''We're back again!''

I open the door a little wider and ask them to come in.

Elise gives me a kiss on the cheek and says:

''I brought the kids to use the pool, as we agreed.''

''Great!''

We met when I went to their house a few days after the move.

Her oldest son comes in and greets me, I think his name is Dylan, then little Erin comes in. Elise tells me she is seven years old, so I bend down so she can give me a kiss and she says:

Can I go to the pool?

Elise says:

''Erin, for God's sake!''

She questions:

''What is it Mom?''

I just say:

''All right.''

Then I point toward our backyard:

''Go ahead.''

She then follows and as I stand up, I see another silhouette in the doorway and as I stand up, my eyes travel up her body.

I stop at his face, where his blue eyes are staring at me. He looks shy.

Elise interrupts our too-long eye contact when she says:

''Oh, we brought Dylan's friend with us; I hope you don't mind.''

It has a beauty that really catches the eye.

I turn to her and say:

''Of course not. Come in...''

In my expression is the doubt about what his name is.

He holds out his hand and says:

''I'm Ethan.''

I hold his hand and just as I am about to say my name, Dylan calls him to go to the pool.

...

''And how are you Norah?''

Elise asks me while we are in the kitchen and I prepare some juice for the children, because Linda, my maid, is off today.

I know Elise is referring to the fact that I commented to her the other day about my marriage.

''Well, Connor and me, we are relatively well.''

I told her about what happened with my husband last year. I have only known her for a couple of months, but she has proven to be a friend I can trust and the fact that she has been through it before and commented to me first only made me trust her even more.

Also, even though we moved to get some new air and upgrade the relationship, I still feel that having someone to talk to about it is good for me.

She looks at me with a comfortable smile, but I feel like I am lying to myself by saying that. So I continue:

Actually, I don't know. He has been present when he can, because his work and travels cooperate little.

''I know how it is. But you'll get through it all, honey.''

''I don't say this to him, but I know I can say it to you. But it's hard to forget that your husband was having an affair with his secretary.''

She takes a deep breath.

''It is I know.''

Her husband cheated her with a much younger girl and she also still feels bad about it.

She finishes drinking the juice I served and we decide to take it to the kids in the pool.

As we arrive, I say:

''We brought you some juice and cookies.''

Dylan sitting on the edge of the pool looks at us smiling and Erin claps her hands, lovely as always.

I don't see the other boy.

I put the tray on the table under the parasol and as soon as I look at the pool again; he is leaving and when he finally stands up; he looks in our direction and runs his hand through his hair.

My eyes go down his body slowly and I swear I feel a little embarrassed to see him like this.

I disguise my embarrassment for looking at him for too long again. But it's been a long time since I've seen a body this defined.

It's not that Connor is not doing so well, he works out every week and has a body that is the envy of guys his age, true; he is also only 35, it's just that, well?

I interrupted my thoughts when he comes over to where we are. Dylan and Erin are already there; he sits down too.

As I pour the juice into each glass on the table, I see out of the corner of my eye that he is looking at me. And I also see the water slowly trickling down his chest. I close my eyes for a second and concentrate on what I am doing.

Erin says:

''Your pool is the best.''

I end up looking at her and smiling, then Ethan says:

''It's great.''

I catch myself looking into his eyes again at the way he pronounced those words. I'm not sure what he meant by that, but there was something more, I can assure you.

Dylan ignores us completely as he holds the phone in his hand and types something.

I look in Ethan's direction and smile. He still holds my gaze for a moment, then disguises it.

Elise says:

''What a wonderful Garden!''

I look at her and mentally thank her for her cue and call her to look at my garden.

Elise is delighted with the amount of roses I have planted, these past few days.

I look again toward the boys and catch him looking at us.

He stays like this for a while.

What is wrong with this boy?

He must think I am a paranoid old woman who stares at him with a question mark on her face.

I look away.

But since when do I care what a boy thinks?

I shake my head to push these useless thoughts away.

...

Some time after we walk through the garden, Elise looks at her watch and says she has to go. We head toward the pool, so she can call the boys to come home.

She thanks us for everything and we say goodbye. Dylan and Erin do the same and Ethan comes last. As he passes me to walk out the door, he stops for a while, looks me in the eye and says,

''Thank you, Mrs. Jenkins.''

He has an almost imperceptible smile at the corner of his mouth.

I feel an unnecessary shiver at these words. I put on my face my usual cordial smile and it goes out.

...

It is Sunday evening and, unfortunately, Connor had a last-minute job and was out all day.

Connor is a lawyer for a large firm, and I am used to these jobs on holidays.

...

He has just arrived and is taking a shower.

I go into the bathroom to have a look at my eyebrows, but seeing him through the glass of the totally naked Box makes me want to go in there with him, even though I have already showered.

But I know Connor likes things a little more traditional. Sex should be in bed as he always says. So I choose not to do that and go back to bed and wait for him.

I am reading a book, when minutes later Connor finishes his shower, gets dressed, grabs his laptop and starts looking at something. It must be something from work.

Too bad I had something different in mind for us to do today.

I can't complain, because sometimes I bring work into the room too. I know we shouldn't do that, but it's the world. He's wearing glasses, he looks at me smiling and I smile back.

...

Some time later, I put my book away and cover myself up so I can sleep. Connor is still typing something, so I just look at him and say,

''Good night, love.''

He smiles and says,

''Good night, baby.''

...

I wake up in the middle of the night because I feel his hand moving down my body, lingering a little longer as he caresses my buttocks and comes towards the middle of my legs. I let myself go because I have been missing this for some time now.

He inserts his fingers inside me and I know he can feel how wet and hot I am and this is like a free pass for him to penetrate me from behind. I close my eyes and bask in the sensation of being filled by him so hot and hard inside me.

He penetrates me slowly, while kissing the back of my neck and caressing my breast with his hand. He knows well how to drive me crazy in bed and he leads his movements, increasing the rhythm when he hears me moaning and slowing them down when he realizes I am about to climax.

He does this a few times until he allows me to come to orgasm and follows me right out. He kisses me for a while longer until I decide to get up and take a shower.

Now I feel more relaxed and realize that I will get a great night's sleep.