Page 28 of Sexual Healing
“Lily, I discovered, doesn’t share my values. It is pretty much over.”
“Wait, you have values?” Sandra asked with Pam sputtering.
“Real funny,” he answered. “I’m loyal, and that’s where the rub comes in.”
“Okay, so she was bad-mouthing your friends?”
“My family. Not nice.”
“Wow, Dan, that’s amazing that you ended a relationship because someone bad-mouthed one of us.”
“She ended it with me,” he admitted. “Because I wouldn’t agree that a certain situation was wrong. She’s dead set in her beliefs, and there was no way I could deal with that. I certainly wasn’t going to change the way I felt.”
“Well, we’re both alone again,” Sandra said, exaggerating a wink, making Pam bark out a laugh.
“You’re not alone,” he said, grimacing. “You’ve got that old man over there every time I look. Anyway, even if he wasn’t, we’ll never be more than friends. You got bored with me, if I remember correctly.”
“Dan, why didn’t you ever take Sandra dancing? Being swept around a dance floor with you was pretty enticing, if I remember correctly.”
“You must have me mixed up with Jake. The management was getting ready to call the vice squad when you two were dancing the last time I saw.”
“Ha! We aren’t that bad.”
“Bad is not the word to use. Hot, now that’s the word.”
“Is that right?” Sandra asked. “Jake and Pam on the dance floor? Maybe when the band starts tonight, you’ll give us a preview.”
“No, I don’t think Jake is up to it. I’m not going to mention it, and you’d better not, either.”
“I won’t say a word,” she replied. “Okay, well, a new group of guests just arrived. Pam, introductions?”
“Follow me,” she said, dismissing Dan.
In the group of people were Will Peterson and Laura. Dan saw immediately that there was something different about Laura. She looked softer, content. Happy. Then he saw someone who shocked him, the Manhattan DA, Andrew Roman. He’d walked into the yard with Laura and Will. Jake joined them, and the conversation appeared friendly, like they were friends.
Confused, Dan had thought Pam was mightily ticked off at Andrew Roman, and she was talking to him like the millions she’d paid out for Ginger Harrow’s wrongful death was a drop in the bucket. Something must have transpired between the settlement and now.
Rather than interrupt the group, Dan went to the bartender and got a drink, then joined Nelda and Bernice.
“I wondered if you were going to bother,” Nelda said, kissing his cheek.
“Who are these farmers you women brought to Babylon?” he asked, sneering, but they both laughed out loud.
“We needed companionship, and they were available,” Bernice said. “We lock up our jewelry when there’s a sleepover.”
“I don’t have any jewelry,” Nelda said. “He’s good in bed, too, gentle and giving.”
“Too much information,” Dan said, flaring his nostrils. “You two are like my grandmothers. I don’t want that picture in my head.”
“Ha! I could tell you a few stories…”
“No, please,” he cried. “I’d like to sleep tonight. What happen to Oscar? I really liked him.”
“I’m giving Oscar a break,” Bernice said. “He went to Florida to deal with some unsettled business I had down there and asked if he could stay for a while. A former girlfriend/bada bing had gotten in touch. I’ll let the man have a final fling. He said he’ll be back when he gets loose ends tied up, whatever that means.”
“Ugh, summer in Miami doesn’t sound like much fun.”
“Well, you’re looking good,” Nelda said, changing the subject. “I told Pam when she had just had Marcus that you gave me the chills.”