Chapter 6

“I’m twenty-four, dear heart. I was a whole lot more tender at age thirteen when I got an excellent teacher.” Suzy giggled.

“Thirteen! Dear Lord. I was just a late bloomer then. I didn’t get laid until I was sixteen.” he said.

“Neither did I in the conventional manner. Actually, seventeen, that’s when I lost my virginity. So you’re a year up on me.” she said.

“Your first teacher was a woman?” he asked.

Suzy nodded with a mouth full of sandwich. She chewed it carefully and then washed it down with Mamosa.

“Yes.” she said, “She was eighteen. She’d had a good teacher herself when she was just thirteen.”

“Well, I’m glad that somebody out there is teaching them right.” Bob said.

“That’s an incredibly civilized comment.” Suzy chuckled.

“First time I’ve ever been called civilized. I must be slipping.” Bob said, taking a sip of Mamosa.

“Not that I noticed. So how did you get to be such a good lover?” Suzy asked.

“Oh ... When I was in college. I had a good teacher too. An older girl that kept me happy all the way through. I think she’s a doctor now. A gynecologist, I believe.” he chuckled.

“Speaking of which. I’d better get my butt into one if we are going to continue this.” Suzy said.

“Yes. It was not very thoughtful of me not to ask about that last night. I’m sorry about that.” he said.

“I should be fine. I’m at the point in my cycle where I’d feel safe with the Pope.” she said.

“Ah, but would he feel safe with you?” Bob chuckled.

“I don’t know. But you weren’t alone in not thinking about that. I don’t recall a lot of discussion about what we were going to do. I think if you hadn’t brought me here last night, that I would have exploded. I’ve never desired anybody more in my life.” Suzy said.

“It was mutual, my love.” he said.

“So tell me about this house. You never said a word about it before. I love the architecture.” she said.

“It wasn’t something I thought was important to anybody else. I designed it myself. I worked on it on the weekends while I was in college.” he said.

“You did this yourself?” Suzy gasped.

“Yeah, it was going to be a surprise dream home for my girl.” Bob mused.

“The one who jilted you?” Suzy asked.

“Yes, my teacher. She found a new student.” he said.

“The woman was a fool.” Suzy said.

“So glad you think so.” he said, grinning.

Suzy contemplated as she speared another sandwich. She wasn’t normally a big eater, but they were good.

“Do you mean to tell me that you haven’t been laid since you were in college?” she gasped.

“And how did you figure that out?” he asked, surprised.

“A: You built this in college, B: I am the first one you have brought here.” Suzy grinned.

“You missed C: my little bad luck fling with the secretary. We went to her place.” he chuckled.

“Oh yeah ... But that’s still got to be over five years ago. It happened before I came to work for you.” she said.

“Sounds about right.” he said.

“Woman must have jilted you pretty hard.” Suzy said.

“Sounds about right.” he chuckled.

“You don’t seem too bitter over it.” Suzy said.

“I’ve tried to remain philosophical about it. I figure she did me a great favor.” he said.

“How so?” she asked.

“If she hadn’t jilted me, then we would not have had last night and you would not be sitting there so alluringly at this moment.” Bob said.

“I’m not so sure that’s a big favor.” Suzy said.

“I am.” he said softly.

“And what about my... unconcluded relationship?” Suzy asked.

“You tell me, dear heart. As I said last night, I didn’t think you would have been with me then -or now- if it was a problem. If I have to share you, then I’m quite willing to do that.” he said.

“You certainly are a most civilized man.” Suzy said.

“Thank you, I think.

I look at it this way. Your relationship with her—whoever she is—has been a positive thing in your life. A very positive thing. You are well-rounded, well-versed, an incredible lover, and a conscientious worker. You don’t get those things being involved in a bad relationship. What you end up like then ... is like Jane was. I suspect that the reason she developed such an obsession with you is because you were like a breath of fresh air in her life. You probably made love. She probably was just after sex.” Bob said.

“You sound like you were there.” Suzy mused.

“Not that hard to figure out, especially given last night’s Oscar-winning performance.” Bob said.

“You are correct, of course. She thought to seduce me and have her fun. I guess I tripped all her breakers. That’s why I left before morning and wouldn’t go out with her again. Because she just performed sex, I was making love. I’m not interested in just sex. I guess I had to experience her to find that out.” Suzy mused.

“Like I said, a very positive influence on your life. Your teacher that is, not Jane.” Bob said.

“Yeah, we certainly share love.” Suzy said, finishing up her second sandwich.

“Speaking of which. Do you need to get home? Or can you stay a while?” Bob asked.

“I’m all yours for the day and tonight if you want me. I should call Jenny and check in though.” Suzy said.

“Tell me about her.” Bob said.

“Jenny? Well, let’s see ... She’s twenty-nine, an office manager at a large store chain, has her MBA. She’s a real joy to be around, really. We’ve shared the house since I was eighteen, just before I went to work for you.” Suzy said.

Bob nodded. “No boyfriend?” he asked.

“No. No serious attachments since I’ve been there. She shares my inclinations towards women. But she’s been out with lots of guys. I think she got jilted pretty hard herself when she was younger.” Suzy said, wording carefully.

“She is quite attractive. I’m surprised that somebody else hasn’t noticed that. But if she isn’t open to a relationship, then I guess it wouldn’t matter who noticed.” Bob said.

“Yeah. I’d like to see her meet someone special. I really care about her.” Suzy said, distantly.

“You two seem to share a very special relationship.” Bob said, sipping at his coffee.

“How do you mean?” Suzy asked.

“Not many sisters could get along living together for six years. You must be close.” he said.

“Yes, we are. Very close.” Suzy said.

“I’m glad. That’s nice. I kind of missed out on family. I was an only child. My mother died of leukemia, and my father kind of threw himself into the business to cope with his loss. A little bit too hard, as he died of a heart attack from it.” Bob said.

“I’m sorry. It must be hard losing your parents.” Suzy said.

“It’s just something you learn to cope with. Time makes it easier. Nothing else does. But after a time, you remember the good things about them, and the pain goes away.” he said.

“No other family?” Suzy asked.

“An uncle on my mother’s side. We’re not close; his choice.” Bob said.

“So where do you find joy in your life?” Suzy asked.

“In front of me.” Bob said, taking her hand.

Suzy blushed a bit.

“I love you.” he said.

Suzy looked up at him. “I love you too.” she replied.

He used her hand to lead her back to the bedroom. There, they made love for the rest of the day.

Jenny had awakened alone in the double bed. She realized why almost instantly. She lay there a moment trying to deal with her feelings about it. She had cried herself to sleep the night before.

She had expected this—and dreaded it—for some time now. She had tried to prepare herself for it. Not very successfully. Perhaps it wouldn’t be too bad. Maybe Suzy really would continue to make love with her. But she would miss her arms around her every night and waking up without her, like today.