A Different Kind of Forever - By Dee Ernst Page 0,19
her mother, Becca and Joann giggling behind her.
“Mom, can we go backstage with that guy, the one in the green shirt?”
“No.” Sue and Diane both answered at once.
“We’ve got to get going anyway,” Sue said smoothly. “Come on girls, let’s find the others. Diane, why don’t we meet you out in the hall?” And she pushed the girls back, moving them directly into the puffing Sammy, who backed away to let them through.
“Can I call you tomorrow?” Michael asked quickly.
“Yes. Anytime. I’ll be home all day.”
“Okay.” He was gone and Diane walked into the hallway to wait for Sue. She leaned back against the wall, her legs suddenly shaking. She could hear Emily’s voice, loud, complaining. Why did they have to leave? Alison was arguing with her mother. But Sue led them all out into the hallway, turned on them sharply, and shushed them all.
“Okay, ladies, shut up now. You are six of the luckiest girls in West Milton and you should all be humble and grateful instead of whining and complaining. It’s time to go. Now. Walk to the end of the hall and wait under the exit sign and not another word.”
The girls looked shamefaced and filed silently away. Sue watched them for a moment then turned to Diane.
“Are you okay?”
“Of course. Why shouldn’t I be?”
“You’re still blushing.” She looked at her friend thoughtfully. “Listen, what’s going on with him?”
Diane lifted her shoulders. “Who?”
Sue looked disgusted. “Hey, it’s me, okay? And I know fireworks when I see them. Shit, I was waiting for the two of you to rip your clothes off right there in front of everybody. No wonder his sister swooped in.”
“Sue, you’re ridiculous.”
“You’re not fooling me, kiddo.”
“Did the girls notice?” Diane asked, concerned.
“No. There was too much else going on. Why would they want to look at old Mom?”
“Old Mom. Oh, God. Do you know how old he is?”
“Yeah. Good for you. Are you seeing him again?”
“He’s going to call.”
“I bet he is.” She turned and walked back toward the girls.
They said very little after that. All during the long ride home, Sue hummed along with the radio, while Diane stared out the window into the darkness. She remembered feeling this way before, the powerful rush of wanting. She had stopped feeling that way about Kevin during those last years. She often wondered if the lack of desire had been the reason for the failure of her marriage, or if it had been the other way around. She had loved sex, reaching for her husband often. But it wasn’t just the physical longing that had waned. As she had slipped from raging passion to quiet affection she had stopped wanting his conversation, caring about his day. They both loved the girls, but that had not been enough for her.
“Sue, are you still madly in love with Pete?” she asked quietly.
Sue glanced into the rearview mirror. “You mean do I still call him to come home for a nooner?”
Diane chuckled. “Yeah, I guess.”
“Yes. I’m still madly in love with my husband. I still smile every time he walks into a room. I still touch him whenever I can. He’s still the person I want to spend the most time with.” She glanced over at Diane. “You didn’t have that with Kevin, did you?”
“No. Not for a long time. I think I figured every marriage just kind of faded out to something else, like mine had.”
“I can’t imagine putting up with all the shit that being married and having kids means without feeling the way I do about Pete, even when he’s part of the shit. He still makes me feel like a silly nineteen year old. When he gives me a certain look I get all wet and itchy. I figure it’s God’s reward for fighting the good fight, you know?”
“You’re lucky.”
“Pete and I are both lucky.”
“Yes.”
They drove a few more miles. The girls in the back were starting to quiet down. Diane turned and looked back into the van. Megan, Becca and Joann were all texting. The older girls, in the very back seats, were talking quietly together.
“We went out to dinner,” Diane told her, her voice low. “Last week. Last Friday.”
“Diane. You did? And you didn’t even tell me? Did you have a good time?’
“I had a great time. He’s smart and interesting to talk to. He had me laughing all night. And he’s a terrific kisser. I swear, my knees buckled.”
“Holy shit. I knew something was going on. This is so cool.”