Is This What I Want? by Patricia Mann Read Free Book Online Page A

from our lemon tree.
    “Oh yeah, I like ‘em strong, should have warned you,” she said, without a hint of apology. “Want me to put more of the mix in yours?”
    I looked into her kind catlike eyes and was reminded that I actually liked her. There was more to her than being an accomplice to my crimes. She was easy to talk to and non-judgmental. Even in her perfectly neat house I could be myself.
    She was holding the bottle of liquid margarita mix over my glass, waiting with patience for my response.
    “Nah, I like ‘em strong too.”
    Her face lit up.
    An hour later, we were all out in the backyard. The pool area was just as spectacular as Sam had described, with cascading waterfalls, a Koi pond and a state of the art barbecue. I felt as if I was at a fancy resort rather than in a neighbor’s yard.
    The kids took turns flying down the slide as they screamed and shouted with joy. I kept a close eye on Jack since he couldn’t swim yet, but with his arm floaties and a flotation vest on, I felt pretty secure. Jill and I were stretched out on teak lounge chairs with soft, light brown cushions under a large umbrella that provided just the right amount of shade. With a nice warm buzz flowing through and between us, I got the sense that we were both about ready to move on from small talk. She started.
    “So how are things with Rick?”
    I told the truth. There was no reason to hold back. I shared the ups and downs of the last few months. I even felt bold enough to tell her about Rick’s recent request for a little education. She listened with interest. I knew I was going on for longer than I normally would, but the tequila prevented me from caring.
    Finally, I got bored with my own story and gave up the floor I had been greedily hogging for so long.
    “Okay, your turn.”
    She took a long slow sip of her margarita and leaned back, stretching out her flat stomach, which seemed so disproportionate to the extra-large breasts filling her white string bikini top. I looked more like one of the boys in my one-piece blue Speedo suit and board shorts.
    “Where do I start?” she asked as she watched the kids spraying each other with large super soakers. Though I knew she was thinking out loud, I had an answer.
    “How about with Kent?”
    She turned to face me. I kept my eyes on the kids, hoping the battle brewing between Sam and Jack would resolve itself.
    “Mom, tell Jack this one’s mine,” Sam demanded.
    “Jack, there’s a huge bin of water guns, pick another one or you’ll have a time out.” Thankfully, he complied.
    I turned back to Jill, not wanting to wait another second for her answer.
    I saw some pain in her face when I looked at her. There was sadness in her eyes.
    “I don’t see Kent anymore.”
    I tilted my head to the side, questioning.
    “His wife, Marlene, caught us. She came home from work early. We, we weren’t expecting her.”
    My mouth fell open for several seconds. I forced myself to shut it and rested my fist on my chin to keep it closed for what was to come.
    I couldn’t believe it. They were literally caught in the act. The image of a woman coming home to find her husband having sex with another woman was almost too much for me. My head swirled with alcohol and horrified fascination. I missed bits and pieces of Jill’s story, but what chilled me to the core was the intensity of the reaction of Kent’s wife.
    Even in my fuzzy state, I felt a stabbing pain in my chest as Jill talked about how Marlene screamed and sobbed, looking from Jill to Kent, repeatedly asking, “How could you do this?” Jill was paralyzed in the bed next to Kent, desperate to get dressed and run out of the house, but Marlene held her captive.
    Tightly gripping the sheet held up over her chest, Jill was mute at first and couldn’t bring herself to answer any of the questions being hurled at her. Kent was no help at all. He sat there in stunned silence.
    Jill tried to get out of the bed but Marlene lunged toward her and