The Bedtime Tales of Be287m

Friends and Benefits, Chapter Twenty-seven

I knew the next two weeks would be hard.� Almost as soon as the envelope left my fingers, sliding through the mailbox slot, I could feel the helplessness set in.� I�d taken my best shot with the letter to Tina, and now all I could do was wait.� What happened next was completely beyond my power.

With her letter mailed, I returned to my desk.� I pulled out a clean piece of paper and wrote �Dear Sharon� on the top line.� Then I stared at it.

And stared at it.

And wrote three words and then promptly crossed them out.

The problem was, I just didn�t feel that sorry.� Not in a deeply repentant way.

Yeah, I�d pushed when I shouldn�t�ve.� And when she�d blatantly told me not to.� I�d definitely fucked up.

But that didn�t change the fact that she was the one that had crossed the line.

What line there was.� We�d never done a good job of defining where the line between a pure friendship and a sexual friendship lay.� And that was as much my fault as hers.

Well, actually she�d defined the line�no touching.� I hadn�t liked it, but I hadn�t discussed it or argued.� And then she�d been the one to cross it.

I sighed and got up from my desk.� The whole thing was far too messy for me to reason my way through.� I needed to be Alexander the Great and just slice through this Gordian Knot.

I puttered around the house, doing a little cleaning and straightening.� My mind kept wanting to return to the letter to Sharon, but I consciously pushed those thoughts aside.� I needed to not overthink things.� I just needed to do.

I smiled at that thought.� I�d certainly done Sherri.� Without hesitating, in fact.

Those were memories worth reveling in.� I�d taken a page out of Allen�s book and had some of the best raw sex of my life.

That got me thinking about Allen.� We hadn�t really talked when I�d called him last, the week after that disastrous night.� Of course, I�d been rather whiny, then.� He�d tossed off his advice about getting laid and then gotten off the phone.

Well, I wasn�t whiny anymore.� It was time to call him again.

�Hey, Bud,� he said when he answered.� �You doing okay?�

�Better than the last time I called.�

�Good to hear.�

�Yeah, well, it would have been tough for things to get worse.�

Allen snorted but didn�t say anything.� I grimaced because I immediately knew it wasn�t true.� Things could have gotten worse, a lot worse.

�But I�m doing a lot better now,� I said.

�I hope my advice helped.�

Now it was my turn to snort.� Allen had listened for about twenty minutes while I�d poured out my guts, and then told me that I needed to get laid.� There had been no additional advice.

�I told you that there were always other fish in the sea,� he said.� �Getting laid is a good way to remember that.�

�Oh, I got laid.� It just didn�t go the way I think you intended.�

�Oh?� Did it turn into something?�

�In a way,� I said.� �But not romantic.�

�Yeah?�

�It�s a long story.� But that�s not why I�m calling.� I want to talk about Sharon.�

�Oh.�� His tone was cold.� �I thought she wouldn�t talk to you.�

�She won�t.�

�So what�s the problem?� You should consider it a blessing.�

�Hey, just because she�s your ex doesn�t make her a bad person.�

�Do you know how hard it was to make her my ex?�

�Not that hard. You sent her a letter.�

�That�s because every time I tried to do it in person, I got a lecture.� I�d start the conversation and she�d interrupt me and tell me what she thought.� Ya can�t solve problems if only one of you�s talking.�

I frowned, remembering my conversation with Sharon after she�d caught me masturbating.� I didn�t feel so bad about not standing up to her if Allen couldn�t either.

�She was so sure we were �destined to be together,�� he continued, �that she didn�t want to face the problems.� She started smothering me, so I got out.�

�Huh.�

�So consider yourself lucky.� You got out easy.�

�Well, maybe.�

�You did.�

�Not if it cost me Tina too.�

�Yeah, she was good for you.� But there are more women out there.� You did get laid, after all.�

�Yeah,� I said.

�So where�d you meet her?�

I laughed.� �That�s a long story.� Basically I got lucky and was in the right place and the right time.�� Which was true, even if the right place had been my living room.

�So date her.��

�Nah.�� Not since she preferred women.� �I think I�ll try to get back with Tina.�

Allen didn�t immediately respond.� Choosing his words, probably.

�Well,� he said, �good luck.�

�You never know.� You didn�t expect things to work out with Jenna when you first hooked up, and look what happened.�

�Yeah.� �The grin was obvious in his voice.

�So, how is married life?�

�Good.�

Allen proceeded to tell me stories about being married for a few months and how that was different from just living together.� I asked questions in appropriate places and fifteen minutes later we hung up.� He was happy, still truly happy.

And I still didn�t know what to say to Sharon.

I sat down at my desk again and fiddled with my pen.� No words came to me.� I reflected some more on Allen�s words�that Sharon thought they were �destined� to be together.� That certainly fit with her difficulties in getting over him.� She hadn�t �gone out and gotten laid,� though I suspected that was different for girls.� Instead, she�d clung to fantasies and hopes.� Like Allen seeing her pictures and wanting to get back together.

Oh.

Oh, I�d been such a fool.

The pictures had never been about me, or for me.� At least not in the beginning.� It was about Allen!� She�d suggested the first set when I�d said Allen would be envious, and the others after he accidentally saw the first ones.

My blood started to boil and I clenched my fists.� No wonder it was easy for her to not see our time together as sexual�she was never thinking about me as a sexual partner.� I could have been her girlfriend or her brother for all she cared!

I smashed my fist down on the desk.� Unfortunately, I hit the tip of my pen, sending it flying.� Still pissed, I went looking for it on the floor.

If I hadn�t been so stupid, I would have realized that it wasn�t about me before I shouted those things in the bedroom.� Maybe I�d still have Tina.

I found the pen and stood up.� Still disgusted with myself, I just threw it on the desk.� I needed to go for a walk and I needed to go for a walk now.

I pounded the pavement down to the 7-Eleven again.� About three quarters of the way there, my anger started to dissipate with the exercise.� I started to feel better, even though I was out of breath.� It sure beat trying to drink my anger away.

There was more than just me being a blind, stupid fool, I realized.� I�d also been afraid.� I�ve never forced the issue with Sharon and negotiated or discussed what I wanted.� I�d never come right out and said I wanted to date her, or questioned her when she said she didn�t want to date me.� I�d never stood up for myself.

No wonder I�d exploded in the end.

That�s what I needed to apologize for.� I slowed to a gentle walk as the revelation sunk in.� I continued to play with the words while I finished the round trip, having won nothing with my scratch-off ticket.

By the time I�d returned to my apartment, I thought I had enough of the words to write the letter.� I labored over it for a long time and then set it aside.� I needed a second set of eyes on it, and that meant waiting for Sherri.

I pondered that. �There really wasn�t any rush, was there?� Sherri�d said she�d call me in a couple of days, so I could let the letter sit for a while.� I could fill the time until then.

That night, I buried my nose in a novel, and the next day I threw myself into my work.� On the way home, I stopped at the bookstore and snagged another paperback, which I started after dinner.� I did a few chores when I got stiff from just sitting on the couch, but generally just let the time go by.� Tuesday, I did more of the same.� Wednesday night I started to get antsy, waiting for the phone to ring.� It wasn�t until I was doing dishes that I realized why.

Wednesdays was when I talked to Sharon.� And here I was, waiting for the phone to ring once again.

I consciously forced my gut to untighten and my muscles to relax.� Sherri would call.� I just had to be patient.

And of course as soon as I told myself that, the phone rang.� And, of course, it was Sherri.

�How are you doing?� she asked after we�d said hello.

�Pretty good.� I�ve got a draft of my letter to Sharon I�d like to run by you.�

�Okay.�

The pause lengthened.

�Uh, you mean now,� I said.� �on the phone.� I was thinking of showing it to you in person.�

�Hmm,� she said.� �That�s probably better.�

�Yeah,� I said, �that way you can see if the tone comes across right, instead of hearing it in my voice.�

�Okay.� How about Friday?�

�Don�t you work Fridays?� I asked.

�Not any more.� Or at least not right now.�

�What happened?�

�I quit the agency.�

�What?� Why?�

�They told me to make up with my client from last week.� He�s a pretty powerful guy in this town.� But I refused.�

�Oh.�

�So I�ve got Friday night free.�

�Well, do you want to come here?� Go out?� Meet somewhere else? Have me come there?�

She chuckled.� �So many choices.� How about just picking one and asking me if I�d like to do it?�

�Okay,� I said.� �Dinner out.� How about the Grill from Ipanema in Adams Morgan?�

�Sure.� What time?�

�7:30?�

Sherri asked a few more questions about how I was doing, and I sensed she was gently probing to make sure I hadn�t slipped into depression.� My answers seemed to satisfy her, though.� She in turn also sounded cheerful, and when we hung up, I remained in good spirits.

I was still in good spirits on Friday.� The week had gone quite well at work and I had a great meal with great company to look forward to.� The only curve ball was the flashing light on my answering machine when I got home.

�Joe, this is Sherri.� Would it be okay if my roommate joined us tonight?� Don�t worry, you�ll like her.� Give me a call.�� I replayed it twice to make sure I�d copied her phone number down correctly.� I took a deep breath and then dialed the number.

�Hello?�

�Hi, this is Joe.� Can I speak with Sherri?�

�Oh, hi Joe!� This is Lisa, Sherri�s roommate.�

�Hi.�

�I suppose you�re returning her call about me coming along.� I hope it�s okay.� I won�t get in the way and I really need to get out.�

�Well, okay�.�

�I�ll let you talk to Sherri.�

Before I could say anything else, a different voice came on the line.

�Hi,� Sherri said.

�Hi.� I�m returning your call.�

�I figured.� Listen, Lisa got fired today, and it�s my fault.� She would've been working tonight, but, well�.�

�Well, how do we go over my letter to Sharon?�

�Oh, she�s promised to go hang out at the bar for a while so we can talk privately.� And if we need more time, I�ll come back to your place.� Assuming you don�t mind me inviting myself to spend the night.�

I snorted.� �I�d have to be a fool to mind.�

�Good.� I owe her.� And you�ll like her.�

�Okay.�

�Besides,� she continued, �I told her that you wouldn�t object as long as she wore her garter belt.� I�ll wear mine too.�

I sputtered in surprise, my mouth moving, but words completely failing me.

�See you in a little bit,� Sherri said, and then hung up.

As I rolled through a quick shower, I had a hard time avoiding an erection.� I didn�t know anything about Lisa, but already I was excited at the possibility.� After all, Sherri had said they�d sometimes worked together.

Also, the irony was not lost on me�I�d schemed and planned for months to have dinner with two women while both were wearing garter belts.� Now it was happening a second time, without me lifting a finger.� Somewhere, the gods were laughing their fool heads off.

They continued to laugh while I looked for parking in Adams Morgan.� With no Metro stop, there was no good way to get there, and apparently everyone had decided that tonight was the night to go out.� The only pay lot in the area was jammed and I finally settled for a meter over eight blocks from the restaurant.� As a result, I was late, really late, when I finally arrived.

Despite the crowd, I quickly spotted Sherri at the bar.� She waved, and the blonde she was with turned around and smiled.� It was one of those million dollar smiles that shows up on the cover of magazines, and I immediately felt my blood begin to race in response.� I waved back and slowly pushed my way through the crowd.

Sherri greeted me with a hug and then introduced me to Lisa.� The blonde dimpled when she smiled and her feathered-back hair framed her face like a halo.� I found myself unconsciously standing a little straighter and smoothing my clothes.

�I put us on the list for a table,� Sherri said, leaning close so I could hear her over the din.� �But Lisa can wait for them to call us if you want to talk outside.�

I nodded and stepped back, letting her lead me to the door.� I waved at Lisa as we went, and she raised her glass at me in return.

I was glad that the night wasn�t as cold as it might have been for late January.� Nonetheless, we leaned against the building to avoid the breeze.� I reached into my pocket and took out my letter to Sharon.� I unfolded it and handed it to Sherri, who turned, allowing me to look over her shoulder.� Even though I almost knew the words by heard, I read along.

Dear Sharon,

����������������������������������������������������� Joe

�You seem to like the word �incredible,�� Sherri said.

�Huh?�

�You used it twice, even after me mentioning it with your last letter.�

I glanced back at the letter.� �Oh, I did.�

�You can change the second one to simply �very� and it�ll work.�

She looked up at me and frowned.

�My big problem,� she said, �is that this doesn�t feel like an apology.� It�s more like you�re justifying why you�re only a little bit sorry.�

�Well,� I said, �that�s the truth.� The more I�ve thought about it, the more I�m convinced that I shouldn�t apologize for the fact that she gave me a blowjob.� I may have manipulated Tina about the pictures, but I was up front with Sharon.� My sins with her were omission, not commission.�

�Do you really regret not standing up to her?�

I firmly nodded.

�Good.�

She turned back to the letter, and I waited shifting side by side to keep a little warmer.

�I still think you need to rework this some,� she said finally.� �At least the last paragraph.� Maybe take out the second sentence.�

I leaned in.� �The one that starts �It wasn�t all my fault�?��

�Yes.� That one.�

�Okay.� I can cut it.�

Sherri looked up at me, biting her lip as she searched my eyes.

�Do you think this letter will serve her?� she asked.

�What do you mean?�

�Do you think it will be good for her?� Not just good for you to write, but good for her to read?�

I paused and tilted my head.� Would it?

�You do want this letter to be from agape, right?�

I slowly nodded.� �I do.� But I want to stand up for myself too.�

�So what does the letter do?�

�Let me re-read it,� I said.

She handed it to me and I slowly reviewed it.� Then I handed it back.

�I think it does both,� I said.� �Or at least as best as I can.� The first paragraph is stuff she should definitely hear.� She really has been an incredible friend.�

Sherri grimaced when I said �incredible� and I couldn�t help but chuckle at myself.

�I�ll definitely fix the �incredibles,�� I said.� �But I also think the second paragraph has to be there.� It�s me standing up for myself as well as telling her what I think she needs to know.�

�Are you sure?�

I started to retort about being pushed, but then I stopped myself.� This was one case where I did need to be pushed.� Was this really what I wanted to send?

�I�m sure,� I said after a pause.

She didn�t look convinced, but after looking into my eyes a moment longer, she made a small nod.

�Okay,� she said.

I smiled.� �I�ll make the other changes.�

�Good.� Was there anything else you wanted to talk about?�

�Not really,� I said.� �It�s too early to have heard back from Tina yet, and life�s been pretty good otherwise.� I could tell you more about some of the things I�ve been thinking about, but, frankly, I�m getting cold.�

�Then let�s go back in.�

We re-entered the restaurant to see a guy in a sports coat chatting Lisa up.� She was smiling and laughing, but as soon as she saw us, she got a pleading look in her eyes.� The guy turned, but before he could say anything, Sherri threw her arms around Lisa in a hello embrace, replete with joyous cries and cheek kissing.� They guy looked at me warily.

�Is our table ready?� Sherri asked Lisa before any of the rest of us could speak.

�I�m sure it is.�

�Excuse us,� she said to the guy, and then hooked Lisa�s arm and pulled her toward the door.� The guy looked confused, and I gave him an apologetic look before following the ladies.

By amusing coincidence, the hostess was just about to call us when we walked up.� I glanced back at the bar and saw the guy still watching us.� The women just ignored him and we headed to our table, where they sat on either side of me.

�So what was that about?� I asked.� �At the bar?�

Lisa rolled her eyes.� �He was trying to impress me by talking about his job as a researcher for one of the House committees.�

�And I rescued her,� Sherri said.

Lisa nodded.� �Most guys in this town are such bores.�

�All the politics, eh?� I said.

�Even the sex,� she said.� �It�s like bad porn.� �Ooh, baby, I�m gonna be the best you�ve ever had.� Ooh, baby, just wait until you feel the lovemeister.�� She rolled her eyes and Sherri bit her lip, her eyes full of mirth.

�Is it really that bad?�

Lisa nodded.� �That�s why I quit doing calls, except with her.�� She gestured at Sherri, who nodded in confirmation.

�But you work the phones, right?�

�Well, I did,� she said with a grimace.� �Until I helped her out.�� Once again, she gestured across the table.

�After I�d quit, some of my regulars called,� Sherri explained.� �She passed their phone numbers on to me so I could call them back.�

�And they fired you for that?� I asked Lisa.

�It takes business away from them,� Sherri said before Lisa could answer.

�It�s not like they were going to see anyone else anyway,� Lisa said sourly.

Sherri shot her a look.� �You know Toni doesn�t see it that way.�� She turned to me.� �Toni�s the owner.�

�Toni�s a penny-pinching bitch,� Lisa said.

I raised my eyebrows in surprise.

�Sorry,� Lisa said, �but she is.�

�That�s okay,� I said.� �What are you going to do now?�

�Don�t know yet,� Lisa said.� I glanced at Sherri, who shook her head as well.

�If one of the other agencies needs a phone girl, I might go work for them,� Lisa said, �but I don�t want to escort again.�

�Why not?�

�Too many jerks,� she said.

�That�s why she went with me,� Sherri interjected with a catty grin, �I have more interesting clientele.�

�I�m also one of the few girls that�ll do doubles with you.�

Sherri frowned, but didn�t argue.

Lisa turned to me.� �She won�t let the other girls cut corners or fake it.�

�They shouldn�t,� Sherri said.� �This is a service.�

�It�s a job.�

Despite their words, neither of them seemed enthused about the discussion.� It sounded more like round thirty-two of an old argument.� They looked at each other, but neither mustered the energy to even glare.

�So, how does one cut corners?� I asked.

�Get the guy off really quick and then leave,� Lisa said.

�Before the hour�s up,� Sherri said.� �Which is what he paid for�time and companionship.�

Lisa frowned.� �Most guys don�t care.�

�That�s because they only think they know what they want.�

I decided to interrupt before we got to round thirty-three.� �So,� I said to Lisa, �why do you work with her, then?�

She grinned.� �It�s more fun.�

�And satisfying,� Sherri said, her own face starting to light up.� �You usually say satisfying.�

I glanced at Lisa, who nodded.

�She�s right,� she said.� �I don�t feel like a whore after calls with her.�

I chuckled.� Whore, courtesan, escort.� The words certainly mattered to them.

The conversation lulled, and then Sherri put her napkin on the table.

�If you�ll excuse me for a moment.�

Lisa and I nodded as Sherri stood.� She walked over to the waiter, who pointed her toward the back where the restrooms were.

I looked at Lisa, who smiled at me while toying with her menu.� There was a hint of coyness in her eyes.� Was she flirting with me?� After a little bit, I cleared my throat.

�So are you two� more than roommates?� I asked.

Lisa laughed.� �Oh, no. The only time we have sex is when we�re out on a call.�� She paused, biting her lip and looking far away.� �Although she is the best at licking pussy.� But I�m straight, so we don�t fool around on our own time.�

I raised an eyebrow.� Lisa grinned back.

�You�re straight?� I asked, voicing my implied question.

�Yes.� Oh, sex with Sherri is fun, but I prefer a real cock. From a guy who can fuck me hard.�

I shook my head.� The incongruity of the four letter words falling out of this nearly cherubic blonde�s mouth just rattled my brain.� She seemed to know that, from the way her eyes danced.� I didn�t know what to say and, while I was still thinking about it, Sherri returned.� She took one look at Lisa and her eyebrows went up.

�Have you been teasing my friend?� she asked the blonde.

�He asked questions.� I answered them.�

Sherri looked at me.� I shrugged and did my best not to feel guilty.� I hadn�t exactly been interrogating Lisa, after all.

The waiter came by and, not having even opened the menus, we decided it was a good idea to figure out what we wanted.� Lisa asked if I had any recommendations, and that turned into a general conversation on restaurants and then food.� Sherri raved about the breakfasts I�d cooked, and so I had to back up and fill Lisa in on how Tina had taught me to cook.� When our food arrived, I realized I was famished.� The conversation slowed to just short sentences as we all dove in.� Lisa kept peppering me with questions, though, mostly about Tina.� I decided to return the favor and asked about her own love life.� She rattled on about a couple of guys she�d been dating, none seriously, and none who knew about her part-time job.� Sherri�s eyes just danced as Lisa spoke.

I finished eating while Lisa was still talking and leaned back in my chair, satiated.� Sherri was already done and, when I glanced over, winked at me.� I dropped my hands to my lap and tried to give Lisa my full attention.

Sherri had other ideas.� She placed her hand on top of mine, under the table.� Then she gently lifted it and moved it to her own thigh.� My eyebrows shot up�she�d set my hand directly on top of a garter belt strap, unambiguous despite the intervening skirt.

�What?� Lisa asked, noticing our distraction.

�She�s, uh,� I began.� I looked at Sherri for help but she just smirked.� �She�s proving what she�s wearing.�

Lisa frowned for a moment and then looked around the edge of the table, trying to get a better view.� Her face lit up.� �Oh!� she said.

She grabbed my other hand and drew it to her own thigh.� Once again, the feel of the garter strap was unmistakable.� Both women burst into giggles at my expression, but I didn�t care.� I just left my hands on their thighs, enjoying the moment.

Unfortunately, the moment had to end.� The waiter approached and asked if we wanted dessert.� I�d never been less interested in chocolate in my life.� Unfortunately, Lisa didn�t share my disinterest, and released my hand to accept the dessert menu.� I let out a small sigh, and accepted the one he handed me.� With both hands firmly in view, I smiled ruefully at Sherri.� She just merrily rolled her eyes in return.� It looked like I�d just have to settle for chocolate and a good cup of coffee.� Lisa and Sherri ordered port and toasted me as �the luckiest guy in the restaurant.�� Given the limited criteria, I could hardly disagree.

Over an hour later, the ladies walked me to my car.� Lisa continued to joke and flirt with me a little, but most of the conversation was about their former employer and former coworkers.� Apparently the drinks had loosened Lisa�s tongue enough for her to start complaining.� She made it clear what she thought of Toni, and of some of Toni�s favorites, or �pets,� as Lisa called them.� I just strolled along in amused silence.� Sherri didn�t speak up either, other than to add one or two words of agreement here and there.

When we reached my car, we all paused.� I didn�t want the evening to end, but it didn�t seem right to ask Sherri to spend the night.� She�d helped with the letter, which is what I�d truly needed.� Everything else had been fun, and it just felt wrong to try to push it further.

I liked that thought�I could recognize when enough was enough.

The pause didn�t last long.� Lisa caught my eyes and opened her arms.

�Thanks for letting me come out with y�all tonight,� Lisa said, stepping into me for a hug.

�No problem.�

She slid into my arms and squeezed me tightly.� My nostrils flared at the scent of her perfume�vanilla mixed with musk.� Then she stepped back and Sherri moved forward.

�Good luck,� she said into my ear while she hugged me.

�Thanks for the help.�

Sherri pulled back and smiled.� �Anytime.� And feel free to call me�,�� she glanced at Lisa, �either of us.� At any time for any reason.�

�Will do.�

They waved one last time as I got in my car and pulled out into the street.� I watched in my mirror as they turned and started walking back the way we�d come.

I mused about Sherri�s final words on the drive.� Any reason?� I could think of a lot of reasons. �And Lisa was straight!

I briefly savored the thought of calling to ask Lisa on a date.� She was pretty and fun, after all.� But almost immediately, my gut rebelled, tightening as if it had been punched.

I wanted Tina, not Lisa.

Maybe if things didn�t work out with Tina, I could give Lisa a call.� I wasn�t sure how I felt about dating an escort, or former escort if she decided to not go to another agency.� I snorted.� At least I�d finally have my threesome, I realized.� Lisa probably wouldn�t have any qualms at all about me screwing my friend Sherri.

That gave me pause.� For tonight really had felt more like friends than therapist/client.� I liked that.� Maybe it had just been a fluke, resulting from Lisa being along and forcing it to be more casual.� But I still liked it.� I wondered if Sherri felt the same way?

I shook the thoughts off.� If Sherri did, she�d tell me.� Better to not analyze it to death before then.

Instead, I kept myself busy for the next several days.� I make the corrections to the letter to Sharon and mailed it.� Then I pushed myself at work, until I was far enough ahead that I couldn�t really justify overtime.� I finished my more recent novel and picked up a new one, as well as a new cookbook on desserts.� Some day I was going to have to cook more than breakfasts for women and I figured some practice making cakes wouldn�t hurt.� I also continued walking in the evenings, down to buy my lottery ticket and back.� It wasn�t much exercise, but it certainly improved my mood just before bed.

Keeping myself busy accomplished its goal.� Instead of stewing like before, the only tense times came when I checked the mail.� My pulse would race as I put my key into my box, and then I�d let out a whoosh of breath when I saw only bills and ads.

Until the day there was more.� Tucked between my bank statement and a come-on for a new credit card sat a hand-addressed envelope.� With Tucson as the return address.

Tina had replied.

My pulse still racing, I somehow stumbled into my apartment.� I dropped the other mail and sank onto the couch.� I looked at the front of the envelope one more time.

Was this �I forgive you?�� Or was this �goodbye forever?�

With a deep breath, I tore open the envelope, unfolded the paper, and began to read.

Dear Joe,

����������������������������������������������������������������� Tina

I set down the letter and took several deep breaths.� I wasn�t surprised to realize I was shaking even more.� There was a chance.� There was a real chance.� I took a few more deep breaths to steady myself.� Then I reached for the phone to call a travel agent.� I was headed to Arizona.

--Fin--

© 2006, all rights reserved.

Read the next chapter in this story: Chapter Twenty-eight

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