Page 85 of Grown-Up Second Chance

Silence punctuated my statement. Then Kathleen said quietly, “That seems sad.”

“Mmm.”

“It’s like she gave up part of who she was for him.”

I nodded. Kathleen put into words the thought I’d had at the time. Although I didn’t understand the sexual gymnastics, and wasn’t entirely sure I approved, it was her life, and they’d been consenting adults.

“So you and Joe …” Kathleen began. “Doing the horizontal mambo yet?”

“Kathleen!” I smacked her with my newspaper.

The sliding door opened, and Liz stepped out. She looked at me, then at Kathleen.

“Did I miss something?”

Kathleen and I looked at each other.

“No,” my sister said. “I was trying to get Di to tell me just how far she’d gone with Joe.”

“Oooh,” Liz said, plopping down into an armchair.

“I’m still waiting,” Kathleen said.

“And you’re going to wait a long time. Nothing’s happening. We’re just friends. I’ve been telling you guys that forever.”

“You weren’t just friends on prom night,” Liz said. “I saw you. Kissing.”

“Were you watching?” Little ants crawled up my arms.

“Of course,” Liz said. “I watched both of you.”

“You did?”

“How else was I going to know what to do when I got a boy of my own?”

“I’m creeped out,” Kathleen said. “It was half a century ago, and I’m still creeped out.”

“Well, that was the only kiss,” I told Liz. “And it was a mistake.”

“Is that why you didn’t talk to him for the rest of the year?” Liz asked.

“You didn’t?” Kathleen asked.

I shook my head, then glared at Liz. “None of your business then, and none of it now.”

“No, but you were so moody back then. And now you are too. You need to admit you love him and make it happen.”

“And you need to mind your own business.” I could feel myself getting hot under the collar.

“Enough,” Kathleen said. “Di is right. It’s her business.”

“Just trying to be helpful,” Liz said.

“You’re not,” Kathleen and I said in chorus.

I got up and got more coffee. “Now, can I sit here and read in peace, maybe watch a news channel to see if we’re going to get blown up anytime soon?”

“Sure,” Kathleen said, settling back down with her book. “Sounds like a perfect plan for a Saturday morning.”

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