Back in June, the tale of Frances and Jerry ended
with "to be continued. ... " Today, we pick up their story.
Frances had a crush on Jerry all through grade school. They went
their separate ways in high school, except for one night. Frances
was angry with her boyfriend for cheating on her. She bumped into
Jerry at a party, and they slept together. He never called her
afterward. Once again, they went their separate ways. Jerry married,
had children and moved out of state. Frances married, had children
and stayed in the same city.
Over the years, they attended grammar school reunions but never at
the same time. Jerry came home for weddings, funerals and family
get-togethers, but he never bumped into Frances. Still, they swapped
birthday cards and then e-mails for many years.
Frances separated from her husband five years ago, although they
still live in the same house. She sleeps in a room with her
daughter. Over time, the e-mails became more personal. Jerry told
her he had thought about her for years and years following their one
night together.
"When he brought it up," Frances remembers, "I was a little
embarrassed. He remembered far more details than I! He told me he
never called again because he thought he couldn't compete with my
boyfriend. He said he regretted it."
He told Frances she was the love of his life. They began talking
daily, sending cards, gifts and pictures. They made plans to see
each other.
There was just one hitch. One major hitch: Frances was still
separated and Jerry was married. Very unhappily married, but still
married. And that's where we left them a few months ago.
Well, they got together in July -- 25 years after their one-night
stand -- at a beach resort. Jerry told his wife he was going to a
reunion.
Frances says it was "pure nerves for the first 10 minutes and then
pure fun!"
"He put me at ease right from the beginning. He held my hand a lot
and kissed me constantly. That first night, we fell asleep holding
each other and talking because it was all I wanted. The next day we
saw a ballgame, attended shows, shopped, walked on the beach, ate
seafood and drank wine and beer. In less than 24 hours, we were
completely comfortable together. We spent five idyllic days, and,
yes, we eventually consummated our reunion.
"The last night was filled with hours of honest talk. Jerry admitted
how unhappy he had been in his marriage for many, many years. He was
certain that he wanted to be with me forever. He said nothing could
have lured him away from his commitment to his family except me. I
listened to him talk. I asked for nothing but wanted everything.
"Jerry left first. Saying good-bye was more than difficult. He said
he drove the entire way home without ever turning on the radio and
very nearly turned around a couple of times. I felt the same.
"We are now not only friends but lovers, but both with commitments
and no real desire to hurt anyone. His wife knows he's not happy,
but she has no idea how unhappy he really is. My kids know that my
husband and I will divorce eventually, when the youngest is 18 and
away at school. Jerry's children have no idea.
"We talk all day, every day, and I have never doubted his intentions
or what he said to me. Never! Nor have I ever caught him in a lie. I
know so much about his kids, and he mine. We know each other's
favorite colors, TV shows, likes and dislikes. Since the summer,
we've tried to break up more than once, but we couldn't do it. When
we parted last summer, all we knew was how much we wanted to be
together, but we live so far away and there are so many obstacles.
He has so much to lose, so much more than I. We don't know what will
come next."
Once again, to be continued ...
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