quiet house,” David said, glancing over at her. “We’re off on our own adventure.”
“Yes. Staying in a fancy hotel, dining instead of just eating dinner, able to concentrate on each other with no interruptions.” Sandra sighed wistfully. “It will, indeed, be an adventure. A very romantic one, don’t you think?”
“Oh. Oh, sure thing. You bet.”
Sandra frowned. “But you were referring to the adventure of meeting with Professor Harrison. Right?”
“Well…”
“David?”
“Guilty as charged,” he said, grinning at her. “But only because the subject practically consumed the conversation at lunch.”
“Mmm,” Sandra said, rolling her eyes heavenward. She looked over at David again. “Did you call Professor Harrison and tell him we were coming?”
“No, I thought about doing that,” David said, his attention riveted on the heavy traffic, “but when I stopped and remembered all the times we had to cancel plans because of sick kids or an emergency at the store or car trouble, and on and on, I decided to not jinx this trip. We’ll just show up and surprise him.”
“In our Lexus,” Sandra said, poking her nose in the air. “Oh, la-di-da.”
“I’m going to make a sign to put in the back window of the Lexus,” David said, smiling, “that says, ‘This car is borrowed so don’t hit it.’” He glanced quickly at his watch. “You know, if we make decent time getting home it won’t be too late for a very enjoyable activity.”
Sandra’s heart did a little two-step.
Like making love? she thought. In the living room. The kitchen. Anywhere they wanted to because the house was all theirs. Or maybe in the shower. Oh, heavens, how many years had it been since they’d done that?
“Oh?” she said, attempting to produce a seductive little purr in her voice that actually sounded like she needed to clear her throat.
“Yeah. I might be able to catch the last of the baseball game on the tube. A bottle of beer, a hot batch of popcorn, put my feet up and enjoy.”
Sandra’s shoulders slumped. “Well, fine, David, but I want you to know that if you ever give me a Crock-Pot for Christmas I won’t forgive you like Cindy would.”
“Huh?”
“Never mind,” she said, looking out the side window. “Just drive the car and get us home. I’m going to take a long, leisurely bubble bath when we get there.”
“Good for you,” he said, pressing a little harder on the gas pedal. “We both have something to look forward to this evening.”
Separate somethings, Sandra thought miserably. Didn’t David realize that were growing further and further apart, traveling in the same direction but not intertwined? Maybe he did, but didn’t care. Why would it upset him if he didn’t love her anymore?
Oh, they got along fine, didn’t argue, laughed, talked, made love when they weren’t exhausted, moved from one day to the next with the major focus of their existence being on their children.
Sandra sighed.
But David no longer said that he loved her.
Chapter Three
D avid spent Monday morning at the store, then after lunch placed his and Sandra’s suitcases in the trunk of the Lexus. He opened the passenger-side door and, with a deep bow and a sweep of his arm invited Sandra to enter the lush automobile. She sank onto the leather seat and laughed in delight.
“Oh, my gosh, David,” she said, “this is incredible. It’s like sitting on a marshmallow.”
David chuckled. “Which, of course, you do all the time so you’re in a position to make that comparison.”
“Oh, hush. You know what I mean. I could get used to this. Forget that. I’d better not get used to this.”
David closed the door and came around to slide behind the wheel. He turned the key in the ignition and the engine purred to life.
“Oh, yeah,” he said. “That’s it. That’s all I have to say. Just…oh, yeah.”
“Well, here we go,” Sandra said, as David backed out of the driveway. “We’re off to Saunders University where we haven’t been in over ten years. I wonder if the campus has changed much?”
“I doubt it,” David said, turning on the radio. “It’s a landmark type place. People want it to stay the same. You know, something solid, old-fashioned looking, generation after generation with its rolling green lawns, tall shade trees, two-and three-story red brick buildings. It’s sort of a postcard-perfect example of an eastern college. I think the only addition in years has been the bike racks.”
“I suppose you’re right,” Sandra said. “They may have purchased more of the surrounding homes to convert into dorms for the students, though. There was an article in the paper last year about the student population of Saunders getting bigger every year.”
“Student population,” David said, smiling over at her. “Be prepared, my sweet, because I have a feeling that any of said students that we see who are attending the summer session are going to look very, very young to us. Ten years is a long time.”
“Being on that campus is going to bring back a great many memories, David,” Sandra said, looking at him intently. “I’m sure you’ll be remembering how close you came to achieving your dreams for your career as a professional baseball player.”
“I suppose,” he said, with a shrug. “But that’s old news. My father is the only one still pouting and brooding about it.”
“Don’t you think of what could have been when you watch a professional game like you did last night?”
“Only when the announcer mentions how much money those guys make and I’m worried about paying for the twins’ braces,” he said, laughing.
“I still think you’re going to have a rush of memories when you set foot on that campus.”
David frowned. “Am I missing a message here? Are you trying to make a point that is going right over the top of my head?”
“Well, I…” Sandra sighed. “Never mind. I’ll be quiet so you can concentrate on driving. The traffic is already bumper to bumper and we don’t want any of those bumpers hitting this car.”
“Right.”
David glanced quickly at Sandra again, then redirected his attention to the sea of vehicles surrounding him.
What was going on in Sandra’s pretty head? he thought. Why was she clutching her hands so tightly in her lap as though she was on the way to the dentist for a root canal? What was the big deal about old memories when returning to where a guy went to school? Everyone would have memories under the circumstances. It wasn’t something to get uptight about.
Well,
