eight
hours a night, plan sex . . . It’s just not working.”
The doctor shook her head and smiled. “I
mean other things.”
Colleen sniffed. “Like what?”
Her fingers pressed into the leather
armrest, but she turned to the doctor to listen.
Relief washed over him. Maybe this was a
good idea after all.
“ Like variety. How long have you been
married?”
“ Seven years,” he answered with pride,
hoping Colleen would be impressed he knew.
“ Okay, so you’re not newlyweds anymore
and most likely you’ve fallen into a pattern. Today’s couple is
overworked, tired, stressed out and always on the run. They drive
home, grab supper on the way, and eat in front of some reality
show. If they even have the energy for sex, God bless them for it.
But most likely, they set the alarm before they do the deed in case
they fall asleep during the act.”
He watched a smile form on Colleen’s
beautiful face. Something he hadn’t seen enough of lately. It
reminded him of happier times when they’d call in sick just to stay
in bed all day. Even though they’d been married for years, he still
saw her as if they’d just said their vows, making the rift between
them that much harder to bear.
“ So, what kind of variety do you
mean?” Colleen leaned in, hanging on the doctor’s words.
“ I want the two of you to have an
affair. Have an affair with each other. Bring back the magic you
experienced in the beginning.”
An Affair! With each
other? “How do you do that?” He leaned in closer to
the doctor as well, his interest piqued.
Dr. Downing smiled. “Sneak around, leave
each other notes. Send her flowers. Live out your fantasies. Be a
different person, any name, age or even from any era you want to
be. Have sex outside of your home. I bet your bedroom is full of
books on how to have sex the right way to get pregnant and every
time the two of you have sex, it’s all about making a baby. You
need to change that, make it about the love you share, enjoy each
other, have fun. I bet once you start having fun again, you’ll
conceive in no time.”
“ Well, I do have one fantasy.” Colleen
giggled.
His ears perked up. What? She’d never told
him about her fantasies, but he couldn’t wait to discover them.
* * *
The smell of fresh roasted coffee awoke
Lucas from his slumber. He stumbled into the kitchen, with only his
boxer shorts on, to find Colleen dressed and ready to do whatever
it was she did all day long. It’d been a few weeks since they’d
talked to Dr. Downing and she’d been sneaking around behind his
back ever since. Maybe she was having an affair. With someone
else.
"Morning." She gave him the habitual morning
peck on his cheek. "I'm off to run some errands. I won't be back
until later this evening. Please try to have some clothes on when I
get back."
He grunted and rubbed his eyes.
With that, she grabbed her purse and rushed
out the door, leaving him to his Saturday alone. Their problems
hadn’t gotten any better. They still couldn't have a single
conversation without her busting out in tears, except in passing or
about mundane issues. Although, she had confessed her fantasy.
He drank his coffee and headed off to
shower; knowing Colleen’s actions had been part of the game. She
wasn’t having an affair with anyone else and he knew it. But in a
few hours, they’d both be having one. With each other.
Chapter 2
He watched her from afar, perched on a
sloping limb of an oak tree. Today, he was Sir Dagan, giver of
grain and she was his fair maiden, Dileah, lover of the meadow.
Crouching behind the reddish-orange leaves
hanging from the multitude of branches, he couldn't take his eyes
off her. The sun beat down and gleamed off her darkened skin.
Flaxen hair rustled in the cool breeze, mimicking the sway of the
wheat stalks growing in the field.
She gathered her skirts and knelt down,
picking white daisies that were wildly sprinkled over the earth.
Bunnies dashed out from the wheat field and