then again as late as yesterday, I didn't think I'd ever sleep with a man, let alone on the first date.
* * * *
After Marla finished the scrub, I took a two-minute shower to rinse off. Laurel went with me, but she kept her towel wrapped around her and stayed out of the water. "Okay baby sister, we're alone. Fess up. What did you start to tell me?"
I almost laughed as she got this aw shucks guilty look on her face. "I woke up this morning in Julian's bed, naked as a newborn. Julian was naked too. Apparently, I'd broken my vows and made love, but doggone it, I don't remember any of it. I must have drunk too much."
"I told Sarah about it this morning. She's the girl who did my hair, and she—"
"Wait a second. You told her you had sex?"
"Yes, she used to go out with Julian, mostly for sex and she advised me not to go to bed with him too quickly. I guess I blew it. Anyway, since I don't remember, she thinks he may have slipped me a date rape drug, Rohy…something
A chill coursed through me. I'd never expected something like this would be brought up. "Rohypnol. I doubt that, it's not even legal in the states. What did you say?"
"Well first of all, I don't think Julian would ever do anything like that."
Thank God!
"But before I got a chance to tell Sarah that, Jessie came in and sa—"
"Ho …hold on. You told two people you had sex last night before you told me." Jumpin' Jesus, my sister is a one-woman gossip machine—about herself no less. "Who's Jessie?"
"She's Julian's sister. I told you about her."
"The one who gave you the dress and all the nice stuff to go along with it."
She nodded.
I turned off the shower. "You never said her name. Hand me the towel, will you?"
She stepped forward and handed me the towel. As I dried, she went on, "Anyway, I didn't tell Jessie, She heard us talking and asked what we were talking about. Sarah told her and about her suspicion and Jessie kind of blew up, saying her brother would never do anything like that."
I put my arm around her. "That's crazy. I don't think he would either."
"That's right. In fact, you know what Julian did this morning?"
"No. Tell me."
She grinned. "He fixed this wonderful breakfast and brought it to me in bed."
"That was romantic."
Gesturing with her hands, Laur grew excited. "I know. I've never been romanced before. I loved it. You know what was especially romantic?"
I shook my head. "What?"
"There was a bud vase with a red rose in it."
"Ah, that was sweet. C'mon sis. Let's go in the sauna and work this out."
While I poured a ladle full of water over the coals, she sat on an upper row of seats in one direction. I sat on the lower row, perpendicular to her. "So Sister sis, what are your plans?"
"I really wish you wouldn't call me that." She put her hand to her chin and stared off thoughtfully. "I guess I'll have to talk with Mother Superior, maybe even Father Brennan. It'll be so embarrassing, but I can't keep it to myself and go on as a sister. However, before telling them, I've got to find out what I missed. I'm going to make love with Julian again, tonight, fully conscious, no wine or anything alcoholic, just sex."
Naturally, my sister blushed when she said sex. She paused and then went on. "Having sex and not remembering is driving me crazy. Since I've failed God and sinned anyway —a big one no less—and plan to live the rest of my life chastely, I want to remember it. Does that sound strange?"
"Of course not. I can't imagine having sex and not remembering how wonderful it feels."
"Wonderful. That's what he said. That I was wonderful. I want to know the wonder of it before I give it up."
I never realized how conflicted my sister was until a tear rolled down her cheek. "Laur, you know how I feel. I think you should have sex with Julian tonight and over and over again, forever. If forever doesn't work out, have sex with someone else until it does work out, then have babies and live a normal life."
Laurel shook her head, "I couldn't
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