Sex Happens

by Carol Soloway

  After the dinner plates were cleared, the band played the Hora, the traditional Jewish folk dance. Judi signaled everyone to gather around, clasp hands, and form a circle.

  “Let’s dance.” Luke reached for Alex’s hand.

  “You don’t know how to do the Hora, do you?” she asked.

  “I can learn any dance by following. Come on. It looks like line dancing.” Luke took her hand, and they walked to the dance floor and entered the circle. Right foot crossed over the left, then a half turn, and the circle moved on. Luke followed, not missing a step.

  Four men left the circle and grabbed a chair. Positioning the bride on it, they broke through and proceeded to the center of the circle. Then four other men grabbed another chair, placed the groom on it, and they, too, went to the center of the circle. Hoisting both chairs in unison, the men bounced the chairs up and down to the music. The guests all danced in the circle surrounding the bride and groom until the band finally stopped playing.

  The emcee announced, “With the exception of the single women, everyone is invited to return to their tables.”

  As the bride prepared to toss her bouquet, Gary, her father, took the microphone and called to Gabe’s fiancée, “Linda, come on out here, and no sneaking away.”

  Then Stan, Liz’s husband, joined in: “Go on, Alex.”

  “Meredith, come with me,” Alex said and returned to the dance floor.

  Linda was standing to Alex’s left with her arms up, ready for the bouquet to land in her outstretched hands. After the toss, Alex leaped up like a phoenix.

  Meredith caught the bouquet.

  Alex crashed into Linda on the way down.

  Linda hit the floor. Sprawled on her back, she didn’t appear able to move.

  Alex offered to help her up, but Linda pushed her hand away.

  The crowd gathered. Gabe and Luke rushed to the dance floor.

  “Sorry,” Alex said to Linda, who lay on the dance floor, belly up.

  Gabe tried to lift Linda but failed. “I can’t lift her,” he barked and then demanded, “Someone help me get her up.”

  Effortlessly, Luke leaned down, swooped Linda up, and carried her to a chair as Gabe watched, shaking his head in obvious disgust.

  Alex and Luke returned to their table and received conspiratorial nods from her friends.

  Victorious, Meredith placed her bouquet on the table. “Guess Warren’s going to have to make good on this one.”

  “We’re all coming to the wedding,” Liz said.

  Warren winked at Meredith.

  “Oh, I love weddings,” Terrie cooed. “They are so delicious.”

  The band played the first few bars of “That’s What Friends Are For,” and Judi signaled to Terrie, Meredith, Liz, and Alex. They put their arms around one another. Alex was between Terrie and Liz and across from Judi and Meredith. Alex looked across and saw Judi smile and wink at her. Although she’d always been sure of where she stood with Liz, Terrie, and Meredith; Judi was an enigma. Now, for the first time since she’d joined the First Friday Book Club, Alex felt Judi genuinely accepted her.

  ◆◆◆

  Later, in the privacy of her car, Alex asked, “Do you think Linda got hurt when she fell?”

  “Why would you care?” Luke asked. “You gotta level your enemy in order to win.”

  “Why are you calling Linda my enemy?”

  “Don’t you want what she has?” Luke asked.

  “Not anymore,” she said, surprised by Luke’s insight. She had to admit she had enjoyed seeing Linda on the floor, flailing around with her feet up. And she had to admit seeing Gabe struggle to lift Linda had also pleased her.

  “Alex, I see everyone who prevents me from winning as an adversary.”

  She looked at him quizzically. “But you always seem so jovial and friendly on the court.”

  “You know what we say in the Marines?”

  “No.”

  “Hold your friends close and your enemies closer.” He stroked his chin as one does when imparting indisputable wisdom.

  “No one’s your enemy at the club,” she insisted.

  “That’s what you think. Those people only play with me because I’m better than they are. I know that. And they feel all macho if they beat me.”

  Luke had an expression she’d seen many times before, usually in a competitive tennis match. Upon decisively smashing the ball into the opponents’ court to win the point, his eyes would widen and his face would exude satisfaction and power. After their tennis matches, he’d dissect each point. He’d tell her how they could’ve done better if only she were more aggressive. He’d explain how important it was to take control, show strength.

  Luke pulled her car into the garage. “Alex, go on in. I need something from my truck.”

  She walked into the house and waited by the door.

  He returned with a plastic grocery bag.

  “What’s in the bag?” she asked.

  “Toiletries and clothes for fishing.” He winked. “I’m staying the night.”

  “What about your daughter?” she asked, surprised he intended to stay.

  “I told them all that I had a bachelor party for one of the men in my company, and we’d be going out on my boat in the morning.”

  “Them all?” She looked at him quizzically.

  “The kids and …”

  “And?” she pressed.

  “My two daughters who are living at the house and my grandson.” He kissed her, short-circuiting her brain as only he could. Scooping her up in his arms, he mimicked the way he’d lifted Linda at the reception.

  She surrendered to his power and snuggled against him as he carried her upstairs, willing herself to feel instead of think. For now, she promised herself. Just for now.

  He carried her to the bed and placed her atop the blue-and-white comforter. He gently kissed her forehead, then her eyelids.

  She reached for him.

  Standing at the side of the bed, he took off his slacks. He unbuttoned his shirt, tossed it aside, and then removed his boxer shorts. Naked, he reached for her.

  He took her hand and helped her up from the bed. Twirling her around, he smiled approvingly and kissed her neck. As he unzipped the back of her dress, her legs trembled. She stepped out of the dress and bent forward to drape it over the lounge chair. He moved behind her and leaned close, his breath on her spine. Delighting in the touch of his curly chest hairs, his taut stomach, and already-erect penis, she ached to have him inside her.

  They moved to the bed and took each other.

  Afterward, she rested her head on his shoulder and listened to him breathe. Enjoying the feel of his body, she started to fall asleep. Suddenly, her mind was filled with thoughts of the wedding, the synagogue, and the ornate entryway with the unsmiling guests glaring at her under the huge chandelier.

  Then she wondered what had happened to the twinkly crystal chandelier that had hung in the dining room of her childhood home. She recalled how the light from the chandelier’s glistening glass rectangles, ovals, and teardrops would reflect a rainbow of colors onto the mahogany dining room table. The shades of reds and browns within the mahogany seemed to pirouette beneath the light.

  Alex would often turn on the chandelier just to watch the glistening glass reflect on the silky table. She could almost smell the ammonia her dad had used whenever he took the chandelier apart to clean each crystal.

  As a little girl, there were many nights when she’d been awakened by the clinking of the chandelier in the dining room. She’d hear the groan of the floor straining to support her mother’s weight as she sneaked from her bedroom, through the dining room, to the kitchen. There’d be a rattle of plastic and, finally, the crunch of cookies being devoured.

  Alone in her bed, little Alexandra would wonder how many more cookies it would take an
d how many more pounds her mother could add before her dad would be so repulsed that he’d leave. But he never did. Instead, he stayed with his wife and daughters, living a lie. And now, because of Gabe’s lies, she was living without her boys.

  CHAPTER 31

  Toward the end of October, the First Friday Book Club women gathered for a “nonintellectual, non-monthly” lunch. At the wedding, they’d had so much fun they decided they had to meet more than just once a month.

  By the time Alex arrived at Waters Restaurant, everyone had already complimented Judi on the lovely ceremony, fabulous food, perfect venue, and, of course, her beautiful daughter.

  “And when did Gary learn to dance like that?” Meredith asked Judi.

  “You know what dancing is,” Terrie said and smiled. “Vertical—”

  “I know,” Judi said. “Gary and I took lessons from an incredible instructor, Eric, at the Starlight Ballroom Studio.”

  “If this Eric person got Gary to look that good, I’m sending Warren to him, and speaking of dancing, Luke’s definitely a sexy specimen,” Meredith said.

  “And wasn’t it amazing how he embarrassed Gabe by helping Linda get up after she fell?” Liz laughed.

  “I couldn’t believe how all the doctors and their wives were watching Luke dance,” Judi said. “Alex, could you imagine if anyone in your havurah was at the wedding and saw you with him?”

  Alex’s face reddened, recalling the weekend after the wedding when her havurah had met Luke.

  “I never did understand who decided on that havurah thing at your synagogue.” Meredith flipped back her mane of long black hair.

  “Tell us why Gabe didn’t choose to stay in your havurah,” Terrie said.

  “Gabe told me he didn’t need them as much as I did,” Alex said.

  Liz gave a throaty laugh. “What a martyr.”

  “I had the havurah at my house last Saturday night,” Alex said. She decided she might as well tell them before they’d hear it from some of the other women that they know who were there.

  “Your havurah is all couples.” Judi looked surprised. “I know a few of the couples in your havurah from the synagogue, although I’m not friendly with them. They are … um … quite nice, and I think it’s wonderful that you have continued to be affiliated with them. I mean now that you’re … um … single.”

  Obviously trying to deflect the conversation, always watching Alex’s back, Liz said, “I’ve met some of the members of her havurah, and . . . ”

  “Georgina and I are in another book club, and she’s really bright,” Terrie said.

  “I bet that book club doesn’t discuss books as critically as we do,” Liz teased.

  Meredith nodded. “I’m sure no other group is as committed to literature as we are.”

  “Of course not,” Terrie said. “But Georgina makes the yummiest desserts. Did she bring her Death by Chocolate?”

  Taking a bite of her salad, Alex explained that she and Georgina had coordinated the event and had decided the group could use a surprise, some excitement. They hadn’t told anyone about the dancing until after dinner.

  “Dancing?” Terrie lathered ketchup on her hamburger. “I know Georgina, and dancing would not be something she’d suggest.”

  Meredith pursed her lips. “A group of old married people dancing isn’t my idea of a lively evening.”

  “Luke and I aren’t married,” Alex reminded her.

  “He was there?” Meredith barked. “Why did you invite him with them?”

  “I told her she was taking a chance,” Liz said.

  “They aren’t the easiest group for an outsider,” Terrie said.

  Judi raised her eyebrows. “And Luke is quite the outsider.”

  “Why did you invite him?” Meredith repeated.

  “I was tired of being a fifth wheel and always going to couple things alone. So, since the dinner part was at my house, I invited Luke. I wanted him to be comfortable with the group, and I knew he’d be the most at ease if it was at my house.” Part of that was true. After the wedding, Alex felt better about Luke and wanted to have him join her more often. She decided he fit in so well with the First Friday women at the wedding; therefore, she wanted to see whether he’d be just as at ease with her havurah.

  “How’d they respond to Luke?” Terrie asked, eyes wide.

  “Well,” Alex said, stifling a laugh. “He refused to join us for dinner. He said he wasn’t much for small talk. So, since I didn’t know if he’d even show up, I didn’t tell the havurah he might be coming later.”

  “Isn’t he inappropriate for your group?” Judi asked.

  “Interracial dating is quite acceptable,” Terrie said. “It’s actually in vogue. Who’s that model who married Seal?”

  “Alex is not a model.” Meredith stabbed at her salad.

  Liz winked at Alex. “She looked like one at the wedding.”

  “Get on with the story,” Meredith said, dismissing Liz’s compliment.

  “At nine o’clock, Luke showed up, gorgeous in his tan suit and black shirt. I was excited … and nervous.”

  “I’d be excited by Luke too.” Meredith pushed aside her plate. “The plumber would be my Death by Chocolate.”

  Ignoring Meredith’s reference to Luke as “the plumber,” Alex continued. “At first, no one said a word. There was absolute silence, which is unusual with that group. Then Bradley, one of the guys, said, ‘Oh, I get the surprise: Alex hired a stripper.’”

  They all burst out laughing.

  “It gets worse,” Alex said. “Georgina held up a five-dollar bill.”

  The women couldn’t stop laughing.

  “Tell them what Luke said,” Liz prompted with a knowing grin, since Alex had called her the morning after and recounted the entire evening.

  “Luke said, ‘I don’t strip for that,’ and everyone laughed. He broke the ice, sort of. Then we went to the tennis club, because they had a DJ.”

  Terrie wiped away tears of laughter. “Did your yummy guy do his vertical sex?”

  The waitress put the leatherette folder on the table.

  The women started to take out their wallets.

  “Wait, I have an important question,” Meredith said. “I need to know if anyone has a good cleaning lady for me. Mine is moving back to Mexico. I never thought they ever actually went back.”

  “Do you remember when we read The Tortilla Curtain, the way those rich people treated the poor darling Mexican couple?” Terrie dipped a French fry into the glob of ketchup. “I was quite ill over that.”

  “It’s real life,” Meredith said. “How else could we get our houses cleaned?”

  “That’s a terrible thing to say,” Terrie said.

  Alex agreed. She knew Meredith didn’t understand why she wasted her time doing volunteer work with the Flying Samaritans when she could be earning money for things like designer purses and shoes, neither of which Alex had any interest.

  “There was nothing new in The Tortilla Curtain. I mean, slavery, castes, hired help, and abuse of the underprivileged have been around forever.” Meredith took out her Brighton lipstick holder and opened it. Then she waved her Chanel lipstick and applied it, studying the tiny mirror in the lipstick case.

  “I thought this was going to be a ‘nonintellectual’ lunch. I guess we’re so devoted to literature that we just can’t help referencing literary works.” Liz laughed.

  “You try keeping up with your house, working, traveling, and men … actually, now it’s Warren exclusively.” Meredith smiled coyly.

  “I gotta run,” Judi said.

  Alex looked at her watch. “Oh, God, the forensic psychiatrist is at three today. I’ve got to get back to the office for at least an hour before closing up early to get to the first appointment with the court-appointed psychiatrist—handpicked by Gabe, I might add. A
nd Seth has been so generous with his time. This monitoring thing has to be such an inconvenience for him, but he’s been great.”

  Liz folded her arms across her chest. “Alex, tell us why you’re not dating Seth?”

  “He’s my business partner,” Alex said dismissively.

  “Right, dating your business partner isn’t appropriate.” Meredith laughed. “And we all know how appropriate the plumber is.”

  “It works for now.” Alex grabbed her purse and left.

  CHAPTER 32

  In preparation for the meeting with the forensic psychiatrist, Alex and Seth closed the office two hours earlier than usual.

  “Seth, I really appreciate what you’re doing more than you can imagine,” Alex said.

  “You know I think the requirement of a monitor is ridiculous.” Seth stroked his trim beard and then took a small notepad from his pocket. “I’ll continue to document your interactions. When I testify as to your competent mothering skills, I’ll deluge them with details.”

  “You’re the best,” she said and smiled at him. He was so conscientious about writing everything down when she had the children. The first time he’d let her read his notes, she’d cried. Her love for the boys was captured on every page. She was sure when he testified, the judge would be convinced she was a loving mother.

  “Don’t worry, Alex.” He put his arm around her. “I know it’ll all be worth it.”

  They walked downstairs to their cars.

  In an effort to prove that her work schedule was flexible, she was able to care for the children, and, above all, she was an attentive mother, Alex had called Gabe and offered to pick the boys up at school for their first family session with the forensic psychiatrist.

  Although her visitation schedule was limited to Wednesday nights and Saturday afternoons, Gabe had agreed to allow her to pick the boys up for their appointment, cautioning her this was not going to be a routine. It was just for the first session. Then Gabe called to tell her he’d forgotten about the monitor rule and reminded her that Seth had to accompany her. She knew Gabe was probably testing her. He must have assumed she and Seth would never leave the office unattended during working hours. Gabe probably planned to use her initial offer to pick the boys up and then her inability to follow through as evidence that she put the practice before the children. But Seth insisted her children were reason enough to close the practice earlier than usual.