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A blonde Men were so predictable

Jacqueline had turned her head the other way and pretended all was right in her e and her life That didn’t mean this blonde-on-the-side didn’t hurt The pain of Reese’s betrayal cut deep, but Jacqueline was h not to dwell on such unpleasantness Lord knew her husband hadn’t come to her bed in years As far as she was concerned, his mistress elcome to hireee she’d produced the requisite offspring and following a respectable two-year span they’d tried for another child But after two late iven up hope

All too soon Paul was no longer a boy Ale When their son ested Reese take advantage of the extra bedroos into the other roorined at the promptness of his action, but relieved, too

Frankly she’d co and heaving and grinding while she did her best to pretend she was interested--it was just plain silly Oh, the love had been pleasant and even enjoyable, especially in the beginning and then for a while after Paul She was sure it would’ve been different if she’d been able to carry a second pregnancy to terhter, but that was never to be With the perspective of the last twenty years, she understood that her lack of interest in sex was due to anxiety or perhaps guilt Still, it didn’tthe doctors with couches in their offices to find out

Not having a daughter was one of Jacqueline’s lifelong regrets Reese had told her years ago, when she was feeling particularly depressed, that she’d have her daughter when Paul got married And that was supposed to be a coed Tahter of hers would be that it wasn’t worth conte

"Jacquie, are you ho to their respective bedroo the book aside It was barely after seven; perhaps his interest in the other woman had waned The scented water and bubbles sloshed as she stood up On second thought, ine what She reached for a thick oversized towel froht?"

Reese knocked briefly on the bathroo for her to respond, walked inside His eyes widened as he took in the sight of her, breathless and rosy from the hot water, with a torapped around her

"What are you doing here?" she demanded, flustered that he’d walked in on her practically nude At one time, her body had been sleek and lovely, but the years had taken their toll Her stoed and her breasts were those of a woman in her fifties She pulled the towelme out of the bathrooo cold for a moment before a blank look slid into place "I’d like to talk to you for a few minutes when you’re available"

"Of course," she murmured

Reese backed out of the room and closed the door

As Jacqueline stepped out of the tub, she realized she was tre She rested one hand on the counter to steady herself, and drew in a deep, calathered her wits She dried off, then slipped into her satin nightgown and htly about her waist and paused in an effort to still her pounding heart before seeking out her husband

Jacqueline found Reese in the kitchen, standing in front of the open refrigerator He reht home from lunch two days earlier She rarely cooked anymore, especially since Martha, their housekeeper, wasto assuer bothered with meal preparation Reese usually ate alone because he tended to stay late at the office Or so he said

"What’s wrong?"

He didn’t answer Instead he lifted the lid and examined what remained of her Caesar salad with shriain and stuck the container back in the refrigerator "Do we have any eggs?"

"I think so," she said, stepping between hierator door "Would you like me to make you an omelet?"

"Would you?" He acted surprised that she’d offered

Irritated, Jacqueline took the egg carton frorabbed a cube of Monterey Jack cheese

"What are you doing ho to cook for him, the least Reese could do was answer her questions

He perched on the bar stool and watched as she chose a s pan and set it on the burner "Do we have any hed laboriously

"Fine Don’t tell etable bin, she located a useable green pepper, half an onion and a questionable-looking zucchini, which she deftly tossed in the garbage

"You sent Paul and Tammie Lee a floral bouquet, didn’t you?"

"I told you I would," she said irritably She wasn’t accusto her actions to her husband Since as she accountable to Reese? And she hated the way he’d been nagging her about their daughter-in-law

"Did you hear from Paul?"

Jacqueline pinched her lips to hide her displeasure "No, but Tammie Lee phoned to thank us for the roses," she answered with bad grace Actually Taushed with appreciation and chattered on as if she’d never seen a dozen roses before

"Is that all she said?"

"Should she have said more?" she snapped Jacqueline resented this inquisition, and she wanted hilanced away "I have no idea You were the one who spoke to her"