We’ll Meet Again Someday

The summer progressed pleasantly. Riana and Audra got together two or three times a week. Sometimes they watched a movie in the house, sometimes they went out, but whatever it was they did, it almost always ended in sex. Their sexual liaisons were getting longer and more involved. Riana liked that she never knew what to expect from one encounter to the next. She was also surprised by how well they got along. She hadn’t expected it, not just because of their past problems, but because they didn’t seem to share many common interests. They didn’t speak much of personal issues, past or present. Riana sometimes contemplated telling Audra about her online journal, but never did. Even though she hadn’t used last names or addresses, she knew some people might be uncomfortable being discussed online. She still entered sweeps but wasn’t winning anything big. By the time August rolled around, bringing in the monsoon season, things were heating up with Audra in a way that made Riana uneasy at times. If Audra had been single, younger, and new to dating, she might have seen things differently. Yet the more attention Audra paid her, the more worried and annoyed Riana became, rather than flattered. She still worried that James might not know the extent of their relationship, much less approve, and she was annoyed because Audra often barged in unannounced when she was busy or simply not in the mood for company. “Come on, Audra,” she complained one hot, humid afternoon. “I’ve got work to do.” “You can do it later, can’t you? What happened to the lady who once seemed so fond of my attention?” “What happened to the lady who once seemed so determined to keep me as far away as possible?” Audra’s eyebrows rose a notch, and she crossed her arms defiantly. “Seems that now you’re getting pretty unappreciative and ungrateful, huh?” “No, Audra, I’m not. I just want to ease up a bit, that’s all. And I’d like you to call before you come over. This is what you asked me to do with you. It’s only fair, isn’t it?” Audra relented, dropping her arms and sitting on the edge of the bed. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. I don’t know what’s gotten into me. I’ve never been the clingy type. It’s just that you’ve opened me up to so many new things I never knew existed. Things I never felt before, not even with James.” “I’m glad, Stace,” Riana said, softening a bit. “I hope things stay as great as they have been. It’s just that I’ve got a life and so do you.” Although Audra nodded and smiled, there was a glint in her eyes that quickened Riana’s pulse. Her smile wasn’t sincere. Audra didn’t agree with her; she was only going along with her for now. “Riana, I didn’t come here to ask you to come to the house with me or to take you anywhere. I came to tell you that James has to go out of town again on business tomorrow night. I only wanted to invite you to spend the night with me, that's all.” Riana remembered Yolanda’s warning about keeping the activity out of the house. Audra sensed her hesitation and asked, “Is something wrong?” “Well, no, I don’t think so.” “But…?” “But what about James? Does he really know what’s going on, and is he really okay with it?” A flash of anger appeared in Audra’s eyes, gone almost as fast as it appeared. She rose from the bed and placed her hands on Riana’s shoulders. “I told you I’d take care of James, Riana.” “Yes, I know you did. But I’m not sure what ‘taking care of him’ means.” The anger returned, this time unhidden. “So, what do you want to do? Go up to James and ask him if he knows you’re giving yourself to me? Do you want to ask him how he feels about it?” Riana took a step back. “Okay, okay! Calm down. If you say he knows and he’s cool with it, then fine. But I’m not ‘giving myself’ to you, and I resent you saying so. We’re both mutually fucking around until we one day get sick of it, or I move on, or whatever the case may be.” Audra’s sarcastic smile returned, tinged with something sinister. “Well, if you’re not sick of me by tomorrow night, and if you haven’t decided to move on, then you’re welcome to come over at six. I’ll have Chinese take-out ready for us. If you choose not to join me, that’s fine. Nothing will go to waste. What doesn’t get eaten will keep just fine in the refrigerator. But if you are interested, the door will be open.” Audra left, leaving Riana in deafening silence. She sat on the bed and placed her head in her hands. Was she in too deep? She wasn’t sure what to do. She didn’t want to seem rude or ungrateful, but she also wanted Audra to know she couldn’t just snap her fingers and have her come running. Deciding she should turn down some future “dates,” she logged onto her journal site to vent. She received the usual feedback, including SoIn2U, who had become a faithful follower and frequent commenter. She made an entry about what had transpired with Audra. Not even ten minutes later, SoIn2U replied: What, are you sitting at your computer waiting for me to post an entry? Riana scrolled down to the comment and added: Guess that’s a matter of opinion,then moved on to other things. Riana tried to keep busy to distract herself, but it wasn’t working. Audra kept intruding on her thoughts. She knew she should face the issue and make some major decisions. By nightfall, she wasn’t feeling better. She found herself missing Amberlyn, longing to be back in their home, in their arms. Oh, how she desperately missed her and little Nick! As her eyelids grew heavy that night, she vowed not to show up for the Chinese dinner date, as much as she loved the food. Audra tossed and turned that night, unable to sleep. She looked through the darkness at her husband. She could barely make him out in the gloom. She still loved him, but he had become so predictably boring over the years that it sometimes made her want to scream. No one had ever turned her on the way Riana did—not even James when they first met. But she was worried about Riana. Riana seemed to be losing interest, and she obviously didn’t believe Audra when she said James was aware and okay with everything. In truth, he had no idea. He simply thought they’d warmed up to each other and become friends. James wouldn’t run out on her if he knew, but he probably wouldn’t be okay with it now that they were involved. He might try to stop them from seeing each other and, if he suspected it was serious, he might even ask Riana to leave. With them on different shifts, keeping Riana from James wasn’t the problem—the problem was Riana herself. Then again, maybe she wouldn’t be a problem. Maybe they’d be okay, and she could stop worrying about what James might not know. Other problems persisted as well. She found herself wanting more and more of Riana. Being content with a few hours a few times a week was no longer enough. She wanted more. She needed more. This wasn’t something she could control. She wished she could flick a switch to turn off—or at least decrease—her feelings for Riana, but there was no switch, no dial to make things easier. She almost regretted letting Riana stay in the first place. The only certainty was that James wouldn’t be on a different shift forever. She couldn’t hide Riana from him indefinitely, and she knew it. She also couldn’t count on Riana feeling the same. Maybe she would never be as into her as she was—or maybe she’d want to leave someday. Audra felt frustration growing. She wished she could have the best of both worlds but knew she couldn’t. So which did she want more? Her boring yet dependable husband, or the exciting Riana, full of surprises and willing to try something new at least once? She finally drifted off to sleep, wishing Riana had never come back into her life, yet mightily glad she had.