a small town, we were in a rut and taking each other for granted. We’d drifted apart and I suspect we would have continued to drift further and further apart if we’d stayed married. Oh, I still hated Jennifer for coming between us, but I also have to admit that I’m happier on my own than I was with Harold.”
“Interesting,” Lucas said. “And how are Harold and Jennifer doing?”
“Oh, she dumped him about a year ago,” Terri said with a wicked giggle. “He was heartbroken. I actually felt quite sorry for him.”
“But he’s still in Ramsey?”
“He still lives and works here, although he’s on vacation in Florida at the moment.”
“And where is Jennifer?”
“I’ve no idea. She left Harold for another man and they left Ramsey together, but I’ve no idea where they went.”
“And are there a lot of single men in Ramsey?”
Terri laughed. “Not many, at least not many my age. Camille and I were just talking about that, actually. She challenged me to join an online dating site and go out with three different men who lived within an hour or so of Ramsey. It didn’t go well.”
“Oh?”
“I’m pretty sure the first man was married and just looking to have an affair. The second man lied about his age and what he was looking for, and the third man simply lied about everything.”
“Back to square one, then?”
“Actually, I’m taking myself out of the game for a while,” Terri told him. “I’m very happy on my own and I only have a few more years with Thomas before he’ll be away at college and then on his own. I’m going to focus on him for a while.”
Lucas nodded. “Dating is exhausting.”
Terri stared at him for a moment. “You’ve no idea,” she said eventually. “You must have women throwing themselves at your feet all day long and that will probably continue until the day you die. Middle-aged men are considered distinguished-looking, no matter how much they let themselves go, and no one bats an eyelash when they date women twenty years younger than they are. Middle-aged women are invisible, and are expected to be grateful to any man who pays them even the slightest bit of attention.”
“I feel as if I should apologize for my entire sex.”
“We’re expected to spend a fortune on our hair, makeup, and even cosmetic surgery these days so that we can look a few years younger and maybe, just maybe, attract a man who’s only ten years older and who hasn’t given a single thought to his appearance since the nineties,” Terri continued.
“Surely it isn’t that bad.”
“You date supermodels and discard them when they hit thirty. I’m sure you know nothing about middle-aged women.”
Lucas winced. “I don’t discard my girlfriends when they hit thirty,” he protested.
“Really? How old is your current girlfriend?”
“Twenty-six, but she’s very mature for her age.”
“I’ll bet she is,” Terri replied.
“She is, actually, but that hasn’t always been the case for the women I’ve dated. I’m in the public eye. That attracts a certain type of woman.”
“Young and stunningly beautiful ones. And you’re happy to go along, even though you’d really much rather date older and more mature women,” Terri said mockingly.
He shrugged. “I’m not going to apologize for loving beautiful women.”
“Of course you aren’t,” Terri muttered. She looked around for the waiter. “I don’t want to get our waiter into trouble, but I’m still waiting for my bill.”
Lucas waved a hand. “I’ll take care of it. It’s the least I can do, really.”
“That isn’t necessary.”
“I know it isn’t necessary, but I’m happy to do it. I’m grateful for the insights into what makes Ramsey so special.”
Terri wanted to argue further, but she knew Lucas could afford to be generous. “Well, thank you, then,” she said, reaching under the table for her handbag.
“I’ll walk you to your car,” he said, getting to his feet as she stood up.
“That’s really not necessary. Ramsey is incredibly safe.”
“So let me do it as a favor to me,” he told her in a low voice. “Everyone in the room has recognized me now. I really want to get out of here and walking you out is the perfect excuse.”
Terri glanced around the room. Every single person in it was staring back at her. She looked at Lucas and laughed. “I can’t imagine living like you do,” she told him.
“Shall we?” he asked, offering his arm.
After a moment’s hesitation, she took the arm and let him lead her out of the room. It was a crisp autumn night