Jill frowned. "I cook dinner every night. Well, every night that someone's here to eat it."

She moved away. "Which is not often," she added.

"Yes, well, I'm wondering if you have a minute to visit," Arlene said.

'Visit?"

"Yes. I'm worried about you. About you and Craig."

"What in the world for?"

Arlene clasped her hands together then released them. She shook her head slowly before

answering.

"He tells me something's wrong. He says it's been... well, it's been awhile since you've . . .

well, since you've been intimate. I know that part of your marriage is none of my business

but—"

"You're right. It's none of your business," Jill said as she walked to the door. She held it

open. "It's absolutely none of your business."

"My son is my business."

"Well my sex life is not."

"Jill, you're like a daughter to me, you know that, right?"

Jill barely resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She could not, however, resist a sarcastic

laugh. "Sure, Arlene."

"Of course you are. And if you're having some issues now, some problems, I'm here for

you."

"Issues?"

Arlene took a step closer, her voice low. "If you're seeing another man, it's only fair that

you let Craig know."

Jill took a deep breath, hating the fact that her heart was pounding nervously. "Arlene, as

you said, this is none of your business. But rest assured, there's not another man involved."

"Then what is it?"

Jill glanced to the ceiling then closed her eyes. "I'm not having this discussion with you. If

Craig has questions, he can ask me. But I refuse to go through you." She opened the door

wider. "Now, if there's nothing else."

Arlene walked past her to leave but paused at the door. "You best be careful," she said

quietly. "A man like Craig may find he's wanted elsewhere. What you won't give him,

someone else will."

She turned and walked away before Jill could reply. She stood there, watching her motherin-

law as she moved down the driveway. She finally went back into the kitchen, lifting the

lid and stirring the soup without thought, wondering what in the world she was going to do.

She couldn't go on like this for long. Craig would demand answers. Answers she wasn't

prepared to give.

In fact, she and Carrie hadn't spoken at all about their lives, their husbands, their

families. What in the world were they going to do?

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Jill lay still, lazily watching Carrie's hand as it moved across her skin, inching closer and

closer to her breast. Her eyes slid closed when it reached its destination, a smile forming

as she felt Carrie's thumb lightly rub across her nipple.

"Your skin is so soft," Carrie whispered, her mouth replacing her fingers upon her breast.

"God, I love when you do that," Jill breathed, her chest arching against Carrie's mouth.

Such an intimate, gentle gesture, something she was not used to in her marriage.

"I love the way you taste," Carrie said as her lips moved across her skin.

Jill spread her thighs, her hands at Carrie's hips gathering her close again. They didn't

have time, yet Jill couldn't deny her body, couldn't forsake her desire just because the

clock ticked closer and closer to two.

But Carrie's hands stilled, her mouth left Jill's breast, returning once to place the

briefest of kisses there.

"It's time," she whispered.

Jill groaned, searching for Carrie's hand, pulling it quickly between her legs, holding it

there. She arched against it, loving the feeling of Carrie's fingers as they entered her.

"We've got to have a Saturday," Carrie said against her lips. "I could spend hours loving

you."

Jill lay still, letting Carrie's fingers slip from her, knowing they didn't have time. She

rolled to her side, resting her head on her hand, watching Carrie, waiting for the pale blue

eyes to travel over her body, pausing at her breasts before meeting her own.

"You're so incredibly beautiful," Carrie whispered.

"You make me feel beautiful."

As if she couldn't stop it, Carrie's hand moved, softly touching Jill's breast, watching as

her nipples hardened from her touch.

"Isn't it amazing how much life we can cram into an hour every day? Then the weekend

comes and I die a little each day I don't see you."

"I know. What about Saturday after next?"

"Can you get away?"

"There's a baseball tournament. Angie is going too. Apparently some boy on the team is

really hot," she said with a laugh.

"So we could spend the day together?"

"Yes, the whole day."

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Jill noticed the nights were getting warmer as she walked silently across the deck and

slipped onto the swing. Most of the trees had already budded out, obscuring the night sky.

She smiled, remembering Carrie's excitement at lunch as they sat at the pier, the sunshine

warm upon them. The green was returning and Carrie talked animatedly about all the

different things she wanted to paint.

"I want to do you in the flower garden and right here on the pier."

Jill had laughed. "Do me, huh?"

Carrie smiled wickedly. "Yes, do you in watercolors."

Jill put the swing in motion and her thoughts, as always, lingered on the other woman. It

scared her to admit it but she knew she was falling in love with her. And she didn't have a

clue as to what she was going to do about it. They were just so connected on every level, it

was as if their souls had called out to each other, not resting until they were joined.

But they were both married, both with children. What were they going to do? How long

could they continue this affair?

How long could she go before Craig demanded answers, demanded she be a wife to him in all

ways? How long could she avoid him?

Because that was one thing she was sure of. She could endure sharing his bed, she could

even endure the chaste good night kiss on the few occasions they actually went to bed at

the same time, but she could not—would not—endure his touch.

And eventually he would demand it. Oh, she could put him off for awhile. It was baseball

season. He had an activity to keep him occupied. But in little more than a month, school

would be over with and summer would be upon them. And he would be home more unless she

convinced him to join a fourth Softball team.

She sighed and sipped from her glass of wine. It was becoming too much to think about. So

she pushed all of it aside and closed her eyes, remembering Carrie's touch upon her skin

instead, her lips upon her breasts, her hands as they parted her thighs.

Oh my.

She took a deep breath, still amazed that the touch of another woman could bring her to

such heights, could bring her such complete satisfaction. And amazed that her own touch

had the power to make Carrie tremble in her arms, make Carrie beg for release, make

Carrie scream her name.

"Babe?"

Jill jumped, nearly dropping her wineglass. She was so lost in her thoughts, she never heard

Craig come home.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," he said. "Thought you heard me."

"No. I was... I was far away, I guess. What are you doing home already?"

"It's nine thirty."

Her eyes widened. "I had no idea it was that late. Did Angie ride with you?"

"Yeah. She's upstairs already." He walked closer, finally sitting down on the swing beside

her. "Do you feel like talking?"

She wondered if she said no, would he leave it at that. But she nodded. "Sure."

"I know my mother came over the other week. I just want you to know I didn't ask her to

do that."

"It's none of her business."

"I know. But I've always been able to talk to her about stuff, this was no different." He

shrugged. "You say it's not another man, and I want to believe you, but it's the only

explanation we can come up with."

"We? You and your mother?"

"Yes." He stood up and walked to the edge of the deck. "Please, Jill, just tell me. This

speculating about who he is just makes me crazy."

"I'm not seeing another man, Craig. I don't know what's going on with me, I really don't. I

only know I don't have the... the desire to sleep with you, to be intimate with you. I'm

sorry. I don't know what else you want me to say."

He nodded. "Then maybe we need to see someone."

"See someone?"

"A marriage counselor."

"Arlene wants us to see a marriage counselor?"

"It couldn't hurt."

"It couldn't help."

"Why not? Why won't you even try?"

Jill stared at him. "What makes you think I've not been trying? All these years, what

makes you think I've not tried?"

"So now what? We go on like this until you say you want a divorce?"

"What do you want, Craig?"

"I want our life back," he said loudly.

"What life is that? Where you're gone four or five nights a week and I'm here, tending to

the house and laundry, doing your shopping and cleaning. And on the few occasions where

we're actually home and awake at the same time, I'm in your bed so you can have sex. Is

that the life you're talking about?"

"Is that... is that your version of our life?" he asked quietly.

"Yes. Do you see it differently?"

"I'm a coach. I have obligations. You know that. Other wives understand."

"Name one other coach at Kline who is as involved in three sports as you are. And then find

one who is on three softball teams during the summer."

"Oh, now you're bringing up my one leisure activity? Softball is the only time I get to relax.

You think coaching is a piece of cake?"

"No, I know it's not. Obviously it takes up most of your time."

"What do you want me to do? You want me to quit coaching?"

"Craig, you love coaching more than anything in this world. More than me, more than Angie,

more than our marriage. How can I possibly ask you to give it up? It's what makes you who

you are."

He shook his head but didn't attempt to deny it. "So what do you want me to do?"

"I have no idea, Craig. You can be patient with me and see what happens, you can say the

hell with it and file for divorce, I don't know."

"I don't want a divorce, Jill."

She shrugged. "Then I guess we'll go on and see what happens."

"Do you want me to move into the spare room?"

"Is that what you want to do?"

He shook his head. "Not really, no."

"Then don't."

She let out a heavy breath as he walked back into the house, feeling somewhat relieved

that they'd talked but still wondering what she was going to do about her life. It wasn't

fair to Craig to go on like they were if she had no intention of being his wife again.

And as the weeks went by, she realized how likely that was. The more time she spent with

Carrie, the more time she wanted. Yet she didn't dare to dream they might have a life

together. Carrie had her own family, her own husband.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

"Hey, Mom."

Jill glanced up from the paper then looked at the clock with a frown. "What in the world

are you doing up already?"

"I'm going to the baseball tournament," Angie said.

"I thought you weren't leaving until nine."

"Shelly's dad is taking us instead. He wants to leave by eight."

"You need me to run you over there?"

"No, they're coming by."

"Okay." She pointed to the counter where the toaster sat. "You want some toast?"

Angie reached for a banana instead as she pulled out a chair. Jill watched her, wondering

what was going on. Angie never sat down at the breakfast table with her.

"Mom, can I ask you something?"

Jill folded the paper and nodded. "Of course."

Angie tossed the banana nervously between her hands for a second, then took a quick