Contents: British English spelling and grammar.
My first foray away from 'Loving Wives'. Might even have suited 'Romance'.
Usually, the 'Honey we have to talk' theme comes at the beginning of the story.
***
How's it going to end?
'You see it your way and I see it mine, but we both see it slippin' away.'
Glenn Frey, Don Henley, J D Souther.
***
Ron and Caroline had been married twentyone years; both were late forties and their children had long since flown the nest. With more free time, they thought it was a good idea to take up some hobbies. So, Thursday nights, they went out separately. Ron took up chess and joined a club. And Caroline joined a bridge club. The new interests rejuvenated them. But their sex life continued to deteriorate.
It bothered Ron and he said so. Caroline agreed but didn't think it was a problem. They were getting older and it was natural for lust to decline. He didn't pursue the matter but recalled that Charlie Chaplin had fathered a child in his seventies, so late forties seemed a bit early to be winding things down.
At the chess club, players tended to gravitate towards those of a similar level, and Ron frequently found himself playing against Patricia. They were equally matched and often argued, light-heartedly, about who had won the most.
"Tell you what." said Ron one evening. "I'll agree that you are one game ahead, if you'll come and have a drink with me before we go home. There's a pub just round the corner."
"I am married you know!" she replied, smiling.
"Good." he countered. "So am I. We have something in common then!"
It became a regular feature of their chess nights. Patricia stayed one game ahead, their chess improved, and their relationship blossomed. Meanwhile, he stopped pestering Caroline for sex, and settled for once or twice a month.
One night there was a power cut at the club and everybody was sent home with apologies. Ron and Patricia went straight to the pub. There was no post mortem on their moves as they hadn't played, so the pub visit turned into a thorough get-to-know-you session. They drank a bit more than usual, and both started to open up. The conversation started quite innocently.
"You're looking very glamorous tonight Patricia."
She blushed. She was feeling low and had put in a little more effort tonight. And was delighted it had been noticed.
"Well thank you kind sir!" she said.
"Why don't we splash out." Ron suggested. "We've got plenty of time; let's get a bottle of wine."
"Sure, why not?"
Neither of them was used to drinking so much, and soon they were tipsy.
"You didn't want to get home earlier to your wife?"
She was fishing, and they both knew it.
"Nothing very interesting for me at home. I shouldn't say this, but coming to chess once a week is about the most exciting thing in my life right now."
"Me too!" she said.
And the floodgates opened.
Suddenly Patricia found herself telling Ron about her home life. Her husband, Eric, as well as his own regular night out, also went away on business trips every month. He stayed in hotels overnight, and she was convinced he was having affairs. He seemed to have lost interest in her. She looked tearful and Ron put a hand over hers. Then told her he was in a similar situation. Not that Caroline went away, but she was losing interest in sex. When she spoke next, she left her hand in his, and turned it so they were holding each other.
"He says chess is for nerds, and I'm getting dowdy. Perhaps I should start going to a gym instead."
Fishing again.
"You are a very attractive woman, and not dowdy at all; especially tonight. Please don't give this up. I look forward to Thursdays so much."
This was quite a confession, and exactly what she wanted to hear. The line had not been crossed yet, but they were approaching it.
They continued their conversation in much the same mood. Expressions of disappointment with the present, and hopes for a better future. They finished the wine and stepped out into the night. Ron held her shoulders.
