"We set out to get us all a room in Terry's house and we'veachieved that, now we can enjoy ourselves, besides, the Queen's Head isthe pub that Debbie ...nd I have always gone to."It was lunch time and the pub was quite busy. They went up to the bar andthe barmaid said, "Oh hi Marilyn, how are you? You look different somehowtoday, what is it?"Marilyn replied "Hello Thilvia, I've had a few pierthings done, thathall." And she placed her long pink talons up over her ears and at thesame time showed. I smiled at myself: had I died and gone to Heaven or to the Elysian Fields? I was holding a wonderfully beautiful girl in my arms and another one, improbably even more beautiful, had already opened her heart to me. Julia had been planting small kisses on my neck as I was trying to make sense of it all. But suddenly I felt her mouth opening a little bit more and heat began spreading on my skin. ‘I really can’t think of anything else right now…’ Reluctantly I pushed her away, laughing. I frowned. Then college, dating, and partying, and moving in as roommates to an affordable apartment. Rita discussed her other grand k**s all grown up and securing their futures. Rita then told me about her marriage ending a long time ago and I gave her my sympathy."I'm sorry to hear that", I said."Don't be", she said. "He was a cheating bum who couldn't keep it in his pants." That's a shame. A guy like that doesn't deserve you."I meant what I said and she agreed with me. During our long conversation I. ”“Okay, love you, babe! Have fun!” I said so routinely.I stood at the railing of the deck as I watched Renee get into the car and drive away with Sally. I’d done this same thing from the driveway back home dozens of times when she’d go see chick flicks with her friends. It felt so similar and so benign and yet it was clear that this was distinctly different. I felt a rush as I lingered on the thought.In the old days, Renee would be resistant to even discuss sex, let alone trying anything out of.