Dutch Treat

Finally there was again a swarm about, and since there were more than enough guys loading the van, I stuck to my cleaning. Eventually Carol drifted on with the other women, and even had an impromptu "listening and prayer" session by the garage. I said that she was generous.

Still, five o'clock rolled around, and Carol had to set off. I could hear her say good-bye to one of the women cleaning in the kitchen, and I half expected her to step outside and up the drive. Still, I wasn't surprised when she swept into the living room, where I had just finished vacuuming the stairs--but I was that she had both arms outstretched for a hug.

Still, I wasn't one to quibble with acceptance, I enjoy a hug as well as the next person, and back to the stairs, let Carol settle into my arms.

I notice details, remember?

It's odd, almost like stop motion. First, Carol settled her full breasts carefully, almost gauging that they were halfway into my chest. Some women use their breasts as weapons when they hug, my first, fleeting impression was that Carol was taking care not to do this when she hugged me.

But then she had slipped into me, far shorter than my six-three, yet her arms were about me. And with wonder, I could feel the love, feel Carol flowing into me.

I'm not even beginning to do this justice...

She simply rested there, cheek on my chest, for long moments. Wonderingly, I looked at the three women on the other side of the screen door, back to this scene. Just as Carol's hand slipped along my spine to the small of my back, and gently traced a small circle.

Startled, as warmth rushed through me, I glanced down at Carol, nestled there in my arms...and was struck, for the first time, by how utterly beautiful her face was. I just gaped in amazement.

Eventually, Carol slipped free of my arms. Just as she turned to leave, to slip away through the door, I managed one, brief sentence.

"I wish that I had met you...before you were married."

A sliver of the truth, but the only one that I could give her.

I couldn't bring myself to say what I could have...because I couldn't even admit that to myself.

Carol kind of laughed, a startled, half-restrained chuckle, almost taken aback, almost as if she wanted to say something else. I couldn't really read it, but a moment later she was gone.