Jill pulled up to Linda and Larry’s house right on schedule. She retrieved the bottle of wine and flower bouquet from the passenger seat and exited the car. Peter was meeting her there after he got some work done at the office. It was rare for him to have to be there on a Saturday, but it was worth it if he was going to spend the day with Jill on Sunday.
“Oh, hi, Jill,” Larry greeted, kissing her on the cheek. “Linda’s just in the kitchen.” he said, taking the wine and flowers from her. She removed her jacket and hung it in the closet.
“Mmmmm…smells wonderful.” Jill said, inhaling her cousin’s cuisine.
“It’s salmon cruditees.” Linda smiled, turning on the oven light so Jill could peak at the pastries rising in the heat. She looked around. “Peter parking the car?”
“No, he’ll be here shortly.”
“He’s left. I just spoke to him about fifteen minutes ago.” Larry interrupted, setting the flowers in a vase.
“Oh, they’re beautiful, Jill.” Linda said, sniffing the floral arrangement. She watched Larry put the wine in the refrigerator. “And you brought wine, too? This is a surprise.”
Jill waved. “So how are things at school?”
“Good. The kids were so bummed about coming back after Christmas break.” She giggled. “It’s funny. Once they all bragged about the Barbies and Tonka trucks they got from Santa the wind went out of their sails.”
“Typical.”
Suddenly the doorbell rang. “That’ll be Peter.” Larry said, walking to the front door.
Linda watched Jill’s face. It was a mixture of excitement and disappointment. “What’s wrong?” she asked her cousin.
“I’m so happy to see him but I also wanted to tell you about things.” She snapped, trying to hide her smile.
“Oh, honey, we’ll go hide in the kitchen and do the dishes after supper. You can tell me then.” Linda waved and then turned toward the living room as Peter came into view. “Hi, Peter.”
“Oh, hey, Linda.” Peter said, handing Larry his jacket. He saw Jill standing behind Linda and winked at her. Her cheeks flushed.
Linda caught the look and left the kitchen to join her husband in the living room. “I’ll leave you two alone for a minute.” she murmured.
Peter had brought a small platter of cookies, which he laid on the counter as Jill approached. “Hi.” She said seductively as she kissed him on the mouth.
His arms snaked around her, rubbing her just above the buttocks, sending chills down her spine. “Hi, yourself.” He said against her lips as he kissed her deeply. He pulled back as he heard Larry clear his throat.
“You want a drink, Peter?”
Wiping the lipstick residue from his mouth, Peter answered sheepishly. “Sure. You got any beer?”
Larry opened the refrigerator door and handed his friend a bottle. “Thanks.” Peter said and then opened the bottle and took a sip.
“Shall we take a seat in the dining room?” Linda suggested as she entered the kitchen to check on the pastries. “I’ve got a vegetable platter out there if anyone’s hungry.”
“I’m starved.” Jill said, taking Peter’s hand.
They sat next to each other at dinner, while Larry and Linda sat on opposite ends of the medium-sized oblong table. Linda brought out the salmon, some garden salad and a plate of freshly baked bread as they ate and chatted casually. When dinner was over, Jill asked for another glass of wine and Peter placed his hand on her leg, massaging it gently.
“So how’s Gayle?” Jill asked.
Gayle, Linda’s younger sister, had just given birth only a month ago.
“She’s good.” Linda answered, taking a sip of wine.
“The baby’s a little tyrant,” Larry chuckled. “He never stops crying.”
Linda gave him a disapproving look. “He’s colicky is all. It’ll calm. We should be so lucky.”
Jill saw the forlorn look cross through her cousin’s eyes. “And how’s your…err...situation?” she asked cautiously.
“The same.” Linda answered, shaking her head slightly as if frustration was long gone. “The last doctor we went to was ridiculous.”
Peter shot a look at Jill. He had no idea what they were talking about. Linda caught the look and answered for her cousin, who was squirming.
“We’ve been trying to have a baby for about eight years now.” Linda looked at Larry. “I’m sure Larry’s told you.”
Larry hadn’t, but childbearing wasn’t a topic often discussed in a legal office.
“We’ve seen fertility specialists back to back for about the last three years. The last one we saw six months ago said the most preposterous thing: that I can only get pregnant if I’m truly happy.” She tipped her head back, draining her wine glass. “The man clearly had no idea what it was to have childbearing issues. It’s a catch twenty-two: the only thing that will truly make me happy is to have a baby, but the only way to have a baby in his opinion is to be truly happy.”
“Truly make us happy.” Larry corrected tenderly.
“Sounds like the idiot doctor I went to when I had gall bladder trouble two years ago.” Jill intervened. “He told me that happy people don’t get sick.”
Linda raised her hand. “Which makes perfect sense…I never get sick.”
Peter nodded. “Me neither.”
Larry lifted his wine glass. “Here here.”
They all clinked glasses and Peter stole a quick kiss from Jill.
“Anyway, we decided to adopt. We just saw the agency right before New Year’s.” Linda added.
Jill’s face lit up. “Really? You’re adopting?” she rose from the table and wrapped her hands around Linda’s neck. “That’s wonderful news!” she beamed.
Linda patted Jill’s arm. “Now don’t get too excited. We’re on a waiting list. It could take years.” she warned.
“And there’s a long application process too.” Larry reminded.
Jill scoffed, addressing both Linda and Larry. “You guys are a shoe-in. She’s a well respected teacher and you’re an excellent lawyer. When you enter any establishment in this town they roll out the red carpet.”
Larry pursed his lips. “We’re not parents. And we don’t have many friends who are.”
Peter’s cheeks reddened. Jill didn’t catch the look but she immediately responded to Larry’s comment. “Well don’t look at me, I’m not having any kids.”
Relief washed over Peter’s face. “Me neither.”
“Well thank God that’s out in the open.” Linda laughed. “That saves you two an uncomfortable conversation.”
Larry raised his glass again. “Here here.”
They all burst out laughing as they clinked glasses.
Peter felt the need to change the subject. “So did you hear about Randy Dutchmen? The guy was a total hardass…pardon the French.”
“Oh, yeah. The guy’s Sycamore Row all over again. Barry dug it all up for me a couple of days ago. Mr. Dutchmen left two million dollars to his housekeeper and zilch to his family.” he tilted his chin upward. “You taking the case?”
“I haven’t decided yet. I’ve got Barry on a research project for another estate at the moment. We’ll see how that pans out. The guy seems a little distracted lately, he seem that way to you?”
Linda’s eyes bulged as she shot a look at her husband.
“What’s wrong? Who’s Barry?” Jill asked.
“He’s this little Greek guy who works over in the registration office. Single, widowed…yeah,” Larry cleared his throat as though trying to conceal what he was about to say. “We fixed him up with Meryl.”
Jill had been sipping her wine. It flew out of her nose. “You what?” she choked.
“Meryl, you know Meryl Longfellow, don’t you?” Larry asked as if Jill wouldn’t remember.
Jill was aghast. “Of course I know who she is! But you set her up with a guy? Isn’t she…” her eyes had widened as if she didn’t know what word to use to describe the older, reclusive woman.
“Yes, she’s strange, but apparently they hit it off.” Linda answered as Larry sat back, satisfied with himself.
“Really?” Jill said matter-of-factly.
Linda nodded and smiled proudly.
***
Linda closed the door, watching Jill and Peter kiss passionately by the cars. Her hand went to her heart. “Sweet, isn’t it?” Larry whispered into her ear as he kissed her neck.
She hugged him from behind, snaking her arms around his neck. “It is. Just think what they’ll be like in eleven months, when we have another New Year’s party.”
“And think about the rest of them.” Larry added, kissing his wife’s neck seductively.
“I thought Jill would faint when we told her about Meryl and Barry.” Linda giggled, both at the thought of what happened during dinner and from the tickling sensation she was receiving from her husband’s lips against her skin.
“Thank God he didn’t ask if I’d heard of Buster Wakefield.” Larry laughed, kissing her neck playfully. “I think I would have lost it for sure.”
He reached over to the light switch that controlled the exterior and interior foyer lights. Both cars had pulled out of the driveway, leaving just Linda and Larry’s vehicles on the asphalt. He switched both lights off and they stood in the darkness. “Now I don’t know about you but watching those two paw at each other during dessert gave me needs.”
Larry spun his wife around so they were nose to nose. Her head rested softly against the door. They could feel each other’s breath. Larry pulled Linda’s hands up over her head and gently forced them against the cold steel of the door, rendering her helpless. Bending down he kissed her neck with his mouth open fully, as she writhed against him.
They’d gotten so used to making love on a schedule for the past eight years that doing it spontaneously was now a novelty, rekindling their somewhat stagnant love life. He gently pulled her shirt up over her head and began kissing her breasts. “Oh, Larry, why don’t we go upstairs?”
He panted, “Sure, there’s a wall up there, too.”
Linda laughed. “Well in that case,” she ripped off his shirt and he removed his pants and her skirt. When they were both naked he lifted her slightly and pinned her against the door. She cried out both from passion and from the chill of the door.
“You okay?” he asked, entering her.
“Oh, yes, baby.” She answered, feeling his fullness.
Larry was an excellent lover, he knew exactly what spots to hit to please his wife. Often, when they were trying to get pregnant, they had to come up with new and inventive ways to make love, and make love quickly. Sometimes on lunch breaks or between meetings.
He knew Linda would be tired from entertaining and he made quick work of their lovemaking. “Oh, Larry, oh yes, right there.” Linda cried as Larry pumped into her quickly. The door began to pound as if a bear was rapping on it from the other side. Larry felt her clench from inside and cried out, feeling his release. Linda followed, pulling him closer with her feet planted firmly around his waist.
“God, you’re the king.” She breathed, feeling completely satisfied.
“I love it when you say that.” He laughed.
“Of course.”
He kissed her gently on the lips. “And you’re my queen.”