Page 45 of Sexual Healing

“We both are looking for permanence.”

“Yes. That’s exactly the right word.” She looked at him sidelong. “I’m not usually so free with my thoughts or feelings, but I need to be honest with you. I feel like I need to let you know exactly what I’m feeling and not worry about scaring you away. If it’s too much, you just need to say it’s too much. Okay?”

“I feel the same way. And I’m ready to compromise. I’ve never done that before. It’s been my way or nothing in the past. But it’s because I didn’t think the other person was up to making the right choice, and with you, I feel like you will.”

“I’ll do my best. The men I’ve been with have been older than I am and always thought they knew best.”

“I’m older than you.”

“But not father-figure older,” she said, chuckling. “Ten or fifteen years I can handle. It’s a relief.”

“What’s next for us?” he asked.

“Well, we both go into the city on Tuesday. You can come with me if you want. Your car will be safe here. You’re familiar with the project I’m doing in the city. It’s huge. When it’s finished, I’m done. I might get a manager to continue because we are getting offers weekly, and it’s a lot of business to pass up. But if I can’t find someone suitable, I’ll sell. Then I want to be a housewife. I want to have another baby.”

He gathered her in his arms, pulling her over to his chair again. “I want a family, too,” he said, nuzzling her neck.

“Don’t you have children?”

“My kids are adults. Up until this very second, I never considered having more kids because my partner didn’t want them. But if you want them, I’ll have to reconsider.”

“Okay, well, that’s out of the way,” she said, laughing. “We have a lot to learn about each other before we get to that.”

“I’m willing to wait as long as I have to,” Andy said, tilting his face to the sky. “Like I said last night, I’m in the day-at-a-time mode right now.”

“Me too. It’s the only way.”

Chapter 5

By Tuesday, Lisa was still in recovery mode while the rest of the world was back in action; not that she’d worked that hard for the party, but the emotional roller coaster of juxtaposing Sandra and Julie and all the other high-maintenance people had taken a toll.

That morning, Ryan was up at Pam’s, helping her go over some charity paperwork. Daniela and Sandra’s nanny had the kids, including Brent and Miranda, on a nature hunt on the beach, looking for shells and driftwood. The cottage was so quiet, she had drifted off to sleep with her audiobook playing, missing almost a full chapter of the story. Then an incessant buzzing rammed through the voice of the narrator. She took the earbuds out and realized it was the doorbell on the little-used front door of the cottage. Everyone she knew used the side door. It had to be a salesman.

Checking the security camera first, she saw two women in resort wear standing on the stoop. She pressed the intercom button. “Can I help you?”

One woman leaned in to the speaker, talking too loud.

“Yes, um, my name is Clarice Johnson. This is my sister, Rene.” The other woman waved. “Our mother is Beverly Johnson. She’s Jack Smith’s half-sister. They had the same father, Bertram Albert. We found your name on an ancestry search and wanted to introduce ourselves since it appears we’re cousins.”

Staring at the camera, Lisa couldn’t believe it. More relatives from the woodpile.

Unlocking the door, she opened it and stepped aside. Smiling as they entered, two women who reminded Lisa of members of her family passed by her. Tall and blond like a Smith, or maybe it was an Albert after all.

“Come in,” she said, making eye contact. “I can’t believe this.”

“I know. I’m sorry we didn’t call first. The search app we use only gives current addresses, no phone numbers unless they’re landlines.”

Lisa led the way into the living room, glad she’d taken the time to straighten up that morning, then wondered what had possessed her to open the door and give two complete strangers access to her home.

“Can I get you something to drink?” she asked, nerves growing.

“I’m fine,” Clarice said, and Rene concurred.

“I’d like to call my mother and have her join us if you don’t mind.”

“Not at all. Does she live nearby?” Rene asked.

“Just a few houses up the beach.”

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