Iris huffed out a snort. “Men get the benefit of millions of dollars in science research to take care of their aging issues. Old guys can’t get it up? Here’s a blue pill! Women dry up? Oh, well, there’s always younger women. It sucks.”

Cecile, usually so bubbly and upbeat, fixed a stern look on Iris, and then Vickie. “Bullshit. I mean...yes, science favors the men, just like everything else does, but that doesn’t mean we’re helpless. There are products out there to help...keep things moving. Everything takes more time, but if you use that time creatively, sex at our age can be better than ever.”

Vickie and Cecile didn’t have a lot in common, other than the book club. But she felt a new surge of affection for the woman. Cecile and Charlie, from all accounts, had always had a spicy, adventurous sex life. And Cecile often hinted that it was still very much that way. So if she could do it, then so could Vickie. Maybe.

Cecile started to chuckle. “Just make sure you wear your glasses when you’re shopping for lubricants. I picked up a bottle of something that had the word fire on the label. I thought it was a normal warming oil, but they were referring to an additive that made my hoohah feel like I’d just literally set it on fire.” She laughed out loud now. “We had to stop everything and go clean up with cool washcloths. We laughed so hard we cried!”

Vickie and her friends laughed at Cecile’s story. Then she sat up abruptly, realizing she’d just broken a promise she’d forced on Gordy.

“You can’t tell anyone, girls. Seriously—I made Gordy promise not to kiss and tell, and now I’ve gone and done it. If I hear any rumors going around town, I’ll know where they came from.” She pointed at each of them threateningly, but they didn’t seem at all intimidated. “I don’t want people laughing at me.”

“I don’t tend to go around telling people about my friends’ sex lives,” Iris huffed. “But I do want to live vicariously through your suddenly interesting love life.”

“Suddenly interesting?”

“Let’s face it,” Iris replied. “You’ve been hanging out with some real snoozers the past few years. The trivia-playing college dean. That wine competition judge from California...”

“Oh!” Cecile added. “Don’t forget that obnoxious attorney from Rochester who was on the hospital board with you. He barely spoke to anyone when he was in town.”

“Speaking of attorneys...” Maura brushed her short hair behind her ears. “What’s happening with my grandson and our matchmaking efforts? Zoey told us he wasn’t interested, but Mike never said that.”

Cecile perked up. “Hey! Why don’t we set them up on a date with each other and see—”