . then what?"
"Look, Arthur," she said, scrambling to a sitting position, resting her back on the headboard and letting Arthur gaze at her naked bosom, which he was doing avidly. "Things have changed a bit."
"I know that," he said impatiently. "Our relationship can never be the same."
"No, that's not what I meant. Itâit's about the situation at my house."
Arthur didn't like that "my," but what could he do about it? He had no claim on the new house that Julia had moved into. But that single word made him feel so isolated and abandoned that he almost choked up. But he managed to say:
"What do you mean?"
"It's about . . . Rod."
"What about him? He's Melissa's boyfriend, isn't he?"
"Yes, he is," Julia said heavily. "Butâbut he's also involved with Audrey . . ."
Arthur gasped loudly.
". . . and Isabel . . ."
Arthur expelled a choked cry:
"What?"
". . . and me."
There was a stunned silence, and as Julia looked at her husband she saw a man pitiably unable to comprehend the simple words she had spoken. She wouldn't have been surprised if he threw a fit and ordered her from the place, but for the time being Arthur simply lay on his back, gazing up at the ceiling in utter befuddlement.
Then, slowly, a smile spread over his face. Turning his head toward Julia, he said in a tone of wonderment:
"That's some young man."
Julia let out an immense sigh of relief.
Well, all hope is not lost.
She grinned back at her husband, saying, "That's one way of putting it."
"It almost," Arthur said with immense hesitation, "sounds like . . ."
"Like what?" Julia said, although she sensed what Arthur was going to say.
"Well, um, like a harem."
Arthur looked away from his wife, in case she was offended. But all she said was: "Yes, I suppose you could think of it like that."
"Now wait a minute," Arthur said, moving himself up to a sitting position. "How exactly did this happen?"
"Oh, it's too complicated to explain. Let me just say that, as far as I'm concerned, Rod's attentions happened at a pretty critical time in my life, and they've made me feel a lot better about myself as a person and as a woman. He's a dear, sweet man, and I love him."
"You love him?" Arthur said in a mixture of amazement and dismay.
"Yes, I love him," Julia said emphatically. Then, reaching over to take Arthur's face in her hands, she kissed him firmly on the mouth and said, "I love you too, Arthur."
"Do you really?" he said softly, eyes filling with tears.
Oh, God, don't go all weepy on me.
"I do, Arthurâin a very different way from the way I love Rod, but I do love you. You must realize that."
"I think I do."
"Good," she said, letting him go and leaning back against the headboard.
"So . . . where does that leave me?" Arthur asked.
"Well, that's a good question," Julia admitted. "I guess it makes sense for you to, um, move in with us."
Arthur said nothing for several moments. He was looking down at his own chest, brooding. "I'd like thatâbut only if the others, and especially Rod, go along." With a bit of self-pity he added, "I don't want to be where I'm not wanted."
"Oh, Arthur, don't worry about that. I'm sure they'll all be delighted to have you."
"I hope so." Then, as if suddenly shifting gears, "There's just something I don't understand. Well, several things, but one thing in particular. I'm not surprised that Audrey has shacked up with Rodâshe's always been a bit wild. But
Isabel?
How did
that
happen?"