Thomas Marks sat on a cream-colored leather sofa in Madalyn Ross’s stylish condominium and glanced at his right index finger, which was sporting a small bandage near the nail. Shaking his head in disbelief, he thought, I can’t believe I cut my finger. He had cut it with a knife while helping Madalyn prepare a tossed salad.
He looked at the television that occupied the large oak cabinet on the opposite side of the room. The opening credits of an old black and white movie appeared on the screen. Marks read the large script letters.
Madalyn, an attractive woman with shoulder-length black hair and dark brown eyes, returned from the kitchen holding two partially filled glasses.
Marks saw her approaching. “Let me help you,” he said. He reached for the glasses and carefully placed them on coasters that lay on the oak coffee table in front of him.
“Thank you,” she said.
“You’re welcome.”
She sat next to him. “Did I miss anything?”
He shook his head. “No. The movie just started.” He reached for the nearest glass and drank a mouthful of water.
“I bought that brand yesterday. Do you like it?”
“It’s very good,” he assured her. “In fact, it tastes very similar to what we drank earlier.” He thought about the two glasses of water he had gulped after his embarrassing performance playing tennis. He and Madalyn had played three sets and she had won two of them.
“It should. It’s the same brand.”
“I thought so,” he said. “It has a very pleasant and distinct taste.” He drank another mouthful of water and set the glass on the coaster.
Then he thought about Madalyn’s competitiveness at tennis. Considering how much she enjoyed the sport, he thought she should have worked as a coach somewhere. However, she didn’t need to work because her parents had been incredibly wealthy. When they died in a car accident, everything―about fifty million dollars’ worth―had been left to her. She’d been twenty-one. Several years later she married a man who had become one of the most successful cardiovascular surgeons in the state, if not in the country. Then her husband, who had grown to love another woman, asked for a divorce. The media covered the breakup because of the couple’s social standing. The fact that another woman was involved didn’t hurt, either. According to reports, Madalyn had received ten million dollars in the settlement. That was last year. She had been thirty-two. At first, she blamed herself for the failed marriage. Eventually, with support from friends, including Thomas, she realized she wasn’t to blame. Although Thomas was several years younger, she was attracted to him. He was handsome, kind, understanding, and caring. Whenever her friends asked about him she mentioned these qualities.
She looked at his right index finger. “How’s your finger?”
He glanced at it. “I think I’ll live,” he replied. “I can’t believe I cut it.”
“Thomas.”
Her dark brown eyes were fixed on him. “Yes?” he asked.
“Do you like me?”
“Yes. You know I do.”
“Do you like being with me?”
“Of course. We have fun.”
“But I am older―”
“You are? Why didn’t you tell me?” He laughed.
She nudged him in the ribs, but she didn’t say anything.
Marks reached for her hands and glanced at her fingernails, which she had manicured once a week. He looked at the light veins on the backs of her hands. Then he kissed them. He glanced at her face and noticed a smile.
He leaned toward her. “You want to know something?”
“What?”
“I enjoy being with you. In fact, I think I’m falling in love with you.”
She didn't say anything.
He moved closer to her and kissed her lips.
When they parted, she leaned back against the couch. She looked at him and smiled. “That was nice,” she finally said.
He kissed her lips again. Suddenly, he felt warmer. He leaned against the back of the couch and looked at her. Her lips parted, revealing her perfect white teeth. He looked at her black hair.
“Is something wrong?” she asked.
He shook his head. “Of course not.” He glanced at her lightly tanned legs, which had helped defeat him at tennis.
“Do you like what you see?” she asked with a smile.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“Thomas, there’s no need to be sorry.” She reached for him and kissed him lightly on the lips. When their lips parted, she reached for her glass of water.
Thomas grabbed her arms and pulled her toward him. Their eyes met, and he could feel her warm breath on his face. Suddenly, he held her at arm’s length and looked at her. “You know, you are a very beautiful woman,” he finally said.
She laughed. “Thank you.”
“Your former husband must be very stupid.”
“Why?”
His eyes met hers, but he didn’t reply.
“Why did you say that?” she asked.
“Because he let you get a divorce.”
“Actually, he had grown to love another woman.”
“Like I said, your former husband must be very stupid.”
He pulled her closer and kissed her. Suddenly, he realized that something was wrong. Although he had not experienced any physical pain, he felt his body jerk once, then twice. He tried to speak. Nothing. He thought he could see Madalyn growing concerned, asking, “What’s wrong? What’s wrong?” But he wasn’t certain. His vision had become impaired. She had become a blur. Then he lost consciousness.