Two days later, Rick and Sandy spent a rare hour in post-coital conversation. Usually they had no time; at fifty-nine Rick was finally uxorious, home by seven most nights.

Usually they had no place; Rick wasn’t rich and Sandy still had her daughters. But a rare window of opportunity had opened that afternoon, when the twins left town for a junior statesman conference and Rick and Sandy could both get away from work. They met and chatted over a couple of cocktails, grew warm toward each other, drove to her place. He kissed her hand, they worked elaborately on each other’s mouth, and then he ran his hands and mouth well but too quickly down her body, penetrated her well (at his age!) but too quickly (better than the reverse problem!), and gasped moaning into her ear.

Sandy was disappointed; it was better than nothing. Except for her first time, when it was worse than nothing, that’s how sex usually seemed to her. Actually, better than nothing was how it seemed to usually be for most folks, according to Sandy’s informal, unscientific, but consistent survey.

They relaxed under her down comforter, she in his boxers and he in his T-shirt. Rick kissed her shoulder and asked, “Do you know how much I like you?” He took Sandy’s hand in his before she phrased any answer. “I really really like you, and I always have.” Sandy considered how youthful he sounded – “like” – and how in his case “like” was probably a cleaner more descriptive word than “love.”

“You know, we’re soul mates.”

“What?!” That phrase was completely untypical of Rick. “Soul mates?”

“Well… yeah.” He grinned. “I don’t mean it in any sappy way. It’s just that you always said the things that made me feel best about myself. Still do. You make me happy. I think you understand me.” He bent his face to hers and nibbled her lower lip. “You may not agree, but I know I understand you.”

His ardor alarmed her. “Yeah?” she blurted. “If you’re so wise then explain to me why Jill is still so hostile about us?” She spat a little with her emphatic “still;” quickly she wiped his cheek with her forefinger.

“I’m not even sure about what set her off in the first place. I never understood her initial anger unless she still thought she and I had something, which is kind of flattering to me and all, but hardly based on reality if I remember correctly. I mean she was someone I fucked, but I was real restless then and did every woman I could. And I hate to tell you this, but your friend Jill was doing the same thing from a female perspective. Of my whole crowd only Bentley got turned down…and shit: I remember we all admired him for being honest about that, instead of admiring her for her chastity.”

“Hey! Talk about your double stand…” Rick interrupted her with a wrestle. “Shut up, woman,” he murmured when he had her confined against him. “I don’t often talk like this. Let me.”

“But I was sleeping around then too.”

He paused at that and thought. “Maybe. But you weren’t doing it all in the same group of guys. She asked for the reputation she got among us. Which wasn’t disrespectful, not really. But it was kind of humorous…”

Rick shifted and propped himself up on an elbow. “Anyway, what I do remember happened about five years ago. I ran into Jill and of course I asked about you. She told me you were still happily married to Keith.”

“Five years ago? I’ve been single for ten…”

“Yeah. Let me put it this way. I’m not sure what exactly I asked and she answered, but I’m pretty good at getting information, and I came away from that conversation with the distinct impression – no: knowledge – that you were still married to your second husband and very happily so.

“I remember saying to Jill: ‘Well, shit. Great. Now I know we could have been happy if I’d left Peggy then…’ and she got a funny look on her face but didn’t respond.

“So I don’t get her hostility, no. But that facial expression confirmed it. Whatever problem Jill has with us is more enduring than most relationships.” Sardonic grin.

Sandy flashed with anger at her friend, and immediately warmed as she realized how dreadful it would be to have married Rick. Inadvertently spared by her best friend’s calumny? Her emotions were powerful and confused. She tenderly squeezed Rick’s rubbery-cool penis while she stretched to fit her lips into his. Their goodnight hug was sincere.