Dialogue-5

The morning after the storm Anita spent making calls. Telemarketing work from home could be a blessing but sometimes a depressing drag. Greg tooled around the yard and planted a couple of trees he got from some nursery. Anita never cared to learn about such stuff. The yard looked great all year round and she considered it Greg-domain. She had the kitchen and he had outdoors. Of course lately she had the Study-storage and Drell7. Drell, tonight would be the night. She made plans for ten, about an hour after Greg would leave for work. She promised to wear something sexy even though he could not see it. Tonight they would have sex, technically.

The back door opened signaling Greg would come in get something to eat, watch a little television or walk on his treadmill and then hit the bed. She willingly banished herself to the kitchen. This had become their life. Pretending to not ignore one another but doing so as much as possible. How did this ever happen? Anita pulled some carrots out of the pack and started snapping them apart. The snack was healthy for a change. What to wear tonight? The laced underwear, the stark white ones Greg got her about six years ago would fit the bill. They made her hips look slimmer. Yes. Anita snapped off more carrot and chewed it. Wow, she was actually excited.

Greg walked into the kitchen. This would be a momentary intrusion as was customary. "Hey, lets go out to eat at the steakhouse." She swallowed the carrot, "What?" and stood up. The island between them a symbol of emotional distance. Anita looked back at the double sink, no dishes to do. "Well, I guess." Greg looked at her strangely. "Do you want to go or not, cause I am really tired..." The rest of the sentence would never be spoken because it was made up like his invitation. It wasn't real. Perhaps a reflex from times when they were close? He hadn't really meant to invite her out to eat a romantic dinner. Romantic? Did he say romantic? Anita had reflexes too. Her husband walked into the mocha kitchen and gave her a kiss on the head then he turned away. With back to her he offered, "We'll go Sunday, I have the day off then, okay?" Anita shook her head and sat back down. "Sure, that sounds wonderful." She called after him. The bedroom door closed leaving Anita to her thoughts. Drell...

Greg took off all his clothes except the red boxers and from the nightstand got the clippers, cut his toe nails. Then he climbed into bed under the rich umber covers. The bedroom was cool just the way he liked it. Things were working out for them slowly. He was getting over how he felt, the resentment and feeling of abandonment. Not too much longer. The therapy was working. If Anita knew she would think their marriage was over. Best to handle this problem on his own. Sunday. Sunday was only four days away. But he would not be ready then, almost. Trying to drift to sleep with weighty thoughts got easier and easier. He had lots of heavy thoughts and one by one during his therapy he cast them off. It'd gone surprisingly well. Through the door he heard the phone ring. Anita answered. After a few moments he did not hear his name so Greg turned on his back and slowly drifted to sleep.

"I don't know if I can do movie night again so soon."

"I need a night out, Walter just ended it."

"What? Why, what happened? You guys have been going out for six months, right?"

"Yes, but he told me I was too inattentive to him. That I wasn't jealous enough. What the hell does that mean Anita?"

"I don't know. Okay, come over tonight about eleven."

"What, why so late?"

"Me and Greg are actually doing something, sorry."

"Oh, then I understand totally...I do. I'll see you at eleven. I'll walk over cause by then I don't trust myself to drive eight blocks."

"Don't drink too much because I'm too old to play that much catch-up."

Her friend laughed. The conversation ended with the normal good-bye's. Anita returned to her kitchen. Safety. Drell seemed so much more safe than a real relationship. Back to the carrots and the stool by the island. How was it that things kept intruding on her not real relationship time? Perhaps this was more like a real relationship than first deemed. How to fill the time between now and Drell?

To be continued...