Michael Malone - Weebly

Mrs. Haig.
Generally after such absences he expected them to
do what he called "be together." In this case she was
also aware that he felt he had been denied the previous
three weeks by scrupulous sacrifice to her newly
diagnosed illness. She knew he had asked Dr. Scaper
just before leaving for Hartford whether, given her heart
condition, the conjugal act could harm his wife, and the
doctor had said no, there was no reason why it should.
John had always kept an accurate record of the days
lapsed between sexual relations. To repay these marital
IOUs she had longer respites now than in the early
years of their marriage. She had expected to be called
to account tonight. But not this early; later, after they
were in bed, where it usually began.
His hands were moving rapidly up and down her
back; they pulled her hips toward him. She could feel
the hardened lump and tried to twist to the side. "John,"
she said, and tried to push away from his chest with her
hands, "it's nine o'clock."
Above her his neck and ears were flushed and his
breath was loud. "Come on, hon, hey, come on."