Read Online The Story Hour by Thrity Umrigar - Free Book Online Page A

ago was not anything she could explain with her conscious mind. It was not a decision. It was not a desire that she had acted upon. Rather, it was movement. A flow. Like water. Like music. A river does not choose its direction. It just follows the path that has been laid out for it. That was how she had felt, that she had flowed into his body.
    â€œHey,” Peter was saying. “Where did you go? You’re hardly eating.”
    She shook her head. “Sorry.”
    The green eyes narrowed slightly. “You look so sad.”
    â€œI’m not. Really. I just . . .” She swallowed. “It’s going to be hard. Saying goodbye.”
    â€œSo don’t,” he said promptly. “Hey, I’m not going anywhere.” He leaned back in his chair and stretched his arms above his head. “I’m stuck in this job for a whole goddamn year.”
    Even though Maggie knew better than to take it personally, the comment hurt. “You hate it so much? Living here? Teaching?”
    Peter rubbed his eyes. “Ah, God, I don’t know, Maggie,” he said. “I like it well enough, I guess. It’s just that . . . I miss life. You know? Messy, unpredictable life. The adrenaline rush. Visiting new places. I don’t do well with routine, I guess.” He covered Maggie’s hand with his. “Though I’d miss you. And I’m very happy to have reconnected with you.”
    They smiled shyly at each other as they ate. After a few moments, Peter said, “So how would you like to spend the few hours we have left?” The green eyes sparkled suggestively.
    The thought of going directly to the airport from Peter’s, which was what she’d planned on doing, suddenly lost its appeal. “I think I’m going to go home for a bit,” she said. “Before I go pick up Sudhir. Is that okay?”
    Peter opened his mouth as if to argue but then closed it. “Yup,” he said simply. “Whatever you need.”
    Her thoughts were jumbled as she drove swiftly down the darkening streets. She was happy that Sudhir was coming home, she really was. It would be easier to resist Peter once Sudhir was home. She’d be the world’s biggest fool to risk her marriage over someone like Peter, she really would. Peter was a birthday party, all candles and cake and balloons. Now the party was over. Sudhir was the rest of the year, the real deal, the place where she’d built her nest. What she and Sudhir had constructed together, someone like Peter could only dream about. If he was even smart enough to realize and envy them what they had, that is. Which she somehow doubted he was.
    You don’t have to demonize Peter, she scolded herself. You don’t have to let your guilt paper over how much fun you had these past few days. Or even over how your body answered his. Maybe everyone is entitled to one harmless fling, to one sexual adventure, and this was yours. A reward for a lifetime of good behavior. Which you will now proceed to implement. Which means you can’t do this with Peter ever again.
    Promise? she said to herself. Promise?

8
    M AGGIE SIGHED . S HE and Lakshmi had sat across from each other in this small, airless room for almost ten minutes, and they were getting nowhere. After days of easy communication, Lakshmi had clamped up again, and Maggie had no idea why. The insurance company was throwing a fit over having to pay her hospital bills, and earlier today, Richard had called Maggie into his office and demanded to know why the Indian woman hadn’t been discharged yet.
    She decided to try again. “Listen,” she said. “Unless you tell me what made you attempt to kill yourself, I can’t discharge you. Do you understand? We could resolve this in a few minutes. I know you’re as anxious to go home as we are to let you go. Right?”
    In response, Lakshmi rose from her bed and wandered over to the window. She gazed out