Conflict of Interest, Part 10

This fictional account contains explicit sexual materials, adult language and
sexual themes.  If these offend you, please do not read further.  The persons
and events described in this work are fictional.  Any similarity to actual
persons or events is strictly coincidental.  Copyright 2002 by SSTORYMAN.  All
rights reserved.  Permission is granted to reproduce this story in any form
and for any purpose as long as this notice is reproduced and no financial

This is a sequel to the author's "Revenge" posted March 2000 and "The Affair"
posted January, 1997.  It may be helpful to read (or re-read) them before
reading this story.  There are also some references to characters who first
appeared in the author's "Lisa's Quest" and "The Vacation."  But familiarity
with these stories isn't necessary to enjoy this one.

Finally, thanks to AZ-MAN for his editorial suggestions, support and
encouragement.


CONFLICT OF INTEREST

10.	The Ultimate Revenge.

   "So Mom's on drugs?"

   Priscilla sighed, disappointed by her sister's lack of comprehension.
"Uppers, Penny, not drugs exactly.  I mean, yeah, I guess they are drugs.  But
they only give you a buzz, make you a little hyper.  That's all."

   The sisters were at the coffee shop again, smoking.  Penny liked spending
time with her older sister, and Priscilla for her part liked the company of a
fellow smoker when her other friends weren't around.

   "So, why tell me this?"

   "Someday, Penny, one or both of us will get caught smoking.  When it
happens, we need something to negotiate with.  It looks like Mom's doing
something illegal.  Some of her prescription bottles are in another woman's
name.  They're all from one of Aunt Sandy's friends on the lung association
board.  He's writing them for Mom.  The whole thing stinks.  So if they want
you and me to keep quiet about it, both Mom and Aunt Sandy will have to back
off."

   "You mean, they'll have to let us smoke?"

   Priscilla nodded.  "I'm not looking for trouble.  But if Mom finds out you
or me is smoking and tries to stop us, I think we may have enough leverage to
make her start buying my - I mean, our - cigarettes for us."

   "But Pris, that's blackmail."

   The older girl nodded as she lit up another cigarette.  "It's a tough
world, Penny.  Mom and I don't get along very well these days.  I'll do
whatever I need to in order to protect myself - and you, of course.  If Mom
wants her pills, then I - I mean, we - get to keep our cigarettes."

   Penny followed her sister's lead and lit up another Marlboro Light Menthol
100.  From smoking with Grace after school and her sister in the evening, she
was quickly developing a hefty appetite for nicotine.  She smiled as she
exhaled upwards.

   "I don't know about this, Prissy.  It sounds like you're planning on going
to war or something."

   "It _is_ war, Squirt.  Pure and simple.  You don't want to quit smoking, do
you?"

   Penny vigorously shook her head 'no.'  "Absolutely not," she strongly
asserted.  "I don't think I _ever_ want to quit.  In fact, I wish I could
smoke all the time.  I really like it."

   "Like I said, I'm not planning on bringing this up.  But if Mom starts
messing with us about smoking, I'm not afraid to fight back."

   Jim, the evening manager, came up to their table.  "How are you guys doing
tonight?"

   "Just fine, Jim," Priscilla smiled back.  She blinked her eyes.  "Why don't
you join us?  We sure don't mind if you want to take a smoke break," she
laughed suggestively.  "We like your coffee, but we _love_ the opportunity to
smoke while we drink it."

   "I wish I could," he stammered, obviously captivated by Priscilla Preston's
striking looks and long blond hair.  "I'm on duty now.  In half an hour,
though, it's time for my break.  If you're still here, maybe I can come back,
sit with you for a few minutes and smoke with you guys."

   Priscilla took a prolonged drag.  She opened her mouth and snap-inhaled a
gigantic ball of smoke down into her chest.  She tilted her head and smiled at
Jim, while twin streams of smoke flowed from her nostrils.  "If we're still
here, Jim, I hope you will do just that!"

   "Okay," the manager grinned.  "I'll see you then."

   "Prissy, what are you doing?" Penny demanded as he walked away.  "He's in
college or older, and you - I mean, we - are just in high school."

   "Relax, Squirt.  I already told you.  When you're a teenage smoker, you
need to cultivate all the friends you possibly can.  You never know when
you'll need 'em.  Anyway, I didn't tell Jim I'd fuck him, for God's sake.  I
only invited him to have coffee and a cigarette with us.  Besides," she
smirked.  "He's kind of cute.  And, he smokes.  That's a plus.  I think me
being a smoker turns him on."

   Penny looked mystified.  "What?"

   "Squirt, you'll discover that lots of boys like girls who smoke.  Oh, I
suppose there are also lots who hate it.  But many guys think it's sexy.  Next
time you take a drag and inhale, glance over and see if our friend Jim isn't
watching you."

   Penny decided to try it.  She took a long drag, imitated her sister's
snap-inhale, and turned her head toward the counter while she exhaled.  Sure
enough, Jim's eyes were riveted upon her.  Seeing her seeing him, he grinned
and self-consciously looked away.

   "Oh my God," Penny gasped.  "You're right.  He's watching us."

   Priscilla smirked.  "There's a lot of advantages to being a smoker, Squirt.
It's not only cool.  It's also a guy-magnet sometimes.  Don't worry.  You'll
soon learn that."

   Penny shook her head.  "I had no idea.  But I really like how he looked at
me just now."

   "Then just keep right on smoking, kid," her sister laughed.  "It only gets
better."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Charity felt nervous as she drove home from Sandy's house.  She couldn't
believe everything that had just happened!  She felt apprehensive.  Rene would
ask what happened, and it'd be tough to deny.  Her roommate would undoubtedly
notice her exhaustion.  And her entire body was covered with the telltale
marks left over from Sandy's many passionate kisses.

   She reached in her purse and retrieved her cigarettes.  At a stoplight she
slipped a Marlboro Light 100 into her mouth, clicked her lighter, and lit up.
She'd already smoked a ton with Sandy, and for the most part Sandy
reciprocated and did the same.

   Charity's smoking tolerance had reached a new level.  She was always ready
for another cigarette.  She was smoking more often in the evenings, even if
Rene wasn't around.  This cigarette, the one she was now smoking, was probably
her tenth of the night so far, even further evidence of just how much her
habit had deepened recently.

   She took a long, drawn-out drag and thought about Sandy.  God, for a woman
who was intellectually committed to destroying smokers, Sandy Rogers smoked
awfully damn well!  It was an astonishing reversal.  By her count, Sandy had
six cigarettes in a couple hours, if she counted the first one that she only
half-smoked before they began having sex.

   By the time she finally left, she knew Sandy was good and ready for Larilyn
and Adrienne.  Her client's former familiarity with smoking had been
completely reestablished.  It was only Friday night.  If everything went as
planned, the liaison with Larilyn and Adrienne would happen on Sunday.  What
she wasn't sure of, however, and what she didn't want to think about, was how
the events of the next few nights might affect Sandy in the long run.

   There was no doubt in her mind that Sandy's smoking escapade had reawakened
a long dormant, compelling love of nicotine.  For God's sake, she mused, Sandy
smoked two packs a day for years when she was a teenager and into her mid
twenties.  Tonight's performance demonstrated just how easy it was, and how
easy it would be, for Sandy to fall right back into her old smoking patterns.

   The truth was, Charity liked Sandy.  She _really_ liked her.  Of course
there was the political benefit of bringing down the infamous president of the
lung association, and sucking her back into her old life as an avowed smoker.
But in reality she mostly wanted Larilyn's scheme to succeed because she
_personally_ wanted Sandy to smoke.  She desperately wanted that beautiful
mature woman, the one who was the spitting image of Hilary Clinton, to be a
smoker again, to be just like her.  She'd begun to feel a romantic
relationship with Sandy was something she wanted.

   It wasn't that she was tired of Rene.  She wasn't.  But Sandy Rogers
offered the promise of a different relationship.  For one thing, Sandy was
older, more mature, and yet still remarkably sexy and very attractive.  She
was also more seasoned as a lover than Rene.  From their short time together,
Sandy showed an amazing ability to do things sexually that Charity never
before experienced.  During her drive home, she fantasized about Sandy
returning to her old life as a smoker, giving up her job as president of the
lung association, and becoming her lover!

   The dreaming raised complexities, of course.  If it worked out, and she
left Rene for Sandy, would working at Johnson & Myers turn into a nightmare?
And how would others react?  It was one thing to have a roommate roughly your
age, and quite another to move in with an older woman.  People would talk.
She sighed.  All that thinking was premature, she knew.  But it excited her to
think about it, to dream about it.

   Entering her apartment, she saw Rene wasn't home.  That was odd, because
Rene rarely stayed out late.  Though Rene hadn't said so, Charity guessed she
was with her client discussing the non-disclosure agreement.  They purposely
weren't talking about their client meetings.  That was why she didn't tell
Rene where _she_ was going.  But this worked out great.  She'd be able to go
to bed and avoid any more sexual involvement tonight.  Charity smiled to
herself.  She was beat!  Sandy had worn her out!

   Rene came home an hour later.  She was still tingling.  For six months
she'd been faithful to Charity, but her experience with Adrienne and Larilyn
caused her to question whether she wanted to keep on with her monogamous
relationship with Charity.

   The pleasure she felt with Adrienne and Larilyn was more than novelty.  It
was fierce, violent passion, and she loved it.  Charity was tender and loving,
but the buxom blond Adrienne was an unbelievable temptress.  As for Larilyn,
well, though something of a novice she had the temperament to be a great
lover.  When Adrienne's roommate Brianna unexpectedly came home and walked in
on them, things quickly got even more interesting.  The bespectacled Brianna
was nearly Adrienne's carbon copy, not in terms of physical appearance, but in
her unending appetite for sexual pleasure.  All in all, it was a pleasant and
stimulating night.

   The lights in the apartment were off.  Charity clearly came home earlier
and went to bed.  That suited Rene fine.  She, too, was dog-tired.  She'd had
an exhilarating but draining time with Larilyn, Adrienne and eventually
Brianna.  She had one last cigarette, then brushed her teeth to get ready for
bed.  She slipped in next to Charity without waking her, and immediately fell
fast asleep.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   It was eleven o'clock Sunday morning.  Four women sat around a conference
room table at the law firm of Johnson & Myers.  In attendance were Larilyn
Dahlberg, Sandy Rogers, Rene Williams and Charity Harrison.  The tone of the
meeting was professional, almost pleasant.  Gone for the most part were the
anger and bitterness from Larilyn and Sandy's first meeting earlier in the
week.

   Rene scheduled the meeting for a time when they could have relative
privacy, and that suited Sandy.  She didn't want to be seen entering the law
offices of her old nemesis Johnson & Myers.  That alone would cause a great
scandal.

   Rene smiled at no one in particular and began.  "Thanks for coming, ladies.
Ms. Rogers, Sandy, I'm sure you personally dislike me as much as any person in
town.  Your willingness to have the meeting here at my office says a lot about
you, and I appreciate your flexibility."

   Sandy sighed and politely nodded.  She wore a sleeveless yellow print
sundress, similar to one she had on Friday night, the night she and Charity
first met at her home.

   "Rene, you and I have had our skirmishes," Sandy said a little too
graciously.  "And every time you show up, I seem to wind up on the losing end.
This time is not different, I guess."

   A twinge of compassion hit Rene; compassion mixed with nervousness.  "I
don't know, Sandy.  You and the lung association have had your share of
victories.  But I appreciate you and your lawyer coming here today, so we can
go over some ground rules."

   The brunette lawyer was strangely tense.  Usually she felt confident and in
control in this kind of situation.  But today was different.  She cleared her
throat.  "Before we begin, Sandy, I must admit that I'm a little tense.  So,
would you mind if I smoked?"

   "I prefer if you didn't," came the quick reply.  "But before today's done,
I suspect I'll be exposed to quite a lot of smoke, second hand and otherwise."
She sighed.  "So, it's up to you, Rene.  If you feel you must, go ahead.  It's
your office."

   Rene again had on her navy blazer.  She reached into the breast pocket and
got her pack of Marlboro 100's.  Shaking one out, she put a long cigarette in
her mouth and reached for her gold lighter, which was in her the pocket of her
tan slacks.  She lit up, and as she did a cloud of smoke escaped from the
corners of her mouth while her cigarette dangled.

   "Your legal counsel Charity and I prepared the final non-disclosure
agreement," Rene went on, exhaling as she talked.  "It's ready to be signed by
both of you."  She looked at Larilyn and Sandy in turn.  "We agreed Charity
will hold the signed copies in escrow till tomorrow morning.  Sandy, assuming
you fulfill your part of the verbal agreement with Larilyn before then,
tomorrow I'll give Charity all the negatives of Larilyn's pictures, and she'll
give me one of the signed copies of the agreement."  She paused for another
long drag on her cigarette.  "The agreement restricts Larilyn from ever
discussing you in a disparaging manner in public, and that includes giving a
news story or any pictures to any media publication.  If she so much as opens
her mouth about you in public, she has to pay liquidated damages and all your
attorneys' fees.  As Larilyn asked, the no publication obligation is
reciprocal.  That means that Sandy can't disparage you either, Larilyn."

   "Fine with me," Sandy nodded.  "Let me have it.  I'm ready to sign.  Let's
get going."

   There was a short break while both women signed four copies of the
agreement.  Charity took possession of all four of them.  Rene held up an
envelope.

   "These are the negatives and all Larilyn's copies of the prints," she
explained.  "I'll deliver this envelope to Charity just as soon as Larilyn
lets me know that you, Sandy, performed your end of the unwritten deal."

   Suddenly Sandy stood up.  "Let's cut the crap," she angrily shouted.  Her
hostility was evident.  "Don't sugar-coat what's going on.  Tell it like it
is.  As soon as I smoke twenty cigarettes for Larilyn and her friend Adrienne,
which will take me the rest of the day, I expect, we'll be done.  Am I right?"

   "Basically, yes," Rene nodded.  "That's the plan."

   "You old bitch," Larilyn cut in.  "Don't give us any of your self-righteous
bullshit.  You ruined my relationship with my daughter for years.  I'm
entitled to this payback!"

   Sandy lunged across the table.  "You little nicotine-addicted cunt," she
shouted.  "You Judas!  You betrayed the lung association, and now you're
betraying me, too.  If I could, I'd ?."

   "Ladies, ladies," Charity barked, as she took Sandy's arms and separated
her from Larilyn before blows could be struck.  "We all agreed this would be a
civil discussion."  She looked directly into Sandy's eyes.  "Sandy, this is
_not_ smart!  If you antagonize Ms. Dahlberg too much, these pictures will be
in Walt Donovan's morning mail tomorrow.  You do not want that.  Zip it.  Do
you hear me?"

   Sandy was now shaking violently.  "Yeah, you're right," she gasped.  She
was perspiring profusely.  She turned toward Larilyn with a chilling smile.
"I'm sorry, Larilyn.  Charity's right.  I want to cooperate.  I don't mind
doing this, if it means getting the pictures back and getting your binding
commitment never to expose my sexual preferences."

   It was Larilyn's turn to smile coolly.  "Sandy, I know you're upset.
Believe me, Adrienne and I intend to make this exercise worth your while.
Hate me if you want, but in the end I know you'll enjoy at least part of what
Adrienne and I have planned for you this afternoon!"

   The tension was subsiding, but Charity broke down and opened her purse for
her Marlboro Lights 100's.  Without asking, she lit one up and looked at
Larilyn.  "Ms. Dahlberg, will you allow my client to choose the brand she'll
be forced to smoke today?"

   Larilyn also still felt edgy.  She wanted to join them in lighting up, but
wasn't sure if she should in light of Sandy's violent outburst.  "Yeah, sure,
I suppose.  I don't care what brand Sandy smokes."  She looked across the
table at her former friend.  "What's your pleasure?"

   Sandy leaned forward.  Both the female lawyers were smoking now, and she
herself felt incredibly stressed.  For a moment she toyed with asking Charity
for a cigarette.  But she didn't.  "Let me tell you something, Larilyn.
Charity here was kind enough to help me prepare for our meeting today.  Friday
night, and again yesterday, I practiced smoking with Charity."  Seeing the
delighted reaction, she went on.  "I'll endure it quite well, I suspect.  But
I want to smoke Virginia Slims Menthol Light.  You see, I was a menthol smoker
in the old days.  I smoked Virginia Slims Menthol.  Lights were introduced
after I quit, but Charity and I think it's best if I smoke the menthol lights
today.  That's what I want to smoke with you and Adrienne.  Fair?"

   Larilyn cocked her head.  "So you _did_ used to smoke?"

   Sandy nodded, giving her a wry smile.  "In high school, college and even
during law school, yes, I smoked relentlessly.  By the time I quit in 1976, I
was a two pack a day girl.  Smoking won't be hard for me, Larilyn.  I'm
familiar with your evil habit.  These last two days Charity helped me renew my
old acquaintance with it.  Yes, I can smoke.  The only thing I ask is that I
be allowed to smoke the light version of my old menthol brand."

   Larilyn was pleasantly surprised by the request, and by the revelation.
She got out her Benson & Hedges and pulled a one hundred millimeter cigarette
from the gold pack.  "My God, Sandy!  I had no idea you used to smoke," she
lied shamelessly, pausing to light up.  Everyone was smoking except Sandy, and
Larilyn knew Sandy would be soon enough.  "I'm glad to hear you used to be
just like the rest of us.  I must admit, it never, ever occurred to me you'd
practice with your lovely lawyer to prepare for our marathon smoking session.
I just have to ask you this, though.  How was it, smoking again, after all
these years?"

   Sandy shrugged.  The urge to fight suddenly departed.  "It wasn't hard,
honestly."  She glanced at Charity.  "The big hurdle was psychological, not
physical.  It was hard putting a cigarette in my mouth again.  It still is.
But I can now, thanks to Charity's help."

   "Well then, that'll make it easier," Rene interrupted.  "As long as we're
all being honest, Sandy, let me say something.  We all know of your sexual
preference.  I talked to Adrienne and Larilyn.  They'll take good care of you
this afternoon and evening.  It may be a little hard for you to smoke again,
but you _will_ enjoy the other part of the experience."

   "Look, Rene, I know you're a lesbian, too," Sandy snapped.  "You can't
repeat anything about my sexuality, just like Larilyn can't!"

   "Right, Sandy.  We wrote the agreement to make sure of that.  No one will
talk after it's over.  Look, ladies, all of us in this room like our sex the
same way; we like pussy, not cock.  I only brought it up is to be sure _you_
understand, Sandy, that I do believe Larilyn and Adrienne will show you a hell
of a good time today.  I'm a little jealous, to be honest."

   Charity angrily piped up.  "Sandy will do fine, Rene."  She took a drag and
purposely French-inhaled through her nostrils while staring at her roommate.
"Don't worry about her.  She'll smoke like a champion.  As for the rest, I
suspect Larilyn and Adrienne will also be on the receiving end from Sandy.  I
hope that's part of the plan."  She turned toward Larilyn.  "I believe she'll
want that."

   "Definitely," Larilyn nodded slowly, luxuriously exhaling twin streams of
smoke through her pert nostrils.  "I know what Sandy can do.  I just want her
to smoke while she does it.  That's all."  She reached out her free hand, but
Sandy didn't accept it.  "Sandy, I want you to remember why we smokers like to
smoke," she whispered.  "That's all I want today."

   Sandy bristled.  "I remember.  In fact, I doubt I ever forgot.  Well, maybe
I did.  But Charity helped me remember."  She sighed.  "Larilyn, what do you
say we get started?"

   The tone of the meeting was losing its prior antagonistic bent.  Larilyn
smiled.  "Great.  We're going to spend the whole day at Adrienne's place.
She'll bring in lunch.  I thought we'd start by eating together while we
smoke, and then move onto the more pleasurable part after that."  She paused.
"So, Sandy, do you have your Virginia Slims Menthol Lights with you?"

   The blond woman nodded.

   "Excellent.  Would you have one cigarette with us before we go?  I'd love
to see you smoke right now.  That shouldn't be hard, since you've already
prepared.  I bet Rene would love to see you do it before we leave."

   Looking beaten, Sandy nodded obediently.  "I'm your slave for the rest of
the day."  She opened her purse and took out a pack of VS Menthol Lights.
Pulling off the cellophane, she proficiently opened it.  In seconds she had a
long, slim cigarette between her fingers.  "I'm prepared to smoke with you
till these are all gone."  She held the cigarette up to her lips and sighed.
"One of you will have to do the honors.  I don't have a lighter."

   In seconds three different lighters ignited in front of her.  Sandy smiled
at Rene.  "I'll let you light up my first cigarette, Rene, dear," she said
with a strong tinge of irony in her voice.  "A couple years ago you totally
fucked me in court by kicking our collective ass on the anti-smoking
ordinance.  It's only fitting that you light up my first cigarette today and
fuck me again."

   Rene grinned.  She held out her gold lighter as the others put theirs away.
"This is my pleasure, Sandy.  God!  Believe me, it's a great pleasure to light
you up!  You have no idea!"

   Sandy caught the light and took a moderate first drag.  She effortlessly
sucked mentholated smoke from her VS Menthol Light into her chest.  Rene and
Larilyn stared at the sight with mouths wide open.  Sandy looked at Larilyn
with a cynical smile.  "Well, old friend, I assume this is the kind of smoking
performance you're looking for?"  She tipped her head and exhaled a long
stream of smoke through pursed lips into the already smoky room.

   Larilyn nodded, happily dragging on her own off her B&H.  "Sandy, honey,
that is _exactly_ what I want to see you do.  You look great smoking, by the
way, I must say.  And I'm betting that once you finish off that pack today,
you won't _want_ to stop."

   "I doubt you're right about that one, Larilyn," Sandy replied, expertly
manicuring her long, thin cigarette a bit too soon in the ashtray on the
conference room table.

   "I'm not sure either, honey.  But I sure as hell am looking forward to
finding out!"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Sunday afternoon seemed to drag on forever.  Charity and Rene were home at
their apartment, trying to stay busy with other things.  Neither girl felt
comfortable talking.  They rented a movie and watched it, but neither of them
had much interest in the film.  Instead they were both wondering what was
going on at Adrienne's house.

   Rene couldn't stop thinking about her Friday night escapade with Larilyn
and Adrienne.  She couldn't shake the mental image of the beautiful, buxom,
promiscuous Adrienne pleasuring her.  She felt horny as hell, but didn't want
Charity to satisfy her incessant sexual longings.  She excused herself at one
point to take a nap, but instead masturbated alone in her room, thinking the
whole time about how much she wanted to have Adrienne again.

   Charity meanwhile was preoccupied thinking about Sandy.  As much fun as she
had with her Friday night, her time together with Sandy on Saturday afternoon
was even better.  Without being asked she bought Sandy a pack of Virginia
Slims Menthol Lights.  Almost despite herself, the former smoker almost
shrieked with delight the first time she lit up one of the light cigarettes
related to her old brand.  She smoked half a pack Saturday afternoon, eagerly
giving herself over to the pleasure of once again ingesting the mentholated
smoke that she enjoyed so incessantly in the old days. Their time together on
Saturday ended with another marvelous lovemaking session.  She desperately
wanted Sandy to become a smoker again, and she finally told her client
straight out.  Amazingly, Sandy just smiled.  She enjoyed the experience.
Charity hoped smoking with her made Sandy want to return to her old habit.
She wanted Sandy to want to smoke, and to want her, too.  She was jealous of
Adrienne and Larilyn.  She desperately wanted Sandy for herself.  But she
wasn't about to say so, at least until she found out how Sandy would fare in
smoking the entire afternoon and evening with Adrienne and Larilyn.

   At nine o'clock Charity's cell phone rang.  It was Sandy.  She took the
call in her room, with the door closed, away from Rene's inquisitive ears.

   "Well, I'm done," Charity heard the voice on the line sigh.  Sandy sounded
tired.  "It's finally over."

   "And?  So?  How did it go?"

   There was a pause, followed by a lusty laugh.  "Larilyn wasn't kidding when
she said Adrienne's hot.  I knew Larilyn was good, but honest to God, Charity,
that woman Adrienne is a sexual goddess!  She knows what the hell she's doing,
and she has amazing stamina!"

   "Yeah, that's what I heard.  So, the sex was good?"

   "Yeah, it sure was," Sandy hedged.  "But not nearly as good as the sex we
had Friday night and again yesterday afternoon, Charity."  She paused.  "I'm
not kidding.  I liked Adrienne and Larilyn.  I can't deny that.  I love
beautiful young women eating my pussy, and I love reciprocating.  But you,
Charity dear, well, you're something special.  I hope you know that."

   It was Charity's turn to laugh happily.  "That's sweet, Sandy.  I feel the
same way about you.  I _really_ enjoyed being with you, both Friday night and
yesterday.  So, tell me, how was the smoking?  How did you hold up?"  There
was an unabashed eagerness in her voice as she asked her last question.

   "Charity, sweetheart, I _know_ you'd love for me to start smoking again.
But you know that just can't happen.  I can't afford to."

   "I know," Charity unenthusiastically acknowledged.  "But how was it?  The
smoking, I mean.  Was it okay for you?"

   "Oh God, I don't know," Sandy admitted.  "I mean, God damn it!  Between
eleven o'clock this morning and a half hour ago, I smoked twenty fuckin'
cigarettes!  How'd I do?  God, I did fine.  No, that's a lie.  I _enjoyed_ it.
I did.  Especially after the first couple, after I sort of got into it, I
fuckin' loved smoking my cigarettes!  Larilyn's not stupid.  She knew I would.
And I did, too."  There was a long pause on the line.  "Thank God I smoked the
whole pack!  I won't be tempted to smoke any more tonight."

   "Would you like to?  I mean, do you still _feel_ like smoking more?"

   "Charity, baby, I honestly don't know."  She began to softly weep.  "Shit!
Fuck!  I spent my whole adult life fighting against tobacco.  I hate smoking,
and I hate smokers.  At least that's what my brain's been saying through this.
But at the same time, I _did_ love smoking those delicious cigarettes all day.
Isn't that terrible?  I loved pulling all those carcinogens deep inside my
lungs over and over.  I didn't want to like it, but I did.  It just felt _so_
fuckin' good!"

   "I knew it would, Sandy.  When I smoked with you yesterday, I could tell
you were loving it.  And I loved being with you while you were smoking."
Charity paused.  "If you were to decide you want to keep smoking, Sandy, I'd
love to do it with you again."

   "What do you mean?"

   Charity took a deep breath.  "I mean, you're an amazing lady.  I'm crazy
about you.  I used to think Rene was all I ever wanted.  But you're different,
incredible.  I couldn't live with a non-smoker.  Not anymore.  But if you do
want to smoke, Sandy, I'd like to be with you."

   "You're not just shitting me, are you?  This is an honest proposition?
It's not just a wicked trick you're playing because I'm president of the lung
association?"

   "No, it's no trick.  Not at all.  I've thought about this all day.  I mean
it.  If you decide to keep smoking, I want to be with you, if you'll have me."

   "Fuck!  I don't believe this.  I called you because I felt conflicted after
smoking all day.  And you're only making it worse, Charity."

   "I'm sorry, Sandy.  I really am.  I want what's best for you.  But I also
know what I want.  And I think I want you.  I love you."  The last words were
said in a breathless whisper, almost as a question awaiting a response.  It
hung in the air for endless moments.

   "God, I can't deal with any of this," Sandy's exasperated voice on the
phone abruptly snapped.  "I can't talk to you, Charity.  I do like you, I
really do.  Adrienne and Larilyn can't hold a candle to you.  But I also can't
smoke.  I just can't!"

   Charity nodded, though she knew Sandy couldn't see her doing it.  "I
understand, Sandy.  I really do.  I'm sorry.  Maybe it just wasn't meant to
be."

   She hung up and wandered aimlessly into the living room.  Rene looked up
from her book and expectantly smiled  "Well?  What did she say?"

   "Larilyn got her wish.  Sandy is completely conflicted.  But I suspect
before long she'll get over it.  She had a great time.  But she won't keep
smoking.  Her life as an anti is just too ingrained."

   "Too bad," Rene smiled.  "Do you think there's a chance?"

   "Oh there's always a chance, Rene," Charity muttered.  "There's always a
chance."

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