“Yeah, shit,” said Arlene. “I’m way too young to be all alone and my mother is way too young to die. She just starting dating about six months ago, and if I were to venture a guess I’d say she’s been getting some lately. More than I can say for myself.”
Bill made himself comfortable on the pillows. He scooched a touch closer to Arlene so their thighs were touching.
“What’s gonna happen at Cleveland Clinic?” he asked.
“We’ll get a second opinion and they’ll either suggest a different course of action or confirm the one we have. I’d prefer if we could just do chemo but I’ll make sure we do whatever promises the best results.”
Arlene moved to match Bill’s move. Now they were not casually touching thighs, they were pressed tightly against each other.
They lay touching until Bill got up to get his wine. He didn’t climb over Arlene but got up on the side he was on and walked around the bed. He stood beside the bed, finished the wine in his glass and refilled the glass. That done, he handed Arlene her wine and helped her sit up so she could sip it.
“How you feeling?” Bill asked.
“Sweet,” said Arlene. “Creamy and smooth. You?”
“Pleasantly relaxed.”
“Getting ready for a shower?”
“Soon, I guess. Why?”
“Cause you told me you wanted one.”
“What do you want?”
“I want to be held. I want to put my head in your lap and be stroked by you. I want you to tell me it’s all going to be okay.”
“So let’s do that,” said Bill.
He finished the wine that was in his glass before he returned to his spot on the bed. He made sure he was close to Arlene then leaned in over her and kissed her once on the forehead then once on the lips, closed-mouth kisses.
Facing him, Arlene leaned up on one elbow and kissed him on the cheek. Then she helped him put his arm around her, leaned herself on him and tucked her head into the space made by his extended arm. Bill pulled her even closer so that her head was more on his chest and began stroking her shoulders.
“I just feel like crying all the time,” said Arlene.
“I understand completely.” Bill turned to face her. He could smell her hair since it was close to his lips. Lavender. She was soft to his touch but he could feel that she was tense.
“And I feel so alone. I wonder if anyone can understand how I feel.”
Bill did not say anything. He squeezed her softly about her shoulders and adjusted her and him so they were less sitting up, more laying down facing each other. Situated this way he put his other arm around her and held her firmly within his arms.
“I think you’d be surprised. I think there’s lots of people who understand exactly how you feel. You just haven’t run up on them yet. Well, just me, and as it happens, I do understand.”
Arlene moved herself so close to Bill that she was almost upon him. Now Bill could feel the impression of her breasts against him. He could also stroke her back, which he did, over and over, softly but firmly. After a while, he tugged her blouse out from her skirt at the waist so he was able to reach up underneath it and stroke her bare back.
Arlene did not object in any way. She did not object in any way when he unhooked her bra and let it fall as it did. This way he could stroke her complete back unobstructed.
