5/10/13

The Right Decision
By John Laneri


Friday afternoons at the office are occasionally slow, so I often slip away and disappear early.

“What's the big hurry?” Maxine asked, when she spotted me making my usual exit.

“It's almost five o'clock, time for a couple of martinis.”

She smiled pleasantly. “Why does happy hour seem to be your most productive time of the week?”

Laughing, I replied, “It just is ... care to join me?”

She placed a stack of papers aside saying, “Give me five minutes.”

Maxine was an attractive woman in her early thirties. She was smart, capable and the most stylish woman I had ever known. She was also a great travel agent, as well as my ex-wife.

In truth, we were good at being friends, but terrible at being married. Actually we'd tried living together a couple of times before giving up and going in separate directions.

The first time around, her attorney dropped the ball, a move that forced her to look for a higher paying job. In an effort to help her pay the bills, I suggested a three month trial as an office assistant. If things worked out, I agreed to let her stay on as a full time travel consultant. After all, she was my ex-wife.

Eventually, she settled in and began making money. A short time later, we became friends again, and after a few months, we were married for the second time.

During our last divorce however, her attorney became more demanding, forcing me to designate her as my office manager as well as hand over twenty-five percent of the business. Despite the setback, I have to say, she knew how to attract clients and manage an office.

“Are you ready?” she asked, as she offered me a beguiling smile.

“Why so smiley? Are you expecting me to pay for your drinks?”

“You always do,” she replied, as she took my arm. “Wait a minute. I almost forgot.”

She grabbed a memo off her desk then turned to me.

“What's that in your hand?”

“Another offer from a cruise line inviting you and a friend to enjoy a fun-filled, Caribbean adventure.” She handed me the note. “If you take me as your friend, I promise to make it worth your while.”

“Have you considered the fact that I might have someone else in mind? After all, I am a free man.”

“Who do you know that can hustle business like I do?”

“I know lots of people eager to learn the trade.”

She frowned and started for the door. “Keep me in mind. I'm a good travel companion, my manners are impeccable, and I would appreciate a few more benefits to justify my twenty-five percent.”

We started out at the Top Score, a sports bar near the office. It's a place that's famous for good appetizers and great steaks. I ordered a martini on the rocks. Maxine settled for her usual white wine.

While I was watching the golf channel, she said, “I've been thinking about that cruise offer. We should go together.”

“I can't... too many pressing matters.”

She touched my hand. “I can think of two reasons why we need to go. One, it's been a slow year due to the unemployment situation. We need to attract more business. And two, I'd like to work on my suntan. At one time, you thought my body was wonderful, especially when it carried a healthy glow.”

“Maybe, I liked your body for other reasons.”

She blushed faintly and pointed toward the television. “Who's winning?”

“I don't have a clue. You keep distracting me.”

She remained quiet for several minutes then looked around. “Care for an appetizer plate?”

“Sounds good,” I replied, as I reached for my drink.

Sometime later while I was working an olive, I suddenly realized that she had slipped off a shoe and was in the process of easing her foot up my pants leg.

“Stop that... I told you, we're not taking a cruise together!”

“You need to open up and have more fun,” she replied, as she took a deep breath then whimsically looked off into the distance. “Maybe, I still love you. I feel so alive when we're together. ”

“I remember your telling me that you felt dead when we're married.”

She quickly removed the foot. “I didn't say dead, as in doornail. It was more like, not as happy as usual.”

Later, after dinner and a bottle of wine, I followed her home. She invited me in for coffee. And before long, we were pulling off clothes eager to satisfy a sudden attraction to each other.

The following morning we awoke together.

She snuggled close whispering, “I don't remember your making love like that when we were married.”

“And, I don't remember you having that many orgasms. Now, if you'll move your leg, I'd like to take a shower while your afterglow mellows out.”

While I was relaxing under a stream of warm water, Maxine stepped into the bathroom and began brushing her hair. She soon asked, “Would you like me to scrub your back?”

Before I could say no, we were showering together and again exploiting those same passions that seemed to be the trademark of our relationship.

Afterward, I dressed and headed home, thankful that I had a whole weekend to rest.

A month later, we were cruising the Caribbean, enjoying our third honeymoon. On returning home, we ended the twenty-five percent arrangement and settled on a fifty-fifty relationship, a move that gave us a honest chance of living a normal life together.

So essentially, that's how we ended up in number three, the present marriage. It's the one that took us into a thriving business, a great relationship, and most of all – a mutual satisfaction in knowing that we had finally made the right decision.


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John is a native born Texan living near Houston. His writing focuses on short stories and flash. Publications to his credit have appeared in several scientific journals as well as a number of internet sites and short story periodicals.