When Howard the appraiser had finished getting the specs, we stood in the driveway talking. His kids were older but he had lived in the neighborhood when they were growing up. I took him to be about sixty the way he talked but he had kept himself well. Gray hair, clean shaven, neatly dressed.
He was a talker, which I didn't mind. I had a fresh pot of coffee waiting inside so I invited him for a cup.
Inside, we were talking about the school district. I had a kid starting the middle school and one in elementary still. I asked him how he took his coffee.
A little bit of cream if you have it, he said.
Half and half?
Perfect!
I met his eye somewhat randomly. He smiled.
So what's it like being free? I asked him, meaning his kids, who were grown.
I miss em, I won't lie. I thought my wife would be bad but I'm worse than her for calling them too much.
That's funny, I said, laughed.
You take yours black? he said, noticing my coffee.
Yeah, since I was a young man.
A cowboy, he said.
I laughed, saw him lingering too long looking at me. I felt flushed. I wondered if this guy was flirting with me.
I like mine with just a little cream, he said.
Yeah? I said, head buzzing.
I said that didn't I? He was smiling.
I laughed. It's alright, I told him.
My sex life has returned, he said.
I must have looked at him strangely.
With the kids gone...
Oh, I said.
He laughed.
That's good to hear, I said, sincerely.
No shit, he said. Paula, that's my wife, she and I once went a year and a half.
Damn, I said. Did you just forget?
I didn't! he laughed.
Wow, I say. We're not that regular my wife and I, but it hasn't got that bad.
Yet, I added.
He uncrossed his legs, and I couldn't help it, my eyes studied the front of his jeans.
No, I thought. What am I doing?
So how did you make it through? I asked him.
A little help from my friends, he said.
I wanted to but didn't ask him what that meant.
Fortunately, Paula's sex drive came back after a while, he said, then added: With a vengeance...
He had finished his coffee. Was getting up to leave.