A Good Man
Copyright© 2011 by Marc Nobbs
Epilogue
JUNE 2048
“Penny for them?”
I looked down at my wife. Her head rested on my chest, her big blue eyes wide with obvious signs of love and lingering sexual satisfaction.
“Sorry?”
“Your thoughts. Penny for them. Or has it gone up? I know inflation has been pretty bad recently. Should it be a whole pound these days?”
I smiled. “Just thinking,” I said, stroking her hair.
She rolled her eyes. “Obviously. What about?”
Should I tell her? It seemed strange that in these moments after our lovemaking, I was thinking about another woman, but somehow, I knew she’d understand.
“Clarissa,” I said. “I was thinking about Clarissa.”
“Figured it would be her. Or your parents. Guess it makes sense after today.”
I nodded.
“I should be insulted.”
“But you’re not.”
“Of course not.” She paused. “Do you think...?”
“Think what?”
She shrugged. Well, shrugged as best she could while lying on her side with her head on my chest. “If she hadn’t ... you know ... If she hadn’t, would you still be with her? Instead of me?”
“Honestly? I don’t know.”
“That’s not very reassuring, Paul.”
“It wasn’t meant to be.” I sighed. “Look, fate is a fickle friend, you know that. Look at how she treated you before we met. She’s on your side one minute and against you the next. At the time, I thought Clarissa and I were meant to be together forever, but who knows what would have happened? That year I spent in the US was ... Unreal. Like something from someone else’s life. Maybe it was. But who’s to say it wouldn’t have been the same if I’d have gone with Clarissa? Who’s to say we would have survived it? As a couple, I mean.”