I got out of the shower and Samantha was already back from lunch. She had changed into a sheath dress and exchanged her slingbacks for pumps, informing me that she'd be going to a reception this afternoon.
"We need to talk, Robert." She began, "I know that my behavior has been a little odd, especially the Friday before you left. I've been thinking about what it means. What our relationship means. What my recent escapism means."
She continued to talk about how it was difficult for her to grow up as sheltered as she did, and how the lack of experimentation caused her to explode. With tears in her eyes, she apologized for her behavior. "It was just a stage in my personal growth. When you were gone, I brought Sam back a couple of times. I went shopping, clubbing, partying... I was running around as Sam for nearly the whole week.
"Amanda had an intervention with me. She showed me photos of a tramp dancing in the basement of a nightclub. She showed me what I had become. She taught me how to keep the world from seeing Sam while managing her desires.
"Robert, I love you and want to be with you. I will understand if this makes you uncomfortable, I will understand if you want to leave me."
"Will you help me satisfy Sam sometimes? I mean, would it be OK if she came out, only within the confines of our bedroom? I know that she's almost a different woman, but if you would indulge her, I can keep her in my closet, and out of public."
My wife had just asked me for permission to turn our sex life from boring to passionate, exotic, and fun. I kept myself from jumping for joy and said, "I understand that you've got some issues to work through. I want you to know that I'll be there for you, even if it means that you need to be Sam sometimes. While I would much rather make love to you, I will help you work through this. Even if Sam needs to come out of the bedroom." Realizing that the last comment didn't go over too well, I added, "Like to the living room." I smiled and squeezed her hand.
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