Siblings by K. J. Janssen Page A

have had a scare about their heart, would slow down their sexual activity, but you just mount up and ride off into the sunset.”
    “But not just on any mount. I’ve chosen a bronco for my riding pleasure.”
    John smiled. “You know something Lynn? Making love to you is the highlight of my life.”
    “Mine too, John. I look forward to our time together.”
    “Well, if you really feel that way, why don’t we step things up to the next level? I have an apartment here in town that we could use any time we want to. I owe you that at least. This making love on the floor is getting a little wearing on my bones, not to mention the carpet burn. We could have some wine and really relax our lovemaking. It would be so much more romantic.”
    “Does Lorraine know about the apartment?”
    “She knows that I have one, for when I work late and am too exhausted to drive the hour and a half home. She’s never asked me where it was. She just has the phone number in case of an emergency. I’ve only used it at night once or twice.”
    “Oh, that sounds as if you’ve had occasion to use it during the daytime. Are you two-timing me?”
    “Of course not. I just meant that I’ve had little occasion to use the place. I have a cleaning lady come in once every two weeks. She keeps the stuff in the refrigerator fresh, does some dusting. Anyway, Lorraine doesn’t seem to care what I do. We haven’t made love for at least six months. She blames it on her change of life medications, but I can see in her eyes that any spark that had once been there has long gone out. She seems happy in her own world, so I don’t press her about it.” He hesitated for a minute. “You know that I’d be lost without our time together. Please say you’ll do it or at least think about it.”
    “I don’t know, John. It’s one thing to do it here in your office, but this sounds so surreptitious. Would I have to wear a disguise so nobody would recognize me?”
    “Don’t be so melodramatic, Lynn. People come and go at apartments in the city every day. Don’t confuse this with meeting at cheap motels. That would be entirely different. I would never ask a classy lady like you to do something like that. Will you at least consider the idea?”
    He didn’t wait for the answer. He cupped her face in his hands and gently kissed her lips. She moaned as she succumbed to his power. She was ready to make love again, but she caught herself and pulled slowly away from his embrace.
    “Okay, I promise you that I will think about it. It does sound a lot nicer than this and we would have complete privacy. If we feel like it, we can make love all afternoon.”
    “That’s all I ask.” He returned to his desk and picked up a key. “This key opens the front door and the door to the apartment. The address and apartment number are on that circular tag. Once you see the place I think you’re going to like the idea. Just avoid the first and third Monday of the month. That’s when Mrs. Madigan comes in to do the cleaning. The less she knows, the better.”
    They kissed intermittently as they dressed. She went into the office bathroom to check herself out before she headed out the door of his office.
    He called out after her, “Give me a call after you check it out. I’m anxious to know what you think of the place.”
     
    ***
     
    Marilyn Meret Porter inherited her middle name from a piece of art created in 1936 by a Swiss painter and sculptor, Meret Oppenheim. As the story goes, her father was captivated by one of Oppenheim’s works of art called Object of 1936. The piece consisted of a fur covered cup, saucer, and spoon. Her parents had agreed that her mother would choose the baby’s first name, which was her maternal grandmother’s name. Her father was to select the middle name. The families on both sides were upset with his choice, but he was adamant on the issue. He had a picture of Object of 1936 signed by Oppenheim hanging in his office. Her mother finally