stuck in the same bed.”
“That’d be cool. This isn’t so bad, though. When I was little I used to sleep in the same bed withmy cousins. It’s kinda like that.” She listened to her stomach rumble. “One thing we’re definitely gonnahave to do tomorrow is find some food I can eat. The only thing I could eat at the barbecue was that fruitsalad with the little marshmallows in it.”
“Yeah, my folks aren’t much on vegetarian cuisine.”
“No shit. Even the potato salad had bacon in it.” They lay in awkward silence for a few minutesuntil finally Lily said, “Good night, husband.”
“Good night, wife.”
Lily closed her eyes and slept the sleep of exhaustion.
CHAPTER 6
Mimi had gone to the park with Dez. Finally, Lily and Charlotte could have some time alone.
Since Mimi had come onto the scene, time alone had become Charlotte and Lily’s euphemism for thelovemaking that occurred all too infrequently between them. Their nighttime attempts at intimacy wereoften interrupted by Mimi howling for formula or climbing out of her crib to scratch pathetically at theirbedroom door. As a result of this syndrome of caught-us-interruptus, Dez had agreed to take Mimi out fora couple of hours every two weeks so the women could enjoy some uninterrupted time alone.
Although sex had become less frequent since Mimi’s arrival, the rule seemed to be quality overquantity. Lily and Charlotte craved their time alone — ached for those couple of hours when they couldbe free of the responsibilities of mommyhood and lose themselves in each other.
Lily was aware of Charlotte behind her as they walked upstairs to the bedroom. Her breath caughtin anticipation of what they were about to do. She let Charlotte follow her into the bedroom, takingpleasure in the fact that there was no need to close the door behind them.
Lily lay on the bed, barefoot in the little black dress she knew Charlotte liked, and watchedCharlotte take off her watch and rings and set them on the bureau. Charlotte looked at Lily sprawled onthe bed and smiled.
“C’mere,” Lily coaxed, scooting over to make room. “Just a second. I want to look at you first. “Lily laughed. “You look at me all the time.”
But I never tire of it.”
Lily lay on the bed, feeling Charlotte’s gaze burn through her. In everyday life, Lily felt she waspassably attractive in a sloppy, bohemian kind of way, but she certainly wasn’t the kind of person whoturned heads — male or female.
In the world of their bedroom, though, Charlotte made Lily feel like a high-femme fantasy figure.