Chapter 28: Stage 1C

Two weeks later, the curtain dropped on the final performance of The Crucible. The play ends with the death of John Proctor (Dennis) and his wife (Sette) as the grieving widow. These two leading roles received loud and sustained curtain calls from the audience before the house lights finally came up and they streamed out of the exits.

“Sette, this isn’t acting. You’re still crying. Crying hard. What is it? Please tell me.”

“You remember, the last time we were together outside this theatre, when you met Pam?”

“Of course.”

“Pam has ovarian cancer. It might kill her.”

“Oh, no! Is there anything...”

“No, of course not. It’s just, I’m going to be dealing with that, helping with Tilda, helping her. Dennis, she’ll have abdominal surgery in a few days, then she will have chemotherapy that will cost her all her hair, including eyebrows and eyelashes.

“I’m telling you about these things for one reason. I won’t have any time for you. All I can do is imagine: your lips on mine, your arms around me, all of it. But I won’t be able to see you like I want to. It’s not fair.

“If some other girl comes along, I have no claim on you. You should follow your heart.”

“Sette, you misjudge me. Of course, I will miss you. But as time goes on, I think I could help you. I can do laundry, I can play with Tilda, and I can make dinners for you and her. There are lots of things ‘behind the scenes’ I can be doing while you are hands-on with Pam.”

“But why would you do this?”

He didn’t answer her in words. For once, he was the kisser, not the kissee. He put his arms around her and squeezed while he probed into her mouth with his tongue.

“Dennis! Are you serious?”

“I would never lie to you, Sette. I love you.”

“Oh, I love you too. God, you’re coming to my house. Right now! I don’t care if the Pope himself is in my living room. You are going to get the best fuck I can possibly give you. Count on it. Let’s go!”