Page 90 of Sexual Healing

“Who in heaven’s name could that be?”

She got up to answer, and Dan and Blake continued the conversation without her. In the sidelights, she saw Rene, who smiled at her and waved.

Pam opened the door.

“Hi! Is Dan here? I got home late, and he’s not home. Lisa said he might be here.”

“Yes, come in, Rene. He’s on the veranda with a friend, chatting. Can I get you a glass of wine? I can make you a sandwich, too.”

“I’m starving, Aunt Pam,” she said, smiling.

So great. Now I’m Aunt Pam,she thought, seething. “Go through those doors, and the men are in there, schmoozing.”

She did like anauntwould and prepared a sandwich with chips and fruit and even a brownie, and a big wineglass.

“Here you go, dear,” Pam said, handing her the plate, glowering at Dan. “Is anyone else hungry?”

“I’d kill for a sandwich,” Dan said, grinning.

“Okay, how about you, Blake?”

“I’m good.”

“I’ll help you,” Dan said, following her out to the kitchen. When they got in there and she had her back to the veranda, she let him have it.

“Are you nuts?”

“Yes. I’m nuts. I can’t be alone. I want to live with you. I think that’s the answer. We didn’t work out before because I wasn’t here. Please let me live with you.”

He’d derailed her again, and trying to pull herself out of despair would take a huge effort.

“Dan, you can’t do this. You’ll end up hurting Rene, and then by Christmas you’ll be sick of me. No. What do you want on your sandwich?”

“Same as usual. Please think about it. I beg of you.”

“Shut up.” She made his sandwich and gave the plate to him.

“Don’t I get chips and a brownie?”

“I wish I had a gun right now,” she hissed, grabbing a brownie from the bakery box and throwing it on his plate.

Out on the veranda, it was old home week. Dr. Gage and Nurse Rene had worked with each other for years. They were laughing, enjoying talking about memorable cases, while Dan and Pam stared at each other.

“I guess it’s getting kind of late,” Blake said after an hour, standing up. “Thank you so much. I enjoyed this.”

The exodus began, Dan leaving with Rene through the front door this time.

“We’ll do it again soon at our place. You too, Dr. Gage,” Rene said, hugging Pam. “Thank you for dinner, too.”

When they were gone, Pam locked the door, leaning against it, while Dan and Rene walked to his house across the street.

“That was nice,” Rene said. “I guess you got tired of waiting for me.”

“I’m sorry,” he said, taking her hand. “I sort of had a meltdown tonight.”

“Aw, well, you were looking forward to me getting home, but sometimes I get stuck. Wait till this winter when there’s snow on the road.”

“Yeah, well, forget it. You won’t go in if there’s snow in the forecast.”