It had been over two days since Jenny had left, and Ian was no longer kidding himself. He knew she was gone for keeps, and the realization was more than he could take. He stayed home from work and finished off a bottle of Scotch as it ate away at his mind; finally he knew there was no longer anything for him in life.
Jenny's leaving was only the last blow; he had begun to lose her a long time ago.
It seemed like the right thing to do, the only thing to do; and there was no fear or hesitancy in him as he lifted the forty-five to his head and pulled the trigger. There was only the comforting knowledge that now he wouldn't have to face the world without Jenny, without the only thing that had ever really given his life any meaning.
They didn't find him until a week had passed.
Don waited until Sue left the room; then he looked over at Janice.
"Are you going to tell her or am I?"
Janice frowned and sat back deeper into the couch.
"For heaven's sake, Don, she's damn near had a nervous breakdown over Ben throwing her out. We can't just push her out the door."
Don shook his head slowly.
"Look, I don't like it any better than you do, but the neighbors have got to be wondering already. You know damn well that I'm next in line for district manager, and this is all it would take to screw it. Hell, I'm all for her coming over once a week and balling it, but she just can't stay here."
Sue walked back into the room, and she was instantly aware of the uneasy silence that struck upon her entry. Don looked over at Janice, then turned to face Sue.
"Look, Sue, we know you've been through a pretty rough deal, but I'm afraid you're going to have to get a place of your own. It just doesn't look good for you to be living here with us. You're more than welcome to stay tonight, but you'll have to find a place of your own tomorrow. You can come back once a week or so…"
Sue cut him off. "Please don't make me leave yet; I just can't face things. Let me stay a few more days and get hold of myself."
Don shook his head slowly. "I'm sorry; it's got to be tomorrow."
Sue turned on him, anger and helplessness filling her face. "That's all I am to you, isn't it? A toy, something to use because you're both so sexually fucked up that you can't get your kicks together. Ben was right; he was right all the time."
She broke into tears and ran toward the door, pulling it open and running blindly into the night.
Janice vaulted up out of her chair and started after her, but Don caught her by the arm.
"Let her go; it's better this way. This thing with Ben has really shaken her up, and I'm afraid she might snap any time. It would be better if we don't see her again."
He let Janice's arm go and pushed the door shut; then he turned back to face her.
"You remember that whore we got last month, the one with the real big tits? See if you can arrange to have her come over this weekend."
Ben stayed under the shower for a long time. He was happy for the first time in months, really happy; yet he knew it wasn't as rosy as it looked. He had to make a decision now; he owed that to Jenny. She had said she was willing to let it ride for the time being, but she deserved better than that.
The ancient convertible slowed slightly, and the youthful driver nudged his passenger.
"Get a load of that."
The other youth turned his attention to the figure outlined by the headlights.
"Christ, she's really built! Feel like fucking some black meat?"
He got a husky laugh for an answer.
The car stopped beside Sue, and the passenger door opened.
"Hey, baby, want a ride?"
Sue raised her hand and wiped away her tears.
"Sure, why not? Do you think the two of you can give me enough to keep me happy?"
The passenger's smile faded, and he looked over at his friend in disbelief. The driver shrugged and looked across at Sue.
"Are you serious, baby?"
She forced her tears to stop.
"Why not? That's all I'm good for."
The door swung fully open.
"Okay, honey, hop in. If we can't give you enough, we can always dig up a few more guys interested in a good fuck."
Jenny stretched lazily in the bed as Ben walked into the room. She looked up at him and smiled.
"You know I could spend the rest of my life in bed with you?"
Ben grinned. "Would you consider taking a brief break? Long enough to get married, once our divorce come through?"
Happy tears formed in the comers of Jenny's eyes. She sat up in the bed and held her arms open to him.
"I'd love to… but let's not take too long getting back into bed afterwards."
Ben dropped down on top of her. His lips found the tears of happiness and kissed them away; then his mouth worked steadily down over her warm, golden body, tasting, teasing, thrilling to the blissful aura of pure woman that seemed to radiate from her.