I pulled him up and kissed him, laughing as he took off my ugly glove and slipped the ring on my finger. I looked at it there for a few seconds. It seemed like a ring for a rich woman with demanding taste, the sort of ring my friend Nancy would love.

I was more interested in the man. I yanked his T-shirt up and ran my hands over his back, zinging wonderfully before my hands traversed the denim over his marvelous butt.

His hands were under my smock, but stopped around my waist. He pinched the flesh and said, “You want to be careful not to gain too much back.”

“But the clothes I brought fit perfectly now. This is my normal size.”

A smile flitted across his face. “Yes, but I thought that you’d like to stay the weight you were when you came, except healthy, of course.”

I drew away from him. “If people didn’t have unrealistic ideals, they wouldn’t submit themselves to being cut up.”

“It’s not me, Milagro. You were concerned about your puppy fat when your wedding dress wouldn’t fit.”

His lips went to my throat, and I was thinking, Puppy fat? when there was a knock on the door.

“Hello?” I called out.

“Milagro,” Lily said. “Can I have a minute?”

I looked at Oswald and he nodded. “Just a sec,” I said. My fiancé, fiancé! and I went to open the door.

Lily waited with her hands clasped in front of her like a girl in etiquette class. “Would you like a session before the Council director gets here?”

I glanced at Oswald and he smiled nervously. “Oswald and I just got engaged again!” I held out my hand so she could see the ring.

fifteen

Shrinks, Kinks, and Drinks

I expected Lily to do what any normal girl would: grab my hand, squeal, and shriek “Oh, my God!” Well, she did say “Oh, my God!” but it came out with a gasp.

“Isn’t it great?” I asked.

“But you don’t even remember Oswald! He’s a stranger to you!” She was so surprised that everything she said was an exclamation. She glared at Oswald. “You’re taking advantage of her condition!”

“Lily, I may have amnesia, but I’m well aware of what a fantastic couple Oswald and I are. We’re educated professionals with similar values and …” I tried to think of other things we had in common, besides a hypothetical history of amazing sex.

Lily had a bit of a fit, so I let her sputter on about professional ethics as I stared at my marvelous fiancé, who looked both guilty and resentful, like a kid in the principal’s office.

Finally, Lily said to me, “What about our agreement that you wouldn’t use your sexuality to avoid facing your problems?”

“Lily, this isn’t sexuality. It’s mutual respect and admiration.” I respected and admired Oswald’s body like crazy.