Page 96 of When Love Is Lost and Found

"Betty!"

"Look, you and I have never agreed on the topic of sex, intercourse, hanky-panky, doing the deed before marriage."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"You made Jimmy wait, and look what happened."

"I didn't force him into anything. I refused to repeat my mother's mistakes—she blamed me for ruining her life. Jimmy understood and supported my decision to wait. I wasn't willing to risk getting pregnant so young; abstinence was the only way to be sure. I never wanted to resent my own child because of a moment's lapse in judgment."

"Anthony and I never got pregnant."

"The baby you've been carrying for eight months was an accident."

"Hey, watch it!" she laughs.

"Your words, not mine," I remind her.

"Aaanyway," she continues, "maybe you should seduce him. You'd have him wrapped around your little finger."

"Why do I even talk to you about this?"

"Because you know I love you and would never steer you wrong."

"Oh, really? Never?"

"Sleep with him. Get it out of your system, and then you can decide if he's worth all this trouble."

"You give horrible advice. Thank God, I never listen to you."

"That hurts my feelings."

"I'm sorry."

"Just kidding! But really, don't be such a prude."

"I'm not a prude! What I am is prudent."

"Look, slap that on the front of a T-shirt and wear it, but don't let one more single day go by without s-e-x."

"I'm hanging up now."

"No, please don't hang up. I'm just kidding."

"Okay, but don't push your luck."

"So if sex is not in your plans, what is your plan?"

"I don't know," I say honestly. "I don't even know if he'll talk to me."

"I bet if you went into his bedroom in the middle of the night and slipped under the covers with him, all would be forgiven by morning."

"I'm going to ignore you now."

"Okay, okay. With all joking aside, what about Jimmy? Can you move on from him?"

"If Jimmy were here, we'd be together like you and Anthony. My life would be entirely different. But Jimmy is gone, and the only thing I've had for the past five years is his memory. I lost the only love I ever knew. I never expected to find it again, but I did. I'm in love with Jon. When I picture the future, I picture it with him. I just hope it's not too late."

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