Carol sat there, staring at her husband across the coffee table. Expelling a thin stream of smoke in his direction, knowing that the cigarette smoke irritated the hell out of him. She desperately waited for the much needed rise out him she tried to draw out from him. As on cue, Frank began to cough.
"Carol if you must smoke, can you at least have the courtesy not to blow that infernal smoke in my eyes." he admonished, not even taking his eyes from the Sunday paper. The sound of his condescending voice irked her on levels beyond mere description. He was twenty-three years her senior, a fact that in the beginning excited Carol, now it only served to annoy her. Often she sat at the table watching him, wondering why she ever married him. The love was enough in the beginning, now she wanted more. The sex was passable, that is when she got it. Since his fiftieth birthday, she was getting it lesser and lesser. She never dreamed of cheating on him, since as a child infidelity ruined her family. But boy was she ever tempted sometimes.
"Carol are you listening to me? I do hate it when you tune me out." Frank said, looking over newspaper.
"What did you say?" she asked, lighting another cigarette.
"I said Trish and Alan invited us for doubles this Saturday and I wanted to know if you wanted to play."
"No, I think I'll decline." she said, blowing more smoke in his direction.
"Why is that, my dear?" he asked, frantically waving away the smoke.
"Do you want the truth or do you want me to lie?" she asked sarcastically. She couldn't stand his friends, a fact that she rarely hid.
"Never mind. I swear, I try to broaden your horizons and you shoot me down every time. Why do I even bother inviting you?" he muttered, walking out of the kitchen. "Do us all a favor and open a window. No need for all of us to share your cancerous fate." he called out to her.
"Fuck you Frank!" she yelled.
"What?" he called out, not hearing her vulgar statement.
"I said I love you darling." she laughed.
Carol stood up and walked over to the window. Stretching up on her tiptoes, gazing out. Her eyes nearly popped out of her head as her gaze locked on the heavenly vision outside. He was about 6 feet or a bit taller, not overly muscular, but nicely built. His mocha complexion gleamed in the sunlight from the perspiration dripping. Not really attracted to men with dreadlocks, she found herself being drawn to this man whose dreds hung down to the middle of his shoulders. She could faintly make out the impression of his six-pack through his tank top undershirt. She giggled to herself at his Mickey Mouse boxers peeking out from the waistband of his jeans. Carol didn't realize she had been caught staring at him until he caught her eye and waved at her. She nearly jumped out of her skin when he flashed her his perfect smile. Closing the curtains, she walked over to the backdoor and stepped outside. Shielding her eyes from the sun, she waved back.
"Hi there."
"Hello yourself beautiful." a deep voice answered, with just the hint of a country drawl.
"New in the neighborhood? Haven't seen you before."
"Fairly new. Up here visiting a friend for a spell. My name is Anthony. Tony for short." he drawled, extending his hand.
"Um, I'm Carol. My friends call me Carrie." she finally managed to say, taken back by his firm handshake.
"Nice to meet you Carrie. Maybe we can get together one day and you can show me around."
Before she could answer, Frank interrupted.
"Oh Tony, I see you met my wife, Carol."
"You know him?" Carol asked her husband.
"I met Frank a couple of days ago when I arrived."
"Yes, he's friends with one of the neighbors. Got lost and he needed some help finding the house." Frank explained.
