Charlie was missing. Lauren drove her little Nissan Versa down block after block, scanning the streets for any sign of him. She was reminded of the days she spent with her friends looking for lost dogs in Queensborough, except she was alone, she wasn't on her bike, she wasn't going to be paid for finding him, and this wasn't fun. This was a dog she knew and loved, and she was dreading seeing him on the side of the road like she saw Milo that first time she met everybody.

How Charlie had gotten out of Johnny's yard she didn't know. His sons were usually really good about keeping the gate latched. They adored Charlie and didn't want to see him go missing. But now she was spending her rare free evening searching the streets of Burnaby instead of being home with the kids she hadn't seen all day.

Her phone rang on its hands free device. It was Johnny. She answered. "Hey, Johnny."

"Hey, Lauren. Any luck?"

"Nothing. You?"

"We've put up posters all over the neighbourhood and posted pictures of him on Facebook lost pet groups. Our contact information is on all of it."

"Okay."

"Look, you've been out a long time. Maybe you should call it a night."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I can't keep you away from your family any longer. I know you love Charlie but there's only so much you can do."

"Okay. I'll just finish this block and go home. I'm at least a kilometre out from your place."

"If he's gone any further than that, then it's going to take a lot more than us to find him."

"Right. Talk to you later."

She hung up and scanned the remaining streets and the spaces between the houses. Unless she saw Charlie loping along the sidewalk, she wasn't going to find him this way.

She headed home, stopping at the Safeway for some milk because they always seemed to run out of milk before they grocery shopped on the weekend. When she finally arrived home, the kids were in their pyjamas, watching TV. Joe saw her and quickly put his phone down, looking like she'd caught him watching porn, something she'd done many times when computers were anchored to desks and you couldn't take your device into the bathroom for some privacy. She never faulted him for doing it; everyone had fantasies that couldn't be fulfilled by their partners. He always looked so mortified about it, though, that she eventually never let on that she'd seen anything, nor did she look at his history, not wanting to see what it was that had tantalized him so. She didn't think he would be watching porn on his phone, though, at least not in the same room as the kids.

"How'd it go?" he asked, playing it cool.

She shrugged. "No luck."

"I'm sorry, babe."

She put the milk in the fridge and motioned him to step over to the other room with her, out of the kids' ear shot. They weren't aware yet that Charlie was missing, and she and Joe had agreed not to tell them until it was absolutely necessary so as to not unduly alarm them before bedtime, or else they'd never go to sleep. They adored Charlie, who'd become for them an older brother, a chill elder statesman, accepting of all their love and affection with grace and dignity. He wasn't as energetic and spry as he used to be, not as able to chase them and fetch for hours, but they seemed to love him all the more for it, because he stayed still for them now. For all Naomi and Tosh knew, Mommy had gone out to buy milk, and that was all, even if she'd taken an overly long time to do it.

"So?" she asked.

"So... what?"

She bunched his shirt in her hands and said, "Are we... still on for tonight?" She'd let Rachel and Al know to expect a Skype call tonight and hopefully they were standing by for another show.

His face fell. "Uh... you know what, babe? I'm a little tired tonight, and worried about the dog. I don't know if I'll be at my best."

"Oh." She had to admit she was a little tired herself, with the unexpected search for Charlie on top of her long day of work and child wrangling. Still, this stung. Joe never turned her down. "Not even a quickie? I'd do the work if you're too tired."

He wrapped his big arms around her, and his warmth made her feel sleepy already. "Honey," he said, "I can't thank you enough for what you've done to re-energize our love life. I think our sex has gotten even better in the last two years than it was when we were teenagers."

"Of course it's better than when we were teenagers," she purred. "We've had plenty of practice since then."

"It's not just that, though. Something happened. Ever since we got back together with our Queensborough friends, you've gotten a lot more... enthusiastic in your execution."

"Me?" she asked, astonished. He was making connections she didn't want him making.

"Yeah. I can't explain it, but... remember the whole Spanish Fly thing in the Seventies? It's like you took a dose of that."

She grinned, relieved he'd only gone that far and no further. No mention of the laptop in the corner. "Spanish Fly's a myth," she said, and shrugged. "I don't know... I think being back with Rachel and the others has just made me feel young again."

"Get out of here, you're still young."

"You know what I mean. It's that sense of wonder, excitement, and adventure that I didn't even know I was missing. I feel rejuvenated with them around. And I guess that... rejuvenation... has seeped into every little corner of me, to your benefit, cowboy."

He kissed her, and she felt it all the way to her toes, and she wondered if he might change his mind after all. 

"It has been to my benefit," he said, "so much so that I think you're wearing me out, babe. I hate to admit it, but you might be too much for me."

"No way, I won't believe it." She thought it over and sighed. "I'll give you tonight if you're tired. I guess I'm a little tired too. But this isn't over, buddy. I'm pouncing on you next time, and I won't take no for an answer."

He smiled in a way that stirred her loins. "I'll look forward to it. In the meantime, I'm gonna have a shower."

"You sure you don't want company?"

"Jesus, Lauren, the kids are still awake," he breathed.

She huffed in frustration. "Yeah, you're right. Think of me in there?"

"I will now," he said, but he sounded distracted. Maybe he was just too tired.

They wandered back to the living room, and Joe grabbed his phone before going upstairs. That was odd. If he was taking a shower, why did he need his phone? The steam wouldn't be good for the circuitry.

If he was taking his phone, he didn't want her to look at it. Now she wondered what he'd been looking at when she'd arrived home.

She made sure the kids were still watching TV, then took out her own phone and texted Rachel.

Sorry, girl, no go tonight.

The response was quick.

Oh, no! What happened?

She thought she might cry as she texted back.

He says he's too tired. 

WTF? Too tired for you?  

I'm a little tired too. Charlie went missing today, and I spent hours looking for him.

Rachel's response was longer in coming this time.

Oh, no. How'd it happen?

Not sure.

Oh, well, I hope he returns safely. 

Thanks.

Lauren thought Rachel had ended the conversation, and she was about to put down her phone, when another text came in.

Want to switch?

Lauren gasped. Suddenly images of Al's sweaty performance filled her head and, following on the heels of the failed seduction of her own husband, it was a little jarring. It left her feeling irritated and aroused at the same time.

She thought of her response before she typed back.

What do you mean?

She bit her lip waiting for Rachel's response.

Al and I are willing to entertain you tonight instead. Al's very accommodating that way.

She sighed in relief as she realized she'd taken Rachel's suggestion completely wrong. Of course this was what she meant.

Okay. Give me twenty, Joe's in the shower. Can't leave the kids upstairs while I'm in the downstairs bathroom.

LOL! Can't have the house burn down!

How true, Lauren thought. The heat in her cheeks was enough to light any tinder in her vicinity. 

Looks like Joe was already texting Joanie back then. Thanks for reading this far. If you liked what you just read, hit "Vote" and leave a comment. To see how Lauren's first day back at the office went after that tense few days, click "Continue reading."