I've Got My Mind Set on You
Diane: Do you think we're the only ones separated who still have sex?
Eli: Once a week for ten years, that's more sex than we had when we were married.
Diane made the rules and once a week for ten years, she chose the location, the day and the time. Occasionally, she'd left it up to Eli to arrange the details, but Diane had never liked being told what to do, not by anyone. When he began telling her how to dress for their trysts, she drew the line.
She stands in front of her closet in nothing but her underwear , looking at colors and feeling textures, deciding what would make her look good. She settles on a red button up cardigan that she thinks will compliment her simple black skirt rather nicely. She never dresses up, but she does dress practically.
In the course of the past ten years, there had been many dates with many men, but none of them seemed to satisfy her like Eli. The divorce, however mutual, was the end of a sure thing, something that had worked extremely well for Diane's wants and needs. With the exception of Parisian dreams, she tells herself.
Originally, Diane was planning on cancelling this week's little get together, considering her ex father-in-law was lying in a hospital bed taking his last breaths, but felt she'd sacrificed enough of herself for this family, dreams, hair, career and sanity, her brain supplied, to not cancel.
With selection made, she lies on the bed and lights a cigarette, something which she has been trying to quit, picks up the phone and dials Eli's pager. He never knew when she'd page him which made this set-up all the more thrilling, elicit. She was, in actual fact, conducting a rather sordid affair with her ex-husband. Who does that?
When the phone rings a few minutes later, Diane smiles and lets it ring a few seconds to keep him on edge. When she answers, she listens to him tell her why they can't meet, until she explains exactly how she's feeling and senses her ex is wilting – which she sincerely hopes won't be the case.
She dresses quickly, arranges her hair and with a final glance in the mirror, rushes out the door. Diane knows, despite how eager Eli is, escaping his mother and traffic on the way would be murder, so she has time to get to her chosen location and wait.
She's never been a patient woman.