Lauren brought Dorian and Maya to Reading. They came just before noon and left after five. We all went out for lunch together with my mother. After some meandering through central Reading, where many restaurants are closed on Sundays, we ended up at Nino’s at Market Square, where we celebrated my mother’s birthday not so long ago. Lauren was quite prickly at the beginning, but she loosened a bit during lunch. A bottle of drinkable Chianti helped. When we returned home, children started to play in the livingroom, and my mother occupied herself with the last issue of L’Espresso, which she bought yesterday. Lauren sat by the kitchen window, alone, obviously blue. She was beautiful in her misery. Like a bird in courtship, I kept bringing her grapes, which I would put into her mouth myself, and she soon accepted my kisses. Once again, our kisses transported us to some other world, but I had to return from time to time to my mother and children to make sure we were not missed. On one of my returns to the kitchen, I reached for Lauren’s breasts. On another, I went for her crotch. Both of us got quite horny. She asked me whether I would let her suck my penis, which I gladly let her do, and then I started playing with her vagina. She relished my finger, too. It was time for us to sneak away and have a few minutes to ourselves. She went upstairs ahead of me. After another check of the rest of the family, I joined her in my room. She was already naked. I entered her from behind at first, but then I lied down on the floor and she straddled me. Maya came up twice to show us something or other, but we managed to send her back downstairs both times. Only after Lauren came four times in quick succession, we put our clothes back on and returned to the livingroom. I told her I loved her in front of the door. The contact re-established, Lauren and I touched and kissed whenever we got a chance, but we made sure everyone else was happy. The family was back together again. For a brief while, at least. All of our problems still wait to be broached, let alone resolved. Nevertheless, our love for each other and our mutual attraction are not in question after more than a decade together and after two children. And that is a fair beginning.