Issue link: http://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/85232
060: pinklifestyle Arthur took off his reading glasses and looked up from the newspaper. "Do you remember, what was the last name of that Bing guy that you had the affair with, you know, before you broke up with Greg?" They were parked by the side of a lake. The Lovers WORDS BY: BRUCE COSTELLO such erotic gymnastics, fancy! Martha shaded her eyes and smiled across at her husband. The early morning sun shining from low across the water lit up his bald head and highlighted the wrinkles on his frowning forehead. "Long time ago," Arthur murmured. "Nice The early morning sun glistened on the water. They were sitting on camping chairs outside a gleaming white campervan, beside a table, covered with breakfast plates and cups. "Cowley. Bing Cowley. Why?" "I see he's died." "Oh?" "He was seventy-nine. Funeral's tomorrow." "Oh." Martha looked away. So long ago. At the start, a shoulder to cry on, someone to confide in, then sex, passion and declarations of love. Heady, exciting days, feeling loved and wanted, full of plans, intentions, danger, deceit, desperation and joy. Fantasies. And here by the lake, just sitting, nothing to do. No more work to rush off to. So calm. Peaceful. No drama." "Yes, it's lovely," replied Martha. Was that really me, way back then, she thought. And she visualised a beautiful, dark haired young woman waiting in a car beside a sports field on the outskirts of town. He's late. Lights approach. A red Chev Belair. It's him. He parks alongside. They both leap from their cars and embrace in the open air, then jump into the spacious back seat of the Chev for a mad session of steamy sex with squeals, exclamations and declarations. Then, clean herself up, tidy her face, drive home along the back roads, preparing and rehearsing lies for her husband. "Whewww," she sighed, silently. Of course it all ended in tears and the breakup of her marriage to Greg. Then a couple of tumultuous single years before meeting Arthur at a party. A good-looking guy, quiet, with a cheeky manner. Safe. Wanted to wait before having sex. Unsure of himself, a bit on the dull side, rather boring, but sound. Love with neither passion nor romance. They married. The thing to do. Second time around for both of them. On their wedding night, they undressed each other, garment by garment, laughing and giggling like children, as if it were first time. Arthur made love thoughtfully, afraid of hurting her. Martha looked across the lake. A mist could be seen forming over the far shore. So Bing's gone. A lifetime ago. Was that me? She lifted up her wrinkled right hand