Following the Monday night PartyPak cocktail party, Cliff and his wife Jane retire to his hotel room because she wants a quiet place to talk.
“Nice room,“ says Jane, “but is this a good idea? I feel almost sinful.“
Cliff laughs. “We are still man and wife.”
“We should have invited Marie to join us.”
“Are you suggesting a menage a trois?"
“No!”
“I’m sorry if I make you uncomfortable.”
“Darling, it’s not you I’m concerned about.”
“Jane, I think you need a drink.”
“Perhaps I should leave.”
“You said you wanted to talk.”
“First, I’ll have that drink.”
“Vodka?”
“Yes, you remembered. What else do you recall?”
“I try to forget the bad times.”
“Me too.”
Cliff hands Jane her drink. “What do you want to talk about?”
“Is Sally all right?
“I think so. At least, she appears to be.”
“Does she resent me for remaining in San Francisco?”
“She doesn’t resent you, but she does wish that you and I would reunite.”
“I guess she blames me for the separation.”
“I’m sure she blames both of us, although she has never said as much. She’s confused. She says if we really love each other, why do we live apart?”
“She wants me to come to Cincinnati. How does that sound to you?”
“Are you saying you‘re willing to move back?”
“It depends. Are you willing to give up Marie?”
“Is that what you want?”
“I’m not sure I have the right to make that decision. Do I?”
“You seem as confused as Sally.”
“I am,” says Jane, “because I don’t know what you want.”
“I want you and Sally to be happy.”
“Are you ready to sacrifice Marie to make it happen?”
After a long silence, Cliff says, “No."
“Oh, hell, let’s change the subject,” says Jane.
“Good idea.”
“What do you think of the boy that Sally’s dating?”
“Judd is no boy. He’s a fine young man, intelligent, well bred, like his family’s thoroughbred horses. He’s crazy about Sally, but I don’t know how serious the relationship is to her.”
“Does she have someone else?”
“No. I just don’t think Sally is ready to settle down. After all, she’s only nineteen and just about ready to enter Princeton.”
“Well, that should keep her occupied. Do you think she can make it at Princeton?”
“Yes. She’s got your brains.”
“If I had brains, would I be living alone in San Francisco?”
“Alone?”
“Yes, much of the time. I do miss Sally.”
“She misses her mom.”
“And lately,” says Jane, “I’ve been missing you. It started when Sally called me on New Year’s Eve.”
“You mean when she told you about me and Marie.”
“Yes. Despite the separation of thirteen years, I realized for the first time that our marriage was over.” Jane moves close to Cliff and embraces him. “It hurt to know that you had stopped loving me.”
“I’ll never stop loving you.”
“But Sally said that you and Marie were talking marriage.”
“True. Though I still love you, Jane, I know that we’d never be happy living together.”
“I disagree--now that you’re healthy again.”
“What makes you say that?”
“For one thing, you’re sleeping with Marie. And I can sense it in your attitude. You have a confidence now that you lacked when we separated.”
“I said you’re smart.”
“Just observant,” says Jane, placing her right hand on his thigh and kissing him hard on the lips.
“That’s trouble,“ says Cliff. He pulls her close to him, returns the kiss, and attempts to unzip her dress.
Jane moves her hand to his crotch. “My, but it’s good to see that you can be aroused again. I should thank Marie for that.”
“Thank medical science.” Cliff pulls away from her. “Jane, I didn’t ask you to my room to make love to you.”
“Shall I go?”
“Yes. I mean…No.”
“Make up your mind, darling.”
“Let’s have another drink.”
“I really should go. It’s late.”
“In that case, why not stay the night?”
“Bad idea.”
“Why?”
“I might like it too much, and Marie wouldn’t like it at all.”
“I can’t argue with logic.”
“Darling, don’t mistake logic for self-preservation.”
“Yours or mine?”
Later, when Cliff is alone in his room with his scotch, he curses himself for losing control with Jane. She probably thought he was a damn weakling. And he was: one kiss and he was ready to jump into bed with her. He pours another drink and picks up the telephone.
“Hello, Marie. Did I wake you?”
“Yes.”
“Mind if I come to your room?”
“Your wife refused to stay the night?”
“Why would you say that?”
“Instinct, Tiger.”
Cliff says, “I’ll see you at breakfast.”
