A week passed and because Ned had agreed that Nelson would call by his house instead of the other way around, Nelson drove the car to Rebecca's house where he dropped off Tiffany at the Tupperware Party and then drove to the Evanson's house. Shale had already left and Ned was seated in the living room with a tray set up with Whiskey in front of him. It was more than good to have a proper chat with Ned without worrying about their wives being entertained. It was also good not to have Tiffany's ears nearby, so that Nelson was free to unload his marriage woes onto Ned, who encouraged that he share them. Ned extended his sympathies and Nelson, quite tipsy, asked Ned how he and Shale managed to maintain such a smooth relationship.

"It's more than just smooth, my friend," Ned claimed. "We have a very fruitful marriage; I give her happiness just as she gives it to me. We are in love, which is obviously the most important thing in a relationship."

"But how? How have you not fallen out of love after seventeen years?"

"Actually, it all comes down to sex. If there is a very strong sexual component in a marriage, then things are bound to be great."

Nelson blushed horrendously.

"Don't be embarrassed," Ned laughed. "It's perfectly natural and healthy. What Shale and I do may be considered by some people to be disgusting, but we completely enjoy a vibrant sex life so why should we not do it? Besides, it's our own personal secret, more or less. If anybody is disgusted by it then they don't have to hear about it."

"I suppose you're right," Nelson grinned himself, thinking of how nice it must be to have an active sex life. Sex with Tiffany was a rare occurrence and she had openly admitted that it wasn't something she found overly enjoyable. He tried not to think about it all that much, but in fact it bothered him a lot. He didn't think it was fair for a wife to hold out so much. When she did agree to it, she acted as if she was doing him some great favor. Years and years had passed since Tiffany had actually enjoyed sex with him. What good was sex if he wasn't even pleasing her in doing it?

Later in the evening Nelson started to realize that he was becoming too drunk. He had to drive and he had made a point of never driving drunk in his life. He had expected Tiffany to call and tell him that she was ready to be collected by now.

"I'd better stop with that now," he told Ned when offered another glass. "I have to drive."

"Oh. That's not a good thing. I'll get you some water," Ned offered.

"Ah, I can fetch it," Nelson slowly got to his feet.

"You do that while I call the women and ask what they're up to and how long they are going to be."

Nelson found his way to the kitchen and drank as much water as his stomach could handle. Then he roamed the nearest passageway, searching for the bathroom. As he was washing his hands, he heard a definite thud coming from the room above him. Distantly he could hear Ned's voice on the phone to Tiffany down the hall - Ned was not upstairs. Curious, Nelson turned the water off to listen more intently. He thought of what Tiffany had told him and now he just felt nosy. He shook the curiosity away and started to venture back to the living room, but his inquisitiveness got the better of him when he heard another thud, followed by another indescribable sound. There was certainly a person up there.