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man doing this."
"Promise to do me one favor," he said. "If you ever start thinking
me
less of a man for doing it, tell me. I'll move out."
"Oh, no, not less man," she said.
It bothered Jim that Michael agreed to the arrangement without
hesitation. He wasn't sure what that said about the man, but on the
other hand, what did it say about him, who suggested it? Linda
insisted that the two men meet first, away from the house. Jim
insisted that it be just the two of them, without Linda. She arranged
for them to meet in a bar that she and Michael frequented. Jim knew
the bar; Howard's Place. He asked Linda to be out of the house the
night he was to meet the younger man. He didn't want her to see how
nervous he was, and he wasn't sure how he would act when he returned
home.
He dressed in Dockers, hiking boots and a yellow knit T-shirt. He
looked at himself in the mirror, satisfied that he looked good. But
good enough to be taking Linda out, not meeting her lover in a bar. He
changed into nicely-worn jeans and the same yellow shirt. He liked the
way the shirt hugged his arms and his chest. He felt like a boy going
on his first date as he drove across town to Howard's Place. He drove
around the block twice before he had the courage to park and get out.
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