Chapter 12

Ray shut the bedroom light out and walked across the room slowly. He parted the blinds slightly and pushed the window open.

The fresh, cool evening air, stirred by a light breeze, felt good against his nude body, still tingling from the shower. He sucked in a deep breath and let his eyes move across the row of houses opposite his.

"The For Sale sign is still up at Marty's; he must be having trouble selling it."

Lola stirred slightly in the bed, propping up a pillow behind her.

"The price has to be agreeable to both Sheila and Marty; I think that's where the trouble lies."

Ray shook his head slowly and let the blind drop back into place. He moved across to the dresser and picked up the pack of cigarettes lying there, then turned and offered Lola one.

She nodded, and he moved over to the bed and sat on the edge as he lit two smokes up and handed her one.

"Then they're still serious about breaking up?" Lola accepted the cigarette from him and took a deep drag.

"Yes . . . well, Sheila is anyway. I think Leona's pill-taking episode hit her as hard as it did me. When we were down at the hospital that first night she said something to me about you having hit the nail right on the head, something about them not being married, just living together. She told Marty that night that she wanted a divorce, and it really shook him. I think he's really ready to make some changes to keep them together, but Sheila isn't having any part of it."

Ray nodded and shook his head slowly.

"Funny, isn't it? It takes something that far-out to really make you sit up and take notice. I had decided earlier that day to make a clean break from the swapping; yet it wasn't until Leona took the pills that it really struck home."

Lola smiled and leaned back against the pillow behind her.

"It's rotten to say this, but I'm glad it happened. I was really mixed up inside, and that brought me right out of it. This last week has been heaven-lots of fun, and no conscience to fight."

Ray swung his legs up onto the bed and stretched out beside her.

"Did you hear anything more about Leona?"

Lola shook her head.

"No. Apparently she's suffered a complete nervous breakdown. She'll have to spend at least six months in a rest home, and from what Vern says, that's just a minimum; it could be as long as two years."

Ray frowned and sucked in a deep drag off his cigarette. He exhaled slowly, watching the smoke waft upward in the moonlit room.

"It should be quite a test for Vern. I've never seen him so attentive to Leona; I wonder how long it will last with her not at home."

Lola shrugged as she leaned over to crush her cigarette out in the ashtray on the night table beside her bed.

"I don't know, but I'd like to think they're going to come out of this all right. Vern's whole attitude has changed; he's living for nothing but the chance to have Leona back with him. When I talked to the doctor Wednesday, he told me that Vern seemed sincere in his feelings; that's the only reason he offered the hope that she would be out in six months. Apparently if Vern keeps up the vigil the way he has been, Leona could get better a good deal faster."

Ray butted his cigarette and rolled over beside her.

"I hope they make it, too. Now, how about a little loving for your old man?"

Lola chuckled throatily as she reached down to encircle his thick, stiff cock.

"Who are you trying to kid? Name one night this week that you were willing to settle for just a little loving."